Tips for Successful Personal Finances
That’s a question on a lot of people’s minds. Should I take it early at 62 or at my full retirement age or wait until I am 70.
Well wouldn’t it be great if you had a crystal ball to get the right answer for you. Well, we don’t and you want to make the right decision for your situation.
Here is an article from the Motley Fool that could give you some information that may help you make a decision that’s right for you.
Welcome to 2022!
It’s time to think about your finances. What are your financial goals for the upcoming year? Are you looking to save for an emergency fund, retirement, a new home or home improvements, education, an emergency fund?
There is so much to accomplish and never enough money. Well, that is how I used to think. But not anymore. 
I started by taking small steps to achieve my financial goals. My first goal was to create an emergency fund of $5,000. Sounds overwhelming, but I broke it down into small steps:
$5,000 in one year is $416.66 a month – $5,000 in one year is $96.15 a week – $5,000 in one year is $13.70 a day
Next, I needed to find this money in my budget. What could I cut back on or do without? It turns out it was multiple ideas to come up with this money. We spaced out haircuts, we stopped buying beverages for work (we bring our own), we trim our dog’s nails ourselves and more.
Lastly, we automated the savings. Each paycheck we save $100.00 into our emergency savings automatically. It’s set and done.
Now we have the emergency fund we need to be prepared for whatever happens in our life.
Please know that it’s never too late to start to save for your goal. Obviously, the earlier you start the better off you are. But not starting is a mistake. Make a plan and decide to start now. You too can achieve your financial goals this year.
Many companies offer their employees free matching funds for their retirement. According to CNBC, 17.5 million Americans leave this free retirement money on the table. Is this you? 
401K retirement account contributions are pre-tax, therefore lowering your taxable income. CNBC says that 17% of employees don’t contribute. Why not? Many people say they don’t have the funds to contribute to their retirement. Among those that do contribute, 12% don’t get the full matching funds.
When I worked at Norwalk Community College, one of the first things I did was read the entire employee manual. Yes, it was long, but it had valuable information that I could take advantage of. I chose the alternate retirement plan. For me that meant, I would have to contribute 5% of my gross income to receive the matching funds. As soon as I was eligible, I enrolled. In this particular plan, I was given 8% matching funds. Why wouldn’t I do this? For me, this was a no brainer. I have always accepted free money.
If you have accepted your free money, congratulate yourself. If not, enroll today (or as soon as you are eligible). You don’t want to pass up free money.
Whether you are just starting out or nearing retirement, there are things you can do now to make retirement easier for you. You don’t want to retire and not have the money to do what you want. Here are some things you should think about:
According to AARP, more than half of the full-time workers age 50 years and above will lose their job involuntarily. Keep track of your finances, live below your means and be prepared for whatever comes your way.
Do you ever wonder how your financial pictures stacks up? Are you on track to meet your goals? What do you need to still do? These and other questions are always on the man
y people’s minds.
I have discussed the importance of having an emergency savings, a budget to know where your money is going, great credit /score to have the best interest rates when you need to borrow and minimal high interest debt. Check out some of my past emails for more information on these topics.
This is a great article Six Numbers Reveal the State of Your Financial Health. How well do your finances compare to these six areas? All are important areas that should be goals for you to accomplish with your finances.
No (or minimal) retirement savings! If you are getting up there closer to retirement, this can be a scary thing.
Suze Orman wrote this great article, that there can be hope and it’s not too late to start or catch up on retirement savings. Help! I’m 55 and Have No Nest Egg
You can do anything you set a goal to do.
Every year around my birthday is the time I check my social security.
No, I am not ready to apply. But it’s something I do annually to make sure all is correct. Every year socia
l security posts your income to your account (the same income you file on your federal tax return). I like to double check to make sure mine is correct. It’s much easier for me to check now, then to figure it out when I apply for social security down the road. My records are easily accessible and easy to review to double check.
When was the last time you looked at your social security account?
It’s never too late to invest in your future. Whether you are starting out now or picking up where you left off, make a plan.
Real Simple Magazine has information on investing from $5.00 to $50,000. A new year and it’s time to invest in your future.
As we get older one of the things that is always on my mind is retirement. What does it look like for me? Where do I want to live – stay where I am or move? Stay in my current house or downsize (maybe condo)? The list of questions goes on and on for me.
Wallet Hub has come out with a list of 2018 Best and Worst States to Retire To. Where is your state? This might be something to take into consideration in your planning.
We all want to save for retirement, but there never seems to be enough money left over to save. Does this sound familiar?
The first rule of saving for retirement is, if you are offered free money take it. If your employer sponsored retirement plan offers you matching funds, take it. Contributing to a retirement plan through your paycheck is a great way to get started on the path of regular automatic saving. The earlier you start this habit the better off you will become. On the other side if you haven’t done this, it’s never too late to start now. In this case, free money is a good thing
Next you want to manage your debt. Debt is the enemy to your budget, so you want to avoid it at all cost. I am not saying don’t borrow or use credit, what I am saying is to use it wisely. Don’t become a slave to your debt and that you live paycheck to paycheck trying to keep up with your debt payments.
Charge wisely and only amounts that you can pay off easily. If you find yourself with an emergency and you have to borrow money, evaluate your options and make the choice that is best for you and your budget. Pay back the debt as quickly as possible to avoid as much of the finance / interest charges as possible.
Lastly, gratification – are you someone who needs instant gratification? Do you buy without a payback plan? Look at the food cost (groceries, dining out, take out etc.), shopping, memberships, entertainment etc. These are the expenses, that where the instant gratification that can harm your budget. These are the first defense against the leaks in your budget. Plug those holes to have more money for your retirement.
Think about your finances then make a plan to implement these strategies one by one. Once you master one, start the next. Remember that your finances will not change overnight, be patient and remember it takes time.