Originally from a small New Zealand town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, I have since traversed to London via Sydney, and am now working in finance in Canary Wharf. As you can imagine, this is a long way to go.

My journey toward a career in finance started in my early teens. Whilst I never had any significant aptitude for numbers, I was interested in the daily gyrations of financial markets, their influence on politics, the environment and life in general.

Unfortunately, through my late teens and early twenties this strong interest in finance did not translate into good financial management. This was evident when I graduated with a degree in economics, along with an oversized student loan, and large credit card debt.

After moving to Sydney and starting my first post university job with a broker in client services, the constant weight of debt payments on my then modest salary started to take its toll. Whilst it motivated me professionally, it certainly took its toll personally.

This professional motivation and increased understanding of the personal toll forced a realignment of my spending habits, and financial goals. This realignment eventually led to a debt free lifestyle, with savings and investments.

The most immediate impact of this realignment was a better position financially. However, as I became increasingly thoughtful about my spending, I realised a positive externality of my reduced spending was lower consumption, and hence a smaller footprint on the environment.

Recognising the significant levels of consumption, and waste present in many of the lifestyles we lead, along with the increasingly stretched budgets that many people face, I realise that a focus on solving an individual’s financial position, could also result in a positive impact on the environment.

Mindthemoney will pass on my personal finance experiences, both good and bad, and increase awareness of the impact that our consumption has on our environment.

I hope you gain some knowledge and insight which will benefit both your finances, your wealth and the environment.