Finance Articles

The concept of personal finance and its management began when money could be exchanged for goods, when it became a matter of more than food, clothing and shelter. After money came into the picture, to make a living, people got jobs and were compensated in cash. The origin of personal finance and its management began with the concept of want versus resources. Living comfortably involved having enough money to buy all the things one wanted. Next came the necessity to balance a checkbook, to avoid getting into debt. These days, with credit freely available along with various financial alternatives that give you the means to achieve your financial goals, it has literally become mandatory to become skilled in making the right choices.

Managing personal finance usually begins with handling pocket money at a young age. Thereafter comes the ability to plan and budget. Budgeting and planning your expenses, investing for future requirements and retirement planning broadly covers the different aspects of personal finance.

Budgeting

More than how much money comes in it's a matter of how you spend it. That's where budgeting comes in. A detailed budget helps you keep tabs on your income. There are many people who are able to live comfortably on what they earn, even if their income is modest. True personal finance management boils down to spending less than you earn. A budget, therefore, keeps track of income and expenses. It will segregate your fixed expenses like your food, stay and insurance and your variable expenses like your travel, entertainment etc.

You can then figure out how much you can save and know what is available to invest. Experts advise you to keep at least half a year's income invested so that you can access it easily in the event of an emergency. Setting realistic goals is a big part of budgeting, along with understanding the difference between wants and needs.

Planning For The Future

Adequate insurance for you and your family is an essential part of investing. Life, health and property insurance protects you and your loved ones from unforeseen mishaps. Most people also make sure they have authorized someone through a power of attorney so that they can manage their personal finance in case they are unable to do it. It is also wise to make a will so that your assets can be handled smoothly.

Good personal finance management involves investing, managing risk, insurance, understanding and tackling debt and credit, knowing the value of time and money and ensuring that your retirement is taken care of. While planning you make an assessment of your present situation in relation to your goals. Managing personal finances becomes a hassle when you get into debt. Debt is what you owe, and can be good and bad. If you have borrowed money to buy property, it is an investment and the money you pay against interest on the loan is tax deductible. But running up debts like overdue credit cards is not good. This is why budgeting is very important so that you know exactly where your money is going. It is very easy to lose track of what you spend without a budget.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to invest and save for the future. The crux of the matter is to keep in mind your sources of income and account for your expenses, while keeping a budget that is feasible. Periodical review keeps you in control of your personal finance.