For young professionals in Winter Haven, saving money should be a priority as it provides a buffer for unexpected circumstances. When you think about saving for retirement, investing for the future, or managing a financial portfolio, do you automatically equate that with an older generation? As a college student or young professional, you likely feel like “the future” is far off, and don’t feel the need to worry about financial planning right now. However, consider these scenarios:
- Your car (that’s responsible for getting you to/from your job each day) suddenly dies and the repair is more than you can afford with cash or credit.
- Your lease unexpectedly goes up when you renew, and you no longer have enough in your monthly budget to cover rent.
- You’re injured and can’t work for a few weeks (or months). Medical bills and no pay are a bad combination!
No matter what kind of unfortunate circumstances you find yourself in, if you have no financial buffer the situation is made many times worse, and could cause lifelong financial struggle due to debt piling up, bills going unpaid, and/or your employment suffering. You don’t have to put yourself in this position! It’s never too early to start saving for your future, because your future starts NOW. Don’t know where to start? It’s not as hard as it seems.
The first step to financial planning is learning to live on a budget. Know how much of your income is spent each month and where it goes. Once you know how you’re spending, you can better narrow down which areas could use some honing and determine what could be set aside for saving and/or investing. Remember, planning for your future doesn’t always look like stocks and bonds. Start by simply saving up an “emergency fund” with approximately $1,000 to help cover emergency expenses like a car or home repair, or to buffer on a month when you need a little extra to get by. Always replenish to keep your emergency fund going strong.
After your emergency fund is established, it’s time to knock out debt. Outstanding debts, specifically those like credit cards and high-interest items, can drain your income quickly. By paying these off in earnest, you’ll end up with more money in your pocket to put toward saving later on. Remember, this isn’t necessarily pertaining to long-term debt like your home, a vehicle, or an investment property. Start with the smallest debt you owe and work on paying it off from there for best results.
Finally, when your debt is paid off, you should start putting aside money into a longer-term savings account. Even just a few dollars a month can build up a substantial amount over time. If you want to take it a step farther, discuss your investment options with a financial advisor. They can help you take those few dollars and turn them into much more in the years to come.
Why is financial preparation for the future so important? Because you never know what’s coming around the corner. The team at Brooks Law Group knows how quickly accidents and injuries can happen, and when they do, they can wreak havoc on your finances. By knowing how to save for the unexpected, and being prepared, you can save yourself the grief that comes with monetary concerns in addition to the accident at hand. If and when an accident does come your way, Look to Brooks! We offer FREE, no-obligation consultations to help Winter Haven victims determine the best steps to take following your accident. If you choose us to represent your case, you know you can count on our attorneys to stand in your corner and fight for the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to move forward. Call us!