I need to get some things off my chest. Millennials, listen up because this is something that needs to be addressed. I have noticed that there has been an increasing amount of young adults saying they need more money. Well, I'm here to tell you that this idea/concept of needing more to be financially secure or to live life comfortably needs to END. There seems to be a common theme of having a lot of money to buy expensive and luxurious things to flaunt on Instagram for likes.
You do not need more money! You need to learn how to manage your money! Once an individual reaches a salary range of $70,000 and up you can live comfortably. Obviously, this only works if you are single and don't have any children. Adding dependents comes with more cost.
The key to building wealth is managing your money! It's not always about how much money you make it's about how much you keep. It’s time to stop spending every penny of your paycheck. Learning how to manage your money now will help you now and in the future. Managing money isn’t rocket science, but it requires discipline, determination, and dedication.
Steps to Managing Your Money
Know your monthly income (after taxes and 401K deductions)
Know how much money you spend (break this into categories)
Create the budget
Stick to the budget and follow through (DISCIPLINE)
Explanation:
The first step is knowing how much money you make. Most people know much there bi-weekly or monthly take-home pay/income.
The second step is knowing how much money you spend on bills, groceries, take out, clothes, or any other miscellaneous expenses. This is where most people are not able to tell you. For those who are having trouble here’s a hint. That bank statement that you get every month or credit card bill, both of those documents has the answers to all your money problems and demonstrates your spending habits.
The third step is perhaps the most intimidating, longest and trickiest step out of all the steps. You need to sit down and start separating your income into categories. Also, this is the part of the process where you build a budget.
Categories (Sample)
Income (including non-taxable income)
Expenses
Fixed expenses
-Food/grocery
-Bills
-Rent
-Car note
-Car insurance
Variable expenses
-Entertainment
-Clothing
Savings
-Emergency fund
-Investments
The fourth step of this process is to actually stick to the budget. This is where discipline plays a role. This is the hardest step to do. It's one thing to create a budget on paper, but it's another thing to actually follow through with it in real life with real money.
I know there will be some resistance from some rebels. Some people think a budget is unrealistic. Well here’s the thing, this all depends on YOU and your actions. Every action has a consequence. If YOU can not manage your money it's a YOU problem. If you have read any of my previous blog-posts then you know that creating wealth is a mindset. If you think sticking to a budget is unrealistic then it will be.
Listen up! We live in the 21st century, technology is at our fingertips. Mobile banking is a free app from the Apple store. Automatic bill pay is the norm, plus you can automate your savings. No Excuses! Again, your financial future is in your hands and I am here to educate you about your personal finances.
Anyway, shine bright my beautiful gems!
Thank you all for reading and the support! All feedback is welcome! Please like, comment and share with your friends and family!