I have observe that besides speaking to a financial advisor or planner, a banker and maybe parents, most people never have educative conversation about money. Unfortunately, many basic concepts are left unknown and unpracticed, consequently leading to financial instability. Money is an important part of all our lives. As such, it is important to get educated and know how to manage it.
No matter what the financial position you’re in today might be, whether comfortable, positive or negative, the future is not bright if you don’t work at maintaining or improving. And so, if you want to secure stability, you must take action. This article will touch on the basics of money management. It may seem very simple but that is where to start. Mastering these tips, I guarantee will make anyone’s life easier. As you read on, rate yourself on a scale of one to five. Unless you are a four or above, consider establishing a strategy to improve.
1. Live Within Your Means
The very first thing that you’re going to want to do here, is to make sure that you’re always living within your means. Millennials often complain that they barely make enough to survive. In specific cases, this might be true. However, living within your means involves choosing habits and accommodations that fit within your income circle. Plus, sometimes doing more than the minimum to earn more might be what is required.
Living on credit is only ever going to get you in trouble. So whether you’re buying a car, clothes, vacations or anything else, you need to make sure that you can afford it. Because when you can live within your means, your financial future is always a lot brighter.
2. Pay Down Debt
Yes, I understand that paying down debt is easier said than done, especially if your debt is very high. Trust me however, you must start chopping it down. And this could be anything from your installment loans, your credit card balances, maybe some medical bills. For some, even itin loans can get you in trouble. If a debt is hanging over you, set up a plan. And yes, it can take a while to get out of debt but set a goal to have a minimum of owed money.
3. Save
You need to make sure that you are putting some money into savings. This is not only for emergencies, it is also preparing for the future, your future. Whether it is a simple savings account or an investment account, don’t minimize the impact of savings. At first, a safety net is a good idea. But then looking into investing could be a smart option to help you have a promising future too. If you do choose this route, always get expert advice from those who know how investing works and how you could benefit from it, such as Daniel Lerner and David Lerner Associates, so you can start in the right way and ideally reap the rewards.
4. Prioritize Based on Goals
Finally, you are going to want to make sure that you are able to get the financial future you want by working towards the right goals. Do you want to buy a house? Invest? Start a business? Travel? Retire early? When you know what you want to do with your money both now and in the future, you’ll be in the best possible position to design your road map. When you know what you want to achieve, you can then prioritize how you manage your finances.
So, 2019 is right around the corner. Will you start securing a future of financial stability now by establishing a plan for next year?
Money-Smart Millennials 