You’ve probably heard the saying “There’s nothing new under the sun” and this is true in the world of finances as well. Most money problems are not unique or unusual; most are common in the world we live in. While this may not give you much comfort if you happen to be experiencing financial difficulty, it does mean that there is an abundance of advice pertaining to these problems. And even better, there is plenty of information about how to avoid them as well. We will discuss three of the most common money problems and offer some insight into how they can be avoided.
Problem: Falling into debt
In our culture, it has become increasingly easy to “fall” into debt. Sometimes this can happen with a single purchase or several large purchases, in which case it seems like more of a choice to take on debt. However, it can also happen where consumers almost seem to get into debt “by accident.” While of course any purchase is a choice, with the availability and convenience of credit cards, it is easy to rack up purchases without fully realizing how much you are spending until your credit card bill arrives. Then if you don’t have the funds to pay it, you will have to carry over a balance to the next month. If this happens several months in a row, you can find yourself in a situation where it is very hard to get out of debt.
Solution: Plan and monitor your spending
To keep from falling into debt, it is important to know how much money is available to spend and how much you are actually spending. In other words, you need to make a budget and stick to it. Being aware of your limits and staying within them will enable you to avoid a situation where you become indebted without even realizing it.
Problem: Not having the money required for an emergency
Sometimes we can go through our days, earning and spending money without much thought. Maybe you’re following a budget or maybe you just are making enough to cover all your expenses. But then suddenly disaster hits. It could be an accident, an illness, or a job loss, or even just a needed home repair. Whatever it is, it comes with an extra cost, and just like that you don’t have the money to cover the extra expense. You’d been doing okay with your money, but now you don’t have anything extra to pay for the unexpected costs you are experiencing.
Solution: Have an emergency fund
Since you never know when the unexpected will happen, it is important to plan for it before it occurs. In other words, today is the day to set aside money in an emergency fund. If you have a steady job, you should set aside money from every paycheck to save for an emergency. Most experts suggest that an adequate emergency fund needs to be enough to cover 3 to 6 months of expenses.
Problem: Not having enough money for an expected event
Similar to the last problem, sometimes there are expected events that we fail to plan for. Examples could be college, weddings, home purchase, vacation, or retirement. Unlike emergencies, these tend to be happier events. However, if you don’t have the money to pay for them, they can be much less enjoyable and much more stressful. You don’t want to find yourself unprepared without the resources required.
Solution: Plan ahead and save
Life can be busy and sometimes we fail to think about what is coming. As part of your regular financial planning, you should take some time to identify what events lie in your future that warrant planning for. As soon as you start working, you should be planning and saving for your retirement. As soon as you have a child, you should be planning for events in their future, such as weddings and college. There will be other things, like trips you’d like to take or purchases you’d like to make, that will be unique to you. But if it’s important, then start saving for it. The sooner you do, the easier it will be.
If you avoid these common problems, you will be able to enjoy your money and use it for what is important to you. Federated Bank provides helpful products and services to help you in your pursuit of financial health. Mobile banking allows you to see and manage your accounts at any time or place, and our staff is always available to answer your questions and help you make good choices. Visit our website anytime or stop by one of our offices during our normal business hours.