Financial management within the family is a hard nut to crack for many of the home-runners. Though the income is high, several families find they run out of financial resources and helpless at emergency situations. Proper financial management within the family and maintaining the financial health is essential to be well supplied with economical resources when in need.
It is because of the failure in managing the financial resources many families get bound to bank loans, and often bankruptcy. Improper management of wealth sources will raise possible risks in life and will create unwanted situations in life. Managing money is not a tough concept, if approached well and remained adhered to the budget and decisions constantly.
Many people never consider or foresee the possible future expenses and drain out all the savings and resources for present day life. If reserved a bit of extra consciousness on the money matters, maintaining a healthy financial family is a possible task.
Always have a budget
Budget is the best possible form of scaling the income, expenditure and also a way of planning the savings for future emergencies. Every family will have certain amounts of income from the contribution of all the members put together. The budget should include all the possible expenditure of a month. There will be multiple spending in every family like food, clothing, several bills, travel and fuel expenses, maintenance expenditure, loans or other payments, children's education, savings etc., to start with make a list of all the expenditures.
Once the list of expenditures is made, then the income can be divided according to the priorities. Start dividing the income from the most inevitable expenditure and always try to keep some amount balance as saving. If the income is insufficient, then avoid the less important expenses. This way a budget can help planning the income and expense and balance them in the best possible ways.
Consumer debt is always detrimental
Carrying consumer debt is never acceptable in proper financial management. Consumer debt means the debt undergone for purchasing consumer products. For example, when people take loans for buying consumer items like electronic goods, home furniture etc., it is called consumer debt.
The concept of consumer debt has reached new realms with the introduction of credit cards. When you purchase using credit cards, make sure that your budget can afford the payment in the same month itself. Do not carry the consumer debts to the next month if you wish to balance the budget.
No financial secrets among the earners
Many couples do the mistake of keeping financial secrets from the spouses. Before preparing the monthly budget, tell how much you need for meeting the personal needs like purchase and paying off personal debts etc. Keeping financial secrets will imbalance the budget and personal requirements. When spending in the family all the earners should be made aware of the expenditures. This will help them understanding the financial state of the family and strain a bit to save an extra penny or earn an extra buck if needed.
Learn to be limited to the income
It is important to learn to limit the budget within the income. Do not try to keep up with neighbors or friends. Unnecessary or avoidable expenses occur because of striving to get facilities that equalize the social status with others. If you can afford only a middle segment car, then do not go for a luxury one just because your neighbors bought one.
It is important to understand that money is a tool, which doesn't buy happiness. Happiness or the feeling of abundance is just a mind work and when someone learns to be contented with the available or affordable resources, the family can be happy and satisfied.
Savings are essential for family
A financially healthy family should reserve a certain share of income as saving to meet unexpected and emergency needs. Medical expenses, car breakdown etc., are very common unexpected needs when people have to extend the budget. If the family reserves money as saving, then unnecessary debts can be avoided. The savings are also necessary to meet the expenses in old age when you are not able to work and earn. If you expect a possible expense in the month, then there should be enough reserve to meet that situation too.