Common Sense and Discipline – 2 key Ingredients to Financial Health

What you’ll choose to read here are common sense ideas of how to save, and keep a budget…. and I’d like to share these guidelines with you.  I learned early in life that you can’t spend what you don’t have, and as a teen, I learned that purchases made with a charge, card if paid for both in full and before the due date… avoided any fees.  This was a very valuable lesson, which I’ve followed to this day.  These are common sense ways to help stay within a budget.  With discipline, you will find you can stay within your own budget, paying off any outstanding debt, then using some smart choices, keeping priorities straight, and saving something from each paycheck — aiming for, and reaching your own financial goals.

• The way to setting up and using a budget is common sense.
• The way to staying within the budget you set up is discipline.

Both of these are easy guidelines which will help lead you to savings. Budgeting your income to cover your bills, and paying off any outstanding debt is the first step.

Once you’re disciplined with the budget you set up, and your outstanding debt is paid, that ‘debt’ amount will now allow you to save for not only immediate emergencies (a liquid account), but emergencies 6 – 12 months in length, yet still being able to pay your bills.

Staying focused on your budget and paying yourself first will also be the catalyst to saving for retirement…. because, after you’ve worked for decades, you want to enjoy a lifestyle you’ve not only chosen, but deserve. That depends upon how long and how well you’ve saved.  You don’t want to get to that point in your life, and say, “I wish I had all the money I wasted over the years”.  There are no second chances, no re-dos — you’ve got to do it right the first time.

So, read on……..there’s bound to be some ideas to help you.