TOP PERSONAL FINANCE

TIPS FOR THE LONG-TERM

FIRST THINGS FIRST: A FEW FINANCIAL BASICS

 Create a Financial Calendar

 Check Your Interest Rate

 Track Your Net Worth

HOW TO BUDGET LIKE A PRO

 Set a Budget, Period

 Consider an All-Cash Diet

 Take a Daily Money Minute

 Allocate at Least 20% of Your Income Toward

Financial Priorities
 Budget About 30% of Your Income for Lifestyle
Spending
HOW TO GET MONEY MOTIVATED
 Draft a Financial Vision Board
 Set Specific Financial Goals
 Adopt a Spending Mantra
 Love Yourself
 Make Bite-Size Money Goals
 Banish Toxic Money Thoughts
 Get Your Finances–and Body—in Shape
 Learn How to Savor
 Get a Money Buddy
HOW TO AMP UP YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL

 When Negotiating a Salary, Get the Company to

Name Figures First
 You Can Negotiate More Than Just Your Salary

 Don’t Assume You Don’t Qualify for

Unemployment
 Make Salary Discussions at Your Current Job
About Your Company’s Needs
HOW TO KEEP DEBT AT BAY
 Start With Small Debts to Help You Conquer the
Big Ones
 Don’t Ever Cosign a Loan
 Every Student Should Fill Out the FAFSA
 Always Choose Federal Student Loans Over Private
Loans
 If You’re Struggling With Federal Student Loan
Payments, Investigate Repayment Options
 Opt for Mortgage Payments Below 28% of Your
Monthly Income
HOW TO SHOP SMART

 Evaluate Purchases by Cost Per Use

 Spend on Experiences, Not Things

 Shop Solo

 Spend on the Real You—Not the Imaginary You

 Ditch the Overdraft Protection

HOW TO SAVE RIGHT FOR RETIREMENT

 Start Saving ASAP

 Do Everything Possible Not to Cash Out Your
Retirement Account Early
 Give Money to Get Money

 When You Get a Raise, Raise Your Retirement

Savings, Too
HOW TO BEST BUILD—AND TRACK—YOUR
CREDIT
 Review Your Credit Report Regularly—and Keep an
Eye on Your Credit Score
 Keep Your Credit Use Below 30% of Your Total
Available Credit
 If You Have Bad Credit, Get a Secured Credit Card
 How to Get Properly Insured
 Get More Life Insurance on Top of Your Company’s
Policy
 Get Renters Insurance
HOW TO PREPARE FOR RAINY (FINANCIAL) DAYS

 Make Savings Part of Your Monthly Budget

 Keep Your Savings Out of Your Checking
Account
 Open a Savings Account at a Different Bank
Than Where You Have Your Checking Account
 Direct Deposit is (Almost) Magic

 Consider Switching to a Credit Union

 You Can Have Too Much Savings

HOW TO APPROACH INVESTING

 Pay Attention to Fees

 Rebalance Your Portfolio Once a Year