An Easy Way to Improve Y our Finances
If personal finance feels overwhelming, here’s one truth that can simplify everything for you:
You don’t have to fix everything at once; instead, create ONE good habit!
To make that one good habit even easier? Automate! We live in a world where it is becoming easier and easier to automate tasks. I know that I forget to do some things quite often. Not out of neglect or lack of desire, but because sometimes I just forget. Automating tasks can take that out of our hands and help us accomplish our goals.
Why Automation Works
Our brains love shortcuts (mine certainly does). Automation works with your psychology instead of against it, turning it into an ally to help you with your financial actions. When financial actions happen automatically, you don’t have to:
Remember it
Debate it
Emotionally resist it
You set it once, and it keeps working for you in the background.
So, what are Some Positive Actions You can take?
Automatic Savings Transfer — Set up a recurring weekly or monthly transfer to a high-yield savings account. Think about it, even $10 a week adds up to over $500 a year, and that’s before interest!
Recurring Extra Debt Payment — Pick one credit card or loan and add an extra $25 per month towards the principal. This can shave months off your payoff timeline and save you money (and stress). If you aren’t sure which debt to target, visit our blog about Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball!
Auto-Contribute to Retirement — If your employer offers a 401(k), automate your contributions. You probably won’t notice much on your paycheck today, but your future self will notice.
Round-Up Savings Apps — Use apps that round up your purchases and automatically invest or save the spare change. This passive strategy builds wealth without any extra effort.
Auto-Cancel Unused Subscription Services — There are tools and bank alerts to spot recurring charges from your accounts, and they will cancel the ones you don’t use. Better yet, you can set a calendar reminder every 6 months to review and clean house of things you aren’t actively using. (Remember, you can always resubscribe later if you need it.)
Alright, so here’s the List, now what?
Start small! Pick one, don’t do everything at once. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Pick just one action, something that is sustainable and meaningful. Once that has been embedded into the routine, then you can add another.
A small automation can help you take those first key steps towards meeting your financial goals. If you are looking for more in-depth analysis and a custom-tailored plan for what you are experiencing, built around your goals, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Helping people take the first step is key, but to finish this marathon, having a good coach at your side to help you see the steps ahead can be vital.
