2019 has come and gone in the blink of an eye. The start of a new year is always a good time to reflect back on things you could have done better or differently. If you have money-related goals, read these five tips to help you stay on track in the new year ahead.

Budget

First and foremost, it is important to get on a budget to see where your weaknesses are located in your spending habits. By keeping track of everything you spend money on, you will find out what areas you need to cut back on.

 

The best way to set up a budget is by going through your bank and credit card statements and writing down an average of what bills you are responsible to pay for each month. Type them out on a spreadsheet of some sort so it is easy to reflect on and change if needed to.

 

Emergency Fund

No matter your age or how much you make, an emergency fund is a necessity. Without some sort of back up money stashed away somewhere, if an emergency happens, you could find yourself in a lump sum of debt. You could have a tire pop or you could lose your job, but knowing you have money to fall back on will help ease tension and stress.

 

Say Goodbye to Credit Card Debt

The longer you hang onto credit card debt, the more that interest will accumulate. At that point, you are pretty much throwing money out of the window. It is much easier and cheaper if you have extra money to pay all of your credit cards off at once, rather than pay extra money to interest every month.

 

Invest in Yourself

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to invest in yourself. Start saving for retirement as soon as possible so your money has time to grow. Take a look at how much you are investing, if you are even doing so at all. Can you possibly invest more at your workplace? Maximize your resources for a better future down the road.

 

Keep on Track

It is important to stay strong with the goals you set for yourself. New goals can be tough, set alarms on your phone to check in with yourself monthly. If you feel yourself struggling, try to think of a new method to help achieve your goals instead of just giving up.

 

Let us at the Armed Forces Benefits Network help keep you on track. Give us a call at (702) 485-3539.