Move Your Budget Forward
Ringing in the new year can pose some serious questions in life. What are your goals? What are your priorities? To what degree is your income supporting those priorities?
We may not be thinking about our finances all the time, but they may deserve a little more attention than they are currently receiving. By creating a personal budget, you not only track income and expenses, but you can also unearth some hidden cash flow issues that may be preventing you from achieving your goals.
As you might expect, setting up a realistic budget can take some time. Many experts recommend starting by tracking every dollar earned and spent over the past three months. This will allow you to see how much money you have earned and where it has been going in recent history. This is a great starting point to uncover your spending habits.
Let's look at where you want your money to go, and move your money forward to achieve your financial goals! Do you want to retire by a certain age? Build wealth and retirement funds? Help pay for your child's education? Pay off credit card debt in six months? No matter your goal, be it short or long-term, a budget is a great way to help you structure an action plan of manageable and realistic steps toward achieving that financial goal.
There are many different kinds of budgets, allowing you flexibility in finding a plan that works for you. Perhaps budgeting software or a budgeting app will do the trick. Maybe it would be helpful to find a budget template online.You might like to shape your own budget in a free, one-hour seminar offered by a local financial expert (hint, hint). Whatever your style, be sure the budget is one that you can stick to and avoid overspending.
Take your goals into consideration and think about a few things.
- What is your motivation?
- What reminders can you place in your daily life that will remind you of your goals?
- What can you alter in your life to achieve success?
You can do this... and Pioneer can help! Join us for our Move Your Budget Forward: Budgeting Tips for 2018 seminar on Tuesday, April 3rd, from 6 to 7 pm at our Twin Falls Branch! May 2018 be the year of claiming your financial freedom!
Written by Corinne Rodino, Business Development Officer at Pioneer Federal Credit Union. To read more on the services provided by our Business Development team, click here!