“I Should Have Set Myself Up Financially Before Marrying”
Amanda Rose is a champion of women and small business. She started her workplace and career consultancy company Amanda Rose Consulting in 2009 and has been responsible for her financial situation ever since.
Describe your relationship with money. It is now one of the most important relationships in my life. It is healthy and I put effort into the relationship daily.
Are you financially better or worse off now than you were a decade ago? Definitely better off. Back then, I was going through a divorce, so my life was changing. Essentially it was like starting all over again. I had to get a job that paid very little to survive while building my career and businesses, so [that time] taught me to respect even $1 – which can get you a 7- Eleven coffee!
What’s your greatest financial regret? Marrying instead of buying a house. I should have set myself up financially first then made the decision to marry, or not.
Describe a difficult financial moment and how you managed that. Near the beginning of my journey as a small business owner, I had a few clients that just simply refused to pay. It was a massive blow to my cashflow – and life! But it forced me to step up, learn the ins and outs of debt collection and ensure that, moving forward, [I worked on a pre-paid basis only] and that this never happened again.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt about money? That money is a tool to help create security and choice and nothing more. Spending time with people is more important than owning the best brands.
If you oversaw the finances of our nation, where would you invest? In small businesses that can provide products and services to ensure our nation is self-sufficient. Also, in educating all girls and women to ensure 50 per cent of our society can contribute economically and be able to become financially secure.
What worries you most about your financial future? Nothing, really. I worry more for the women around me who don’t have that boost they need to become financially secure, and also for the younger generation who dismiss low-paying jobs and then realise they should have been working and saving all along.
If you won Lotto, would you spend or invest it? Property, property, property … then I’d find women running small businesses and act as a silent investor and adviser to help them build successful businesses.
What does financial independence mean to you? Choice. It means every single decision I make is the best one for me without any influence from anyone or anything. It also means leading by example, if I can be financially independent then other women will believe they can be, too.