Beware Of The FIFO Trap!
Today I want to talk to those of you who are FIFO workers. It’s a tough gig. You spend a lot of time working hard, long hours, away from your family, friends, and home. Why would anyone choose to do that? Well, it’s obvious. You want to get ahead in life. FIFO just pays better. There’s money in the mines, so it makes sense to follow it.
But here’s the thing… a large portion of FIFO workers just aren’t getting ahead. They’re trapped in a cycle of working more to spend more. Think about it…
While You’re at Work
You work hard, live a basic existence, and earn the big bucks (hopefully). You don’t get to see your family or your mates, you don’t get much leisure time, and most of your hobbies don’t come along with you. Your quality of life takes a major hit.
When You’re at Home
You have a week or more at a time back home, which is basically heaven… meanwhile, life goes on for everyone else. Your mates are all at work. Your family still has to go to school. You’re sitting at home, bored, with nothing much to do. You start feeling like your time off is going to suck again and it will be over before you know it, so…
You Spend Up BIG
Because, hey, if anyone’s earned the right to a bit of a treat, it’s you! So you compensate yourself for your lost time at work and your boredom at home. You buy a motorbike, a jet ski, a boat, and other types of things. You fill the hole and empty your pockets.
And Then You’re Trapped
It’s hard to give up a higher income once you get used to it. You get accustomed to buying things and living life at a certain level, and suddenly, returning to a normal job closer to home and going on a smaller income is less appealing by the minute. So your initial plan of doing FIFO for a year or so starts to look more long-term and permanent than you’d hoped. You’re trapped!
If you’re feeling a little trapped and this is resonating with you, please keep reading, because you can get out! Here’s what you need to do ASAP…
1. Get Educated.
Get an education in wealth creation and property investing. I’d recommend that you watch my webinars and get any of the education we offer. People prioritise their money allocation (aka spending) based on their knowledge. Once you see the benefits of property investing and how powerful it can be when you get it right, you’ll be motivated to use your FIFO money for maximum impact.
2. Save.
It seems obvious, but a lot of people still can’t seem to commit to a savings plan. Start putting money aside now. You can even set it up to happen automatically when your pay comes in. This will help you get into a property by saving for a deposit and demonstrating to the banks that you can afford a loan.
3. Get a Team.
Don’t go on your journey alone – that is the fastest way to fail before you even start. Get a reliable team behind you (like myself and my staff) who can provide you with knowledge and experience to help you get ahead.
4. Remember Your Reasons.
Remember why you signed up for this in the first place. It’s probably not because you love plane rides, right? Remember that you want to get a head start in life, to benefit yourself, your partner, and your kids (if you have them). Stick to the plan!
5. Have Fun!
Just because I’m telling you to save and prioritise getting into your property, doesn’t mean you’re never going to get to go on that holiday or buy the boat you’ve had your eye on. I’m just saying that there’s a better way to go about it. Get your property first so it can start growing and earning you money. Then go on that holiday or pursue whatever hobby you want. Because if you’ve bought a $500K property and it goes up 1%, that’s paid for your $5,000 Bali holiday, if you like. But if you go on your holiday before your buy your property, you’re not making any money and you’re setting yourself back financially.
Does that make sense to you? If you are on the FIFO journey and are interested in getting help and clarity around your property investing, get in touch with my team. That is something we can help you with – we do it all the time.
Happy property investing,
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Daimien Patterson is the CEO of Integrity Property Investment, a property investment company based in Australia. He regularly produces books, blogs and videos on the topic of property investing, helping thousands of people create financial security and freedom through education and property investment. Get started today.