Finding Financial Security
Normally I write a lot about how to keep yourself productive and different places you can find work. Today I want to talk about something that is just important as keeping yourself on track. You work day in and day out to earn your living. Conquering the tough daily struggles of juggling work, the kids and the house, I think it's only fair to chat about how to make your hard earned dollar go even further. The economy around us seems like one mild breeze and what's left is going to go toppling over putting most of us in a financial panic.
At this point in our economy you should have a budget set. If you don't, now is the time to get on it. Figure out just how much your household costs are including gas and groceries. Knowing exactly how much you need every month to survive is the first step in planning out how to keep your head above water. If you are in the position to, start creating an emergency fund savings account. Build it as fast as you can. Put away every last extra penny that you can. Right now many jobs are on the line and pending lay offs so what you are bringing home now may not be the case next month or even next week.
After you have your base finances figured out, you may be wondering where the rest of your money is ending up if your income is well over what you are having to spend for base expenses. Hopefully you are in this boat because that means you are going to be able to pad that emergency fund much faster. Start cutting out all the extras that you are spending money on. Instead of picking up a coffee from your favorite coffee shop on your way to work, purchase a to-go coffee mug from the store and start bringing your own coffee to work with your favorite creamer in it instead. This is going to save you hundreds of dollars that can be put in your emergency fund.
Fast food is also a huge enemy to your pocket book. Even with all the dollar menus these restaurants can add up if you are a frequent visitor. Drive throughs are convenient and so is the food. As tempting as it may be try to pass them up. Change your thinking and start grocery shopping for food that is convenient. Keep it healthy and plan ahead. There are many foods that you can make before hand and warm up later. You could even plan for having deli style sandwiches once a week for dinner. Get out the fixings and let everyone create their own. There are several sites that you can visit that have loads of ideas for quick and easy recipes. Check out "Dinner in a Pinch" here in this blog to see some of them.
It's a time of an uncertain economy and no one really knows when things will turn around. The economy may turn around very quickly or it may be a ways away. As parents we all need to make sure that our families have financial security to our best abilities. If you work hard and keep your focus on your needs rather than wants your family is already well on it's way.
