How to manage money? Set realistic financial goals that will help you get rid of debt, create a financial reserve and achieve financial independence.
Learn how to manage your money with smaller but achievable financial goals that will help you achieve your bigger and longer-term goals, such as buying a home or retiring early.
Once you are aware of your main and long-term financial goal, then you will be able to focus on sub-goals that will gradually lead you to the end of the main one.
Regardless of your goal, it is wise to set up a personal finance management system that will make it easier for you to achieve your financial goals.
It is also important to measure your progress regularly throughout the year.
HOW TO MANAGE MONEY?
Start by setting the following financial goals:
1) START BUILDING YOUR BUDGET
In order to learn how to manage money and be financially successful, the most important thing is to create a sustainable budget.
You can easily make a lot of money and still face financial problems if you do not manage your money efficiently.
Budgeting has two important parts:
- budget creation
- and its observance
If you are setting up a personal or family budget for the first time, it may take some work, but don’t be put off!
Tracking your income and expenses each month can not only help you get a better picture of your finances, but can also help you better plan any financial decisions.
For example, looking at your spending can help you distinguish between the things you only want and the things you really need, which can lead to a change in unhealthy financial habits and an unhealthy waste of money.
As a result, it will be the most difficult decision to set your budget.
Then the whole process can be very simple and largely automated – for example, thanks to the use of some of the mobile budgeting applications.
However, it is one thing to set a budget and keep it!
If you have difficulty meeting your budget, you may want to consider using an envelope system. This will help you stop spending once you reach the limit each month.
WHAT IS THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM?
The envelope budgeting method is a simple but effective way to save money and pay bills.
This method will help you set aside as much money as you need to pay your bills and not go beyond your personal budget.
It is a popular budgeting system and can also be implemented using personal finance software.
HOW ENVELOPE BUDGETING WORKS
The envelope budgeting system divides your income into different categories of expenses – bills, food, gas and water advances and so on.
Once you decide how much you should spend for each category, you take that amount in cash and put it in an envelope.
Then spend only what is available in this envelope on accounts or purchases in that category. The aim is to prevent excessive spending by limiting the amount of money that can be spent.
Even if you no longer use cash to pay your bills, the principle still works and can be used with software or other financial technology.
The power of envelope budgeting is that it forces you to stay in touch with physical money, because once the envelope is empty, you cannot spend this category until you replenish the envelope from the next payout.
To use envelope budgeting, first set spending categories for your budget, and then set spending limits for the categories.
The total amount for spending categories cannot exceed your monthly income. To understand what categories can be useful for your budget, consider where your money is going.
Try to list your current expenses so that you can group them effectively.
Categories may include, for example:
- Rent
- Energy
- Foodstuffs
- Health and care
- Clothes
- Eating outside
- Household Goods
- Pet care
- Baby goods
- Entertainment (sport, theater, etc.)
Tailor your categories to your specific situation. Create as many categories as you need, but there shouldn’t be too many, otherwise you’ll have trouble getting to know the system.
Be sure to include irregular expenses such as taxes, insurance or gifts, and a savings category.
To find out what a reasonable monthly limit can be for each of the categories, take a look at your recent bank statements or receipts to get an idea of ​​your usual costs.
You can use this number, or if you are trying to reduce your spending, use a slightly lower number.
If you have money left in one of your envelopes at the end of the month, you can either keep it in that envelope for spending next month, or remove it and add it to your savings to create a financial reserve.
ENVELOPE METHODING WITH THE FINANCIAL APP
With direct deposit payments to your bank account, electronic funds transfers, debit and credit cards, your cash envelope budget may seem outdated.
However, with personal finance or budgeting software built on envelope budgeting, you can use convenient financial transaction methods while maintaining the discipline of envelope budgeting.
A mobile budgeting application, such as Walet, uses virtual “envelopes” to represent budget categories and to view spending activity and balances for each category.
If you still want the benefits and structure of the envelope method, but do not want to carry cash with you, consider using an application that allows you to digitize the system.
The envelope method is a good way to learn how to manage money.
HOW TO MANAGE MONEY AND TIPS FOR A BALANCED BUDGET
What should be the goals for your budget?
- Set a monthly budget to track income and expenses
- Distinguish between spending categories and prioritize needs over wishes
- Reduce your spending in certain categories each month
- Regularly set aside unexpected expenses
- Share your budget with a partner or other family members
- Stick to your budget for the whole year
2) PAY OFF YOUR DEBT
Getting out of debt is a key step in taking control of your personal finances. The budget will give you a pretty good idea of ​​how much debt you have and what means you have to send.
The first step is to prioritize the fastest possible debt repayment with the highest interest rates (most likely credit card debt).
By paying off debt with the highest interest rate first, you can save money and use it elsewhere.
You should start by setting up a debt repayment plan and then commit to sticking to your payment plan throughout the year. Believe that paying off debts will give you relief.
This gives you more freedom to do the things you want to do. You will achieve greater work flexibility and greater inner peace.
While this may require some sacrifice to repay the debt as soon as possible, it is worth the effort.
TIPS AND TIPS ON GETTING UP DEBT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
- Identify and prioritize high-interest debt repayments as soon as possible
- Set up a debt repayment plan
- Consider reducing non-vital expenses or selling items to repay debt
- Find a second job, a weekend job or other earnings and generate additional income to pay off the debt
3) START SAVING MONEY
Saving money is another important key to financial success. The answer to how much you should save is not the same for everyone and depends on many factors specific to each individual.
Many experts suggest that you save at least 15% of your income each month, but this may not be for everyone. Instead, you could adopt a goal-based approach to savings.
Allocate money for short-term and long-term goals.
For example, a short-term goal may be to buy a car over the next two years, while retirement may be a long-term goal.
Remember that any amount you save adds up over time.
Theoretically, leaving part of the paycheck aside is the best way to save.
However, this is not always possible.
There is no formula for saving, but consistency is key, so you should try to set aside some money each month.
This is where the budget you create comes into play. It can help you analyze what expenses you could reduce or where you could find money to save.
Restricting meals in restaurants is a great way to save money, but it may not be the only way to find money to save.
As a first step, use whatever amount you are able to save to create a financial reserve.
The financial reserve in the form of a contingency fund should help you cover expenses for at least six months.
Such a financial reserve can be very useful for dealing with surprising expenses or unexpected circumstances.
Also, having funds available in an emergency can prevent you from using your credit card, which makes it very easy to create a high-interest debt that may be more difficult to repay.
You should only use the financial reserve in case of emergency. Diving into emergency funds for other expenses may be tempting, but it defeats the purpose of the reserve.
TIPS AND TIPS HOW TO SAVE EVERY MONTH
- Set a monthly savings target
- Analyze your budget and find out how much and how you can save
- You can save part of your paycheck or adopt a goal-based approach to savings
- Start by creating a financial reserve
4) EDUCATE FINANCIALLY
Consistent commitment to learning as much as possible about financial markets, the nature of money and investment in general is absolutely essential to creating long-term wealth.
It will also help you better understand how to successfully manage your personal finances.
How to educate financially? You can do this by searching online, attending courses or reading financial books.
Although there may be a lot of information online or on social media, seek investment advice only from trusted sources.
Set a goal to read at least one detailed resource per month; A book or magazine will give you insight into a specific area of ​​financial matters.
You can start by reading about personal finances and delve deeper into investing and stock markets.
ADVICE AND TIPS ON HOW TO LEARN FINANCIALLY
- Sign up for a personal finance management course
- Read books on personal finance and investing
5) START INVESTING
Investing will allow you to multiply your money at the fastest pace. Consider investment options based on your financial situation and the amount of risk you are willing to take.
Stocks are considered riskier than bonds, but they also offer higher returns.
If you are unsure about stock selection, you may want to consider investing through mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs), which will allow you to invest money with other investors and gain shares in the investment portfolio.
If you are worried about investing because of current market conditions or because you do not understand how markets work, take the time to talk to a financial advisor.
A good financial advisor will ask you questions about your financial and life goals and then give you suggestions on how to achieve them.
Advisors will help you understand the risks and benefits of investing and should help you find investments that suit your current risk situation.
TIPS AND TIPS TO HELP YOU START INVESTING
- Analyze your financial situation and find out how much money you can invest
- Evaluate your risk tolerance. Only invest as much as you can afford to lose
- Set a goal to invest a certain amount each month
- If you are not sure how to invest, contact a financial advisor
