Managing your money is difficult, and many people struggle with it at least to some degree to keep their finances under control. In fact, about a third of workers who make $200,000 or more a year say they run out of money before they get their next paycheck, according to a Salary Finance survey.
However, although many people have difficulty maintaining their finances under control, many of them are not doing everything possible to improve their situation. In fact, there is one particular money movement that can improve every aspect of your financial life – and not enough people are taking advantage of it.
But despite the fact that nearly half of Americans say they're stressed about money, according to the Salary Finance report, only 19% of people say they'd like to understand financial language better. Even among the group of people who are stressed about money, only 23% think that a better understanding of financial language could improve their situation.
No matter how much you already know about managing your money, everyone can bear to learn at least a little more. You may already have a solid understanding of many financial concepts, which is a great first step. But if you're stressed about money, taking steps to learn even more about the areas that worry you can point you in the right direction to improve your situation and have your benefits. finances under control. And even if you're not currently stressed about your finances, learning more about financial issues can ensure that you're making the best decisions possible.
For example, if you're having trouble paying off a debt, you may choose to learn more about how to prioritize your different debts. By better understanding what you're paying in interest for each type of debt, and then prioritizing those debts accordingly, you can minimize your interest payments and pay off your debt more quickly. Without a solid payment strategy, you may be unknowingly paying more interest than necessary.
Plus, a better understanding of financial basics can help you make smarter money decisions. For example, if you know how to create a budget, you'll have a better chance of spending wisely so you don't run out of money before your next paycheck arrives. And if you also know how to set spending limits on each area of your budget, you can avoid spending more than you earn, which, in turn, will help you save more for the future.
Prioritize learning to improve your financial health
The good news is that there is a wealth of information available online on every imaginable financial topic. Whether you're struggling with debt, finding it difficult to save, or need help managing your money on a day-to-day basis, there are resources to guide you. The first step, however, is simply to recognize that learning more about finances can improve your situation. Even if you feel confident in your money decisions, it never hurts to learn even more to make sure you're doing everything you can to put every dollar to good use.
Read More: Discuss your finances with your partner, here are some ways
If the idea of spending your free time reading and learning about finances isn't so appealing, you're not alone. In fact, a quarter of Americans say they'd rather fill a hole than budget and have their finances under control.
If you don't like to think about money, try thinking about the positive results you will see in the future when you make certain financial changes. For example, try to imagine what life would be like if you paid off all your credit card debt. Imagine all the extra money you'll have, and think of all the stress and sleepless nights you'll be able to avoid. With that in mind, it may be easier to develop an action plan to make that dream a reality.
You can do the same for any financial goal you have. If you know you should be saving for retirement, for example, but feel overwhelmed by the idea of creating a plan and don't know where to start, picture your ideal retirement and let that guide you. Or, on the other hand, it might help to imagine a retirement where you can barely afford to survive because you haven't saved enough. That could serve as motivation to start learning as much as you can now so that you can achieve your future goals and maintain your finances under control.