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A Fresh Start For Family Finances In 2005
By: R. Sallay
While 40% to 50% of us make New Year’s resolutions on January 1—a ritual that
has existed since ancient times—approximately 60% to 80% of us have already
broken them by the end of February, according to researchers.
It’s still not too late, however, to reset the trajectory on your family’s
finances, experts note.
1. Build a Budget
If you haven’t already done so, create a realistic budget.
Approximately 85% of your income should be set aside for necessities like
housing, food, health care and clothing, according to the professionals at VISA
USA.
This leaves 15% for entertainment—and something many consumers completely
neglect: savings.
2. Distinguish “Needs” from “Wants”
Make sure you have a clear understanding of what you need in life versus what
you want in life.
You need to pay for the antibiotics when the doctor diagnoses a respiratory
infection. You don’t need to buy the latest movie released on DVD to aid in your
recovery.
You need to pay the rent or mortgage. You don’t need to buy the lovely accent
pillows that beckon to you from the interior design boutique.
Always separate the needs from the wants—particularly if money is tight.
3. Monitor Your Spending
To see what you really spend each month, keep a running log of all purchases—no
matter how small—for a full month. This will give you a visual display of where
your money goes after you deposit your paycheck.
You may find that the $3 cup of coffee that starts each day adds up to $90 a
month—a pocketbook pincher that may prompt you to buy a pound of coffee beans at
the local market and grind them yourself. That $90 blossoms into $1,080 in
savings at the end of a year.
4. Create an Emergency Fund
Life is full of surprises—both positive and negative. If you happen to lose your
job or suffer an illness that temporarily sidelines you, you will need cash
reserves to support you during the rough months.
“In most cases, consumers who find themselves dealing with a financial hardship
are unprepared and have not saved for unexpected situations,” says Diane
Giarratano, director of education for Novadebt, a U.S. financial management
service agency, with multiple locations, that provides credit counseling,
budgeting and financial education.
5. Educate Yourself
When you attended high school or college, you studied history, mathematics,
language and science, but there was probably no course in basic money
management.
If you need help in meeting a financial goal—whether it’s buying a home or
reducing your debt—take advantage of community resources.
“Consumers should feel free to contact a good credit-counseling agency to obtain
free advice with regard to establishing a budget or to learn how to handle
unexpected hardships,” Giarratano says.
6. Don’t Become a Victim
Identity theft has become an international epidemic, so be extremely cautious
when giving out your credit card or personal identifying information. Monitor
your credit card bills carefully for unauthorized charges, and immediately
report suspicious activity to the issuing company.
“Identity theft is often an inside job,” warns Robert L. Siciliano, a personal
security expert with Boston, Massachusetts-based SafetyMinute Seminars and
author of “The Safety Minute.”
“Lower-level help desk workers and frontline call center employees often have
access to all our personal information in their databases,” he says. “What are
you doing to protect yourself? If you’re not paying attention, you could be a
victim, too.”
And when a disaster strikes, such as the recent killer tsunamis in South Asia
and East Africa, be wary of scammers from fake charities before reaching for
your checkbook. Unfortunately, there will always be unscrupulous individuals who
seize such opportunities to profit from others’ misfortune.
“Avoid using your credit card to make contributions,” advises James Walsh,
author of “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man: How Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Frauds
Work…and Why They’re More Common Than Ever.”
“Even though this can be a convenient way to proceed, many crooks are looking
for credit card numbers,” Walsh says. “They will press strongly for ‘immediate
support.’ Don’t rush.”
Instead, initiate the call yourself, and select a reputable charity.
“Go with recognized names,” Walsh says. “No organization is perfect; even the
best-meaning groups occasionally misallocate money or fall victim to abusive
employees. But larger charitable groups—like the Red Cross, the United Way and
Catholic Charities—have the mechanisms in place to audit their people and
performance.”
Charitable contributions are tax-deductible, so keep good records of all
donations—including small cash gifts.
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Fox Symes assists all Australians discover the truth about their debts and how
they can rapidly reduce them. There are methods available to the Australian
public and you can discover how to use these to assist you in reducing your debt
with a free phone consultation from Fox Symes. Visithttp://www.foxsymes.com.au
or contact them directly on 1300 361 204. |
