11 Steps To Managing Your Money

Sometimes, just listening to the opinions of others opens up our minds to other possibilities we have not thought of, read about or seen in any published material, industry-related text-books or budget specialist tip sheets and ‘how to’ layouts. All the technical information, procedural and budgeting principles are extremely important if you want to ensure lasting and sustainable change. It is also undeniably true, that in this day and age, collaborating and connecting with others is how we learn.

Utilizing online sources, electronic publications and shared experiences, solving common problems together is definitely the wave of the future. Some online providers offer ‘live’ customer consultations.

These are mainly for financial issues and mostly your first hour is free. If you are in a real crunch, crises and need a budget fast, but do not have the time to even read through the Coles-notes version, then maybe the internet has the answer for you. Always remember that you are the best-informed and decision maker in this process.

Taking control of your finances should challenge, invigorate and excite you. You are taking charge of your life, getting your ducks in a row so to speak and traveling down the road of fiscal responsibility and re-connection.

It is mostly a money crunch or crisis situation that makes us lean towards budgeting more. Handling a money crisis well and realizing that family budgeting is but one pieces of that puzzle, might be helpful. The expectations, problems faced, context and depth of the crisis, is as important as the steps, procedures, techniques, tools and budget worksheets you end up using.

• Admitting that there is a problem is normally considered a good first step. Asking for help is a close second. Money-matters make us do strange things. You are probably not the only one facing this situation. Therefore, take heart there is help out there. Even before getting to the how to steps for your own budget, work on your state of mind, immediate needs, concerns, dues and crisis. Consult a professional financial planner, who will assist you, in all likelihood, through and financial analysis of your situation, assembling facts and information, coming up with solutions, suggestions and alternatives you probably are not thinking of right now. Even when not under pressure or in crisis, when setting up a family budget, gather your thought, emotions, data, receipts, statements, input from others, discuss, consult, assemble, synergize and prepare to succeed. Get the most appropriate, accurate information you possibly can before setting up any expense categories or filling out worksheets. Get and extra set of eyes to look it over, you will not regret it.

• Sober, even-keel, un-emotional, rational, clear-minded, level-headed and ready to take on any challenge – include setting up a personal and family budget, income, expense statements, asset-liability summaries, expense categories, line items, amounts, estimates and more. Committed to succeed, with a positive attitude and financial resourcefulness will serve you well in any situation, no matter what the money crunch or reason for your budgeting need may possibly be.

• Take responsibility and have realistic expectations.

• Take some risks when required. Be pro-active and explore your options. Do not hesitate to tackle controversial topics or expenditures, even if it can lead to conflict and disagreement. Couples and finances have always caused some difficulty, so it is all normal. Stabilize your situation, salvage what you can and move on, focus forward. Family budgeting has the past, present, future continuum all covered.
      

Step Two: Tell Yourself the Truth – Face the Music.

Step Three: Decide How to Pay for Necessities – Stop-gap Solutions.

Step Four: Identify Your Assets – all of them! They are there, we just need to go find them.

Step Five: Discover How Much You Cost – this is how much you spend and your contribution to situation and circumstance.

Step Six: Calculate What You Can Afford to Cost – cost cutting and balancing your budget.

Step Seven: Call Your Creditors – dealing with debt.

Step Eight: Quit Paying Late Fees – work with professionals.

Step Nine: Create a Family Budget.

Step Ten: Do Not Ignore the Following: IRS, Parking tickets, Association Fees, Car payment, Immigration and other government affiliates that need to be pulled into your situation to assist you as best they can.

Step Eleven: Manage Your Money Every Day.

It is no surprise then, to even find the ever-popular ‘budgeting’ concept among these listed must do’s to re-collect, re-orient and return to fiscal freedom and avert further money-related crises!

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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