Are you a procrastinator?

"If young people knew and old people could," a saying goes, referring to lost time and the opportunities that arise in different phases of life, but that certainly left inexperience or the classic procrastination in most of the young (and not so young), have been passed on and then turn them into the feared pluperfect: "if I had ...", "if I did ...". Or as I like to call them: diseases without patients.

Understanding procrastination is the habit of postponing important activities, performing others that do not add value to personal fulfillment or that we simply consider pleasant for mere convenience.

The above saying is framed in terms of experience between the active extremes of a person's life. It is assumed as the opportunity that young people have to make, to change the world, to ensure their future and that of those who come after them.

From the point of view of finances, timely planning and appropriate age becomes very important, because the earlier you start the quicker you will have maturity, intelligence and financial freedom.

Undoubtedly there are different financial priorities that change depending on the age we have, which vary in people according to their goals. Although many people do not have well-defined objectives or have no guidance in this regard.

In a broader sense, I allow myself to present the financial objectives in attention to the stages of life, so that they are of maximum benefit for both young and not so young:

• The first active decade that goes from 20 to 30 years. This is perhaps the most important of all, because it is where financial habits are formed and acquired, where life is planned according to a budget. It is where you begin to think about having independence in all the senses: having a car, a house, and so on.
  Unfortunately, most young people at this stage think about having independence, but they do not act according to that kind of thinking. After all they are still young and they have one life ahead of them.

At this stage it is advisable to start laying the foundations for a solid financial culture, because it is precisely the shoulders where they will be erected in the future. Start investing and then enjoy true financial freedom. It is necessary to ASSUME RISKS.

In this stage, the first credit cards will arrive. Accept them and use them with maturity and responsibility. Of that good use that you des will depend on your credit record, and therefore financial institutions will open their doors. Reciprocity with the bank that placed its trust in you is essential to achieve your goals without sacrificing your working capital.

In times of crisis it is advisable to invest, either in hard currency or in acquiring assets that generate cash flow or capital gain. And if you're going to save, do it with a purpose, but do not let yourself be below inflation.

Likewise, it is advisable to educate yourself, to be educated. Because once the pressing situation has passed, it is the professionals they will call to raise the country. Whether you stay in the country or not, or you dedicate yourself to an activity that earns you a good income, it is always necessary to be trained. Take advantage of the fact that education in the country is accessible.

• The second active decade that goes from 30 to 50 years. Family responsibilities, life together, children and responsibilities with parents begin to arrive. It is no longer thought of as an individual but as a family group. It's where you start thinking about a big house, a big car, family security.

It's time for you to prepare for your retirement. If you have not made investments, it is the right time to do it NOW. If you have not started a business it's time to do it NOW. Control yours debts is essential.

• The active third decade that goes from 50 to 65 years. Already retirement is closer. The expenses of the children do not exist, but the level of life lowers if it has not been known to take advantage of the enthusiasm and energy of the youth to assure the future. It's where you basically start living off your investments. You no longer have enough strength to perform a job that generates income. It is not that in the third age they can not generate income, but these are limited by fatigue and fatigue. And living on social security is not exactly the most rewarding and compensatory thing that can exist for a long life given to work. At least not in the undeveloped countries like Venezuela.

And you, what will you live in the future?

Finally I leave this anecdote of the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642):

On one occasion, someone asked Galileo Galilei:

-How old are you?

• Eight or ten responded Galileo, in obvious contradiction to his white beard.

And then he explained: -It's true, I have the remaining years of my life, because those already lived no longer count, as the coins we had and already spent do not count anymore.

Do not expect it to be too late to realize that you have placed the ladder on the wrong wall.