Whether you've just started a family and are new to the lifestyle, or you have several kids as old as high school age, it's likely your finances could use some help. If you are in debt, aside from a mortgage, you need to make some changes. If you have no retirement plan because you think you can't afford it, you need some help, too.
Debt comes in all shapes and sizes. You could have car loans, small business loans, loans from family, credit card debt, or money owed from any type of financing. You need to find a way to either increase your income, decrease your spending, or do a combination of the two in order to have extra income to pay off your debt. Once you've paid off your debt, you can start funneling more of your excess income into a retirement account.
By making a family budget, you can adjust your spending to start saving. I call it a family budget because your whole family needs to cooperate to make it work. You and your spouse need to be on the same page. If you make a budget and your spouse continues to spend more than you planned, your hard work will go to waste. Likewise, if you continue handing cash to your kids whenever they ask, not only will you be wasting more money, but your kids will never learn to work for their money. Make them get a job and start earning their money.
It's important that you pay off your debt as soon as possible because your debt will keep growing and earning interest. You can and should open up a 401K or 403B, if you work for the government or nonprofit, and start contributing to it. I recommend contributing a small amount now in order to take advantage of time and compounding, and then increase your contribution substantially once you've paid off your debt.
If you feel like you don't spend a lot but are still living paycheck to paycheck, you need to take a serious look at how you're living. You don't have to be going into debt and be a shopaholic to be living above your means. It's the small things that can save you money. Cut back on your television subscription, downgrade your car to get rid of car payments, buy store brands, or skip your morning coffee. Maybe it's your residence that is doing you in? Buy a smaller house or a cheaper apartment until you get your finances under control. - 18193
Debt comes in all shapes and sizes. You could have car loans, small business loans, loans from family, credit card debt, or money owed from any type of financing. You need to find a way to either increase your income, decrease your spending, or do a combination of the two in order to have extra income to pay off your debt. Once you've paid off your debt, you can start funneling more of your excess income into a retirement account.
By making a family budget, you can adjust your spending to start saving. I call it a family budget because your whole family needs to cooperate to make it work. You and your spouse need to be on the same page. If you make a budget and your spouse continues to spend more than you planned, your hard work will go to waste. Likewise, if you continue handing cash to your kids whenever they ask, not only will you be wasting more money, but your kids will never learn to work for their money. Make them get a job and start earning their money.
It's important that you pay off your debt as soon as possible because your debt will keep growing and earning interest. You can and should open up a 401K or 403B, if you work for the government or nonprofit, and start contributing to it. I recommend contributing a small amount now in order to take advantage of time and compounding, and then increase your contribution substantially once you've paid off your debt.
If you feel like you don't spend a lot but are still living paycheck to paycheck, you need to take a serious look at how you're living. You don't have to be going into debt and be a shopaholic to be living above your means. It's the small things that can save you money. Cut back on your television subscription, downgrade your car to get rid of car payments, buy store brands, or skip your morning coffee. Maybe it's your residence that is doing you in? Buy a smaller house or a cheaper apartment until you get your finances under control. - 18193
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