002 | Top 5 Financial Management Mistakes You Should Avoid
Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you constantly find yourself drowning in debt and wondering where all your hard-earned money went? It's time to take control of your personal finances and start making smarter money management.
But most people, especially youngsters, fail to manage their finances as early as possible after they start working.
In this Minimalist Case financial blog post, we will discuss 5 common personal finance mistakes that you need to avoid before doing your own budgeting. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can pave the way towards a more stable and prosperous financial future. Review and manage your financial status and improve it day by day.
How Money Management Matters?
The importance of financial management is that money is the foundation of your well-being, and post retirement life. It encompasses all aspects of managing our money, from budgeting, saving for emergency funds to investing and planning to save for retirement. Without a solid understanding of money management principles, you may find yourselves in a constant state of financial stress, struggling to make ends meet.
Before building your own financial management, let’s take a close look at these top 5 mistakes and safeguard yourself with knowledge.
Mistake 1 - Borrowing from Your Retirement Savings
One common money management mistake people make is dipping into their retirement savings without fully understanding the consequences. When you borrow from your retirement savings, you are essentially taking money out of your future self's pocket. This can significantly impact the growth potential of your nest egg over time.
Additionally, there are often penalties and fees associated with borrowing against the retirement funds. These costs can eat into the amount you receive and further hinder your long-term financial management.
Another drawback of borrowing from retirement funds is that if you lose or leave your job accidentally, the loan typically becomes due within a short period of time. If you're unable to repay the loan in full, it may be treated as an early withdrawal subject to taxes and penalties.
Manage your finances wisely and try to avoid touching the retirement funds exempt saving more when you’ve got a bonus or special money.
Mistake 2 - Don’t Budgeting Money
Another money management mistake is fall budgeting your money. You need to budget for all aspects of your life. The budget can be a monthly budget, holiday budget, mortgage budget, and so on.
Financial management without a budget, it can be difficult to keep track of your income and expenses, leading to financial instability and potential debt. For a specific purpose, no budget can lead you to overspend and destroy your bank account.
Creating a budget doesn't have to be complicated. Start by listing all of your sources of income and then categorize your expenses into fixed (such as rent or mortgage payments) and variables (like groceries or entertainment). Allocate specific amounts for each category based on what's feasible within your income level.
Managing your personal finance plays an essential role in achieving long-term financial stability. It's important not only to create but also being flexible and making regular adjustments along the way will ensure that any changes in income or expenses are accounted for, and ultimately pave the way towards reaching those desired financial milestones.
Mistake 3 - Have no an Emergency Fund
Life is unpredictable, and unexpected expenses can arise at any moment. That's why it's crucial to have an emergency fund in financial management . Yet, many people make the mistake of not having one.
Without an emergency fund, you're left vulnerable and may find yourself relying on credit cards or taking out loans to cover unexpected costs. This can lead to accumulating debt and financial stress that could have been avoided.
Having an emergency fund provides a safety net for those unforeseen circumstances. It allows you to handle emergencies without derailing your overall financial goals. The portion of this emergency fund is said to be 3-6 months' worth of the medium of your monthly budgeting living expenses as a general rule of thumb. Remember, this money should be easily accessible, high liquidity but separate from your regular checking or savings accounts.
Mistake 4 - Invest with no Research
Planning to invest is a great idea to grow your money over inflation. Before getting started, do your own research about different investment assets, investment instruments, markets and understand your risk based on your personal financial condition.
Many people budgeting their money for investment, but investing based on rumors or tips from friends and family. While their intentions may be good, it's important to remember that what works for them may not work for you. Take the time to do your own research and analysis before making any investment decisions.
Manage a specific money portion, E.g. 10% or 30% of your monthly fixed income for investment. Don’t put all of your eggs into a basket. Declare your specific investment purpose E.g. for retirement savings or as an emergency fund.
You may also want to read
Remember that no investment is completely risk-free. invest only the risk you’re acceptable and only the amount of budgeted money you’re still happy with if it is lost. Read Mastering The Market Cycle: Getting the Odds on Your Side from Howard Marks, a co-founder of Oaktree Capital. He had said about the stock market cycle and you’ll understand how the stock market flows and how you can take the advantage of your hard-earned money.
Mistake 5 - Live on Single Income
Living on a single income is not necessarily a financial mistake for everyone. However, there are some potential risks and challenges that you should be aware of before making the decision to do so.
To achieve personal financial freedom fast, try to get two or more side hustles that you can do anywhere, anytime. These side hustle can be started from your comfort zone while working your full time job.
You May Also Want to Read
Conclusion
Learning from these 5 financial management to avoid personal financial risk. Before establishing your first 1 million, manage your money for retirement savings and emergency funds first.
