Money Management Tips
• Write down everything you spend this
month to get a sense of where your
money goes.
• Calculate how much money you think
you will need for retirement by referring
to the retirement fund ballpark
estimators found within the Financial
Literacy Resource Center.
• Pick a date by which to pay off all your
credit card debt.
• Next payday, pay yourself first by putting
money in your savings account before
spending anything.
• Assess your debt—how much do
you have?
• Check into all of your employee benefits,
and ask yourself if you are taking full
advantage of them.
• Always pay your bills on time.
• Write down one financial goal you intend
to achieve by the end of next week.
• Have you created an emergency fund for
yourself and your family?
• Make more than the minimum payment
on your credit card bills. If you can, pay
them in full every month.
• If you are renting your home or
apartment, make sure you have
renters’ insurance.
• Pick one area of personal finance you
want to know more about, and research
that subject in the Financial Literacy
Resource Center.
• Tell a trusted friend about your financial
goals; have him or her check in on you
periodically.
• Borrow books, DVDs, and CDs from the
library instead of buying them
• After paying off your credit cards, cancel
all but one.
• Pay any bills you receive each month as
soon as you get them.
• Write down one goal on a slip of paper
and stick it in your wallet to remind you
of your financial goals when you are
shopping and temptation strikes.
• Avoid using payday lenders and checkcashing
services.
• If your employer will match the amount
of money you contribute to a retirement
account, contribute enough to receive
the full benefit of the match.
• Be sure to compare benefits before
deciding on a financial institution.
• Always read financial documents and
agreements before signing them.
• Identify three long-term financial goals,
such as buying a house or paying for
your child’s college education.
• Purchase disability insurance if you don’t
already have it.
• Spend one hour today organizing your
financial files.
• Always take time to shop around before
making large purchases.
Continued
© 2005 National Endowment for Financial Education. All rights reserved.
It’s time to get smart about your money.
• Leave your credit cards home when you
go out this week
• Check to be sure your beneficiary
designations are up to date.
• When you no longer need your financial
documents, shred them to avoid
identity theft.
• Withdraw cash only from ATMs that do
not charge you a fee.
• Encourage your children to take
advantage of financial education courses
at school.
• Order copies of your credit report.
• Make a spending plan for next month.
• Suggest to your partner that, as a gift to
each other, you both attend at least one
session with a financial professional.
• Make a plan for achieving one long-term
financial goal.
• Check into classes that are offered at
your workplace regarding employee
benefits; sign up to take the next one
offered.
• Open a retirement savings account; if you
already have one, increase
your contribution.
• Assess your spending plan for this
month. Are you on track?
• Rebalance your investment portfolio at
least once a year.
• Take time this week to assess how well
you are keeping your tax records.
• Spend an hour talking to your children
about the importance of saving money.
• Make an appointment with your lawyer to
create or update your will.
• Every time you use your credit card this
week, write down what you bought.
• Give your children or grandchildren
financial gifts, such as money for college.
• Take an insurance inventory. Do you have
all the coverage you need?
• Check on your long-term financial goals,
such as saving for an emergency fund or
buying a house, and ask yourself how
you’re doing.
• Compare car insurance prices on the
Internet; if you find a better price,
consider switching policies.
• Protect your financial documents from
disaster by keeping them in a safe
deposit box at a bank or credit union.
• Next time you get a raise, and for every
raise thereafter, increase your
contribution to your retirement account.
• If you are tempted to make a
spontaneous purchase this week, wait an
hour before doing so.
• Compare prices of produce and products
at the grocery store; see how much you
can save just by purchasing generic
brands or items on sale.
© 2005 National Endowment for Financial Education. All rights reserved.
• Write down everything you spend this
month to get a sense of where your
money goes.
• Calculate how much money you think
you will need for retirement by referring
to the retirement fund ballpark
estimators found within the Financial
Literacy Resource Center.
• Pick a date by which to pay off all your
credit card debt.
• Next payday, pay yourself first by putting
money in your savings account before
spending anything.
• Assess your debt—how much do
you have?
• Check into all of your employee benefits,
and ask yourself if you are taking full
advantage of them.
• Always pay your bills on time.
• Write down one financial goal you intend
to achieve by the end of next week.
• Have you created an emergency fund for
yourself and your family?
• Make more than the minimum payment
on your credit card bills. If you can, pay
them in full every month.
• If you are renting your home or
apartment, make sure you have
renters’ insurance.
• Pick one area of personal finance you
want to know more about, and research
that subject in the Financial Literacy
Resource Center.
• Tell a trusted friend about your financial
goals; have him or her check in on you
periodically.
• Borrow books, DVDs, and CDs from the
library instead of buying them
• After paying off your credit cards, cancel
all but one.
• Pay any bills you receive each month as
soon as you get them.
• Write down one goal on a slip of paper
and stick it in your wallet to remind you
of your financial goals when you are
shopping and temptation strikes.
• Avoid using payday lenders and checkcashing
services.
• If your employer will match the amount
of money you contribute to a retirement
account, contribute enough to receive
the full benefit of the match.
• Be sure to compare benefits before
deciding on a financial institution.
• Always read financial documents and
agreements before signing them.
• Identify three long-term financial goals,
such as buying a house or paying for
your child’s college education.
• Purchase disability insurance if you don’t
already have it.
• Spend one hour today organizing your
financial files.
• Always take time to shop around before
making large purchases.
Continued
© 2005 National Endowment for Financial Education. All rights reserved.
It’s time to get smart about your money.
• Leave your credit cards home when you
go out this week
• Check to be sure your beneficiary
designations are up to date.
• When you no longer need your financial
documents, shred them to avoid
identity theft.
• Withdraw cash only from ATMs that do
not charge you a fee.
• Encourage your children to take
advantage of financial education courses
at school.
• Order copies of your credit report.
• Make a spending plan for next month.
• Suggest to your partner that, as a gift to
each other, you both attend at least one
session with a financial professional.
• Make a plan for achieving one long-term
financial goal.
• Check into classes that are offered at
your workplace regarding employee
benefits; sign up to take the next one
offered.
• Open a retirement savings account; if you
already have one, increase
your contribution.
• Assess your spending plan for this
month. Are you on track?
• Rebalance your investment portfolio at
least once a year.
• Take time this week to assess how well
you are keeping your tax records.
• Spend an hour talking to your children
about the importance of saving money.
• Make an appointment with your lawyer to
create or update your will.
• Every time you use your credit card this
week, write down what you bought.
• Give your children or grandchildren
financial gifts, such as money for college.
• Take an insurance inventory. Do you have
all the coverage you need?
• Check on your long-term financial goals,
such as saving for an emergency fund or
buying a house, and ask yourself how
you’re doing.
• Compare car insurance prices on the
Internet; if you find a better price,
consider switching policies.
• Protect your financial documents from
disaster by keeping them in a safe
deposit box at a bank or credit union.
• Next time you get a raise, and for every
raise thereafter, increase your
contribution to your retirement account.
• If you are tempted to make a
spontaneous purchase this week, wait an
hour before doing so.
• Compare prices of produce and products
at the grocery store; see how much you
can save just by purchasing generic
brands or items on sale.
© 2005 National Endowment for Financial Education. All rights reserved.
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