If you’re like most people you probably have a lot of things on your bucket list that you want to tick off.

What many of us forget is the real backbone to achieving these things – money.

So, why are we talking about this? Well, many Australians, rich and poor, young and old, and male and female, lack a basic understanding of financial matters. This can impact on their ability to make effective financial decisions and achieve their goals. We call this financial literacy.

At StatewideSuper, we’re in the business of helping our members save for their retirement, so naturally we think it’s important to help build a more financially literate culture and more engaged consumers. Financial literacy plays a central role in encouraging people to plan for their retirement from a young age, to set goals for their long-term savings and to take an active interest in the investment decisions they make. And we believe that it’s our job to truly empower South Australians ­– especially our younger generations – to become active participants in their financial future.

So, why not pick one thing that you need to work on and get started! Here are just a few ideas to get you moving on your financial journey:

• Do you know how much it costs to run your household a month? Make a budget to see exactly where your money is being spent.
• Do you want to go on a holiday? Work out where you can save some extra dollars.
• Do you have multiple super accounts? Do you know how your super is invested? Get in touch with your super fund and find out.
• Do you need help planning for your financial goals? Book an appointment to see a financial planner. This is particularly important if like most people you’re too busy to figure these things out yourself or you’re not yet confident making those trickier financial decisions.

StatewideSuper offers a range of free financial education modules on our website, offering a wealth of information to help you understand and take control of your finances. Click here to check them out now.

And of course, if you need help planning for your financial goals, we’re here to help. You don’t need to be a StatewideSuper member to benefit from our services!

Interested? Call 1300 65 18 65 to talk to our team of super specialists or financial planners.

Financial information and advice may be provided by representatives of the Fund’s Administrator and wholly owned company, Statewide Financial Management Services Limited, ABN 69 092 109 209 Australian Financial Services Licence No. 239063 or by authorised representatives of Quadrant First Pty Ltd ABN 78 102 167 877 AFSL No. 284443. Fees may apply for financial planning advice.

The information provided is of a general nature. In providing this information we have not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Further, we recommend that professional financial advice should be sought from a qualified adviser with regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs before considering or acting on the appropriateness of the information given.

Statewide Superannuation Pty Ltd ABN 62 008 099 223 (AFSL 243171) Trustee and RSE Licensee of Statewide Superannuation Trust ABN 54 145 196 298.