It’s the end of the month: Do you know where your money is? If your answer is no, then you probably need to create a personal cash flow management system. Meaning, a system that effectively manages what you do with your money each month. I’m not just talking about having a spending plan, but a plan for actually managing how you use the cash that comes in the door each month.
Sounds glamorous, right? While we’re not talking about your next Caribbean vacation, we are talking about living the life you want. A highly effective cash flow management system is the most foundational, yet overlooked part of your financial life. It ensures that your spending is aligned with your present-day priorities and future goals—all while using the least amount of mental space every month.
Start by asking yourself if you have some kind of system already in place. Maybe you’re managing your money without even realizing it. If this is not the case, you may just be...
When you are in college, away from home, balancing that bank account can suddenly feel monstrous and overwhelming. If you are not careful, you can lose control over your finances very quickly. Managing your money in college requires a certain amount of skill and willpower but you can do it with these proven tips.
Set Up A Checking Account
Many banks offer students free checking and saving accounts facilities, which help students save on withdrawal or fund transfer fees. Find out which banks offer this facility to college students and preferably set up a checking account with a bank that has convenient ATMs located in close proximity to the college campus to save on out-of-network charges.
Control Your Spending Habits
Are you an impulse shopper? If you are, you will have to change your spending habits and learn to exercise restraint. Start by learning to distinguish between your needs and wants. That expensive software that you had not accounted for in your budget may be necessary...
Yes, I recommend that you ditch your bank account called "savings". Sounds so strange right? You, me and millions of Americans were taught to have a "savings account" while growing up.
Here's the problem with it. Having an account called "savings" will keep your financial stress brewing for weeks, months and years to come because you're not telling your money what to do.
Start creating multiple named savings accounts for your needs and wants for three years or less. Some examples could be:
Transfer a dollar amount automatically each month into each of your new named savings. You will be elated in a few months to see these accounts grow through automation. And when your car needs a repair you'll be super happy that you begin saving money this way.
Say goodbye to your account just called "savings".
We'd love to help you...
The path to achieving a life of more purpose, meaning and financial success first begins with a question.
Are you enough?
Are you enough refers to having what it takes or being smart enough to reach goals and dreams.
The answer is emphatically YES. You are more than enough.
It does not matter how you grew up, where you lived or how poorly your parents managed money. It does not matter how smart you are or how many stupid money mistakes you've made in the past.
To achieve long term financial success and a life of more purpose simply requires a new mindset.
Once you believe you are enough the game is all but over.
From there it's about automating your financial life by learning how to save, spend and invest money differently.
And we'd love to help you do just that.
Check out our new Do Money Differently online course here. We'd love to prove to you that you are more than enough.
-Todd
P.S. Don't forget you can receive a $25 bonus...
Hi!
We're blown away that a large number of young people have answered the call from our YMU winter/spring 2022 financial success speaking tour.
They're opening up their first investment account!
College students of all ages and economic backgrounds are deciding to take action to create real wealth over time to reach their goals and dreams, and the fear they once had about investing has been overcome by realizing it only takes five minutes to set up their account!
Well, we want to keep the momentum going and help hundreds of more people like you open up their investment account too.
So here's what we're doing.
If you open up an Acorns investment account through this special YMU/Acorns link you will receive a $25 bonus from Acorns.
And, as another bonus, we're going to send you the YOUNG MONEY e-book too if you open up your Acorns account by this Saturday March 19.
After signing up...
So yes this is kind of a selfish message but actually it's more about you than me.
It's been a while since I looked at some of my recent reviews on Amazon for my new updated book YOUNG MONEY. And wow, I was thrilled and humbled to read a few including:
Brent B. who said - "Straightforward and solid"
Jeremy K. who said - "Very powerful book"
Joseph J. who said - "Every high school and college student should read this book"
M. Tayler who said - "Took the uncertainty and fear out of finance"
Feven B. who said - "Simple but seriously impactful"
I'm thankful for those who write these reviews because it shows YOUNG MONEY has made a difference. And I'd love it if the book made a difference in your life or the lives of those you care about too.
Check out the book on Amazon here. I believe it will be one of the best ways to start the new year.
Remember, you have what it takes to Do Money Differently and live a life that...
The biggest fear that many young people face is the fear of failure. And while this can be natural among most people, it can end up being debilitating. Fear of failure will inhibit you to not take action or reasonable risk to reach your goals and dreams.
For some reason, we have believed that failure is bad. When in reality, when we fail at something it means we took action to try to achieve something. And that's good. Not bad.
When we decide not to try something (ie...learning how to play the piano, start an online business, etc) we have actually failed. That's the only failure there is. Period.
So, as you head into the New Year, don't let fear of failure impede you from taking a risk to help you get to where you want to go. Simple as that.
Remember, you have what it takes to live a life that fits your dreams.
- Todd
P.S. Don't forget you can receive a $25 bonus by opening up a new investment account with Acorns here.
The number one and number two New Year's resolutions for most people is to get in better physical and/or financial shape. And decades of research continue to show that after 30 days over 80% of those resolutions do not continue.
Instead of resolving to do something. Just take ACTION regardless of the day of the year. I'd like you to take action on Doing Money Differently now regardless of the date of the year.
All it takes for you to decide to get into better financial shape is to create your personal WHY. Why do you ULTIMATELY want to be financially successful?
Your why will move you to take action on saving, spending, investing and giving money differently.
Check out our Do Money Differently course here to help you begin 2022 in a very exciting way.
- Todd
P.S. Don't forget you can receive a $25 bonus by opening up a new investment account with Acorns here.
Let's face it, a large percentage of young people today are thinking riches can come fast through "investing" in the right stock or crypto.
And to some degree they have been right when they see certain meme stocks and cryptos go nuts over the last year or two. Robinhood, with its commission free trades, has become amazingly popular among 18-29 year olds. Super easy to set up an account.
But here's my caution. While I like the democratization of the financial markets for anyone to begin investing, you have to look at investing versus gambling.
Gambling is simply buying a stock for a short period of time hoping it will go up fast. And Robinhood can give you this ease of entry and kind of a gambling thrill.
But always keep in mind that to create wealth over time, let time do the heavy lifting through automated monthly investing in a group of stocks in a mutual fund or ETF.
That's why I like platforms like Acorns to begin investing ASAP. Click here to receive...
I happened to read an article in the American Airlines magazine recently while traveling titled "How to Tap Into More Happiness". It talked about how giving money to those in need transforms a negative, depressed and sad mood into a positive and joyful mood. The article went on to say that giving and serving others is an immediate antidote when we're feeling the blues. I couldn't agree more.
Step 5 of the YMU financial success plan is called GIVE MONEY DIFFERENTLY. It's based on setting up a named savings account called Giving where you automatically transfer a certain dollar amount each month from your checking account to your Giving account.
After money accumulates for 6-12 months, find a person you know or maybe someone you've read about in the local news who has been dealt a tough life hand and is in real financial need. Take what you've saved in your Giving account and hand it to them. Or mail them a check or send via Venmo or Paypal. Tell them you've been saving...