Real people, real stories, real life
Sometimes it can be helpful to get someone else’s perspective on life. When we’re all caught up in the day to day it can be easy to forget to look after number one, so how do other people do it?
We’ve asked real people from around the country for their views on all aspects of life, and what top tips they have that’ll help you make positive changes today. Because the little habits we start now can really help us grow.
Remember, these are the thoughts and tips of the people we've spoken to. They should not be taken as a recommendation. Any stated investment actions may not be suitable for your personal circumstances as all investments can go down as well as up.
Meet Mark
Mark started his career on a graduate consulting scheme, but quickly realised that life at one of the Big Four wasn’t for him. After a year-long stint working for a national sight loss charity, he took a leap into the unknown – turning what started as an art project on mental health into a fulltime job.
Mark has headed up Perspective Project for six years now, with all the ups and downs that running a small company brings. And in 2022, he put his company on the back burner to take on a new challenge at the National Institute for Health Research.
We chatted to Mark about what makes him feel more confident when it comes to his career, money, and general wellness.
What’s your top money tip?
Pay yourself first. Every pay day, my various investment and savings platforms pull money automatically from my account. In my experience, if you save regularly, you never feel a hit to your quality of life and there’s no dangerous debate of ‘do I save or do I buy a new bike?'
What’s your top career tip?
Value yourself and be your own biggest advocate. Don’t be embarrassed or shy to talk about the things that have gone well or that you’ve achieved at work - especially with your line manager.
You also shouldn’t feel guilty or scared to ask for a pay rise if you feel you deserve one. Or when the time comes, to move on to pastures new if your current job isn’t a good fit anymore.
What’s the one thing you do to stay well?
Daily exercise. Some days I may only feel like a walk or a stretch, but moving my body is vital for my mental and physical health. I especially love team sports - getting sweaty with your pals is unbeatable.
What’s one thing you’ve done to help you feel more prepared for retirement?
Rather than letting my money sit somewhere without gaining much interest, I try to make sure it’s working harder for me. I’ve already started saving money towards my pension and put some of it into long-term investments, so that I’m giving my money 30+ years to grow into something much greater. And hopefully setting myself up for a comfortable retirement!
Should you pay more into your pension?
Use our calculator to see how a small change today can make a big difference to your pension pot tomorrow.
The 50/15/5 rule - in 60 seconds
As a starting point for your budget, you can use our helpful rule-of-thumb to find the right balance between saving and spending.
Take control of your day-to-day outgoings
Our simple budget planner can help you to break down your spending and see where your money goes each month.
Get your pension into shape
It’s a good idea to regularly assess your investment needs to make sure they align with your values and overall savings goals. You can check where your Fidelity workplace pension is invested by logging into PlanViewer.