When we think about cleaning, we often start with our closets, garage, or attic. But it’s important to regularly get your finances cleaned up and in order.
设定财务目标
You might be surprised to hear that only 3 out of every 100 adults write down their goals on paper. This is also likely the reason that many Americans say they haven’t reached their goals. It’s proven that you are far more likely to reach your goals if you write them down and share them with others. 在设定目标时，考虑以下几点:
- 即将购买的大宗商品，比如新房或新车
- 债务，包括你计划如何以及何时偿还
- 退休和401(k)养老金
- 儿童教育储蓄帐户
- 长期目标，比如里程碑式的假期
We recommend making your goals using the SMART method, 每个目标都是具体的, 可衡量的, 可以实现的, 相关及有时限. 并非所有的目标都是一样的! Your short-term goals will take about 6-12 months to accomplish, while your long-term goals will usually take more than a year.
启动你的储蓄
A savings account is the backbone of any well-balanced budget. However, 4 in 10 adults don’t have the funds to cover an unexpected $400 expense. You may have just begun to save, or maybe you’ve been saving for years now. No matter what, it’s important to keep growing those accounts.
当你开始存钱的时候, create categories for your savings accounts and label these accounts with the names of your savings goals. Then, think about how much money you will need in an emergency fund. 从1美元开始,000是一个伟大的第一个目标, 然而, depending on your situation you may need to save much more. 用这些问题开始储蓄吧:
- 你的月供负担得起吗?
- Have you split your direct deposit to put money into savings?
- 你可以从哪些方面削减现有的开支?
- 如何限制冲动消费?
- 你能减少外出就餐的频率吗?
了解你的信用
Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life. 不知道你的分数是多少? You can review it each month through 元素 online and mobile banking. 你的FICO分数在300到850之间. 你的分数越高，你的信用越好. Your FICO score plays a large part in lending decisions at financial institutions.
Your credit report tracks how you manage your obligations over time. This document is an important part of your life as financial institutions use this to decide who they will lend to and what loan rates you will receive. There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion that create these reports.
定期查看你的信用报告是很重要的. You should look over this report at least once per year. 访问annualcreditreport.Com获取免费副本. Review this to look for errors and be aware of what it says before making large purchases. It’s important to report any fraud quickly to the credit bureaus.
管理你的债务
现在美国消费者的债务总额约为4美元.1 trillion, with the average household having more than $8,500 in credit card debt alone. 因为债务对很多家庭来说都是现实, it’s important to understand how to responsibly manage your obligations.
When creating the plan, remember that repaying your debts can be done strategically. We recommend either a “debt snowball” or a “debt avalanche.“两种方法的工作原理相似, and we recommend paying the minimum payment on all debts, 除了你关注的那个. The debt snowball strategy involves focusing on paying off your debt with the smallest balance. With a debt avalanche, your focus debt is the one with the highest interest rate.
As you work through your plan, try your best to live solely on your income. Begin using your debit card, rather than credit cards, and stop taking on new debt immediately. One of the best ways to avoid future debt is learning to say “no” to things that you don’t need.
提前退休
规划你的未来是至关重要的, 然而, 80 percent of Americans have no idea how much money they'll need in retirement.
入门很容易:
- Be sure you are taking advantage of your employer 401(k) match
- 如果你加薪了，就增加你的贡献
- Allocate money from your tax return to contribute to a specific retirement savings account
- Meet with an Advisor to ask questions and build a customized plan
As you continue to work through improving your finances, our team is here to support you with any of your questions and needs. 请立即哪个赌钱app比较好获取专家建议.
Sources: CFP Board | Lexington Law | Washington Post | Goal Brand
This information is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Consult with your tax, legal or financial adviser before taking any action.
