Finance Tips
My entire life my father would leave newspaper articles in my room telling me to invest my money. Problem was he never told me what to do after I read it. Through trial and error, making regular money, I have been able to put together a comfortable life. I wanted to share the mindset, ideas, and concepts that have helped me, and others save money to accumulate some savings. The value of a dollar is decreasing over time, and time is money. If you value your time like you do the dollars in your wallet, then positive results should occur. I am not a financial advisor or life coach, but I am someone who has learned from their own mistakes. Please read this with an open mind and smiling face.
I think the first step to healthy financials is being clear and intentional with yourself and your future goals. When I graduated from James Madison in 2018, I was told that my degree earns $38,000 on AVERAGE for a salary. Knowing that, I built my budget based on what I was making and my rent. I was more willing to sacrifice expendable income for comfort, so I have always paid a little more for my rent and no roommate. Financially speaking, having roommates would allow me to buy a new car and pay off my credit cards but my peace of mind would be bothered. For myself now, I know I make similar money in terms of inflation, but I have more time to myself and ability to make commission. Although I have changed jobs and my pay hasn't increased, I managed to create more time for myself within the day. Time is money.
To follow up on the idea of making more time for ourselves, preparing home cooked meals is the easiest way to save money monthly. Bringing a lunch just a few days a week combined with hearty, filling, home-made dinners, will save you thousands over the course of 1 year. And if we are being honest, drinking alcohol runs up double the tab at restaurants, versus a non-drinker. A combo meal is $12-15 for one sitting per person. 35$ and home cooking meals can be 2-3 days food the way that you prefer it. 2 cocktails with a tip are over $20 and the whole bottle at the ABC store is probably similar in price. By valuing your consumption over a period, it will make you healthier overall. Overindulgence applies to everything though. There are no written rules, but a shift in thought process must occur before you can save money.
Mentioning drinking, I would like to emphasize choosing your vice and/or bad habits wisely. Everyone has at least one, so they are unavoidable. Whether you play the lotto after your work shift, smoke a pack a day to cut the edge off, shop to ignore the tears, joy ride around town in the car, live on more videogames than reality, or drink away the sorrows, it is one in the same. I lost one of my very close friends young and it was due to excessive drinking. I always reference the Dao because of the emphasis on moderation and humility. Life is meant to be enjoyed, but only in moments, not segments.
In terms of saving actual dollars and putting it somewhere to build, I believe a Roth IRA is the simplest, safest, and easiest way to earn a million dollars. You usually need $300-500 to open a small account or some large portfolios require $1,000-3,000. You can only contribute a maximum of 7,000$. After 5 years, and you are at least 59 years old you can withdraw tax free. Otherwise, early withdrawal penalties will occur. 12-14% annual growth with compound interest will earn your first million in 25-30 years if you are contributing. This money can be used to help purchase your first home as well. Your employer may offer HSA (Health Savings Account) and 401k as well with a percentage match. With my HSA account, my job matches a percentage of my contribution, and I have an HSA checking account. I use that debit card for the doctor, dentist, pharmacy, and for my toiletries. In terms of 401k, your employer will match a percentage of untaxed dollars into an account you cannot touch. People do forget that you must be vested within the company to get that full amount. Usually, 3-5 years to get the full employer percentage. Regardless, it is an easy way to save money if you struggle doing it on your own agenda. The earlier the better even if it is small amounts because TIME, IS MONEY. $7,000 over 15 years is worth more than $10,000 over 5 years.
I once heard that you shouldn't buy something unless you can afford three of them and you will be rich. I think that is an exaggeration, but the concept bears some truth. Someone will say, well then, I cannot buy a car, unless I can afford three? I respond to that by saying a car is one of the worst investments you can possibly make. I would like to talk about some bad investments you can make on things. A car depreciates by thousands the day you buy it and will probably only decrease in value by the mile. A luxury apartment long term is horrible, you're paying someone else's bills with rent. Designer outfits may be a hobby but with every wash they become more equal to any other fabric on the shelf. Paying for cable when we have mostly streamed now is silly. Putting all your money into the bank, is unwise because they are going to spend it before you and refuse you a decent loan when you need it. With that being said, never co-sign on a loan or long-term investment. Finally, buying bottled water is a super money waste and causes kidney stones.
How I accumulated the most amount of money and consistent value increase, was using autopay on a long-term account that I actively work with. 30$ a week into my M1 finance account with a little research, became 2,500$ in a little over 6 months. My mother used to always save money for her staff. She kept an envelope in her safe with each person's name and did the 52-week money challenge for them. Each week you save another dollar than the week previously. Starting with $1 week 1, $2 week 2, and so forth, you end up saving $1,378 in 52 weeks. Another challenge if you are still a cash user would be the spare change challenge. Take a jar and commit to putting all your change into it for a year. At the end of the year or whenever you fill that jar, take that money and put it into a high yield savings account or invest it, then repeat. If you are all digital, then you can use a cash rewards card to do the same. With the cash rewards money you can pay off bills or invest it. I also use a gas rewards app. Cash back rewards on things you know you must use are a cool small saving tool with discipline and CONSISTENCY.
I think for a multitude of reasons it is vital to surround yourself with people who bring you actual value not just emotional gratifications. Wealthy people do not pay for things, they have friends with value. Learn to love the things in life that reward you, not drain you. When I spent time with people who were not on the same vibration as me, I spent money on things that did not serve me individually, but more on the group. When everyone in the group isn't looking to be better than the day before then you become worse than the day before. If the folks around, you are not striving to be their best potential then you will not either. "Birds of the same feather flock together," especially when it comes to choosing a significant other. My friends I hang out with now play golf, build with their hands, invest in the stock market, own small business, take care of kids, grow plants, and think for themselves. "Wolves hang with other wolves."
First time home-owner loans are a great tool that a lot of people forget about to help leverage your first property. Land will always be of more value at some point in time because it is finite. To live for 30 adult years and not own any property is dangerous for your elderly years. Paying $1,500 a month to own your own home vs. 1,700$ a month to rent a unit somewhere is a no brainer. Interest rates and location majorly affect these decisions, but timing is everything. Time is money. Waiting to make this decision could cost double later. Due to our current country status, the American dream may seem unattainable but with discipline, consistency, and thinking differently it can be done.