How to Manage Your Money

We won’t beat around the bush: managing your money can be intimidating — and stressful.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, taking a few simple steps now will help you gain control and, more importantly, peace of mind.

• Start with a budget: Pick a budgeting system that you’ll stick with. We like the 50/30/20 budget plan — which allocates money for wants, needs and savings and debt repayment — but there are plenty of other budgeting options to choose from.
• Track your spending: The days of balancing a checkbook are gone for most people, but there is still value in accounting for each and every purchase and expense.
• Find ways to save: Once you see where your money is going, you can more easily identify potential savings.

• Use designated accounts for spending and savings: Keep money designated for bills and budgeted expenses separate from your emergency fund. This will reduce the temptation to dip into it for non-emergencies. Saving for a house, vacation or new car? Stash those funds in separate accounts so you can see your progress toward each goal.
• Make a plan to pay off debt: A strategic approach to debt repayment will help you reach the debt-free finish line faster. We recommend tackling your most expensive debt — the accounts with the highest interest rates — first, while making minimum payments on the rest. Then work your way down through any lower-interest rate debt until it is all paid off.
• Develop good credit habits: Credit cards can be your friend, if used wisely. You can earn cash back and travel rewards on things you already planned to purchase, and boost your credit score in the process. The key is to pay off your balance in full each month. If your credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit used — hits 30%, your credit score will take a hit.
• Invest in your financial future: Set money aside now, in a 401(k) or IRA, and let compound interest work it’s magic. The ultimate goal is longterm financial freedom and stability. Not sure how much you need to save? Try NerdWallet’s retirement calculator.

Back to top

Back to top

Step 4: Be persistent

Despite their good intentions, many people fall off the financial bandwagon. Sticking to a budget that’s too restrictive can be suffocating. Navigating investment jargon can be confusing. But don’t get discouraged.

You didn’t get to the financial position you’re in overnight, and you won’t get out of it overnight, either. Give yourself time to learn and grow. With hard work and dedication, you can manage your money with confidence.

Back to top