You have just got a job but you are clueless as to how to manage your money. You either spend your entire disposable income or let your savings sit on the credit side of your saving account. Either way, you are not doing the right thing.
Managing money can be an overwhelming process especially when you have just started earning. You are a millennial and still celebrating the fact that you are able to afford your rent, utilities and other expenses on your own. However, if terms like savings, investment, personal finance and money management are making you anxious, then try to understand these points:
1) Setting a monthly budget
Big organisations run on the simple principle of budgeting. The marketing department sets a campaign budget; the product department sets a research and development budget. Similarly, we set a budget before we think of making a big purchase. The same concept applies to our monthly expenditure as well. Write down your income and expenses. Try to limit the expenses by up to 60% of your income by budgeting the same. It can be done once you track, list, categorise and prioritise your expenses. Create your budget revolving around your lifestyle. Don’t try to copy someone else’s spending habit. Setting a budget in conformity with your expense can give you a lot of clarity and control. Also, the budget should not be so restrictive that living becomes a punishment. You can use apps like splitwise, mint, walnut, Intuit, Smart Spends etc.
2) Build a habit of consistent saving
The budget set shall help you to reach at a definite income-expense ratio after several attempts of trial and error. You may find yourself succumbing to temptations courtesy brilliantly curated advertisements. Don’t worry. Keep aside a definite buffer sum for your crave-purchases. After adjusting various expenses for the first few months, slowly include savings into your budget. If you find savings difficult, then think long-term. Would you rather want a trip to Rome or fifty days of fine wine and dine? Learning to live within the means can be difficult in the present times but, your money-hygiene is just as important a discipline as your work-out regime. Financial planners suggest avoiding debt by keeping a check on credit card usage. Set short-term and long-term financial goals.
3) Leave room for some flexibility
At the start of your career, you may change jobs and cities. Make a flexible plan. Avoid committing to a long-term payment cycle like home loan if your work life and goals change frequently. Also, tying your savings into long-term products may not work if your goals change and you need funds immediately. Your investment plan shall also move like your savings plan. Park your investments in instruments which give you a lock-in which is similar to your financial goals. For example, if you are planning to get married in 3 years, then invest your money in an instrument with a 3-year lock-in.
4) Allocate towards an emergency fund
To hedge yourself against uncertainties, it is essential to build an emergency fund before assigning a chunk towards investment or savings. You have just started your career and you may get hit money-wise when you are exploring your options. Hence, an emergency fund can come to the rescue to give you some buffer time. Treat this fund as a cushion in order to remain debt free and review this fund from time to time.