The new year is often an opportunity for people to make resolutions that will positively impact their lives. But what about your finances? Don’t your finances deserve the same attention and focus as other areas of your life?
Learn to be financially literate.
Everyone can benefit from learning to read and understand their financial situation. It’s not that hard, but it does take some time and effort if you’re new to this kind of thing.
Financial literacy is the ability to use your money wisely, make sound decisions about your finances, and plan for the future. It’s knowing which bills are due when, how much they cost each month, how much money is in your account at any given time—and what happens if something unexpected comes up (like an emergency or a job loss). These are all things that sound easy in theory but can be difficult to master in practice.
You don’t need a degree in finance or economics—just some basic knowledge about common terms like compound interest (when interest earns more interest) or budgeting (tracking how much you spend). Or maybe you want to know what APR means or why it matters when taking out a student loan. It’s all good! If there’s one thing we can all agree on: knowledge is power!
Create a budget and live by it.
You’ve heard this one before, but it’s worth repeating. If you don’t have a handle on your finances, the best way to start is by creating a realistic budget that includes both your current expenses and any changes you’d like to make in 2023. Use whatever tools work best for you—a spreadsheet, an app like Mint or YNAB (which stands for “You Need A Budget,” if that gives some indication), or even pen and paper—and then stick with it! Once again: This isn’t just about sticking to the numbers; it’s also about sticking with your plan over time so that when the next unexpected expense comes up (or when something goes wrong), you’ll know how much room there is in the budget before making any rash decisions.
Plan for the unexpected.
Planning for the unexpected can be a tricky thing. After all, most of us have no idea what’s going to happen in 2023! But it’s also important that you plan for things like car repairs, home upgrades and medical emergencies. If your car breaks down and needs fixing or if your roof leaks during a storm, these kinds of financial setbacks may seem like they’re out of your control—but they don’t have to be!
Here are some ideas for saving money so that when an unexpected event arises this year (and it will), you’ll be able to afford it without breaking the bank:
-Start a savings account. This is a great way to save up for big purchases like appliances, furniture or even your dream car. -Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account into this new savings account every month—it’s easy and it won’t take any more time than what you’re already spending on bills!
Invest in your future.
Investing is putting money into something that will make you more money in the future. It’s a good way to grow your money over time, but it requires patience and discipline. Investing can be a great way to build your financial security, but it’s not right for everyone.
If you are going to invest, start small and work your way up as you gain experience and confidence. If possible, give yourself some time before investing any of your emergency savings or retirement accounts because these should be kept safe first!
There are many steps you can take to improve your financial health and well-being in the new year.
There are many steps you can take to improve your financial health and well-being in the new year. Here are some of the best ways to get started:
- Create a budget. If you haven’t already, sit down with pen and paper (or open up Excel) and figure out where all of your money is going. This will help you identify areas where there could be room for improvement, as well as show what areas can stand to be cut back on if necessary.
- Invest for the future. Make an effort to increase how much money you save each month—and start investing it too! Not only does this increase the probability that your investments will pay off when it matters most, but it also helps keep those savings safe from any unexpected expenses or emergencies that may arise throughout life so far off into distant future toward which we aim with our retirement plans today
I hope that these tips have been helpful to you as you think of ways to improve your finances in the new year. While there are many things outside our control, managing our spending and saving for the future can be two things that we do have some control over. With this knowledge and a little effort from everyone, we can all work towards living a better life!
The Black Negotiator 