Take Control of Your Finances to Secure Financial Independence and Save Money for Improved Well-Being, Happiness, and Security
This GoodLiife Wealth Guide is designed to support your financial health. This includes your investments, savings, rainy day funds, credit cards, and financial goals. Studies have shown that to be financially healthy, you should aim to make at least $50,000 a year. For families, this value is $100,000. Completing the best-practice steps given in these guides will support you in achieving this aim.
Happiness extends beyond mere wealth. Yet, money can certainly support a more comfortable and secure life. For example, financial well-being helps you buy quality food, enhancing your physical health. Plus, it enables you to live in safer and cleaner area, giving you a greater sense of ease in your living environment. Additionally, monetary resources can play a pivotal role in realizing your life aspirations, be it through travel or the pursuit of specific hobbies, aligning with your broader vision and goals. All aspects of a GoodLiife are connected.
Here’s a preview of the latest GoodLiife LiifeGuide on Wealth. See what you think of the first 5 steps. Our subscribers get all 11 complete LiifeGuides in addition to daily LiifeTips and weekly LiifeHabits.
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LiifeGuide: Wealth Guide
Wealth Guide Step 1: Live Within Your Means
Avoid the temptation to spend money you don’t have. Make conscious choices about your spending and differentiate between needs and wants. Identify and cut non-essential expenses from your budget. Redirect this money towards debt repayment (if you have it), and your savings accounts. Adopt a minimalist approach to help you with this step. Minimalism is the intentional reduction of unnecessary consumption. Under this philosophy, you own only what you need. That is, everything in your life has a purpose.
Wealth Guide Step 2: Create a Plan to Pay Off Your Debts
This step is only applicable if you have debts to pay off. Reach out to your creditors to negotiate lower interest rates. You also want to set up a more manageable repayment plan. For instance, explore options to consolidate your debts into one loan with a lower interest rate. This will simplify the repayment process.
Next, create a timeline that tracks your debt repayments. This will set an end date giving you back a sense of control. Use automatic transfers that repay some of your debt every month. If you feel like your debt is too much to handle, it’s a good idea to talk to a credit counselor or a financial advisor.
Wealth Guide Step 3: Invest Wisely
Learn about different ways to invest your money. Here are some options:
- Stocks: When you buy stocks, you own a piece of a company.
- Bonds: You lend money to get this back with interest at a later date.
- Mutual funds: Your money is added to a pool of money, with many others contributing to that pool. This pool of money is used to make investments in stocks and bonds.
- ETFs: An Exchange-Traded Fund, or ETF, is like a bundle of different investments, such as stocks or bonds, that you can buy on the stock market. It’s an easy way to own a bunch of investments at once. ETFs are traded like a stock.
- Real estate: You buy houses to rent or to sell later.
- Cryptocurrencies: You invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which are digital forms of money.
- Collectibles: You invest in things like art or antiques.
- Peer-to-peer lending platforms: You lend money directly to others and earn interest.
If you’re unsure about how to start investing your money, talk to a financial advisor. Tell them your goals and how much risk you’re okay with. They can help you make an investment plan.
Wealth Guide Step 4: Plan For Your Retirement
Contribute to retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, (or other tax-advantaged retirement plans offered in your country). Take full advantage of any employer-matching contributions. The general rule of thumb for retirement goals is to invest 15% of your income each year. This percentage includes any matches from your employer. Know that if you started saving later, or you’d like to retire early, you may need to put away a larger percentage. If you currently live payback to paycheck, 15% may seem like a huge amount. But don’t worry, you can start small until you’re earning a higher income.
Wealth Guide Step 5: Learn Continuously and Seek Self-Improvement
Invest in yourself through education and skill development. A higher income and better financial opportunities often come to those who continuously improve their knowledge and abilities. Stay informed about personal finance, investments, and economic trends.
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