Download - Realizing the American Dream
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Realizing the American Dream
ManagingYourMoney
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Agenda Getting started Planning how to spend your money Developing and making a spending plan to
meet your goals The importance of saving Getting help
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Why a Spending Plan?
• Prepare for large expenses
• Encourage savings
• Prepare for surprise expenses
• Identify wasteful spending
• Accomplish goals
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How Do You Use Money?
• The Super Saver
• The Conservative
• The Carefree
• The Big Spender
• The Over Spender
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Rate Your Spending Habits
• Things easiest to change?
• Things hardest to change?
• Is a house worth giving these things up?
• Are you ready to do this?
• Other things you want to do first?
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Establishing a Spending Plan
• Determine your monthly net income
• Calculate your monthly expenses
• Subtract your regular expenses from your income
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Keeping Track of Spending
• Save all receipts
• Record in a small notebook
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Setting Household Goals
• Discuss household goals
• Be specific and realistic
• Rank household goals in order of importance
• Agree on top goals
• Figure out how much it will cost to reach your goals
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Wants vs. Needs Needs = items you must have for basic
survival
Wants = things you desire but can live without
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Different Types of Expenses
• Fixed expenses
• Periodic fixed expenses
• Flexible expenses
• Indebtedness expenses
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Trimming Expenses
• Clip coupons
• Use a list to do grocery shopping
• Make cost comparisons fun
• Get three quotes for large purchases
• Agree on allowance for each household
member
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Trimming Expenses (Cont’d)
• Eat at home
• Take lunches to work
• Shop in resale stores
• Trade services with friends
• Find fun activities that are free
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Money Management Tips
• Plan according to current income
• Plan ahead for six months
• Include spending money for all
• Keep record keeping simple
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Money Management Tips (Cont’d)
• Set money aside for maintenance & reserves
• Pay yourself first - at least 10% of take-home pay
• Get consensus from entire household
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Reviewing the Plan
• Is the spending plan working?
• Are all household members able to follow it?
• Which costs always seem to be over the planned amount?
• Are we getting closer to reaching our goals?
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Making Money Management Easier
• Decide who pays bills
• Know when bills are due
• Use utilities’ level billing payments
• Open a checking account
• Open a savings account
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Making Money Management Easier (Cont’d)
• Consolidate credit card accounts
• Consider selling a car
• Check your interest rates
• Stick to the plan
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Controlling Day-to-Day Spending
• Carry written reminders of your goals
• Carry as little cash as possible
• Pay with cash, check or debit card
• Avoid using credit cards
• Buy only what you need
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Importance of Saving
$1,504.09 in 2
years
$2/ day
2% intere
st=
Try to save 10% of your income on a monthly basis!
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Types of Savings Accounts
• Regular savings account
• Club account
• Certificate of deposit (CD)
• Money market account
• Matched savings account (IDA)
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Tips for Savers
• Pay yourself first
• Open a savings account far away from home and work
• Save change at end of day
• Bank your surprises
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Getting Help
• NeighborWorks® America
• National Foundation of Credit Counselors
• HUD
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Summary• Importance of a realistic spending plan
• Steps in developing a spending plan
• Setting financial goals and making a spending plan to meet your goals
• Trimming expenses and making money management easier
• Using strategies to increase savings