How To Balance Your Financial Priorities

People begin to evaluate their financial plans and chart a course for the future at the start of the year. For most, this quickly becomes a question of priorities, often between short and long-term objectives. Should you prioritize retirement savings over debt repayment? Saving for your children’s college rather than replacing an old SUV?.

Organize Yourself

Setting priorities is impossible when your goals and financial information are scattered all over the place. So, first and foremost, make a list and organize yourself. Determine what is most important to you. You might be concerned about future purchases, debt, savings, retirement, or a variety of other financial obligations. You don’t have to prioritize them just yet, but write them down somewhere! This gives you a clear picture of your financial objectives.

Determine Urgent Concerns

Do you have any past-due bills? Are your appliances in desperate need of an upgrade? Is your current income sufficient to cover your basic expenses? Remember, long-term planning is critical, but don’t let it prevent you from addressing your short-term obligations and daily expenses! Realistically, short-term concerns that have a deadline shortly must be addressed first.

Distribute Resources

Now that you’ve identified your top priorities, it’s time to assess your budget and determine the best way to allocate resources. There is no need to overdo this step because it can be done in conjunction with your long-term plans. For example, you may have a credit card bill looming on a card that consistently carries debt from month to month. You will want to get out of debt as soon as possible, so you may be tempted to use all available funds to do so. In the meantime, pay what you must. You can always return later to pay down more when you have a better understanding of your overall financial picture. It’s also a good idea to set aside some money each month to create a cash buffer/emergency fund.

Identify Potential Improvements

Life can appear to be full of bills and obligations. It’s no surprise that some payments can easily slip through the cracks! Once you’ve identified areas of immediate concern and ensured that your obligations have been met, it’s time to look for previously untapped sources of revenue and potential savings.

Make an Investment in Your Future

Now that you’ve taken care of your immediate financial needs and found some extra money in your budget, you can start thinking about your long-term goals and future responsibilities. Maybe you want to pay off your mortgage faster or get a new car. You, like most people, probably want to increase your retirement savings and ensure a high standard of living for your family. You must begin planning for your future in the same way that you decided how to best handle immediate concerns.

Creating a financial plan is unquestionably a balancing act. While urgent deadlines and obligations must be met first, this does not imply that they are more important than long-term goals. Focusing on the long term almost always produces better results in the long run. Allowing your current obligations to pile up, on the other hand, will only make your life more difficult in the long run. You can achieve a perfect financial balance if you plan wisely, deal with your current obligations, and set aside funds for the future.