Packing: the only part of a holiday where you’re guaranteed stress before you even leave the house – and I say this from experience. I’m currently procrastinating packing for a stag do this weekend, purely to avoid the inevitable stress that comes with it.
Packing stress has a funny way of overshadowing what should be a great life moment – celebrating a dear friend getting married – into a checklist of things I am probably forgetting.
The upside of this packing stress? It sparked the idea for this week’s (and my very first) ‘Little Thoughts’.
Imagine you’re heading off on your next trip. The kind that takes you across cities, climates, and maybe even continents. You’ve got a general idea of where you’re going, but there are unknowns along the way: delays, detours, surprises. So naturally, you start packing. You think about the shoes you’ll need, layers for changing weather, a book for the flight. You want to feel ready, not just for the destination but for the road itself.
Packing for life is a lot like packing for a trip.
Some people overpack. They try to plan for every possible scenario, stuffing their bags with “just-in-case” items that never get used. In financial terms, this often looks like hoarding too much cash in a savings account or being paralysed by indecision. They worry so much about what might go wrong that they miss what could go right. The result? Their financial “luggage” is heavy, slowing them down, limiting their options, and sometimes costing them more in the long run.
Others go the opposite direction. They pack light, too light. No raincoat, no phone charger, no backup plan. It feels freeing in the short term, but when reality hits – a cancelled flight, unexpected weather, lost luggage – they’re caught off guard. In financial terms, this might look like having no emergency fund, being invested in an inappropriate portfolio or a lack of diversification. The problem isn’t just the setback itself; it’s how unprepared they are to bounce back from it.
Then there are the thoughtful travellers. The ones who strike a balance. They check the forecast, research the terrain, and plan their essentials based on where they’re going and how long they’ll be gone. They pack intentionally – not with fear, but with foresight. In financial terms, this is someone who aligns their money with their goals, builds a flexible plan, and sets aside room for the unexpected. They’re not trying to control every outcome; they’re simply ready for the journey to unfold.
That’s really what financial planning is about. It’s not a rigid checklist or a doomsday strategy. It’s about understanding where you are, where you want to go, and making thoughtful choices about what you’ll carry with you along the way. Because when life throws a curveball – and it always does – it helps to know you’ve packed smart.
So, if your life were a trip, are you packed for it?
If you’re not sure, it might be time to take inventory. Don’t let financial stress overshadow your great life moments – enlist the help of a trusted financial planner who understands your complete financial picture, including your goals and values.
If you’d like to discuss your financial planning, you can get in touch with us here. After all, we all know packing is the least fun part of any trip – so why not let us make it a little easier for you?
