Money Management Tips to Achieve Financial Stability

As another holiday season comes to an end and a new year upon us, a common goal is to achieve financial stability. Is it as easy as it sounds? That depends on your commitment to succeed. Let's consider the following tips to get you started.

Review your spending

In a world of credit cards and online shopping, it's easy to veer away from a budget. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If you're not seeing the cash leave your wallet or large dollar amounts written on checks, major spending may not be top of mind. It needs to be.

Stay financially healthy by establishing a budget. This can be as simple as bank alerts when your account releases a certain dollar amount of money each month. You can receive email or text messages that notify you as you get close to budget. So, you can adjust your spending — as much as possible — without going over.

Let's not forget to review some of your entertainment spending. Everyone should indulge once in a while. But, don't get out of hand with travel, eating out, or having too much fun on the weekends. It can all add up quickly, and you may find yourself deviating from your financial stability path.

Eliminate high-interest debt

Using credit cards is a great way to grow your credit. But, be sure you can manage monthly payments. Let's not forget to keep an eye on that interest rate, too. Credit cards tend to have interest rates in the double digits. Fall behind on payments, and you can easily rack up unnecessary expenses.

If paying off high-interest debt on your own is just not achievable, consider a mortgage refinance. You can roll that debt into a new, lower-rate mortgage. Just be sure to follow a budget from this point on. It's very easy to find yourself back in debt once your credit cards are paid off.

Establish an emergency fund

Life happens, including hardships. Be prepared with an established emergency fund for those "just-in-case" moments. Most financial experts suggest that you always have six months of income on hand in case of an emergency. Do yourself a favor by placing these funds in a high-yield savings account.

But where does that money come from? If you really can't find the extra money in your current monthly income, it may be time to consider a few other options. Maybe it's changing (or bundling) your homeowners insurance with your car insurance. You can also trim your monthly bills by buying generic brands at the grocery store or cutting the cable cord.

Keep current with bills

Speaking of bills, do you pay them on time every month? If not, it's time to develop a better plan for prioritizing recurring expenses. Whether you use a spreadsheet or an old-fashioned pen and paper for tracking bills, it's imperative to do so.

Remember that utilities, phone bills, student loans, and other similar expenses should fall into the 'essentials' category in your budget. Trust us; achieving your financial goals becomes a lot easier once you get in the habit of making on-time payments. Future lenders will also look at your strong payment history and be more willing to offer a lower interest rate.

Save for retirement

We get it — retirement probably seems like a fairy tale if you're a young professional. You might have decades of work in front of you, and there's no way for you to imagine your golden years. This kind of thinking leaves many folks scrambling to increase contributions at an older age when they should be planning their fun during this time.

Take advantage of compound interest as soon as possible. Granted, you'll be juggling countless other financial obligations, such as paying down credit card debt and building an emergency fund. But you can still earmark a percentage of your paycheck for retirement.

Continue setting goals

There will be a time when you're debt-free and have a sizable nest egg. However, experts recommend always having a goal-oriented mindset regarding money. The last thing you want to do is be complacent with your finances, and either miss out on an opportunity or face a dilemma because of a lack of flexibility.

For example, let's say you have the chance to purchase an investment home several years before you retire. Achieving this milestone certainly won't be easy, as you might have to increase your income for a while. But the reality is you can purchase this second residence with the proper planning and execution.

And don't forget, if the time comes to consider a mortgage refinance, the mortgage consultants at American Financing can design the right loan to help you achieve financial stability.