It’s a New Year, and for Dave and Julia, a married couple, the new year signifies the fresh start
of financial responsibilities. Responsibilities that simply translate to financial commitments like
an upgraded house to accommodate children, meet their demands of fancy toys and Disneyland
vacations, start saving for their education and more importantly: Financial Freedom!

Now is the time to look at their finances, spending habits, debts, credit cards, insurance
coverages, future, and activities that put them in the status and position they are in today. While
Dave and Julia are not so unhappy with their financial situation, they strive to improve, because
financial freedom is still on their wish-list.

Whether you are poor, average, (like Dave and Julia) or rich, everyone needs to look at their
financial picture at least on an annual, quarterly, monthly or preferably every payday basis. My
best advice is to review your finances every payday. Dave and Julia always do just that because
it helps them renew or reinforce what they were doing and allows them an opportunity to correct
bad habits that may hold them back from achieving financial freedom. The constant review of
their budget, every payday, helps them know where their money is going, ahead of time. It’s like
looking out the windshield of a car, rather than looking at the rear-view mirror. Knowing where
your money is going ahead of time, helps keep you on track, so your journey to financial
freedom is a guided path, rather than a blind walk through life.

As with any successful accomplishment, you must start with a guide, plan, blueprint, or charter.
Use whatever word that helps you understand the need for consistency. Consistency throughout
the 365 days in a year is key to financial freedom. The couple knows that if something can help
them start or continue their path to financial freedom, it is consistency in financial planning.
Such a plan keeps you focused and on track towards the destination or in this case the ‘journey’
you travel. The same steps that help you lose weight, complete a college degree, or break bad
habits are useful to begin improving your financial goals.

I have listed the top 6 steps to help you financially in the New Year. Following these will take
you closer to financial freedom.

They are:

1. Pay off Holiday debts

Should be done within 90 days of New Year. Plan a budget on how much you will spend
and let each partner keep check on the other. Each person who writes down a budget has
a better chance of sticking to it, rather than just talking about it, guessing or “trying it
out”. There is no try, there is only do or do not; remember that saying?

2. Track your spending and create a budget

Keep every receipt for the first three months, for absolutely everything you spend.
Budgets are made each and every payday; BEFORE you are paid. That way you know
where every dollar will go, ahead of time.

3. Start savings plan

New Year Holiday budget or keep your change in clear piggy bank. Remember the
journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step. Always start a savings plan with an
emergency fund, before you do anything else. This should be a month’s living expenses
and this fund is only used in an emergency (medical, fired or quit work, car breaks down.
Only real emergencies.)

4. Pay down debt

Smallest debt first, then move up and pay the next smallest, and so on. While doing this,
only make minimum payments on unpaid debt, until it is THE next debt on the list to pay
off. While paying these small to large debts, don’t worry about the interest rate on the
debt, just the size of the debt. Often it is necessary to find more income so you can add
extra payments to each debt being paid off. Most people have an income problem, not an
expense problem. So, finding part time work helps pay down debt. Or selling items
around the house provides extra income to pay down or off debt. Learning how to live on
less is the key to paying off debt.

5. Review your credit report every 4 months

You are entitled to a free credit report from each agency annually -Transunion, Equifax,
Experian. Requesting these helps prevent identity theft and improves your credit status if
errors are found. Remember, a free report does not mean a free credit score.

6. Check your insurance policies

Many people over-insure and under-insure property (car, house, contents, artwork, etc).
Talk to a planner who doesn’t sell insurance to help you decide how much and what kind
of insurance you might need. If you have someone who depends on your income, if you
die, you need 7-10 times your annual income, for life insurance coverage. And the only
kind of life insurance to buy is level term life insurance. No other kind of life insurance
will work to help you find financial freedom.

Each step is independent of the other and can be started and continued on its own. By
completing each step regularly, you will see your debt go away, and your bank account increase.
Remember that re-visiting, reviewing, and renewing your goals regularly will help keep you on
track toward your financial success.

Call today, don’t delay! See how this affects you. We can be reached at 602-264-9331 and on all
social media under azmoneyguy.

Call today, don’t delay! See how this affects you. We can be reached at 602-264-9331 and on all social media under azmoneyguy.

Related Blog Posts