5 Steps To Getting Your Personal Finances on The Right Track

Have your personal finances taken a turn for the worse? Follow these steps to get your fiances back in the green. 

The Street recommends how to get your personal finance in order by taking into consideration these steps.

For some people, getting personal finances in order is more grueling than wandering the desert for 40 years. But it doesn’t take a miracle. If you are looking for some basic guidelines, just follow these commandments:

1. Thou Shalt Donate to Worthy Causes and Those Less Fortunate

No matter how desperate your finances may appear, if you are reading this article there are a lot of people that are far worse off than you are in the world. It’s important to nurture a sense of giving and to be thankful for the small things that you do have. That means donating to worthy causes on a regular basis.

Find a few causes that you believe in, and give to them generously. Don’t assume that money is the only way that you can give. Volunteering time and skills are also appreciated by most charitable organizations. You can research organizations at Web sites such as Charity Watch. If you don’t know where to begin, three that you may want to consider are Kiva, Modest Needs and Doctors Without Borders.

2. Thou Shalt Protect Your Finances

You will take the necessary steps, usually through insurance, to make sure that your assets are protected in case of a disaster.

Take the time to make sure that all your assets are properly insured, and re-evaluate this every few years or whenever a major life change occurs, such as marriage or a new addition to the family. Also be sure to compare insurance rates on a regular basis, since this is a competitive business.

3. Thou Shalt Save and Invest

Take the money that you pay yourself first and either save or invest it to make it grow and work for you in the future.

If you are carrying credit card debt, invest in it first. But also make sure to take full advantage of the saving and investing opportunities that are available. If your company matches 401(k) contributions, contribute up to the match and try to maximize your Roth IRA contribution. Make sure you have an emergency fund.

4. Thou Shalt Educate Yourself and Be Responsible for Your Decisions

While it may be more convenient to hand over all your money matters to somebody else, you will not do this. Part of being financially responsible is having the final say in all decisions about your money. That does not mean that you can’t seek out advice and get opinions on your finances, but in the end your money is your responsibility, and you are the only one who is going to truly look after your own interests.

If you have designated someone else to take care of your finances, begin to take back control. No matter what, spend an hour or two each week reading articles on personal finance subjects or visiting Web communities where you can ask questions.

5. Thou Shalt Set Financial Goals

In order to reach your financial goals, you need to know what those goals are. Nobody can determine these goals except for you. You need to take the time to figure out exactly what your financial goals are so that you can take the needed steps to reach them.If you don’t know specifically what you financial goals are for this year, next year and 10 years from now, take the steps needed to create them

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