How to Take Control of Your Finances in 2017
Many people resolve to improve their finances in the new year. In fact, according to Student Loan Hero, two-thirds of people made a financial resolution for 2017. If you’re among the one-third who hasn’t made a financial-related resolution, you may want to reconsider. The survey also found that the most common financial regret of 2016 was not saving or investing enough money. Here are three easy ways to save more money and take control of your finances in the new year.
Pay Off Debt
One of the most common financial New Year’s Resolutions is eliminating personal debt. Whether it’s student loans or credit cards, paying off debt is a great way to help you save money in the long run. For example, when you get ahead of schedule with payments, you can avoid racking up interest. When you pay off a debt in its entirety, you will also free up some more of your budget by erasing monthly payments.
According to Forbes, if you’re currently holding a large chunk of debt you’re looking to pay off in 2017, it’s wise to consider restructuring your debt so that more of your payments will go towards your principal as opposed to the interest. For student loans, refinancing can be an opportunity to lower your interest, monthly payments or both.
Create a Budget - and Stick to It
Creating a monthly budget is essential to taking control of your finances. It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all of your spending without having documentation of where the money is going. Luckily, there are numerous tools to help you create a budget, and more importantly, actually adhere to it.
If you’re an old-school pen and paper type, consider The Budget Kit. According to the Huffington Post, The Budget Kit is a workbook that tracks monthly, yearly and seasonal expenses -- even if you have an uncertain paycheck because you’re in a sales-related field.
If you’re more tech-savvy, try the free app Mint. Mint categorizes all of your spending, including charges made on your credit cards. The app also tracks your budget and sends text message warnings when you’re close to exceeding your monthly spending limits in any category.
Plan For Retirement
Most people know that they should be saving for retirement, but many don’t know where to start or lack the motivation to be proactive about it. According to US News & Money, a great place to start is by putting your “windfalls” away into a retirement account. Windfalls may include a salary raise, a holiday bonus, inheritance or tax refund. Another way to increase your retirement fund is to consistently increase contributions. Even if it’s only by $10 every six months, every little bit counts.
In addition, you could consider redirecting debt payments into savings once they are paid off. For example, as soon as you pay off a credit card, put the money you would have spent on the payment into your retirement account. Your budget won’t notice the difference, but your long-term savings will.