Today’s economy has economists, government officials, and investors of all kinds scratching their heads trying to figure out not just what broke the economy, but how best to go about fixing it. Fear seems to be the word of the day, so if fear is ruling your life, keep reading. I’m going to give you some must-have financial survival advice that will help you to keep your sanity – and maybe even get rich at the same time.
Take Stock of Your Finances – You may be one of the millions of Americans who have seen jobs disappear. If you have, my heart goes out to you. If you haven’t, it’s critical that you realize that in today’s economy, there’s no such thing as job stability. Your employer can decide at the drop of a hat that they’re eliminating ‘X’ number of jobs tomorrow. If yours happens to be one of them, you’ll join the ranks of the unemployed.
It’s more important than ever before that you examine your personal finances and see exactly where you stand. Gather all of your financial data and do a balance sheet. How much do you owe – and how much do you have? If you don’t have a rainy day fund with a minimum of 3-6 month’s worth of your necessary living expenses, it’s critical that you get one started today.
Cut Unnecessary Expenses – Successful businesses lives by a budget and you should, too. In normal economic times, you might be able to fly by the seat of your pants and pay what you can as your income allows, knowing that you can easily make up for a temporary financial shortfall the following month. You may not have that luxury right now, so set a budget. Once you’ve established a budget you can live with, slash some of the luxuries.
While you may think that you can’t survive without hitting the drive-through every day for a $5 cup of coffee or that breakfast biscuit and hash brown, keep in mind that drastic times call for drastic measures. If an expenditure isn’t a true need, get rid of it. You may discover a lot more pork in your budget that can be sliced and diced than you knew existed.
Cut the Plastic – Credit cards can be a useful tool that can help you achieve some of your financial and real estate investing goals. They can also be a crutch that can put you deeper into debt by enabling you to make purchases that are beyond your current ability to pay. If you have a documented track record of financial blunders, this may be the best time for you to re-take control of your financial destiny by removing your ability to add to your debt by cancelling unneeded credit cards.
If you are responsible with your cards, but you’re currently carrying balances on some of your cards, consider paying off these balances or transferring them to low-interest cards. Keep in mind that you might save a few points in interest expenses by transferring your balances, but most cards charge at least 3% of the amount transferred (with a minimum fee) so do the math. If you won’t clearly come out ahead by transferring the balances, leave them where they are and pay them down as quickly as possible.
Invest in and for your future – While you want to survive financially today, you also want to thrive tomorrow. If you haven’t already started investing in some of the bargain properties available in today’s real estate market, it’s time for you to get started. While the stock market is a fool’s paradise, with stagnant or falling numbers, and limited opportunity except for a lucky few who catch a lucky bounce or happen to get wind of a hot “insiders tip”, real estate investing doesn’t have the same limitations. You can generate positive monthly income which will continue coming in regardless of what the overall real estate market does. When the market comes roaring back – as it always does – you’ll be poised to ride the equity wave to the crest of massive profits.
If your current education base doesn’t give you the confidence you need to take advantage of today’s opportunity, it’s time to invest in your financial future. The good news is that educational opportunities abound – and not all of them cost money. To discover some of the knowledge you need in order to take advantage of the current real estate investing opportunities, head over to www.REIconferences.com
Financial survival isn’t always a matter of being the sharpest tool in the drawer. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of making the correct financial decisions at just the right time so you’re in position to capitalize on opportunities as they present themselves. There’s an old proverb that says, “Give someone a fish and they’ll eat for a day; teach someone to fish and they’ll eat for a lifetime.” Your financial survival is very much like this old proverb. But you also have to know when to reel in a fish when you feel a tug on the end of your line. Only then will you truly eat well – and survive even the most severe economic downturn.
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