Personal finance is the application of the principles of finance to the monetary decisions of an individual or family unit. It addresses the ways in which individuals or families obtain, budget, save, and spend monetary resources over time, taking into account various financial risks and future life events. Components of personal finance might include checking and savings accounts, credit cards and consumer loans, investments in the stock market, retirement plans, social security benefits, insurance policies, and income tax management.
Personal Finance Guidelines :-
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Start by preparing an annual budget. |
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Calculate your approximate expenditure. |
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Create a worksheet and divide the annual expenditure into months and days. Keep a track of all expenses. |
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Focus on curbing expenditures that are going against the plan. |
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Save for emergencies. |
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Pay off credit card loans before other loans, since credit cards have the highest interest rates. |
Personal financial planning :-
A key component of personal finance is financial planning, a dynamic process that requires regular monitoring and reevaluation. In general, it has five steps:
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Assessment :- |
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One's personal financial situation can be assessed by compiling simplified versions of financial balance sheets and income statements. A personal balance sheet lists the values of personal assets , along with personal liabilities . A personal income statement lists personal income and expenses. |
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Setting goals :- |
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Two examples are "retire at age 65 with a personal net worth of $200,000" and "buy a house in 3 years paying a monthly mortgage servicing cost that is no more than 25% of my gross income". It is not uncommon to have several goals, some short term and some long term. Setting financial goals helps direct financial planning. |
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Creating a plan :- |
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The financial plan details how to accomplish your goals. It could include, for example, reducing unnecessary expenses, increasing one's employment income, or investing in the stock market. |
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Execution :- |
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Execution of one's personal financial plan often requires discipline and perseverance. Many people obtain assistance from professionals such as accountants, financial planners, investment advisers, and lawyers. |
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Monitoring and reassessment :- |
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Monitoring and reassessment As time passes, one's personal financial plan must be monitored for possible adjustments or reassessments. |
Personal finance throws light on the personal financial planning. It weaves in the principles of finance in the monetary decisions of different individuals or family units. It includes concepts like financial planning, spending and credit management, income and asset protection, income and money management, so on and so forth.
The guide to personal finance basically shows the path in which a family can formulate their budget. It also helps them to optimize savings and spending taking into consideration future financial risks.