Personal Finances
A real-world guide to a more balanced life.
Budgeting
Stop living paycheck to paycheck…know how much money you need each month. Add up all of your necessary monthly expenses. This is the amount you need to save in order to stop living pay check to pay check.
Are your spending habits aligned with how much money you make? Track your spending in order to align your spending with financial goals.
- Pay yourself first
- Keep a record of your monthly expenses
- Once you make a budget, you will always know where your money is going
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Where does all your money go?
Know how much money you need each month. This is the amount you need to save in order to stop living paycheck to paycheck.
Saving & Financial Planning
What is Debt?
Debt is simply owing money. How best to handle your debt depends on the type and amount of debt you have, but no matter how much you owe, it’s a good idea to make a plan to pay it down in a way that is doable for you. This section can help you find the best solutions for your situation and get you in a better place financially.
Types of debt might include:
- Credit Card
- Student Loans
- Payday loans/Cash advances
- Home Mortgages
- Car Loans
- Personal Loans
Credit Reports
What is a credit report?
- Run your credit report at least once per year.
- Check your credit report. People often find mistakes that can heavily effect your credit score.
By the time you are ready to tackle your debt you would have already:
- Budgeted and Saved
- Cut Expenses
- Tracking your expenses
- Set some goals
- Changing the way you think about money
- Tracking expenses
- Stop paycheck to paycheck living
- Emergency fund
Depending on the amount of debt and the type you may want to pay off the one with the highest interest.
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Embrace small victories – start with what you can afford and tackle your debts in whatever way works best for you.
Things to Watch Out For
- Avoiding payday lenders and title loans
- Avoid reverse mortgages
- Avoid anything that sounds too good to be true
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There are lots of ways that people can be separated from their money – watch out for things that seem to be in your favor but might actually drain your bank account. Do your homework and be sure to fully understand the details before taking a loan, getting a mortgage or making investments.
What are emergency savings?
An emergency savings fund consists of a small amount of money, usually in a savings account, that you do not have easy access to. Saving for this fund starts with small, regularly scheduled contributions that build up over time.
What are emergencies?
Repairing the brakes on your car; buying your child a new pair of needed shoes; replacing a broken window in your house; paying for a visit to the doctor when your child has the flu; covering the dental expense of filling a painful cavity; paying for a parking ticket; or flying to visit a sick parent.
Emergency Expenditures
- Emergency expenditures can range from the bill for an unexpected car repair to living expenses that are tough to cover because of a layoff.
- What are some emergencies you would like to save for?