JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — All this week we’ve been looking at what keeps women up at night and living within our budget is right there at the top for many of us.
When it comes to money management, knowledge is power.
Kelly Smith, with Wells Fargo Bank, says doing four key things can help you become financially secure and empowered.
Number one: Know the income you have coming in.
‘That's your paycheck, the benefits you receive, and really take into account when it is coming in,” Smith said. “If you did freelance or receive incentives, it may not be as consistent, so really spending the time knowing when income is coming into your account.”
Number two: Know your bills.
“Look at your recurring bills like your mortgage or rent, car payment, and utilities," Smith said. "Are your bills going out after you get paid?”
Schedule your payments on the days that work best for you.
“That's very controllable. You can talk to creditors. You can talk to service providers about when you want bills to come out, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't align that up the right way and it puts them in a place where they feel anxious or feeling like they don't have enough money to meet all of their expenses,” Smith said.
Number three: Know what you are spending your money on and look at your wants versus your needs. Do you really need that new pair of shoes? If you're struggling to meet expenses, Smith says, your wants have to go.
“Do you need to get a Starbucks or Dunkin Donut cup of coffee? Can you make your coffee at home? There are a lot of things and over time you would be surprised. Maybe instead of going to the salon, you buy nail polish at the grocery store and have a girl's night at your house,” Smith said.
Number four: Know your savings strategy, and have a cushion.
“You never know when the unexpected is going to happen so you really want to have three to six months’ worth of cushion in your savings account in case you had a medical emergency or home repair that had to be paid,” Smith said.
If you want to learn more ways to be empowered in all areas of your life Generation W, a non-profit focused on bringing women together to educate, to inspire and to connect, is having an event on Friday, April 3 at the University of North Florida. Business and community leaders, along with experts from around the country, will gather for day to transform and inspire you.