| Personal finance is not an issue you should be forced | | | | Get electronic bill pay |
| to face when in a crisis like so many people end up | | | | This is a very convenient way to pay your bills. You |
| doing. Your personal finances are vital for your life, | | | | pay them electronically, by direct withdrawal from |
| security and prosperity. Face it and don't hide your | | | | your bank account. The transaction is processed |
| financial issues under the rug. Learn and practice | | | | immediately. You can even link your bill pay service to |
| personal budgeting. Create your own financial destiny | | | | your budget, so that your expenditures are |
| and your life will be so much better. | | | | automatically entered in the appropriate category. |
| You'll have to | | | | Personal financial management can be really easy, |
| - know your current personal financial situation | | | | don't you think? Check out programs for enabling this |
| - estimate how your financial situation will develop in | | | | on the internet |
| a short term perspective | | | | Make an investment and finance plan |
| - set long term financial goals, make a plan to achieve | | | | Now that the fundamental state of your personal |
| them and then execute your plan. | | | | financial security has been established, the time has |
| Get a view of your current financial situation | | | | come for the more prosperous part of your personal |
| Collect accurate information about your personal | | | | financial life. What I mean is |
| financial situation. Calculate your your net worth, This | | | | - investments |
| information includes: | | | | - retirement planning |
| - real estate | | | | - loan shopping |
| - saving and retirement accounts | | | | - other ways to build a fortune. |
| - stocks and bonds | | | | You need to make a plan of what you really want in |
| - all other assets. | | | | life that money can buy. Then you must find out |
| What is the total? Are you surprised? | | | | how to get the money it takes to finance it and |
| Make a budget | | | | finally start to implement this plan. This is the long |
| A personal budget is information made up of your | | | | term part of your financial life - the process of |
| income and expenses and the more accurate this | | | | personal financial development from the state you |
| information is, the more likely you are to be able to | | | | are in right now - to the state you want to be in. |
| meet your goals and realize your dreams. An income | | | | This journey toward financial freedom is in my opinion |
| expenses budget should be made for at most one | | | | the most interesting and exciting part of personal |
| year at a time and include a list of your monthly | | | | financing you can have. |
| expenses. All expenses must be included. To be sure | | | | Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet |
| of that go through all your paid bills, check register | | | | publisher. He runs the website |
| and credit card receipts to find expenditures that | | | | 1st-Self_Improvement.net. |
| recur every month and expenditures that happen | | | | Terje is a Sociologist who enjoys contributing to the |
| less frequently. Divide that total by twelve and you | | | | personal growth and happiness of others. He tries to |
| have your monthly average expenses. To be able to | | | | accomplish this by writing about self improvement |
| make good personal financial decisions and set | | | | issues from his own experience and knowledge. For |
| priorities, you must know where your money is | | | | example, personal finance and relationship fortune. |
| actually going. | | | | |