Real Goals: Being financially, mentally, academically, physically, spiritually, and emotionally stable.

Stability is everything.

Being it emotional or physical. You need a solid ground to build anything on. I tell my clients all the time that they need a solid foundation to build on and in financial terms that would be your budget. Your budget is that solid map that tells you what direction to go in. I fully believe that I am more stable in all areas of my life because I am so stable in my finances. Money connects to everything whether we like it or not. It is on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly into our own selves.

There are so many emotions around money that turn into blocks. Sometimes people don’t even realize that they are subconsciously blocking themselves from wealth. It is a mindset for sure. Diving into those blocks and negative feelings around money will only help you break through those barriers and into your new life. Stability in finances requires Balance, Consistency and Discipline which I say ALL THE TIME. When stability becomes a habit, maturity and clarity follow. Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. The struggle is real when you are trying to stay disciplined and stick with your budget. I get it.

Stability is necessary for your future economic success. Finances are not stable by any means but you have the upper hand when you are in control of your finances. You want to make your money work for you. Investing is a great tool but way less stable than your average 9-5pm job. Investing is about trends and sadly politics/media but once you figure that out its so easy. I used to think there were major calculations that I had to do in order to figure out my best investing opportunity. WRONG. You just have to know the trends and current events plus be less attached to your money. Investing requires some gambling and you have to be OKAY with that.

Stability Within Your Finances 

It is almost year-end and you tend to reflect on how much you have been able to achieve in regards to your previously-set financial goals. Are you satisfied with the current state of your finances? 

Imagine a world where you don’t have to worry about money to live the kind of life you have always craved for. You have enough to enjoy that vacation, buy a new home, pay your bills consistently and on time, and live comfortably at retirement. Of course, these are possible, however, only with financial stability.

Financial stability is not only possible when you are stupendously rich. In fact, it is not measured by the amount of money you have. Rather, it is all about being confident that your everyday finances are enough to help you reach your financial goals involving zero-debt, savings, and insurance. Only individuals with stability within their finances can cover their basic needs as well as enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Achieving stability with your finances is, of course, possible, even in this ever-changing world. It isn’t rocket science. However, it is not as easy as being portrayed. You need to develop good financial habits including planning, organizing, commitment, discipline, and resilience. Financial stability leads to peace of mind, happiness, and long-term satisfaction.

How Do You Achieve Financial Stability?

On the path to financial stability, accepting the addictions that often cause financial instability is a good way to start. These addictions include overspending or impulse spending, gambling, materialism, and paying bills late. With these taken care of, you are on track to making a good headway with your finances. 

It is important to note that there are no shortcuts to achieving financial stability. The steps involved require time, effort, and consistency. The following actions will help you achieve stability within your finances.

1. Create a Financial Plan

Every decision, especially involving finances, should be hinged on a plan. Otherwise, you tend to make the wrong financial decisions. A financial plan helps you gain control over your spending. Usually, a financial plan considers your income, spending, savings, debt, and insurance. In other words, a financial plan gives you an idea about what you earn as against what you owe, thus serving as a blueprint to help you develop a financial budget. 

2. Create a Financial Budget

Once you have good knowledge about your self-worth, then you need a personal budget to help you have absolute control over your spending. The way you spend has a great impact on other financial decisions you make. A budget is organized based on cash inflow (income) and cash outflow (expenses). You may also want to break down your expenses into needs and wants. 

Definitely, there are some basic expenses or fixed expenses you cannot avoid every month. Some of them include food, rent, and water or electricity bills. Others, such as cable subscriptions, can come under not-too-important bills or variable expenses, especially if your income cannot conveniently cater for it.

A financial budget, when you stick to it, helps you to prioritize spending and saving, reduce or eliminate expenses, spend wisely, and make wise financial decisions that can help you achieve financial stability. Nevertheless, a budget must be flexible to allow for modifications in case of unforeseen circumstances.

3. Control Your Impulse Spending

This is apparently a major problem that is common with almost everyone. Money has a way of controlling us so much that we get easily carried away when we have some funds in our wallet. We always want to show we can afford certain things. Impulse spending, especially on such activities as eating out and extensive shopping, drains our finances, thus resulting in financial instability. To avoid this, it is important to control and monitor our impulse spending. Have a second thought before deciding to make any purchase.

4. Spend and Live Frugally

One wrong financial decision is to live above one’s income. The result is often disastrous. Before making the decision to make any purchase or initiate any spending, you may have to ask yourself this question: How easy can I get back each dollar I spend? If you are able to think deeply about this, then you will be careful with your spending.

Do you need a new home or car now? Is that vacation important now or you can still have it some other time? Living or spending frugally doesn’t imply that you don’t want to enjoy the comfort life has got to offer. However, it helps you to be disciplined as well as identify spending areas that are not necessary, at least, at the moment.

5. Pay Off Your Debt On Time

If you have some debts to settle, it might be necessary for you to develop a debt payment plan. List out your debts (personal loans, credit cards, etc.) and organize them in either ascending or descending order. In your budget, make allocations for debt settlement, even if you have to deny yourself of certain benefits. Remember, late payment of debts can lead to increased interests, and this means more debts.

Once this process continues, you will be surprised at how “easy” it is to get out of debt. If you have credit card debt, you may have to consider using cash to make purchases. This prevents you from spending more than you have. Debt elimination process often takes a long time. However, it is a rewarding process. When you are out of debt, you will be able to make other financial decisions.

6. Create an Emergency Fund

Who ever thought they would get sick at a time they are down financially? Or get involved in an accident that will necessitate treatment? The reality is that life comes with unexpected occurrences that will require your attention. How do you factor this in your budget when you barely have enough money after your expenses?

Your best bet is to create an emergency fund. Emergencies could involve a major car repair or having to take an unplanned trip. An emergency fund not only serves as a backup plan, but it also helps you to navigate through a tough time with little or no financial stress.

7. Make Plans for Retirement

You are 25 and you feel you still have a whopping 35 years before you attain retirement. You will be surprised at how fast time flies. Remember that your salary will stop someday, as a salary earner. There is no better time to start saving or investing for your retirement than now. Otherwise, you may be jeopardizing your future with uncontrolled spending in the present. Little money snowballs into a large amount in no time.

Check if your company has a 401(k) plan for its employees. The plan becomes more necessary if your employer will match some of or all your contributions to your company retirement plan. You can also consider a Roth IRA.

Key Takeaway

The actions discussed above are the right steps towards achieving stability within your finances. You should have started yesterday. However, another opportunity is NOW. Remember, you shouldn’t get too focused on saving and investing that you forget to enjoy life. Sure, it costs money too. However, it also contributes to a healthy and happy life. You may only have to consider cheap options, such as going for a show, having a massage once in a while, or inviting a few friends for a game night.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Habits That Put you in Debt

If people had the opportunity to change something about their lives, a lot of them would be swift to correct mistakes that denied them financial freedom, especially debt. Unless you’ve ever been in debt, you wouldn’t be able to relate with the stress and emotional trauma that often accompany it. Being in debt requires you to model your life around it. You may even have to give up some financial goals to keep up with your monthly (re)payments. 

Debt doesn’t just happen; it is often a result of certain spending habits and making poor money choices that have accumulated over some months or even years. Though some people get into debt with no fault traceable to them, a vast majority of those in debt dug their own debt hole. Most of these debt-leading habits often come in the guise of serving as smart financial moves, and a lot of people fall prey to it.

The following habits are capable of putting you in debt if you keep on with them:

Lack of Financial Budget

A budget gives you control over your spending in relation to your income. It helps you to set spending limits while also working within the plan. Without a financial budget, you tend to get into impulse spending – that is, spending uncontrollably, especially when you are excited, angry, or bored. When this happens, you will overspend and may end up knee-deep in debt. 

To break this habit, create a budget that shows your monthly income as well as fixed monthly expenses. When you subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income, you know what you have left to spend on food, transportation, entertainment, and other expenses.

Paying Your Bills Late

Though it can happen to anyone, late payment of bills isn’t a good habit. When you pay your bills late, it leads to increased interest charges, thus hitting your credit score hard. Make it a habit to pay your bills on time.

If you are the type of person that procrastinates with this kind of task – or even forgets it – you may have to consider enrolling in auto-pay. At least, it will help you stay organized while also saving you the need for late fees and high-interest charges. Your finances should be organized in a way that prevents you from missing your bills.

Eating Out All The Time

Yes, you may run out of time to cook sometimes, and picking up food from or eating at a restaurant becomes the next option, especially after a hectic workday. That’s acceptable! However, if you are fond of visiting the restaurant and grocery stores, it may take a tole on your pocketbook. The situation becomes worse if you place the restaurant meal on a credit card. 

Dining out for lunch, especially with friends or coworkers, is a sociable event. However, doing this all the time can cause you to live beyond your means. Remember you will also have to spend additional money on tips if you order in a sit-down restaurant.

Lack of Emergency Fund

Life is full of unexpected occurrences which usually come at various costs. A number of surveys indicate that a significant number of Americans live paycheck to paycheck each month. With that being said, when unplanned expenses arise, most people will have to borrow money to meet the obligation. Emergency situations that may warrant unplanned expenses include health or medical issues, accidents, etc. The inability to meet up with these expenses portends the beginning of a vicious cycle of debts.

To avoid this, set up an emergency account which you fund with a certain amount (Whatever you can or makes sense within your budget) from your paychecks every month. You will be surprised at how fast little money adds up. This will help to cushion any financial pressure that may arise as a result of emergencies. You may also have to resist every urge to dip your hands into this fund unless it is of huge necessity.

Spending Based on Speculation

Some people often spend money based on the expectation of finding a way to get more money in the future, probably in the form of a promised financial gift. This is a recipe for financial disaster. There is no need to increase your budget or spending based on optimism if your income this month will not increase the next month.  Never factor an expected increase into your budget until it appears in your checking account. A lot of students with this habit graduate with massive student loan debt.

Let your budget be based on reality rather than hope. With this, you may have to continue saving for any item you want to purchase until you can afford it rather than buying it now with the hope of getting “imaginary” money to pay it back in the future.

Using Credit Card Rather Than Cash

How you use credit cards determine the benefits you will get from them. Rather than use credit cards for ordinary purchases, such as groceries, gas, or clothes, you should embrace the use of cash at hand or the one you have in your checking account. If you are unable to pay your credit card bills in full every month, it is an unwise spending habit to continue using it instead of cash. 

When you have credit cards in your wallet, you tend to fall into the temptation of using them at will, thus making you spend uncontrollably. At least, you wouldn’t be paying it back immediately. To avoid plunging yourself into debt, you may have to determine the amount of credit card you need to prevent you from exceeding your limit financially. Also, you may want to maximize your reward earnings through reward programs that allow you to earn cash by charging more on your credit card. In this case, only charge what you would have purchased with cash, and be sure to pay off the purchase immediately.

Trying to Keep Up With Others

We are in a society where people are under pressure to purchase material items they can’t afford just to impress those around them. Such people wouldn’t want to miss out on the latest fashion item or technological gadgets. They are always aiming for things they can’t afford. They take pricey trips or visit restaurants that have highly-priced foot items.

While attempting to maintain a certain lifestyle of luxury can cause you stress and anxiety, it further plunges you into debt and more debts. This habit is a bad one. If you find yourself in a circle where you are judged based on what you earn or the kind of luxurious lifestyle you are living, it might be time to break away from the circle. Do only what makes you feel happy. Don’t live your life to impress others.

Key Takeaway

The habits discussed above are capable of taking you off the path of financial freedom. Remember the goal is to live a life that is free of debts and to have good financial habits, such as creating and sticking with a financial budget, spending based on your earnings, minimizing your visits to restaurants, using cash more than you use credit cards to pay for regular purchases, paying your bills early, and avoiding the urge to live your life to impress others, can help you avoid debt. We want to BE rich, not LOOK rich.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Not knowing where to start is OKAY. Trust me, you are not alone. So many people struggle with those scary wandering around in the dark feelings when it comes to their money.

I grew up around the financial world. Budgeting and saving is like second nature to me. I have done my budget since I was 18 years old. Once I got my first real job outside of my family’s business and I LOVED shopping at Target. I had to figure out a way I could save money but also have fun and buy myself something I wanted.

Start With Your Budget

Start with your budget. Your budget is the road map or blueprint to guide you where ever you want to go. Budgets are LIFE. Every month I customize my own budget along with my monthly clients so we can see our areas of OPPORTUNITY. These are the categories you overspend in. Monthly adjustments are something that keep you in check with your goals whether short term or long term. It’s all about Balance, Consistency, and Discipline.

Setting a Realistic Budget

Setting a realistic budget means diving into those sticky areas of your life and seeing what type of spending you have been doing. What type of categories do you have within your budget? Do you have long term goals? Do you have debt? By answering these questions you can track these and make sure every dollar has a purpose. I have a great blog post about the foundation of a budget that you should check out called Budgets: Foundation for a Solid Budget.

Balance

Balance is key in life in general but especially within your finances. You need a balance between spending money and saving it. You should be spending money on bills plus any irregular expenses that pop up throughout the month, but you should also have a “Savings” & a “Retirement” category to toss money in each month as well. These categories being in your budget will ensure you add money to it if you are also consistent and disciplined.

Here are some ways to bring balance to your financial life:

• Set some goals
• If you are a small business owner, pay yourself on a schedule
• Have an emergency fund
• Create a debt payoff plan
• Utilize tax-deferred investment plans
• Create a Will

Consistency

Consistency is so important when it comes to your budget. You have to keep up with your budget to see results. REMEMBER, it is just a blueprint for you to follow. It should not feel like a restriction, but more like a structured guideline that helps you figure out what your areas of OPPORTUNITY are. Consistently checking in with your spending is like going to the doctor for a check up. It keeps you healthy and aware.

Here are some ways to stay consistent with your finances:

• Increase your knowledge
• Increase your income
• Change your money habits
• Be rich, don’t look rich

Discipline

Discipline is hard. I feel you. We all have trouble telling ourselves no. I love buying gifts for my family and friends. Something I have to constantly check in with is WHY I want to spend money. I used to shop A LOT and I racked up a huge credit card bill which took me about a year to pay off. I use that as an example when talking to myself about why it’s probably not a good idea to buy that $400 purse.

Since having kids though, I have transitioned my way of thinking. I now appreciate experiences more than “things” or “stuff.” I want to provide my children with life experiences and teach them to be kind humans rather than purchasing things trying to look “cool.” It is definitely a priorities game. Whatever is a priority to you will end up on your budget. It’s all about Balance, Consistency & Discipline.

Here are a few ways to stay disciplined in the new year:

• Set some financial goals
• Use automation for your bills
• Give yourself a challenge
• Change your money habits
• Get an accountability partner or financial coach

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Accurate Spending Categories

You need to have accurate spending categories to see where your money is going each month and where your areas of opportunity are. Some people over spend in their grocery category or their misc purchase category. These categories will be very unique to you and what your life entails. My categories range from pet medications to my daughters school fees to utilities for my home. It just depends on what you have going on.

Accurate Income Projections

This requires you to print out bank statements from at least 3 months and go through your income to get an average income to put on your budget. Some months may vary with different circumstances. If you are doing a new budget system currently but you have been laid off due to COVID-19 that would be a circumstance where you have zero control. You do however have the opportunity to pick yourself up and generate income by any means necessary.

Categories for Irregular Spending

This means a category for random things that come up each month or new subscriptions you’re paying for. Typically your budget will come in close to what you project but there will be times where you overspend at Target on clothes when your budget only called for groceries. This means you have budgeted for these things in that irregular spending category to cover times like this where you purchase many different types of things with one type of budget. Like going to Target for groceries and buying clothing at the same time.

Tracking Cash Purchases

Tracking cash purchases might not seem like a big deal but it is crucial to keeping tabs on all your purchases. If you are really trying to keep a close eye on your transactions then I would recommend getting the Microsoft Office Lens app for your phone and taking a picture of all cash receipts and then putting them in a folder on your phone or the Google Drive for safe keeping. This is great especially for self employed individuals to keep track of cash purchases and business expenses for tax purposes.

Plan for Major Purchases

You must always keep a list of ongoing goals whether they are short term or long term so you can incorporate them into your budget each month. You should have accounts called “sinking funds” for these goals.

7 Sinking Funds to Include in Your Budget:

1. Christmas
2. Important Birthdays/Events
3. Car Maintenance
4. Home Repairs
5. Pet Expenses
6. Travel
7. Medical Costs

4 Rules For a Successful Budget:

1. Give every dollar a job
   • You’re the boss. When you earn money, you prioritize how you’ll use it.
2. Embrace your true expenses
   • Turn large, less-frequent expenses into manageable, monthly bills.
3. Roll with the punches
   • Be flexible and address overspending as it happens. No guilt necessary.
4. Age your money
   • Consistently spend less than your earn, and be more than prepared for the future.

Those negative feelings associated with money will subside- the stress, anxiety, confusion, and shame gets replaced with confidence, calm, and even joy and excitement as you really start to feel in control of your money and tap into the potential of what it can do in your life.

1. Keep your small business finances out of your personal finances
   • This one is huge! Co-mingling business and personal money may seem easier, but it can lead to complications down the road. Keep a record of your business expenses to take advantage of available tax benefits. It also can be risky to use personal money to fund your business as it increases your personal liability. Person and business finances are equally important for success and keeping them separate will help.
2. List your expenses
   • Next, you’ll need to know exactly how much your business is going to cost to run daily and monthly. List out all your expenses, rent, employees, supplies, services, etc. Make short-term and long-term projections with your income.
3. Budget for your wants
   • If you’re planning ways to improve your business, be sure to budget for them, and save until you can afford them. If they are not necessary for your business to run well, there’s no need for you to go into debt.
4. Know what to expect from your business income
   • Relying on your business to provide for your family takes some planning and knowing exactly how much money to expect each month. If you have no idea how to much money will come in, then there’s no way to budget and allocate your money to certain things.
5. Set a savings goal for expansion or security
   • Start a savings plan for your business. In order to expand, hire more people, and provide security for your family, its important for small business owners to set aside small amounts of money to have long-term financial health. Small business owners often face difficulty saving money, since many have very tight budgets when they start. Saving from the beginning will help ensure you have some cushion in tough months.
6. Look for areas where you can cut costs
   • Efficiency and frugality will help your small business succeed. I recommend taking inventory of your expenses every month and considering areas where you can cut costs, not with cutting quality. I’m not advising cutting corners, but there are ways to save money and run your business efficiently without affecting quality of your product or service.
7. Be realistic
   • Make sure you have realistic expectations for your income and your expenses. Do your research, and don’t expand too quickly. Budgeting is essential for your small business success. Its important to keep your personal finances separate from your business finances so that you know exactly where your money is going and are able to easily provide documentation for your business taxes.

Durbin Bookkeeping Website

With any budget, you have your categories that label what your spending your money on. Within those categories you’ll be able to see your areas of opportunity. I have an activity that I have all of my clients do at the very beginning of working together. This activity shows my clients how much they are spending just on their WANTS.

You need three months worth of bank statements. You will then highlight all of the “wants” you purchased. Add up all of those “wants.” The total is how much you spent on just things you WANT. This is to check in with yourself.

How much did you spend?

Does spending that money on random stuff you don’t really need make you feel a certain type of way? Would you rather spend it on something more responsible?

Are you in debt? Could you have paid off some debt with the amount you spent on “wants?”

Do you have short term or long term goals?

Do you have a retirement fund?

Do you like having “things” instead of going on trips for an experience seeing the world?

These questions are to help you see the difference between wants vs needs. Needs should be a priority and if they aren’t you need more discipline in your life. Money management is a mindset. If you are not in the proper money mindset, you can kiss all your extra money goodbye. Which ever type of person you are, whether you’re a money hoarder or an emotional spender, you need to have a balance with your finances. You can’t keep all the money in an account somewhere untouched and expect to have it grow or make you less stressed. You also can’t go around making it rain either. Balance, discipline, and consistency is key in financial wellness.

If you are in need of some financial advice check out my Taxes, Bookkeeping & Financial Wellness Facebook Group!

Baby Step #1: Save $1,000 for Unplanned Expenses

I love this step. I always tell my clients to AT LEAST have $1,000 in their savings for emergencies. You SHOULD have 3-6 months worth of bill money saved as well to be very secure in your financial wellness. I personally, have a years worth of bill money saved just in case because you never know what could happen. I do not like being caught off guard. Having this money set aside gives me a sense of security and freedom.

Baby Step # 2: Pay Off All Debt Except for the House

This makes so much sense. I am very proud of my finances and even I am still in debt. There is good debt and there is bad debt. Having a mortgage is good debt. Especially if you are making those payments on time. Now, credit card debt is bad debt. This is something you should pay off before making any major money decisions. I would recommend reaching out to the company you have the credit with and negotiating a lower interest rate. Also, student loans and/or personal loans are debts you should work towards paying off before you make major money decisions. Lets say you wanted to start trying to buy a home, you need to pay off the debt to increase your credit score therefore having a better chance at a larger loan. It will also lessen your debt to income ratio. You can claim student loan interest on taxes. Paying off debt is something everyone should do as soon as possible.

Baby Step #3: Save 3-6 Months Worth of Expenses

This! I love this! As mentioned in Baby Step #1, I have a years worth of bill money saved for no other reason than my own personal standard. It is something everyone should do. Maybe not a years worth but definitely 3-6 months worth. This is always a goal for my clients because typically when they come to me they didn’t even think about having an emergency savings so adding this into the mix is mind blowing. This is a game changer for your stress. Imagine having this money saved so if in the case something comes up and you cant work for 3 months, you’ll be covered. That sense of security is what helps me stay on tops of my finances. I want to always feel like I am secure.

Baby Step #4: Invest 15% of Your Household Income

Investing is so crucial to your future life. Lets say you bring in $3,000 per month, you would need to put $450 into your investments. I know, $450 can sound like a lot right now in these pandemic times but it’s realistically the best thing you could do for yourself even though the market is bearish currently. It will come back into a bull market. Your future self will love you come retirement time. that $450 will add up and grow. When you invest you have to make smart money decisions, and also come to terms with the fact that your money might be lost at one point or another. In the end if you gain money you will be happy and if you lose money you will be wise.

Baby Step #5: Save for Your Children’s College Fund

According to data reported to U.S. News, in an annual survey last year, the average tuition for the 2019-2020 school year ranged from $41,426 (for private colleges) to $11,260 (for state colleges). That’s the average tuition per year. And unless something changes in how people pay for education, college costs in the future are going to be even worse. Here are some ways you can start saving for them now:

• Open a 529 Plan
  • They are savings plans, usually sponsored by state governments, that encourage saving for future education costs. They often are tax-friendly, in the sense that many states will let you deduct your contributions from your state income tax – and when you withdraw the money for college, the money won’t be taxed. You can put money into your own state’s 529 – or any other state’s plan. So if you live in Idaho but like Indiana’s plan better, go for it.
• Put Money Into Eligible Savings Bonds
  • Some of the advantages of putting money into savings bonds is that they’re guaranteed by the government and extremely low to no risk. On the downside, the interest you’ll earn is pretty low. Right now, individual Series EE savings bonds are earning an annual fixed rate of 0.10%.
• Try a Coverdell Education Savings Account
  • This is a tax-deferred trust account that can be used to pay for elementary, secondary and higher education expenses – room and board is permitted. Earnings accumulate tax free, and distributions are free of income taxes as long as the funds are used for educational purposes.
• Start a Roth IRA
  • A Roth IRA is an excellent vehicle for many taxpayers to invest after-tax dollars while shielding earnings and future growth from taxes forever, as long as appropriate distributions are made. As with any investment, you want to look at the pros and cons carefully – for instance, other relatives can contribute to a 529 but not a Roth IRA. If you have one, you’ll obviously want to discuss this with your financial advisor. With a Roth IRA, should a child decide not to attend college, the parents already have those funds invested for their retirement.
• Put Money Into a Custodial Account
  • In other words, savings accounts called UGMAs and UTMAs (Uniform Gift to Minors Act and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act). They’re both virtually the same thing but UTMAs can hold assets beyond cash, stocks, mutual funds and so on, like a UGMA – but also real estate. There’s no limit in how much money you can put into a UGMA or UTMA, but this is best with a child whom you believe is responsible. Your child will legally be able to use the money in the account – for college or anything else – when they turn 18.
• Invest in Mutual Funds
  • There’s no limit on what you can invest, and of course, you don’t have to use the money for college. But what you earn will be subject to annual income taxes, capital gains will be taxed when shares are sold and the mutual fund’s assets can reduce financial aid eligibility.
• Take Out a Permanent Life Insurance Policy
  • A permanent life insurance policy is a conventional life insurance policy, but some of the money from your premium goes into the death benefit, and some of the money goes into a tax-deferred savings account. One of the pluses of doing this is that the money you save can be accessed at any time for any reason, so it is not limited to college expenses. It provides additional benefits such as a death benefit, and other living benefits, and there is no adverse impact if it is not used for education expenses. There are upfront and recurring fees that might make you think twice before doing this.
• Take Out a Home Equity Loan
  • Of course, you probably weren’t intending to use your home equity to pay for your kid’s college – and with a loan, you’ll have to pay that back. So as a college fund for kids strategy goes, it’s not really the best approach – if you still have years in which you could be saving money for future education costs. But if you haven’t saved enough and are looking for a way to pay for tuition, not to mention room and board, it may work out well. But that’s why you want to start early – so you don’t have to take out as many loans – and as with any investment but especially with college savings plans, it’s always best to begin putting aside money as soon as you can. You always want to try to start your investments yesterday as opposed to tomorrow.

Baby Step #6: Pay Off Your Home Early

Remember this is good debt? Paying it off early doesn’t hurt though. It will boost your credit score when you make more than the minimum payment on any debt and this is included. Even if you pay $100 more than required it will keep you on the right track to paying your home off earlier than expected. Once you have your home paid off you can put those funds into savings or retirement and get you closer to that goal. Basically, eliminate the monthly amount going toward your mortgage, freeing up cash flow that can be useful, especially during retirement. Save money on interest, potentially thousands of dollars. Receive a predictable rate of return, equal to the interest rate on the debt you’re paying down.

Baby Step #7: Build Wealth & Give

Generous People Are More Prosperous. There is a common misconception that in order to get wealthy you have to be stingy, and not be very giving. Giving to others makes you less selfish, and less selfish people have more of a tendency to do better in both relationships and in wealth building. Building wealth is the process of generating and maintaining long-term income through multiple sources. This includes your savings and any assets that generate income, such as your investments.

1. Stay away from debt.
2. Make a zero-based budget each month. (every dollar has a job)
3. Save money.
4. Live on less than you make.
5. Be a giver.

Sinking Fund: a fund formed by periodically setting aside money for the gradual repayment of a debt or replacement of a wasting asset. In other words, a savings account for certain holidays or events you need money for.

Everyone’s “savings” accounts will be for their own unique mixture of life. These are some examples of what mine look like.

1. Christmas/Holidays

I personally go crazy during holiday season. I LOVE buying gifts for my friends and loved ones. I enjoy making people happy. This is something that is important to me.

2. Important Birthdays/Events

Once again, I LOVE buying gifts for my friends and family so this is an important category for me.

3. Car Mainenance

I had a Toyota Corolla for 10 years. Towards the end of its time with me I was having to do a lot of maintenance on it and I didn’t have a sinking fund for this. It was coming straight out of my checks.

4. Home Repairs

I am currently in a situation where I am going to need to buy a new washer and dryer and my fence needs to be re-done. I have funds for these things because I set it aside when I receive income. I save for this goal out of every dollar I earn.

5. Pet Expenses

I have a 14 year old dog who has had 3 surgeries and needs medication daily. I have a 9 year old dog who also needs medication on a daily basis. I save up for this so I can cover it on a monthly basis.

6. Travel/Lifestyle

Me and my family travel a lot under normal circumstance. I plan each trip out and set a goal for how much I plan on saving for it. Each trip is separate.

7. Medical Costs

I have this as a savings account because you just really never know. I have small children who love to play outside and we have a jungle gym so I like to be prepared.

These are MY emergency funds. These make MY life easier. I love categories. You chose your priorities.