How to Successfully Manage Money

Everyone aspires to financial freedom. But contrary to popular belief, this goal is not out of reach or only something a few select individuals can achieve. Rather, it is within everyone’s grasp, and the path is simple. All that is required is some discipline and a plan.

So what is the formula to financial freedom? Manage your money effectively, then allow time and compound interest to do the rest. It is really that simple. Over a lifetime, a few hundred dollars can become millions simply by sitting in an account and drawing interest that is compounded over decades.

Smart Money Management

A business that doesn’t prepare detailed financial budgets will not survive in the long-term. Without an accurate account of incoming revenue and outgoing expenditures, staying financially on-track is impossible.

Your personal finances are no different. Surprisingly, only one-in-three U.S. households uses a detailed family budget. This is unfortunate because an accurate budget is indispensable to effectively managing money. If you don’t have a budget, invest in one of the many useful budgeting apps or software programs  to help you track your monthly finances.

Moreover, it is important that everyone in your household is on the same page. By coordinating your finances, family members can ensure they are working toward the same goals. If your budget is stretched too thin, it’s time to make some joint decisions about which areas to cut.

Smart money management also requires a strong handle on debt and how it impacts the rest of your finances. It is important to minimize your debts as much as possible, since every dollar paid in interest is a dollar that could have been saved and invested.

Carrying too much debt also restricts your ability to manage money effectively and save for the future. Therefore, sensible debt reduction should be part of any long-term plan to improve your money management.

The Importance of Saving

Once you have developed a workable budget, reigned in your spending, and taken steps to lower your debt, you will have the financial breathing room to start saving. Although saving at least 15 percent of your income every month is ideal, saving even just a little every pay check can reap large dividends in the long-run.

For example, if you save $500 today at a 10 percent annual return and don’t touch it for 40 years, you will have $22,000. Save $5,000 and you will have $226,000 in 40 years. This is the power of compound interest.

Invest Wisely

It is also important to make informed decisions about how you invest the resources you save based on your individual goals. Taking advantage of tax-advantaged retirement accounts (such as your 401k or an IRA) will also give you potential matching benefits and allow you to reap predictable returns and minimize any fees that would otherwise dip into your earnings.

The Bottom Line

Smart money management is critical to successful wealth development. Financial freedom is within your grasp. Develop a budget and start implementing actionable steps that will ensure your long-term financial prosperity.

Contact me today to learn more about financial literacy to secure you and your family’s future.