Managing your personal finances can sometimes seem overwhelming, and often times personal finance to-do’s fall by the wayside in the midst of our ever-busy lives. Luckily, our team at InVestra knows just what it takes to get back in control of your finances, and we’re here to give you a few pointers on some simple ways you can get a fresh start in a way that will contribute to your long-term financial success. You can begin getting organized by laying out your priorities, tracking your spending, and determining your net worth. From there, you can start to make intelligent choices that can help you achieve your goals and improve your lifestyle.
Sit down and take the time to write out your financial goals.
You need to know what you hope to accomplish in order to get your financial life in order. What are your priorities? Is it saving for your child’s education, your retirement, or perhaps your own home? The first goal should be to establish an emergency fund that can sustain you for several months if you lose your job. Write down clear goals and a timeline to achieve them.
Track your spending.
It’s impossible to take control of your finances if you don’t know how much you are spending each month. A good exercise is to carefully track all your spending for one month and find out where all the money goes. Do you spend a lot on fancy coffee drinks or lottery tickets? Are you meeting your goals for saving and spending? Use a simple spreadsheet to track and analyze how you spend your money.
Create and follow a budget.
Your budget reflects your financial priorities and applies them to your spending habits. With a realistic budget, you make conscious decisions on how to spend your money. You can use a budget worksheet to show your sources and expenditures of cash for the month, and to adjust your spending to achieve your objectives. Several personal financial apps are available that make budgeting and tracking very simple.
Calculate your net worth.
The total of your assets minus your liabilities is your net worth. Think of it as a scorecard on how you’re progressing toward your long-term financial goals. Calculate your net worth by imagining how much you’d have left over if you sold all your belongings and paid all your debts. You can use this number to inform your budget, refine your financial goals, and gain control of your financial life.
This material was prepared by LPL Financial. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. LPL and Allen & Company of Florida, LLC, a registered investment advisor, are affiliated companies. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that LPL is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity. If your advisor is located at a bank or credit union, please note that the bank/credit union is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL may also be employees of the bank/credit union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, the bank/credit union. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not FDIC or NCUA/NCUSIF Insured | Not a Bank/Credit Union Deposit | No Bank or Credit Union Guarantee | May Lose Value | Not Insured by any Government Agency
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