Is one of your goals to build more wealth? Would you like to be free of debt and the anxiety you may have about money? Would you like to know that you are not only comfortable for today, but are also amassing wealth that can help sustain and support you and your family in the future?
When you create wealth, you can achieve all of those goals. While you may think that you have to inherit money or have an extremely high-paying job to be able to build wealth, the fact is that wealth is more related to behavior than how much money you make or inherit.
Changing your behavior should start with changing your mindset. To create wealth, you have to believe that you are capable of doing so and be willing to take steps to make it happen. One of the first aspects of building wealth is to be cash-flow positive, meaning you should take in more money than you spend.
Many people spend far more on discretionary items than they realize. It’s relatively easy to track the money you take in — for many, that simply means tracking your paychecks. However, you are likely unaware of how much money you spend regularly. It can be helpful to track all of your expenditures by writing them down or using an app. If you are spending more than you are taking in, you are cash-flow negative and should reduce your spending to be able to build wealth.
Another issue to consider is your debt-to-income ratio, or how much debt you have. The more debt you have, the more difficult it can be to pay off. In some circumstances, it may be impossible to save money. However, not all debt is bad. For example, it may be worthwhile to invest in a college education that will prepare you for a career you love and can help you make more money. It may also be worthwhile to take on a mortgage to help you build equity in a home for you and your family.
The key is to be thoughtful about debt and look for opportunities to avoid or minimize it. So, if you want to take a vacation, you’re better off setting aside money for months and saving for it ahead of time instead of putting the trip on your credit card to pay later.
Another aspect of building wealth is saving regularly. It’s smart to establish an emergency fund that you can use now and in the future. In addition, you should begin saving for retirement as soon as possible. Having an amount deducted from your checking account regularly makes saving automatic, and simple.
For more tips on building wealth, check out the accompanying resource.
