Many people nowadays spend money faster than they make it. As most adults are rarely taught about managing one’s finances during childhood, a lot of people opt to go with trial and error to see what works best for them in terms of financial matters.
If you find yourself without savings, a poor credit score and in credit card debt, it’s time to take a good, hard look at how you manage your finances. Here are some tips on how to get your finances in order in 2017.
Know how much debt you owe
According to Business Insider, president and CEO of Hobart Financial Group Chris Hobart said that knowing how much you owe is the first step to paying it off. If you’re in danger of maxing out your credit cards, set up auto-payments for your cards and find a way to pay them.
Take care of your retirement savings
People in their 20s may not be so concerned about retirement, but it’s better to start saving early to get the most out of it in the future. Invest early and get the most out of your 401(k), and make sure that you roll over as you go.
Have an emergency fund
Ideally, you should save at least six months’ worth of cash in case you get laid off or if anything sudden comes up that would leave you with no choice but to hand over the cash. Emergencies such as illnesses, accidents or house fires, while unpleasant to think of, will need a lot of money to deal with. Your emergency fund must be in a separate account from your ATM.
Make sure that you pay off bills on time
Don’t wait until the last minute to pay off your bills. Putting off payments can lead to late payments, which results in a lower credit score. You also get more stressed by all the rushing that you do to pay off bills.
Don’t avoid the issue
Unlike the boogieman of your childhood, your financial problems won’t go away if you pretend that it’s not there. Face your bills and debts head on, and make a list of what needs to get paid off first. You could also ask for advice on how to manage your finances from money-savvy people that you know and trust.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on financial lessons we can learn from the Duggar family.
