You also must make choices about how you spend money. For example, would you buy the $129 pair of sneakers you saw at the mall or save that money? You cannot do both, because most people have a limited amount of money. To help make choices, consider the time value of money, which is the increase of an amount of money due to earned interest or dividends. (more…)

Like financial resources, your personal resources—your health, knowledge, skills, and time—require personal finance management. Do you eat a lot of junk food and avoid exercise? Do you get enough sleep each night? The decisions you make about your health now can have consequences as you get older. (more…)

In this step, you evaluate your alternatives as part of the financial planning process. Use the many sources of financial information that are available. Look at your situation in life, your present financial situation, and your personal values. Consider the consequences and risks of each decision you make. This is like comparing personal financial planning theory and practise (more…)

The first thing when setting financial goals automatically should be an emergency savings plan fund designed to cover six months’ worth of living expenses. Make sure it’s enough to cover any emergencies—like a job loss, car repair, medical or dental expense, or natural disaster. This way, you won’t have to tap those high-cost credit cards crisis! Plus, if you have any investments, you won’t be forced to cash them out when they’re down in value. (more…)