Tuesday, July 6, 2010

7 Actions You Can Take Now to Jumpstart Your Finances

It is never too late to give your finances a little boost by doing several things that will get you going. Think of it as Spring cleaning or New Years Resolutions for your finances. Here are 7 suggestions to help you get that boost. Feel free to choose the ones that will best apply to you and your situation.

1 - Log on to your various investment accounts and check their performance for the past year or 6 months. You can check to see if it is time to re-balance your portfolio after you see how your investments have done.


2 - Make sure that your filing is up to date. It is very easy to let important paperwork pile up and when you need it is no where to be found. If you don't have a filing system, create one.

3 - If you haven't already consider using a software package to manage your finances. The top package is Quicken. You can pick up a basic version for about $29. It is relatively easy to setup and should not take more than a couple hours to get going. There are also many free packages. Just do a Google search for "free personal finance software" and you will be bound to find one that suits you.

4 - If you have not already started to bank online, sign-up for it at your bank's website. This is a good way to keep close tabs on your money and get up to the minute balances for your accounts.

5 - Automate your savings. This is just a monthly transfer from your checking to savings account. It does not have to be a lot of money - any savings, even the smallest amount is a good thing. This is very easy if you have online banking. If you don't, just call your bank and setup a monthly transfer from your checking to your savings account.

6 - If you don't have a will, get one made NOW. You do not have to go to an attorney and pay a bunch of money to get a will any more. You can find plenty of places online to get inexpensive wills. Search around, you are bound to find one that fits your needs.

7 - Take some time and set some financial goals. They don't have to be anything lofty, just goals that are measurable.

Jeff McKinstry is a computer programmer that is trying to be funny and entertain people in his spare time. His wife might not think so though. Here is a book that will help you to get started on your stand up journey if you are so inclined - Standup Comedy Secrets

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