2017 Money Matters

Almost all of us have experienced financial challenges just because we failed to set our financial goals annually, quarterly, or even monthly.

When you have not prepared for a sudden change in your income flow, an expense that comes out suddenly in the middle of the year, or anything that distorts your financial plans for that year, that could be such a stressor.

Today, I am going to share to you 2017 Money Matters which I hope could help you set your financial goals clearly for 2017.

I have a personal checklist on the things and expenses I am planning to have for that certain year and it just makes everything so easy and organized.

Also, it gives that feeling of security that I have set a financial backup for anything that could happen.

When I make that checklist of expenses, I brainstorm with myself whether or not I really need to spend for a certain item or event.

After I set up my checklist, I always include them in my prayers, that’s an important thing, too.

So enough of my blabbing, lol!

Here are some personal tips that I do and some that I have read across books and seen on the internet that might help you set your financial goals for 2017.

It’s not yet too late, guys!

• Make a Financial Calendar for the Year: On it, write everything you have to pay for the year like insurance, tuition if you are still a student, taxes, or the loans you have to pay if you have any. This is an effective way to set that golden goal for the year 🙂

 

• Have a 1-Minute Money Moment Daily: Reserve  minute each day to check on your financial transactions within the day. Have you exceeded your budget for the day? Or have you saved an amount of your budget during the day? In doing this daily, you can analyze where you are usually overspending or saving.

 

• Practice an all-cash diet: Credit cards are really helpful, that is if used in a wise way. Try to go on a cash basis daily in your transactions. I promise, you will feel less guilty and less stressed once your debt level goes way down.

 

• Allot 20% of your Income for Financial Priorities: This should cover your emergency savings, retirement savings, paying of your debts, and the likes. Nothing is more relaxing than knowing that you have a back-up when it comes to emergency expenses.

 

• Budget just 10% of your Income for Lifestyle Expenses: You can splurge this on eating at fancy restaurants during special occasions, or treating yourself to a movie on payday. If you plan to travel during the year, you can set aside 10% or a certain amount that you can afford every month to afford that much awaited vacation. it’s not fun having a vacation when the money you spent for it comes from a loan, right?

 

• Create a Financial Vision Board: This is very helpful for me guys. if you have something that you want to achieve within the year, put it in a vision board. Put some pictures about the things or events that you are aiming to spend on and make it serve as an inspiration for you to save more cash 🙂

 

• Make “Mini Money Goals”: Have you realized how easy it is to not reach a goal that we set so high and it seemed impossible to achieve? really, setting a very high goal wouldn’t be realistic and that is true with setting goals about our finances. Make them “mini size”, doing it little by little, every step of the way, and you’ll see, by year-end, you have made so many of your “mini-size” money goals and you didn’t have to stress yourself so much to achieve it!

 

• Evaluate Your Real Self and Spend According to the Real You: Many of us fall on the trap of spending too much for the ideal person that we want to be. For example, you are dreaming of becoming a makeup artist, and you tend to buy loads of makeup that in the end, you’ll not be able to use. Instead, you just buy the basics of makeup, and save for a makeup artistry training or course. With proper training, you will possibly get clients,earn money from there, and save up for high-end makeups that you need for your chosen field. Wouldn’t that be a wiser idea? 😉

 

• When Shopping, Always Choose the Quality over Cost: You see a trendy shirt on a display rack which costs $5. Hmmm, spending for it won’t hurt that much, but always remember to check the item’s quality, how many times would you be able to use it, etc. For me, I’d rather buy a $20 shirt with good cloth quality which I can wear for a longer time. That’s a good move to make to avoid overspending all throughout the year.

 

• Set a Budget, No More, No Less: Last but not the least, set a budget, and STICK TO IT. Having a financial goal for a year requires the courage to stick to a budget. I know this is so easy to say guys, but it pays off to practice this. You will be happier by year-end when no new debt comes in and and you savings go up!