Transform your finances in 2016
A popular New Year’s Resolution is to save more and build healthier finances. Maybe you already have a great budget in place and you’re saving for your future or maybe you’re just starting out. In either case, it always helps to have a little advice from those who have been at it for years. Dr. Valente is a business owner and seasoned investor, so we turned to him share some of his tips with us for jumpstarting a healthier financial future:
1. Change your attitude about money. It’s not for you or against you. It’s neutral and available to everyone. You are the leader of your financial future.
2. Seek advice. Follow those more successful than you and learn from them. Don’t use the excuse, “I don’t know anyone.” Of course you do, maybe not personally, but so many successful people have written books, articles or give lectures. Remember that success leave clues. Another good place to start is a brokerage firm putting on a free seminar. But remember, take the advice of others, then do what feels best to you.
3.Know where you’re at now. Write down your expenses and track your money. Your online banking often categorizes your spending for you so you can take a look back at how you spent your money last year. When you identify where you spend your money, you can then find ways to save money. Maybe you’re spending a ton of money eating out each week, start packing your lunch instead.
4. Have at least a general plan and direction. Once you’ve identified where your money is going, start planning where it should be going. If you’re not good at setting specifics at least have a general blue print. You would never start to build a house without a blueprint, don’t run your finances without one. Not sure where to start? Start by basing your budget on these average category spending percentages.
5. Pay yourself first. Start small with $10.00 to $20.00 a week, that is how I started. As my income grew, what I put aside grew. This concept comes from the popular book The Richest Man in Babylon.
6. Feel good about small steps. Whether your goal was to stop spending so much on eating out or paying off a credit card, celebrate every financial accomplishment and move forward!
Start shaping your financial future now, so next year you’ll be able to look back at all that you were able to accomplish!
great post and great tips.
xo
PinkSole
Having a clear goal is always something my husband and I have – that way we know EXACTLY what we need to achieve that financial goal! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Thanks Rachelle!
I agree, goal setting is so powerful!
What great tips and financial inspiration! Being the leader of your finances is so important!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Clear goals and tracking your spending are great tips to get started with a plan for the new year! Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Jill
Doused In Pink
These are such great tips and this is the perfect time to start to be financially savvy in the new year. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful week.
http://www.laurenfarrellny.com/blog
Yep, I’m always super aware of my finances and even then I sometimes have difficulty. But this year I’m really going to hammer down and control my spending. I’m good about the saving, I just want to save “more”
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/
Great tips and a great way to start the news year! I’m with you about feeling good about the small steps. 🙂 xS
http://sofiaclara.com/
We need to take a look at our budget again, so much has changed in the last year. I would like to save more and stop eating out so much!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I’m totally in love with your blog…<3
Would you like to follow each other (GFC, G+, Fb)?
Kisses
x Isabelle | Outfit Van De Dag
These are fabulous tips! We rarely eat out and so we are able to do so many more fun things like travel! It helps us stay on budget.
These are such good tips…I really need to start saving money!
~~Megan~~
http://www.poshprime.com
Awesome tips! We definitely need to get smarter this year 🙂
Green Fashionista
Was defientely in need of these tips, I spend way too much on shopping aha
http://www.adaliascloset.blogspot.co.uk
Wonderful tips! So important to know! Thanks for sharing!
– Cielo
Mermaid in Heels
Great and very helpful tips .
My blog: RumelaTheShopaholic
All of these are great tips! Having a plan is definitely important! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
AHHHH I am so bad at saving especially after spending so much these holidays – thanks for the great tips
Candice | Beauty Candy Loves
These are such good tips and things I really want to work on in 2016. We’re terrible about paying ourselves first–we say we’re going to and then all these things come up and we end up paying ourselves a fraction of what we planned, or not at all. Thanks for the advice!
These tips are seriously awesome! It’s so important to have a plan and to save. I try to put some of each paycheck into my travel fund 🙂 Thanks for sharing these with us!
xo Kiki
http://colormekiki.com/
Great tips ladies & definitely a helpful post for starting off the new year right!
Marta
http://www.sweatersstripesandsweets.com
Thank you for the tips. I also read the richest man on Babylon and I learned a lot.
x,abril
The Color Palette
Love these tips, especially the first one! It’s all in the attitude 🙂
http://www.SHVETA.com
Such a fab post hun. Taking small steps, realising where you’re at with finances and seeking in advice is so important!
Elle
http://www.theellenextdoor.com
xx
Yes! That’s the best point!
Thanks Jill! I’ve always been inspired with your shopping budgets!
I hope you have a fabulous weekend too!
That’s such a great goal!
The big picture can get so overwhelming, those small steps really help to keep it all manageable.
We have been eating out way to often lately, I’m hoping to reel that in and save more!
Thanks so much! Visiting your blog for sure!
That is so smart Laura! You are so budget savvy 🙂
I’m always trying to remind myself to save more!
Thanks girl!
Haha we can relate to that for sure!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks so much!
Thanks Pamela!
Woo totally guilty of over spending during the holidays here too!
Oh yeah! We’ve been there too!
That’s the best kind of savings!
Thanks so much Marta!
Such a great book!
So true!!
Thanks so much Elle!
Great tips. I have a kid starting college this fall, which puts a whole new perspective on things!
Saving is tough at every age. Your desires become more expensive. In your teens and twenties it’s usually clothes and bags, in your thirties and forties, it’s cars and houses. But to get there, you gotta save. Thanks for all these great starter tips!
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Great tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
XO Chloe
A Latte Lipstick
Changing your attitude about money is the BEST advise, and by far the biggest hurdle to overcome. Once it’s done, #2 through #5 are easy! Great tips, thank you for posting this.
-Dara
http://www.peoniesandhoneybees.com
Woo that’s true!! I have many years before my boys head off to college, but it already freaks me out!
Such a true statement!! I am in the cars and houses phase, lol, just when I got my clothes under control ;).
Thanks Chloe!
Thanks so much Dara!