Managing Your Money Or Lack of It
Use a GPS System to Help You Stay on the Road to Wealth
As I was reading the old magazine pictured above, I thought about the fact that the article could have been written today. Money, and what money can buy, has been part of life forever. What tends to change for us as individuals is why we want money.
It seems we go through stages in our lives: First, we want money to buy fun things, then to establish ourselves, then to support the family infrastructure (and that’s a good word for it, because it becomes an empire of sorts!) then to provide peace of mind, and finally to make being old and ill easier financially on ourselves and others. That’s about the most depressing thing I have ever written! But, I think it’s true for many.
It doesn’t take a financial wizard to determine that our economy is not going to be glowingly healthy in the coming years, and neither will your financial well-being if you are not careful. The money you make will have to go further, because prices are going up faster than your salary. Having protection against loss of income and changes in benefits and retirement programs, is more critical than ever. Medical care is truly a challenge, and if you become really ill, it could be devastating to your family’s future.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so gloomy, and you can have peace of mind as well as making fun purchases now and then. But, unless you inherit a chunk of money, you will have to make it happen with what you have, where you are.
One of the best programs I have seen for tracking money and helping you to visualize where your money is being spent, as well as recommending changes and even advising about which bills to pay off first and how to do it, is Mint.com. It is interesting and user-friendly. It is also safe and well respected among programs of its kind. I don’t get paid to talk about it–and if you have something better to use, use it. I just thought I’d mention it because I have heard so many people mention it positively, and I’m going to use it myself.
This link will take you to the page that demonstrates the site. Check it out. It is particularly worthwhile for young adults and those who are still in their peak earning years, but it’s useful for maximizing limited money later, too. It’s not just a map, it’s a GPS system that helps you monitor a variety of issues.
It is never too early to get on the road to financial stability, and it is never too late to get off the road that takes you where you do not want to go. Try Mint. com, or at least read some of the articles, to help you manage better in any economic environment–but especially in the next few years.
