10 Ways to Master Your Money

你可能认为掌握金钱只会在你变老的时候到来, wiser, 还清债务, or get a raise. That's all untrue. 如果你正在读这篇文章，你现在就可以开始掌控你的金钱了.

At Patelco, we design products and tools that empower you to make healthy financial choices to build your financial wellness. 如果你想聊更多，请访问a local branch to meet with a 注册金融专员. 我们的注册金融专家也可以通过电话安排会议, and they’re here to listen to your questions and provide free guidance — not to sell products. They can help you put these 10 tips to the best use in your personal financial journey.

Use your income wisely

1. Pay yourself first 储蓄和投资

把年收入的5-10%存起来投资. If you're currently living from paycheck to paycheck without any real opportunity to get ahead, begin by creating a solid spending plan after tracking all monthly expenses.

一旦你弄清楚如何控制你的可自由支配的开支, 你可以把钱转到储蓄账户上. For many people, a good way to start saving regularly is to have a small amount transferred automatically from their paycheck to a savings account or mutual fund. 这个想法是:如果你没有看到它，你就不会错过它.

2. Pay off your credit card debt

If you’re trying to save while carrying a large credit card balance at, say, 19.8%, realize that 还清信用卡债务 每年能保证近20%的回报吗. 只要你还清了信用卡, 使用它们只是为了方便, 每个月还清余额. 如果你有刷信用卡的倾向，那就把信用卡扔掉.

3. Monitor your credit report

我们中的许多人不经常考虑我们的信用状况. 只有当你发现你的 credit score 或者申请贷款. In reality, checking your profile regularly helps safeguard your identity and financial health, 就像让你的医生检查有助于你的身体健康一样.

检查你的信用报告是监控身份盗窃的好方法. Reports show your accounts, so you can see if there's anything you don't recognize. 了解更多关于联邦贸易委员会的信息 website，并要求三份报告 annualcreditreport.com or 877.322.8228. Innovis还通过他们的网站提供免费的信用报告 credit report page.

Set goals for the future

4. Make your goals S.M.A.R.T.

当你心中有了一个明确的目标时，储蓄往往会变得更容易: Saving for your first house, your retirement, 孩子的大学教育, 甚至是环游世界. 重要的是你的目标要明确, measurable, actionable, 现实的和有时限的, or SMART.

• 无论你的目标是什么，都要做到 SPECIFIC.
• To develop a sound plan, these goals must have both a time frame and a dollar amount that is MEASURABLE. Once you have listed and quantified your goals, you need to prioritize them.
• Figure out how many weeks or months there are between now and when you want to reach your target. 将估算成本除以制作所需的周数或月数 ACTIONABLE. That's how much you'll need to save each week or month to have enough money set aside.
• 问问你自己，这是 REALISTIC?
• 记住，目标是一个有期限的梦想，所以要坚持你的目标 TIME-line 如果你想成功.

5. Buy a home (或者开始为其中一个存钱)

根据美国人口普查, since 1968, the median price of new single-family homes has gone up almost tenfold; most houses appreciate (gain in value) at rates that meet or beat inflation. 此外，房屋所有权使你有资格享受主要的税收减免. Check with your tax adviser or the latest IRS regulations to see if the interest on your mortgage is fully deductible, 这意味着山姆大叔会帮助补贴你的房地产投资. Additionally, the equity in your home can be a great source of retirement income.

即使你还需要几年才能买到房子, begin saving now, 即使一个月只有几美元. 这是每个人都可以迈出的一步.

Have an 投资策略

6. Take advantage of 递延税项的投资

If your employer has a tax-deferred investment plan like a 401(k) or 403(b), use it. 通常，雇主会配合你的投资. Even if they don’t, no taxes are due on your contributions or earnings until you retire and begin withdrawing the funds. Tax-deferred savings means that your investments can grow much faster than they would otherwise. ira也是如此, although the maximum amount you can invest annually in an IRA is substantially less than what you can put in a 401(k) or 403(b).

7. 分散你的投资最大化你的回报

When it comes to managing risk to 最大化你的回报, it pays to diversify. First you need to diversify among the three major asset classes: cash, stocks and bonds. Once you have decided on an allocation strategy among these three investment classes, 在每项资产中进行多样化是很重要的. This means buying multiple stocks within a variety of industries and holding bonds of varying maturities. Don’t make the mistake of putting most or all of your money in “safe” investments like savings accounts, 股票和货币市场基金. Over the long haul, inflation and taxes will devour the purchasing power of your money in these “safe havens.”

所有的投资都涉及风险和回报之间的权衡. Diversification reduces unnecessary risk by spreading your money among a variety of investments. 除了多样化, 最有效的策略就是持续不断地投资, 从长远的角度来看.

Prepare for the unexpected

8. Maintain an emergency fund

Before you commit your newfound savings to volatile and hard-to-reach investments, 确保你至少有三个月的开销 emergency fund. Keeping it liquid will ensure that you don't have to sell investments when their prices are down and guarantee that you can always get to your money quickly.

如果你有麻烦 决定你手头需要保留多少, 首先考虑一下你一个月的标准开支, and then estimate all the expenses you might have in the future (possible insurance deductibles and other emergencies). Generally, if you spend a larger portion of your income on discretionary expenses that you could cut easily in a financial crisis, 你在应急账户中需要保留的钱就越少.

9. Write a will

最简单的方法来确保你的资金, property and personal effects will be distributed according to your wishes is to prepare a will. A will is a legal document that ensures that your assets will be given to family members or other beneficiaries you designate. Although wills are simple to create, about half of all Americans die without a will. 没有意愿表达你的愿望, the court could step in and distributes your property according to the laws of your state. 如果你没有继承人，又没有遗嘱就死了, 甚至有可能国家会要求你的财产.

To begin, 盘点你的资产, outline your objectives and determine to which friends and family you wish to pass your belongings to. 然后，和法律顾问一起写遗嘱. Make sure that your family knows that you have a will, and where to find it when the time comes. (保险箱或律师办公室是常见的地方.)

10. Insure your family adequately

An accident, unexpected illness, 或者，如果你没有适当的保险，死亡在经济上可能是毁灭性的. The key to insurance is to cover only financial losses so large that you could not cope with them and remain financially fit. If someone is dependent on your income, you need adequate life insurance. Long-term disability coverage is important if you need employment income. 另外，一定要在你的保险单上有足够的责任保险 家庭和汽车保险.

为了节省年保费, it might be feasible for you to raise your insurance deductible or eliminate dual coverage. 并且无论何时购买人寿保险, home, disability, 或者自动-一定要货比三家, 只从信誉良好的公司购买.

咨询来源:Broadridge Financial Solutions.