Let’s Celebrate!
April is
more than a month where we get to play practical jokes on unsuspected victims,
it is also designated as Financial Literacy Month! During Financial Literacy Month there are
events taking place daily that attempt to educate the public about money management. The goal is to help both young and old
realize that Financial Literacy is nothing to be afraid of, but instead
embraced and conquered. I know that your
own financial life can be overwhelming at times, but hopefully I can give you a
few starting points that you can implement during the last thirteen days of
April. April is just the beginning, the
idea is to keep going until you master your own financial life!
Steps:
1. List your short (3-6 months),
intermediate (3-5 yrs), and long term (10-15 yrs) goals for your life on a
sheet of paper and put it on your refrigerator.
2. Open a savings account and start
saving a certain amount each paycheck. Even if it is $10 just save something!
3. Write down all your debts both small and
large. (Face the fear of knowing the total)
4. Determine how much money you have
coming in (paycheck) versus how much money is going out (bills). Write it all
down on a piece of paper.
5. From that piece of paper (budget) determine
which are needs and which are wants. Determine what can be cut back or cut out.
6. Once you figure out in your budget
where you can save money start adding that extra money to your smallest debt
and pay it off fast! Then repeat with the next smallest debt until all debts
are eliminated.
7. Find an accountability partner. Someone who will encourage you to keep going
when times get tough and remind you of those goals you have on your refrigerator.
I know that personal
money management can be overwhelming. It
can feel like you are trying to eat an entire elephant all at once. Just
remember to take one piece at a time and eventually that elephant will be
completely gone. That is why I put seven
steps instead of thirteen for these last thirteen days so you can take your
time and get it done by or before April 30th. The steps are simple all you have to do is
say to yourself “I am ready to make a change for the better in my financial
life” and the rest will take care of itself.
Don’t give up; complete the journey because in the end all of the
financial strife that use to be a part of your life will just look like a bad
dream and all that will be left is financial success!
Will you
take the first step TODAY?
No comments:
Post a Comment