What is personal finance?
Here's an online definition answering the question -
Personal finance refers to the management of an individual's financial resources, such as income, expenses, savings, investments, and debt. It encompasses various aspects of financial planning, including budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt, in order to achieve financial goals and improve overall financial well-being.
Effective personal finance involves creating a financial plan that takes into account a person's income, expenses, and financial goals, as well as identifying potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. This can include developing a budget, creating an emergency fund, paying off high-interest debt, saving for retirement, and investing in assets that can help grow wealth over time.
By practicing good personal finance habits, individuals can better manage their money and make informed financial decisions that help them achieve their long-term goals and improve their financial security.
Why is it important to have a good financial foundation?
Having a good financial foundation is critical for managing personal finances well because it provides a stable base from which individuals can make informed financial decisions and achieve their goals. Some of the key elements of a strong financial foundation include:
Budgeting: Creating and sticking to a budget is essential for managing personal finances well. A budget helps individuals track their income and expenses, identify areas where they can cut back on spending, and plan for future expenses.
Saving: Building up savings is important for handling unexpected expenses and preparing for future goals such as buying a home, starting a business, or retiring. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three to six months' worth of living expenses saved in an emergency fund.
Reducing debt: High-interest debt can quickly spiral out of control and prevent individuals from achieving their financial goals. Developing a plan to pay off debt and avoiding new debt can help improve financial stability and reduce stress.
Investing: Investing can help grow wealth over time and prepare for future expenses such as retirement. It's important to understand the risks and potential rewards of different investment options and to create a diversified portfolio.
Overall, having a strong financial foundation allows individuals to make informed financial decisions and navigate unexpected expenses or changes in income with confidence. It can also help reduce stress and improve overall financial well-being.
How do you strengthen your financial foundation?
Talk about money! Let's start with budgeting. How do you know how to budget? Well, you can simply Google some tips and techniques. But what if it doesn't work for you? What if there are some disadvantages to one of the techniques? How would you know that? You wouldn't! Unless you talked to someone about it. So start a conversation about budgeting. Here's an example of how that could go.
You: So I think I would like to start budgeting?
Friend: Yeah, what do you think of budgeting now?
You: Well, I've never done it so I don't really know what to do and it's kinda intimidating.
Friend: When I first start it was very nerve-wracking because I didn't really know where to start.
You: So where do you think I should start?
Friend: I'd be sure to start by paying yourself first and then letting yourself spend the rest. That way you can start building a simple habit of building savings. Then after a month or two of that, you can get into the finer details of budgeting for other categories. But don't go all in or it can be overwhelming!
Now that's good money talk! So be sure to go start a money talk about a foundational talking point. That way you can get real experiences from real people who can help answer questions and help you learn!
The 7 Money Talking Points
Curious about where to get started? My 7 money talking points are a great starting point. Click the button below to get the guide!
Money Talk with Skyler Fleming
Read more at skylerfleming.com/blog
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Email me at moneytalk@skylerfleming.com