Financial Vital Signs to Monitor
Everyone wants to have control over their finances so they don’t end up swimming in debt or with a situation they have no idea how to fix. When things go south, they tend to do so very quickly. Without a plan of attack, a downward spiral can go from bad to worse. There are always vital points of your finances that you need to monitor in order to stay out of debt. Here are some of the more important aspect of your money to watch to create (or maintain) strong financial health.
Bank Accounts
One major vital sign to monitor on a regular basis is the state of your savings account. Having a savings account that never dips below a set minimum will keep a good part of your finances healthy. The reason your savings account is vital to your financial well-being is its ability to bolster your funds when in need. If you have a healthy savings account, a financial emergency can easily be paid for without using your regular income. The less money you take from utilities and debt payments, the better off your financial situation will be.
Just as important as your savings account, your checking account is also a vital part of your finances. What makes your checking account important is its ability to cost you more money through poor maintenance. Overdraft fees can quickly add up to create a deficit from which you have to pay your way out of. Keeping a close eye on what your money does can help to avoid paying unnecessary fees while making sure you never run low on funds.
One of the more obscure bank accounts (but still relevant), CDs have the same benefits as savings account but have severe penalties for early withdrawals. Once you deposit money into a CD, that money will begin to accumulate interest over a period of multiple years. If you happen to take money from a CD before it has reached its end date you might be subjected to exorbitant fees (more so than most overdraft fees). Needless to say, avoiding these fees are just as important as avoiding any other fee.
Monthly Budget
Paying attention to what you spend your money on every month, you may find a few things that can be eliminated. There are some things that need to be paid every month (like your utilities), but they should already be included in your budget. What can lead to too much money being used are unchecked purchases adding up. Even if you make the odd purchase, it should still be budgeted into your monthly expenses. Knowing where each dime goes every month can give you a significant amount of control over your financial situation.
Having a financial plan laid out for each month is important for those who want to accomplish things with their money. Whether you want to save money for a vacation or you need to bolster your emergency savings fund, making a budget will help you achieve your goal faster and more steadily. In addition to being an important method of planning for your financial future, budgeting can also help you avoid late fees, interest rate fees and other unnecessary payments.
Another vital part of maintaining your financial well-being is your ability to control your debt. Whether you have a small amount of debt or a large amount, being able to handle it will bode well for your overall financial picture. If you have debt you have two options to handle it: pay it off on your own or use a professional debt relief company to help pay it off. Either way, controlling your debt will give you an extra level of control over your finances.
Financial Investments
Having complete control over your finances also means having control over your investments as well. Investing money will allow you to supplement your income with whatever you make from your investments. The method you choose to invest your money can vary based on what you feel most comfortable with. The main goal of having an investment is to have your money create extra income for you. This will help all other aspects of your financial health by adding an extra revenue stream.
Investments can take on an entrepreneurial quality if you decide to invest in your own creation. Many people look to create websites, video pages, and blogs in order to earn extra money aside from their daily jobs. Setting aside a budget for such an investment can pay off in the long run, potentially leading to profits as opposed to making back what you spent. This is the ideal situation when dealing with investments of any kind.
While making investments might seem like an easy way to make extra money, understand that there are some negative aspects of investing that could be devastating to your financial standing. With any investment, there is a possibility to lose money. Not all investments gain money as there are multiple factors that need to work smoothly in order to result in a positive outcome. On the other hand, losing money can be a real problem if the investment fails. Your best bet is to learn more about your investment strategy in order to eliminate as many negative aspects as possible.
Protect Your Financial Future
Keeping your financial vital signs strong will result in good money habits, a strong credit rating and a lack of debt related issues in the future. However, debt can hinder your ability to keep your financial standing positive. If you have overwhelming amounts of unsecured debt and you can’t see a way out, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Guardian Debt Relief. Our certified debt relief specialists can answer your questions and find a unique solution that will suit your needs. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can get you on the road to debt freedom. Take the first step and contact Guardian Debt Relief today.