Financial Wellness

When it comes to your financial wellness, what is your attitude?

Is it time for a financial wellness makeover?

We think “financial wellness” may be best described as a thought and an approach pertaining to your financial status/situation that consists of:

working on creating and maintaining a balance that includes being comfortable with where your money comes from and where it is going.

balancing the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of money as it pertains to your life.
debt elimination.

Do you have an understanding of your financial wellness?

Some people do not and we encourage you, if you are one of them, to change that. You can start by asking yourself:

How would I describe my financial wellness?

Take a good look at your bank account and credit card transactions and ask yourself:

Am I living within my means?

Many people may not be. Gaining an understanding of your financial wellness can be helpful in determining if you are in fact living within your means and it is an important first step in learning how to do so. This is a good time to ask yourself another question:

What is my behavior as it pertains to my financial wellness?

If you are not living within your means, you may want to assess your behavior. Impulsive spending is a strong indicator that your need to create some balance. You are likely stressing over the negative results of such behavior and may want to ask yourself:

How satisfied , if at all, am I with my financial wellness?

Often when one is dissatisfied with any given situation it can be hard to face the reason, which makes it difficult to take a new or different approach to improving it. Many people strive to improve their situation, only to get blind sided by an unexpected repair or a medical bill, loss of employment, etc. This creates a difficult environment in which to maintain financial wellness. All of this leads to yet another question to ask yourself:

Am I taking care of my financial wellness in such a way that I am prepared for financial changes?

For many, that is easier said than done. Having money set aside for the unexpected can be wonderful, but many people find it difficult or impossible to do. At the end of the month it is not always feasible to take that $50 you wanted to put into the emergency fund because it had to be spent on another emergency.

I know we are not really painting a pretty picture, and we do hope that your picture is prettier. However, if it is not, then the next few questions are crucial:

Am I willing to:

learn how to manage my finances for the short and the long term?
change my thoughts and my approach as it pertains to my financial wellness ?
strive and commit to working on creating and maintaining a balance that includes being comfortable with where my money comes from and where it is going?
strive and commit to working on creating and maintaining a balance between the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of money as it pertains to my life?
eliminate debt?

We have suggested that you ask yourself a lot of questions and we encourage you to seek some answers. In the meantime, we did a little seeking for you . We hope that you find the following information to be helpful.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR FINANCES

Source: http://www.patreasury.gov/assets/pdf/tips-personalfinance.pdf

1. Track your monthly spending. Many people do not know how much they spend each month on food , clothing, housing, or entertainment. Whether you are paying with cash, a debit card or credit card, total your expenditures at the end the month to gain a better picture of how you’re spending your income.

2. Develop a household budget you can follow. Using the data you’ve compiled by tracking your monthly expenses, develop a realistic budget so that it’s easier live with. Track how well you follow it each month –that means continuing to track your monthly expenses.

3. Be sure to budget for savings. Your savings are a Rainy Day Fund, which is

important when unforeseen expenses or emergencies arise. Be sure to budget part of your monthly paycheck for deposit into a savings account, ideally at least 10% of each check. If you find or earn extra money, put that away in a savings account too!

4. Pay your monthly bills on time and avoid late charges. Take inventory of your regular monthly bills and make reminders for yourself on when each bill is due. That way you can avoid costly late fees, which can also damage your credit score. The best approach is to pay your bills as soon as they arrive.

5. Review your credit report. The details of your credit report can have an enormous impact on your financial future. Obtain a free report once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com , and check it for accuracy. Be sure to dispute any errors.

Each of the three credit agencies will provide FREE annual report through www.annualcreditreport.com (This website is the only one that is government authorized to provide you with free copies of your credit report).

Equifax or by phone at 1-800-685-1111
Experian or by phone at 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion or by phone at 1-800-916-8800

6. Obtain your credit score. Your three digit credit score tells lenders and businesses how well you manage your credit and your finances. Scores range between 500 and 850. The higher the number, the better the rating and the better chance you have of obtaining credit at a better rate. You can purchase your credit score through any of the nationwide credit reporting agencies after receiving your free annual credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com .

7. Eliminate debt and credit card debt. Credit cards can make it easy to pile on debt. If your debt adds up faster than you can pay it off, you’re likely living beyond your means. Stop using the credit cards and pay off existing balances. The sooner you do, the less you’ll pay in interest. Remember, not all debt is bad. Taking on loans for higher education or to buy a home may really be an investment in your future.

8. Take advantage of free money. If your employer offers a contribution match for retirement savings or heath savings accounts, be sure that you’re contributing enough to obtain the maximum match amount . Otherwise, you’re missing an opportunity for free money. Maximizing your contributions can lower your taxable income.

9. Assess your insurance policies. Insurance is an important tool for protecting against financial hardships, and the premiums you pay can be one of your top household expenses. Talk with your provider to be sure you have the appropriate level of protection. That way you are not paying too much for coverage.

10. Use legitimate financial institutions. Millions of people do not rely on traditional banks or financial institutions to manage their money. Open a checking and/or savings account at an FDIC insured bank, savings and loan, or credit union. Be sure to research whether there are any fees for their services before choosing an institution.

NOTES FROM DAWN & KATE:

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You can buy DISCOUNTED gift cards and vouchers for gas and groceries AND earn Cash Back as a preferred customer too! Click here to learn more. Great way to save AND earn at once!

Creating and maintaining balance in the following Wellness areas will help you with your Financial Wellness:

Social: If your friends and family expect gifts and dining out, let them know that you are working on your financial wellness and you would like to hang out at home and cook.

Physical: If you take care of yourself physically, that means fewer doctor office visits and fewer prescriptions. Eating healthy is not as expensive as everyone claims AND your health will be a big pay off!

Environmental: Save money by using what you have, getting cash for recycling, or sell what you no longer need.

Emotional: Feeling better emotionally may prevent impulsive eating and spending (including spending money on bad foods)!

We hope that you find this information helpful in your Financial Wellness Makeover.

Dawn & Kate

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