Are you in between jobs? Are you planning to quit but don't have a money plan? Or are you still looking for a job and running out of savings?
Harold Pollack is known for his index card of financial advice. His little card that explains how he dug himself out of his "money hole" went viral after he posted it online. Harold Pollack is a University Chicago Professor who suddenly experienced a shift in his future when he realized that he couldn't even afford to drop a down payment on a house. According to Marketwatch, his mother-in-law died, and his disabled brother-in-law moved in. His wife stopped working to care for her brother.
He decided to turn things around by creating his index card of personal finance rules. Samefacts has it that it went viral a few years ago and then Pollack later wrote a book about it, titled ""The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated."
He was able to find ways to save $6,000 and $7,000 a year just from being more mindful about spending. He says it's a simple plan that just needs to be executed well. He adds: "If you get 85% right, you're doing fine."
These are good tips to consider when you're stuck in a financial rut:
1. "It's important for people to feel this is doable."
There's no one thing that will solve your money problems. You can start by saving 10% to 20% of your income every period and work your way up. "The difficult part is living below your means.
2. To cut back on spending, focus on the big things.
It can start with "no more Starbucks in the morning" routine. But that's not enough. You can save up to $1,000 by just bringing a packed lunch instead of eating out. He was focused on buying a house. He was able to get a smaller mortgage that gave him more financial breathing space. Afterwards, a big-ticket savings he made was simply raising the deductible on his homeowner's insurance, cutting the bill by about 20%.
3. While you need to say no, just like in dieting, financial starvation won't work.
A lot of our spending comes from social pressure like dining out on weekends with friends. "You want to make sure that you are spending your money on the things that are important to. Choose between small (that Starbucks latte) or big (vacation), choose wisely.
4. Use your credit card less often and make it a priority to pay off the balance every month.
Pay off your credit card balance every month. Remember, credit-card debt is some of the most expensive debt out there.
5. Use automatic savings plans to fund your 401(k) and other long-term goals.
Pollack says he does most of his savings this way. It simply takes away temptation to use the money for something else. Struggling to fund your 401(k)? At least save enough to claim the company match - it's free money, after all.
6. Tackling money problems cuts stress.
"It doesn't show up immediately, but if you're methodical about it, within a couple of years you start to notice your life really is different," he says.
Ultimately, you'll be able to experience financial wellness and security with the savings earned and stored for your future. His final note? "The moment when I stopped having to worry about my cash flow is when I said not only am I in better shape but I'm more relaxed and I'm making better decisions because I'm not sucking up all my bandwidth in scrambling around trying to make sure no checks bounce or anything like that."
