When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease. Each has its pros and cons, influenced by financial considerations, driving habits, and personal preferences.
Used Cars Buying a used car is often cheaper upfront and avoids instant depreciation. You can often afford a higher class of car than if you bought new. However, you might need to pay for a mechanic's inspection and possibly more maintenance. Insurance and registration fees are usually lower for used cars, saving you money over time.
New Cars New cars offer benefits like more financing options, incentives, and warranties covering repairs for the first few years. They also come with the latest tech features. However, new cars depreciate significantly as soon as you drive them off the lot, often losing up to 20% of their value immediately.
Leasing Leasing allows you to drive a new car every few years and usually requires a lower down payment. However, you don’t build equity in the car, and you may face mileage limits and damage fees. Leasing can be more expensive in the long run since you’ll likely drive a purchased car longer than a leased one.
Financially, buying a reliable used car is typically the best option, however buying or leasing a new car can have other benefits. Whichever you choose, budget wisely and plan for unexpected costs.
Saving with a purpose means that you are assigning money that you save for a specific reason. If you are saving but keep all of your savings in one bucket you may be robbing one goal to pay for another. It is important to know how much money you need for each goal to make informed decisions. To save with purpose it is important to set aside a certain amount of money on a schedule that works for you and the timeline of your goal. You will get that amount by dividing the total you need to save by the timeline of the goal. So for example you want to save $800 in 4 months, you would need to save $200 dollars each month. The more goal you have the more you will to track. There are many ways to manage savings that are for a purpose, including separate accounts, spread sheets, and savings apps. If you can't manage the amount in your time line consider extending or decreasing the total to better match what you can manage. Remember even with a solid plan your willingness needs to match in order to reach all your goals.
So what is a credit score and how do you build credit? Your credit score (also known as FICO score) is a number based scale (measured 300-850) the higher the number the better credit. Credit scores are not just one number, its a combination of individual scores from 3 main credit agencies. Some credit bureaus offer a way to add cell phone and utility bill payments to your credit report, these bills aren't typically reported to credit bureaus, so it may cost a fee to get this service. If you pay rent you could request your landlord to report your positive payment history. You may also want to consider a credit builder loan, with credit builder loans the amount you "borrow" isn't given to you right away. Instead it is held in an account while you make the repayments. Once you have made all your repayments you get the money, so you are building your credit and savings in one go. What about credit cards? They have credit in the name right, and when done correctly can certainly build your credit quickly. There are credit cards out there for those with little to no credit, be sure to look for cards with no annual fee and a low APR. Beware of running the balance too high on the card, one good rule to remember is keeping the rate of credit utilization low (the goal is to build credit not over use it). Along with credit card there are secured credit cards, but what is the difference? Secure credit cards are backed by cash deposits made when you open the card. This amount is typically what the credit limit of the card would be, so a $500 deposit = $500 credit limit you can still use the card as usual (FYI if you close the account you will get your deposit back). Your on-time and in-full payments are reported to the credit bureaus. Over time, this builds your credit. Okay so here is a list of the ways you can build your credit:
Saving money is a essential skill for financial stability and independence. Understanding the difference between successful and unsuccessful saving strategies can significantly impact your financial future. Below, we explore some key tips that can help to manage finances effectively, and highlight common pitfalls to avoid.
By setting clear goals, creating a manageable budget, automating savings, taking advantage of discounts, and tracking spending, young people can build a strong financial foundation. Avoiding common pitfalls like overly restrictive budgets, impulse buying, ignoring small savings, relying on credit cards, and neglecting an emergency fund will further enhance their ability to save effectively. Developing these habits early on will pave the way for a secure and prosperous financial future.
Instill confidence and begin a bright financial future for your teens with CU Rising. Financial decisions can have lifelong consequences, so equip your teens with the tools they need to manage their money, set savings goals, and discover the power in financial well-being.
Providing children with a regular allowance can empower them to make informed decisions about money from a young age and understand the value of hard work. Here are a few beneficial life lessons that come with getting an allowance.
Goal Setting and Patience: Managing their allowance helps children set financial goals, teaching patience and delayed gratification necessary for achieving long-term objectives.
Providing allowances equips children with financial responsibility and vital life skills, shaping their approach to money and decision-making from an early age.
Finding the right amount to save can be challenging; while many experts suggest saving between 10% and 20% of your income, this may prove difficult for some individuals. If setting aside around 20% of your monthly income seems unattainable, it's natural to feel disheartened about saving in general. Remember, don't fixate on hitting a particular target. Any savings is good savings, adopt the "pay yourself first" principle. Upon receiving your paycheck, prioritize setting aside a portion for savings before allocating funds to other expenses. This budgeting strategy is commonly referred to as paying yourself first. While having a substantial amount of savings may initially appear advantageous, it can entail drawbacks. For instance, if the act of saving induces stress or prompts you to accumulate debt, it may be prudent to reassess your approach.
Preparing for your future starts way earlier than you think. For parents of young children, it can start when you talk to your kids about what they might like to do when they get older. As soon as you have teenagers, it becomes a more serious conversation. To prepare them for adult life, parents may start sharing advice about money including how to budget, why save, and — more importantly — why credit is so crucial.
Teaching kids about money is important and there are many ways to do it. As long as you talk to them about it, you’re doing something right. Some children learn from doing. Let the children in your life watch as you budget for the bills for a week and show them how the money is split to pay bills and save. This will also help them appreciate all that you are doing and spending on everyday items. You can also have them create the grocery list on a budget. Tell them what you will need and see if they can find the best deals for what you are looking for. This not only creates ways for them to learn how to budget, but it also generates appreciation for the food that is regularly purchased.
When it comes to credit, there are a few ways to teach about why it’s important and how to build good credit. One way to help with this could be adding a teenager to a credit card as an authorized signer. When they are on a card that is handled properly, it helps show a credit history for them prior to them getting a credit score. While credit history may not have a huge impact on a score, it’s a building block and starts them on the right foot. Talk to them about why that is important. Once they understand how credit cards work, allow them to have access to use the card with the understanding that it is best to pay the charges back in full to avoid interest, and hold them accountable for the payment.
With credit affecting so much more than loans, it is important to give kids proper exposure to and preparation for credit as they approach adulthood. Preparing them for what’s to come is essential for their future.
Managing your money is an essential step in entering adulthood. There are many financial variables to navigate, especially if you’re looking to enroll in college. Many parents end certain financial support at 18, which can be an overwhelming change during an already hectic transition into independence.
To start, consider some of the following questions: Is your family going to pay for your tuition? What about incidentals like groceries, rent, or spending money? If you’re suddenly in a situation in the middle of pursuing your degree and your parents rescind financial support, are you equipped to deal with that? Knowing these things prior to entering college is essential to be able to plan. Let’s say you must pay your own rent when living off campus, but you don’t plan on working during the school year. You’re going to need a large amount of savings to last you through the year. But if you were not expecting the responsibility of rent and you’re suddenly faced with needing to pay it yourself, not working may not be feasible.
These conversations are going to vary based on family dynamics and existing financial responsibilities. Some people remain financially dependent on their parents well into adult life, but that’s not an option for everyone. It’s best to gain mutual understanding about monetary relations sooner rather than later. If you wait until a financial crisis, stress and emotions may affect the ability to have a clearheaded discussion. Make sure your parents are aware that you are looking to have a serious sit-down talk to ease them into the idea. Money can be a sensitive topic, and navigating the dynamics of a parent-child relationship can complicate communication. If you have older siblings, you might be able to plan your approach based on observations of prior scenarios. Writing down what you plan to say or specific concerns you have beforehand can guide the discussion. If your parents are offering monetary support, genuine gratitude is a powerful tool for easing arguments.
Offering Alternatives or Compromise
If you believe that informing your parents of your financial independence plans could jeopardize your financial situation, talk with your financial institution about opening a new solo account to manage your expenses.
A good option is to work out a payment plan where your family takes on a portion of your debt or payments temporarily. Or if your parents are looking for an incentive to invest in your education, promising academic focus and effort could be a good way to ensure their money is well spent. Ultimately, whether you’re pursuing higher education or not, financial literacy is a skill that will serve you throughout your adult life. Whether you're independent or not, awareness of your financial situation is essential to success.
To save for groceries, start by creating a weekly or monthly budget based on your household's needs and income. Next, make a detailed shopping list before heading to the store, focusing on essential items and avoiding impulse purchases, allowing you to find the best priced items. Lastly, consider meal planning and proper food storage to minimize waste and maximize the use of ingredients, helping stretch your grocery budget further.
Define short-term and long-term financial goals, such as building an emergency fund, saving for a vacation, or paying off debt. Having clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated. Schedule periodic reviews of financial goals to track progress and make necessary adjustments. Celebrate reaching milestones along the way to stay motivated and reinforce good financial habits. By incorporating these additional elements, you can create a comprehensive financial plan that addresses both short-term needs and long-term aspirations, leading to greater financial security and peace of mind.
Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account each month, this ensures that you're consistently saving money without having to think about it. This consistency builds discipline and helps you make progress towards your financial goals over time. Automatic transfers ensure that saving becomes a habit rather than an occasional activity, increasing the likelihood of achieving your financial objectives. Overall, automating savings streamlines the process, increases accountability, and contributes to greater financial stability and success in the long run.
Start by keeping track of all your expenses for a month. This will give you a clear picture of where your money is going and where you can make adjustments. Tracking your spending over time allows you to identify patterns in your expenses. For example, you may notice areas where you consistently overspend and can then take steps to reduce those expenses. Tracking will also help you know which expenses are the most important, and where you can cut down in order to add to savings and other financial goals.