We attended LearnVest Live last week and learned a lot of valuable lessons and shocking realities about finances. Here are some of the statistics that not only blew our minds, but seriously made us think:
- 61% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
- 30% of Americans who make $100,000 or more a year are in this position.
What?!
Most people think their money woes will go away when they make more money, but that rarely happens. Simply buying a house you really can’t afford and living above your means can easily make you a part of these statistics.
After listening to Alexa von Tobel, the CEO of LearnVest speak about how to take control and not be a statistic, we learned so much and just needed to share !
Step 1: Organize
Track everything and run your finances like you run your social life. Create a separate email account just for your bills and set up automatic calendar alerts for your money to-dos, so you never miss a deadline.
You also need to know important dates:
- Your Bills: Both monthly and annual.
- Your Savings: Make yourself a bill.
- Your Taxes: Prep and payment schedule, if applicable.
- Your Credit Score: Check monthly. Check for free and without being penalized at CreditKarma.com.
Step 2: Focus
Know your numbers:
- Income
- Expenses
- Credit Score
Step 3: Know the 50/20/30 Method
Following this formula will help you figure out how much money you should be spending each month and on what, based on your income.
Essentials (50%) – Rent or mortgages, utilities, transportation to and from work, and groceries.
Future (20%) – Debt repayment, emergency savings and retirement funds.
Choices (30%) – The fun stuff: eating out, travel, shopping, gym, gifts etc…
Following these three steps will help get your finances in order. Think you need more help? Consider purchasing a financial plan from LearnVest!
