Budgeting

I often see clients who make good money, but can’t seem to save. Their downfall: not knowing where the money goes.

Frittering money away is one of the top concerns when making a financial plan. Once folks feel like they make enough money to not worry about what they do with it, they set themselves up for disaster down the road.

According to the recent TV documentary from PBS Frontline, retirement is a gamble at best. Well, not if you plan wisely and prudently.

The key to meeting savings goals is to make putting away money automatic. This takes away the opportunity to overspend and you can’t make excuses to not save.

One reason most Americans have a tough time saving enough to meet crucial financial goals, such as retirement, is the difficulty of finding the willpower to sacrifice present wants for future needs.

Homeownership is the romantic embodiment of the American Dream, but there are some significant costs to buy, own and maintain a place of your own. Not a lot of people figure them when shopping for a home. Hidden costs sneak in there. Know what you are getting into.

Let’s break down some of the areas on how to value homeownership. There are some obvious costs like your monthly mortgage payment:

Retirement might be decades away, but it may not come at all if you don’t take stock of your current financial situation today.

For too many hard-working folks, there is a significant gap between the retirement life they desire and the one they can afford if they do not adequately prepare for the future. Traditional goals such as living in an inviting home and devoting time to adventurous travel may not be realistic for you unless you take the time now to calculate how much retirement money you will actually need.

Under the influence of romance, it is easy to be distracted from practical concerns, but couples that can’t agree on money issues don’t last. It’s important to address these problems early on with an advisor to keep your relationship intact.

Preparing for a natural disaster is about much more than having a safe zone ready in the house and stocking up on bottled water. A natural disaster can be financially devastating for survivors, particularly if they didn’t take the time to prepare.

Many Americans don’t think about the possible financial fallout of acts of God until it is too late. Especially after massive storms that happen with increasing frequency these days, it’s more important than ever to prepare.

If you are coming out of a rough patch in your career, or just starting, it’s sometimes hard to figure out how to improve your finances. Basic money skills often are not taught in schools.

When you receive a financial windfall, you need to plan ahead to make sure you don’t lose the money. Some wealthy people with money seem to never let go of it and others lose it all in a jiffy.

Smarts and savvy barely begin to explain the difference. Planning and checking your beliefs about money are the keys to maintaining sudden wealth.

Language shapes people’s thoughts and actions around money, and sometimes leads to destructive behavior. Identifying and understanding your own language about money can help you make positive changes to your behavior and understand other people better.