Simply Financial With Christopher Calandra

Motivating Millennials To Invest In Their Futures

Episode Summary

Chris interviews millennial podcaster, Michael Cappa, about his life, upbringing, goals, and his mission to help other millennials. They discuss a spending strategy that gauges what you should be spending your money on.

Episode Notes

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Michael Cappa’s Podcast: A Millennials Journey

School educates us academically and professionally but lacks to teach financial literacy and basic everyday skills. Let us help you become wealthy in your mindset and finances!

Podcast: A Millennial’s Journey

Email: millennialjourneypodcast@gmail.com

Instagrams: @_michaelcappa @millennialjourneypodcast @altonapainting

LinkedIn: Michael Cappa

Money Dial Principles with Michael Cappa

Hey, thanks for tuning into my episode on the Simply Financial Podcast on the topic of “Money Dials”! 

The concept of what a “money dial” is comes from Ramit Sethi, which he frames as “Where do you like to spend your money and be ok with it?” I will go a step further and say “How can you use your money dial in your favor/have it be mutually beneficial?”

For some it may be trips, others it may be clothes, some like nice cars, and some like treating themselves to a spa day. However, how can you use your money dial to help generate more value for you and those around you?

Theory to Practice: My Money Dials

My money dials are hands-down food and entertainment, as well as music. I love trying new foods and going to concerts because what are the two things all people have in common disregarding race, culture, religion, gender, and socio-economic status? FOOD and ENTERTAINMENT.

Because forging strong relationships is one of my core values, starting a conversation with someone about food that traditionally comes from their culture or nationality, or talking about a shared music interest is an AMAZING way to create a bond with someone. These money dials of mine have started some amazing relationships and created opportunities for myself and others that are still relevant to this day.

I also want to pursue a career in music in the coming years, so I definitely am more inclined to buy gear for my drum set and spend money in the area of music. Having higher quality gear allows me to better enjoy my craft, provide more value to the audience, and I know I’ll see a great return on investment (ROI) with future success that stems from having quality gear. 

Key Takeaways and Spending Habits for Money Dials:

• First, identify what your money dials are.
• Although we all have an affinity and level of comfort with spending more money in some areas of our lives than others, be cognizant of your spending in your money dial areas. You’re generally ok with spending more money in these one or two areas of your life, but that doesn’t give you permission to abuse it. 
• After seeing my line-by-line bank and credit card statements for the past few years of being an entrepreneur, I can tell you I definitely could have shaved off several thousand dollars’ worth of food that didn’t serve my core value of relationship building, and was more so me just being gluttonous. Don’t feel shame or guilt around past expenditures with your money dials that went overboard – reflect, learn from them, and simply make better choices in the future.
• It’s important to enjoy your money dials and what you love. But again, be cognizant of how much money you spend on your money dial because it’s an opportunity cost. If you put $20k down for a 1978 Corvette Stingray, you’re forgoing a down payment on an income property, which is a long-term asset that PAYS YOU and that you can pass down to your family.
• It’s so important I’ll mention it again, like how the 5 Ds of Dodgeball tell you to “Dodge” twice: Reflect on what your respective money dials are, and certainly enjoy them, but ALSO learn how to master them and use them to your favor, not abuse them for gluttony and greed.