Whether you know it or not, you are always setting your
financial priorities. Some may decide that a new stereo system
is more important than this month's electric bill. This may
be a little off the wall but it is still setting your
priorities.
Anyone wanting to better manage their money would be wise to
determine what their financial priorities are and stick to them.
Of course, if you see that these priorities will not put food on
the table and pay your bills then you will have to rethink your
priorities.
Setting your priorities is simple. You just decide what is the
most important aspect of your finances and put that item on top.
However, if you decide on that stereo over your electric bill,
you may find yourself in the dark with no need for a stereo.
There are basic priorities that pertains to everyone. These are
simply a matter of survival. Here is a list of the basics:
Water
Food
Shelter
That was a tough one.
What does it take to ensure that our basic needs are met? The
main ingredient is a source of income to pay the rent or house
payment, pay the utilities, and buy the groceries. This is where
you start setting your priorities.
Before you can spend another penny, you have to take care of
what you need to survive. Don't put off the rent or house
payment, utilities and don't skimp on your groceries and
necessary health items. If you do you will start experiencing
money problems much sooner than you would if you had delayed
paying other bills instead.
What's next? If your source of income happens to come from a
job, then I would say your transportation. You have to get back
and forth to work so you can afford all of the other stuff.
This would include your vehicle payment, gas, insurance and
maintenance. If your source of income is not a job then go to
the next step.
And Now? Naturally, this would be your other bills. You can
even split this category a little further.
First, you have your bills that are secured by property. You
should always pay these bills first.
Secondly, your unsecured bills which are probably credit cards.
The reason you should always pay your secured bills first is
that it is much more likely that they can take the secured
property and probably will unless payment is made. While credit
cards companies are notorious for their threats, they very
seldom follow through. I'm not saying not to pay them, just
that they aren't as high a priority as your secured bills.
Next would be your savings. I really to hate to list savings as
your last priority because having a savings can prevent the use
of those dreaded credit cards and help in so many ways. If you
have the money to cover all of your other priorities then you
should always put savings at the top of the list. However, if
you don't have enough money to cover your bills and expenses
then your savings will have to be the first to go.
Just to recap. The below list is an example of what your
financial priorities should look like:
1. Groceries and Necessary Health Items
2. Housing (Rent or House Payment)
3. Utilities
4. Transportation
5. Secured Bills
6. Unsecured Bills
7. Savings
Let's hope that you never get in the position to have to decide
which of the above list will have to wait. But if you do,
following the above priorities is absolutely necessary to ensure
your survival.
About the Author
Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your Means - The Easy
Way http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html and editor
of The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and Budget Stretcher
web site http://www.homemoneyhelp.com. He has 25 years of
experience counseling individuals and families concerning their
personal finances.