Nomad Traveller Sam Talking About Money
“Financial independence means not worrying all the time about money.”
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Hi Samantha,
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself.
A bit of a nomad traveller, I spend my days helping teams and businesses to work out their core value and how they want to talk about it, I spend my nights dancing and laughing with friends.
I’m currently living in the south of France, but have spent much of the last 12 months working out of south east Asia - my clients are often based in the UK but Skype is a wonderous thing and has made it super easy to do work anywhere.
- What’s your relationship like with money and personal finance?
Honestly, pretty poor. It wasn’t something we spoke much about when I was growing up - I knew that my mum juggled a lot to make things work and she always wanted to make sure that we could have as many experiences as possible. I was taught to be scared of credit cards and getting into debt, I knew that I should spend within my means but I also wanted a hell of a lot more than I could afford.
I’ve never been in serious debt, but since university I’ve had an overdraft that I would regularly use - which then made me feel bad about not succeeding at the fundamental lessons my Mum tried to install. Which then meant that I stuck my head in the sand and ignored it. Oddly enough it has been since I quit my traditional job and life in London that I have felt most in control of my money. I travelled, volunteered, and have been starting my business so I was earning significantly less for quite some time - but without all the expected outgoings of London living I felt free.
- What does financial independence mean to you?
Financial independence means not worrying all the time about money. It means being able to buy the things that you need, and much of what you want, whilst also maintaining a bit of a safety net too.
- Budgeting - do you follow any guides, or are you more of a freewheeler?
I’m definitely more of a freewheeler who wishes she followed a guide. The best thing I’ve done is to track everything I ever spend. It took me a while to get into a habit that stuck, but tracking, weekly check ins and projecting what i’m generating with my business has all led to me feeling much more in control and reducing that uninformed worry.
- What’s the one thing you indulge in?
Seeing people and exercise. I am a massive extrovert and people person, I travel a lot to see friends all around the world, I travel for dance, and I know that I need to get my heart rate up pretty much every day so I can function normally.
- What is the best financial decision you have ever made?
No longer living in London full time. I’m in and out a lot for clients, but I like to be able to buy excellent food and drink without the London-premium. You can’t beat the south of France for getting true value for your money when its comes to eating out - the extra sunshine and warmth helps too.
- Have you ever experienced a financial epiphany? A sort of wake-up call, where you suddenly thought - “I must start doing things differently”?
Over the last 18 months, since setting up on my own I’ve had several massive shifts in my money mindset. I feel much savvier and hopeful for my own personal financial future. Professionally I often help clients be clearer in their own financial expectations - its now time for me to apply that to myself.
- What is Vestpod for you?
Vestpod has a great way of normalising some of the things I don’t know, don’t understand, and didn’t even realise I should be questioning.
- Own up. Have you made any major financial faux-pas?
Choosing to stick my head in the sand for so long. My greatest money wish is that I could’ve exited college with tools and the understanding needed to make my money work for me. Entering university and adult life without any structured learning or advice I felt like I was on a hamster wheel getting ever faster. This could’ve been easily avoided by having discussions at a much younger age.
Your story:
Thinker of big things, player with words, maker of change, and thwarted ski bum. I succeeded with 8 years in the corporate lifestyle and still enjoying playing at it when I’m on site with clients - in my real life however, I need nature, sunlight, and as many new cultures as possible. I’ve been on the move for the last 18 months which has made me so happy, I’m a slower traveller than many as I want to get a real taste for a place and am working a lot so need to stay still occasionally for that too.
Your work:
Specialising in high-impact change, culture, and communications, I help people cut through barriers. I get people talking and working better together -- this helps them to turn ideas and ambition in to real action.
Translating complex ideas, simply and powerfully; I help clients to identify and articulate their purpose, be clear in their strategy, and build a culture that works.
Thanks a lot Samantha!