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What You Need To Know About A Sinking Fund

What You Need To Know About A Sinking Fund

by | Jun 28, 2021 | Budgeting, Credit & Debt, financial literacy, Investing | 0 comments

We all have something special we’d like to buy for our home or in life. That old couch that has seen better days in your living room begging for a replacement or a vacation you thought about for a long time but keep pushing off because it is too costly. Paying for these significant expenses can be challenging for us, but a sinking fund may pave a better way.

Sinking funds can be a gamechanger for individuals and households. It is a valuable tool to add to your financial toolbox for savings. This strategy helps those who want to manage their finances better and gain peace of mind.

The timing for setting up sinking funds could not be better. Americans have been saving more, as illustrated by the US personal savings rate of 14.9% for May 2021. The unusually high rate due to pandemic-related spending constraints compares to 7.6% at the end of 2019. So why not make your savings work better for you?  Setting up a sinking fund is easy to do and enhances your ability to save money for large purchases you will make in the future.

What Is A Sinking Fund?

Sinking funds have long been helpful for companies and bondholders to minimize risk. For example, when corporations need to raise capital, they may issue a bond that matures in 20 or 30 years. Bondholders receive coupons semiannually and the principal (their investment) at maturity.

Many bonds now have a sinking fund managed by a trustee who oversees the fund. Money is set aside periodically with a trustee for repayment of the portion of the principal. This action eliminates the need for a significant cash outlay for the company at maturity.

There is less risk of the company defaulting by using the fund if it doesn’t pay back the principal to bondholders. The fund adds protection and security for the bondholder that the company can pay off their debt. A sinking fund allows a company to raise capital with a lower interest rate to bond investors. As such, it improves a company’s creditworthiness.

A Sinking Fund For Your Household

Similarly, you or someone in your family can create a sinking fund, dedicating a savings account for a specific household expense that may be too large to handle without borrowing the money. We will explain later how your sinking fund differs from your emergency fund.

Once you determine what you want, say a new couch for $1,000-$1,500 for your living room, your sinking fund is for the sofa, not for another expense. You intend to save money to buy a couch, making monthly contributions to the “couch” sinking fund. Everyone has their budget, lifestyle, and timeframe for getting the couch or whatever it is you are targeting.

With a bit of planning, you can have what you need or want in your life without guilt. If you have your heart on a particular $1,500 couch within a year (i.e. 12 months), your monthly savings goal is to contribute $125 to the sinking fund each month.  Break the estimated spending amount into the monthly savings you plan to deposit into the respective savings account.

Without a fund, there is a greater temptation to pull out your credit cards for these large purchases. Your challenge is that you would have to pay your card balance in full or face a card balance growing on a compound basis at high-interest rates. There are more benefits to setting up a sinking fund for purchases than the downside of adding to your debt.

Sinking Fund Vs. Emergency Fund

Both your sinking fund and emergency fund are safety nets but for different purposes. An emergency fund is for the money you set aside in a savings account for unexpected costs you may face when losing a job, boiler breaks, a medical necessity, or pet surgery. Emergencies, by definition, are unknown as to timing and amount needed. You still have to pay bills, rent, or mortgage. Unplanned events happen, upsetting your finances. We recommend having your emergency fund cover six months of your basic living needs. You want to have access to liquid assets quickly.

The sinking fund is for saving money for a known purpose you expect to purchase in the future. Typically, your sinking fund is for a specific planned amount. You know its timing and have been saving for it. The point of having a sinking fund is not to tap your emergency money or a general savings account.

Just like you have loans for a house, car, and college, you are earmarking savings for larger items you want to purchase. Dollars are fungible and can go into a “car or house down payment” sinking fund. You can have a sinking fund by categories such as a house, car, vacations, Holidays, Christmas gifts, or charities. Alternatively, you can name these reserves by being more specific:

  • Kitchen remodeling
  • Sofa
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Refrigerator
  • Car maintenance and repairs
  • Down payment for Car
  • Down payment for House
  • Pet bills
  • Taxes
  • Vacations

Labeling the sinking funds is a personal decision based on your household and its relevant savings goals. 

How To Set Up Your Sinking Fund

 

1. Review Your Budget

Before setting up your sinking fund, you should a good grasp of your household’s budget. Budgeting is an essential tool for understanding your income sources less fixed and discretionary expense categories. Fixed living costs include your rent or mortgage, utilities, loan payments, and savings. You should have “savings” on your budget for when you are paying yourself first. Depending on how granular your budget is, you should separate line items for an emergency fund and the sinking fund. Pick a budget method that works for you.

When it comes to fixed costs,  you have less flexibility to reduce amounts. On the other hand, discretionary spending varies based on money left over.  You can learn more about different budgeting approaches here.

2. List Your Planned Purchases

Make a list of fund categories, break them down into more specific items. Then determine the target amounts for each. Name your sinking fund by its discreet type. Some funds may have higher amounts and longer timeframes. Divide each type total by the numbers from the planned purchase time. For example, if you are saving up for a new car’s down payment in two years, estimate the cost of the car is, say, $38,000, so you would want around a down payment of  $4,500. That equates to about $190 of the planned monthly contributions for two years or 24 months.

There is no set number of sinking funds though I would caution you about having too many sinking funds to manage.  This process is about organizing your finances to make things more effective and efficient for you. As in the sinking bond for businesses, you are the trustee or manager of the funds.

3. Where Your Savings Will Go For Purchases

You can open an FDIC-insured saving account for each type or have one large sinking fund with named sub-accounts. Keep in mind that the sinking funds are separate from your emergency fund and savings accounts. The type of accounts you should look for should be readily accessible and liquid, similar to the account you use for an emergency fund.

When you open a sinking fund for each type, each of your accounts differs from target amounts and timeframe. For example,  when you are saving money for a house makeover or a down payment for buying a home, you probably are looking to build a five-figure money chest. If so, you can look for higher-yield savings or a money market account. For smaller purchases and shorter timeframes, avoid accounts that require minimums that penalize you with fees for not maintaining a specific balance.  Essentially, you want safety and liquidity for the sinking funds.

Use Sub-Savings Accounts

Some banks, such as Ally, allow you to have a savings account and sub-savings accounts when you have multiple savings goals for concrete purchases.  You can automate transfers to each of your sinking funds based on varying monthly contributions. Having the ability to transfer money can ease the process for you. However, you will be receiving more monthly statements.  Consider the account details regarding fees, minimums, if APYs are different, and whether this works for you.

4. Need An FDIC-insured Account

Whatever you decide to do, each sinking fund should be in an FDIC-insured savings account that is readily accessible. For longer-term purchases, look for higher yields and minimize fees you may have to pay.

Benefits of A Sinking Fund

 

1. Better Budgeting

When you have a good understanding of your budget, your fixed living costs, it is easier to plan for discretionary spending. You can decide what amount you can contribute to your specific sinking fund each month without becoming a hardship.

The better your budgeting, the better you can plan for your savings goals and spending. It is easier to save money when you have an intended target to set money aside for that purpose.

2. Conscious Spending

When you set up your sinking fund, you essentially are planning to buy something you need or want for your home or life. It is an act of conscious or mindful spending when you are intentionally saving for something. You know the specific couch you will buy, have a plan, and focus your attention on that couch.

By taking time and doing comparison shopping, it is less stressful and more enjoyable anticipating the arrival of something new that you specifically want to get. You are not at that stage where salespeople will push you into an impulsive purchase you’ll regret. You are more in control of your spending and more likely to negotiate where and when possible.

3. Delays Instant Gratification

The need for instant gratification is all around us, with social media ads tinkering with our brains. The present bias plays a significant role in our leaning toward immediate pleasures. It causes us to favor the present over the future with immediate rewards. With effort, you can counter tendencies to overweight decisions that can cause overspending with planning.

With your sinking fund in place and growing closer to your spending goal, you can delay instant gratification. You have your mind not just on your expected purchase but on other things as well. Setting goals for one part of your life makes you more purposeful about your needs and wants. Achieving something on your list can be very fulfilling.

4. Avoids Adding Debt

Overspending can lead to higher debt, significantly rising credit card balances. Card balances are especially higher cost and challenging to handle. As in the sinking fund for corporate bonds, a household sinking fund can help us avoid reaching for our credit cards to pay for large ticket items. Increasing our monthly savings by earmarking money to contribute to a specific account that earns interest is the path to better financial health.

Saving first, spending later, and avoiding debt where we can, can improve our creditworthiness.

5. Peace of Mind

Having peace of mind is priceless. While you may not be able to get rid of every stress you have, planning out expenditures for important things you want to get or do can help your mindset.

Drawbacks

 

1. Don’t Have Too Many Sinking Funds

You may get good at organizing your finances. The next thing you know, you have too many sinking funds, overlapping purposes. That reminds me of an ad for Post-It notes, stating that they should be used “for the little things you’ll forget,” and then you see yellow Post-Its all over people’s foreheads. You get the picture. You don’t want to create chaos. The sinking fund process should help to organize where your savings should go.

2. Sinking Funds Are Not Interchangeable

When creating sinking funds, they are separate from each other. Keep contributing to each based on the estimates you determined. Try to label them as discreetly as possible, so it is not confusing to you. If you wanted a couch and estimated $2,500 for it, but found the one you love for $1,800, then you can reallocate your savings to other areas. Sometimes you under or overestimate the expected cost, so make changes but don’t blur the lines.

3. Keep Emergency Funds Separate

Having an emergency fund is essential, and its purpose is different from any sinking fund. Don’t transfer funds from your emergency account to your vacation account. That’s cheating, and if an emergency arises, you want that fund to be there for you in its safe and sound place.

4. Don’t Forget Savings For Other Goals

Saving for retirement and investment accounts is vital for your long-term future. Make sure to automate contributions to your 401K retirement plan, if sponsored by your employer, and for your Roth IRA. You should contribute some of your savings to investments, whether you are managing the account or you have a financial adviser to do so.  Over the longer term, these accounts grow faster than savings bank accounts, depending on your respective investments (i.e., stocks, bonds, real estate), and benefit from compounding growth.

Final Thoughts

Establishing sinking funds by saving for large purchases can be beneficial. It is a terrific organizational tool that enhances your mindfulness. By being thoughtful about your spending, you will reduce your need for instant gratification while reducing your buyer’s remorse.

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Personal Finance Lessons From The Richest Man In Babylon

Personal Finance Lessons From The Richest Man In Babylon

by | May 3, 2021 | Managing Money, financial literacy, Investing, Retirement | 0 comments

A Timeless Classic On The Basics of Money

Personal finance lessons are all around us in our everyday lives. Every day we handle money without thinking about the consequences of making poor decisions. However, we may not grasp our own financial mistakes. We can learn better financial habits from The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, among my all-time favorites. This book can help anyone avoid financial blunders, create wealth and build a financially secure future. I recommend this easy-to-absorb book to my business students and my children.

Richest Man lays out the central tenets of good money management through ancient Babylonian parables told by charming characters, notably Arkad, the richest man in Babylon himself. Millions of readers have read it. Clason gave it out initially as separate pamphlets to banks and insurance companies for their customers. Then it was published in 1926 before the Great Depression and has remained an inspirational classic.

The author uses endearing parables as personal finance lessons to build wealth. The book structures key money themes within “The Seven Cures” and  “Five Laws of Gold.” Among the oldest civilizations, Babylonians were resourceful, wise, enterprising with a judicial nature. They were clever financiers and traders who invented money as a means of exchange.

Women Did Not Make Money Decisions In Babylon

All of the major characters are men. That is appropriate as women didn’t manage money then. Women could not apply for credit cards in their name until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974!  Clason wrote when women had finally etched out a win with women finally getting the right to vote in 1920. Fortunately, we are now seeing women gain financial independence.

The Babylonians, enlightened about money and other things, but gender equality was not on their list. That said, don’t let the gender bias hold you back from this good read. Just recast it into contemporary times when women are often better with money!

10 Money Lessons From “Ancient Times” For Today:

 

1. Pay Yourself First By Saving 10% of Your Annual Earnings

 

“Start thy purse by fattening“

“ Pay yourself first

“Pay yourself first” may have been Clason’s term. It means you should put away 10% of every paycheck into savings.  Allocate your savings to an emergency fund amounting to at least six months of coverage for basic essential expenses.  Unforeseen events are unpredictable and undesirable so plan ahead.

Once establishing this fund, use some of your savings stashes to invest your money in retirement and taxable investment accounts. Putting away some money may be difficult at first, depending on your spending habits.

2. Spend Within Your Means

 

“Control thy expenditures.”

To set aside money for saving and investing, you may need to cut some costs. To control your expenses, assess your budget for your basic living needs. These are predictable monthly fixed costs such as mortgage payments or rent, property taxes, utilities, car loans, typical grocery bills, credit card payments, and other monthly expenses. Remember, these costs are for our needs rather than for our wants and desires.

As our income grows, we often increase our so-called “essential costs,” leading to lifestyle inflation. While we are allowed the occasional latte and extravagant dinners, we need to keep our spending in check. You shouldn’t deprive yourself of everything. However, fulfilling every desire is no longer a special treat.

Don’t fall into the trap of spending your raise soon after you have received it. It is tempting to buy something special upon getting a raise and bonus after a year of working hard. However, remember that your pay hike is pretax and shrinks on an after-tax basis. If you need some things, make a list of what you believe is essential if you had some extra cash.

Be reasonable about satisfying your every want. For example, that 10% raise on your $80,000 salary may not significantly help you to buy that luxury car (or chariot in ancient times), you have been eyeing. A rise in earnings may not fully accommodate every gratification we seek.

3. Make Your Investments Work For You Long Term To Accumulate Wealth

 

“Make thy gold multiply.”

Saving and investing your money as early as possible enables you to benefit from compound interest through the years. Compounding is a magical way of earning interest on the principal invested and the cumulative effect of earning interest on that interest. Compounding works to your advantage when it is your invested money.

On the other hand, compounding works against you when you borrow long-term like for your home.

Arkad explained how this magic works: “As they labored for, so their children also labored and their children’s children until great was the income from their combined efforts.“

4. Pitfalls of Investment Is Overconfidence

 

“Guard thy treasures from loss.”

Investments are often fraught with dangers, especially for beginners. Not every investment bears fruit. Learn about the risks of investing, whether in the stock market or investing in a new business. Consult those with training and more experience in that field. Arkad tells of his folly when he entrusted a bricklayer to buy jewels for him and returned with glass.

While you can’t prevent every loss or mistake, there are ways to minimize your risks. When investing, you should diversify your portfolio and implement asset allocation depending on your age and life cycle. As your wealth increases, consult a financial adviser who may enhance your abilities to address and confront many financial, tax, and legal issues.

5. Owning Your Primary Home Is A Good Investment

 

“Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment.“

Buying your own home versus renting is a widespread debate. Clason via Arkad advocates in favor of owning your home. From the 1920s and well past the post-World War II period, buying your home was an essential part of the American Dream.

Is it still part of the American Dream today?  US homeownership rose from 45.6% in 1920 to 66.2% in 2000. Ownership of your home has since retreated to 64.1% in June 2019 despite low mortgage rates. North Dakota is the state with the highest ownership ever recorded at 80% and was in 1900!

Higher Homeownership Rates For Millennials

With reduced mortgage rates, homeownership rates have improved recently. Millennials made up a higher (47.9%) proportion of US homeownership in 2020, up from 40% three years ago. These levels are far above where Millennials were during the Great Recession when they were crippled with student debt and had difficult work prospects.

There are many benefits to owning your home rather than paying rent in particular parts of the country. Don’t think of renting as throwing away money. It is more of a personal choice for many people. You should weigh the costs of owning your home (downpayment, monthly loan, insurance, taxes, and maintenance), against rising rents, lack of control over your home, and renter’s insurance.

 

Housing Appreciation Rates

When renting, consider the benefit of having savings for investments or retirement rather than its use as a down payment. Investing this money could be a significant plus. In the best years for the housing market (1976-2005), real price appreciation averaged 2.2% annually. This modest appreciation would compare to the long-term stock appreciation of 8% annually if you were to put your savings into the stock market.

Of course, there are many reasons to buy a primary home, such as gardening, more space, and decorating rather than as a good investment.   However, investment returns may be a significant factor if you are on the fence between buying or renting your home.

 

6. Retirement Savings And Insurance

 

“..it behooves a man to make preparation for a suitable income in the days to come, when he is no longer young, and to make preparations for his family should he be no longer with them to comfort and support them.“

Although the American Express Company started offering private pensions in 1875, it wasn’t until the 1920s  that many American industries offered private pensions.. State governments established pensions for employees in 1911, followed by federal pension plans. Social Security income did not yet exist at the time Clason’s book was published.

Today, fewer people (4%) can count on the traditionally defined benefit pension plans if they work in the private sector. Participation through pensions is down significantly from 60% in the 1980s. The responsibility of saving for retirement falls on us. About half of Americans 55 or older have not put away any retirement savings. Roughly 22% have less than $5,000 in savings earmarked for retirement.

Don’t make this mistake. Saving for retirement is investing with deferred tax benefits. The earlier you save, the more you will benefit from compound growth. If offered, make sure to participate in your employer’s 401K plan, especially if they offer a matching contribution. Don’t throw away free money from your company. 

The IRS sets caps on the maximum annual amount you may contribute to your 401K plan. Your contribution is on a pretax basis. You defer your taxes until you withdraw money. You will be able to direct these funds into an investment vehicle of your choice.

How 401K Matching Works

Many companies offer their employees access to 401K plans. Most employers provide a contribution match (partial or dollar-for-dollar) based on the employee’s contribution.

A typical example is a partial match provided by employers. The match means they will contribute 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of your salary. Some companies will give the more desirable dollar-for-dollar matches where your employers will put in what you do.

An Example

Let’s say you make $80,000 per year, and you contribute $4,800 annually based on a 6% cap in your plan. If your employer provides dollar-for-dollar matching, they would be contributing or compensating you with another $4,800. Consider this as a gift from your company. Why wouldn’t you make your contribution to earn your company’s match?

Check your plan at work as to what your employer offers. You want to get the maximum amount from your company to meet the cap of 6% or whatever the percentage is that they will contribute up to.   That is free money for those employees that participate.

Roth IRAs

Separately, you should also fund a tax-advantaged Roth IRA on your own. You can direct your money into several different mutual funds. This Contribution is made with your after-tax income up to the maximum amount.  Roth IRAs work differently than traditional IRAs as you are contributing after-tax dollars. The benefit of the Roth IRA is that you have already paid the taxes. You will not be paying taxes when withdrawing and can do so without penalties.

As Arkad insists, you need to provide a suitable income an older age to continue enjoying your life.

“…no man can afford not to insure a treasure for his old age and the protection of his family, no matter how prosperous his business and his investments may be.”

Insurance Is Needed Protect Your Family, Income And Your Assets

 

“We cannot afford to be without adequate protection.“

Insurance planning is one way to protect your family in the event of your passing. Your company benefit package may provide life insurance. However, it is usually a smaller amount than you need. You should make sure to have enough coverage for essential living payments and future costs like college tuition.

Besides life insurance, there are other insurance types you need to protect your assets, income, and family. There are 8 types of insurance to consider: car, home, renters, health, disability, long term care and an umbrella policy.

7. Invest In Yourself

 

“Increase thy ability to earn”

After you earn your college degree, real learning has just begun. You should leverage any skill-building or training opportunities to increase your earnings if offered at your workplace.

I remember being at an employee orientation with others shortly after I graduated college. The head of human resources at the investment bank provided us with a list of investment workshops (in different kinds of financial securities) she recommended we take over the next 6-12 months.

Being a bit of a learning nerd, I was excited by the opportunity to educate myself about unfamiliar areas. Someone behind me kept groaning as they described the workshops, and finally saying: “I didn’t take this job to go back to school!” Needless to say, the groaner didn’t stay long and not by his choice.

Use Every Opportunity To Gain More Skills

There are rewards for Increased skills at your job. “The more wisdom we know, the more we may earn.” Grow your skills in your 20s and beyond to make yourself a more valuable employee, or better job. You may want to start your own company. Learning should be a life long goal.

8. Invest In What You Know Or Seek Smart Advice

 

“Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.”

Arkad tells a Babylonian tradition that sons of wealthy parents must earn the right to inherit the estate of the parents. Arkad gave his son two things his parents denied him. First, he gave his son a bag of gold and a clay tablet carved with the five laws of gold. He told his son to come back in 10 years and give his father an account of how he did. If worthy, he would inherit the estate.

Ten years later, his son came back to tell his father he handled the gold poorly and lost it all. He had gotten involved with horse racing and wagering with deceitful men. His son admitted he knew nothing of horses, a business he was unfamiliar with. These men defrauded him.

The son sought employment but had no practical training. He then turned to the clay tablets, which contained financial wisdom and provided him a road to wealth.

Lost The Gold, Gained The Wisdom

Essentially, his son followed Arkad’s wisdom which provided greater value than that of the bag of gold.  As a result, he multiplied his earnings by putting 10% of his earnings into savings, spending less than he earned.

He also learned how to make savvy investments from  knowledgeable financial advisors, avoiding the scams he had experienced before.

Arkad was impressed with the multiple of bags of gold returned to him, and he provided his son with the inheritance upon Arkad’s passing.

9. A Lesson In Borrowing and Lending From The Gold Lender

Mathon, the gold lender, is approached by Rodan, the spearmaker, who earned a fortune of fifty gold pieces. Rodan’s sister wants him to lend his money to her husband because he cannot seem to make enough earnings on his own. Mathon provides counsel to Rodan based on his largely successful lending experience.

“Can the loan be well made if the borrower cannot pay?

Mathon shares the ways he makes loans if the borrower can demonstrate:

  • possessions like property or jewels with greater value than the loan that can be collateral;
  • they are a wise trader or purpose of money is wise;
  • the capacity to earn enough to pay back the debt, and
  • there is a guarantor to pay back the loan if the borrower is unable.

Mathon will not make a loan to a borrower who is:

  • indiscreet with investments;
  • will take shortcuts to make money; or
  • poor (or lazy) workers.

In the end, Rodan made his decision not to lend money to his sister’s husband. He believes his brother-in-law to be not only envious but also lazy. Rodan knows from experience that his sister’s husband is a spendthrift and will use the money on unnecessary things and will not repay him.

“Ill fortune pursues every man who thinks more of borrowing than of repaying.”

 

10. Budget Rule:  10/70/20

The clay tablets of Babylon provided a budgeting plan of 10/70/20 with earnings allocated as follows:

  • 10% goes for savings for future investments.
  • 70%  should go for necessary expenses, notably to provide for home, clothes, and food.
  •  20% will be for paying off debt.

The above percentages provided by Clason differ from Elizabeth Warren’s popular budget rule of 50/20/30 or spending 50% for your needs, 30% for your wants, and 20% allocated to savings.

While the Babylonian budget rule may seem to be antiquated, budgeting any kind that works for you is the best way to control your spending. Overspending leads to having to borrow and carrying too much debt. Whatever plan can you choose and stick to is good so long as you spend within your means and don’t overburden yourself with debt too challenging to pay off.

Final Thoughts

Arkad, as the richest man in Babylon, passes on his financial knowledge to generations of readers, which wisdom remains excellent advice to those wanting to create and grow wealth to this day. His stories and that of others in the book are classic, easy to grasp, and implement. The rules may differ but remain entirely relevant today. Whatever way it is easiest to learn personal finance, take those first steps through tales of old or contemporary means.

If you like classics like The Richest Man in Babylon, check out the personal finance lessons from these classic gems.

Have you a favorite personal finance book or story you would like to share? There are many good ways to learn better financial habits. What works for you can work for others. We would appreciate any thoughts you want to share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College Graduates: Build Wealth By Avoiding 11 Common Money Mistakes After Landing Your First Job

College Graduates: Build Wealth By Avoiding 11 Common Money Mistakes After Landing Your First Job

by | Apr 21, 2021 | Managing Money, financial literacy | 0 comments

Congratulations! You graduated from college and landed your first job! It’s an exciting and scary new chapter all rolled in one. You’ll be making some serious money for the first time in your life, but you’ll also be responsible for some serious adult bills.

Before you sign a lease for an apartment or purchase a new car, avoid the most common money mistakes made by college graduates. We have assembled a list of blunders to steer you towards a financially fit future.

 

1. No Emergency Fund

In this next phase of your life, it’s essential to save money, specifically for emergencies. When you least expect it, your car may need a repair, you need expensive dental work, or you perhaps get laid off from your job. These unexpected events happen to all of us, so it’s important to plan for them.

Commit to building up an emergency fund that can cover six months of your basic living expenses. You can open interest-bearing savings account like an FDIC insured money market deposit account (MMDA) just for this purpose. This way, the money is readily accessible and earns a little interest. 

By having this safety net available, you won’t have to reach for your credit card and ramp up debt for emergencies. Instead, you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll be ready for these unplanned expenses.

2. No Monthly Budget

Chances are you were living on a meager financial diet at college, where students find frugal ways to get by. Now that you’re living a more independent life, you need to have a budget and keep your spending in control. Don’t get rid of all your ramen noodles until you have a fully-funded emergency fund set up!

Don’t rush to sign that apartment lease with a breathtaking view without creating a budget first. Figure out your necessary expenses like rent, utilities, food, and commuting expenses. These needs come first before you dive head-on into your wants like a brand new car.

You may be making more money than ever, but your income has to cover your higher cost of living. The temptation to indulge in wants may run high. It’s your money. Yes, but you need to be wise to start on a path to wealth.

Review your spending regularly to see how you’re doing and find potential cost reductions. There are free apps like Personal Capital, Mint, PocketGuard to help you track your daily spending and help you reach your goals.

3. Living Beyond Your Means

Living beyond your means is overspending. When you strike out on your own, you may find your newfound freedom is costly. Put the brakes on large or repeated impulsive spending. Living beyond your income is a recipe for financial disaster.

Your goal is to spend less than you earn so you can save money and invest some of your earnings. While it is easy to justify higher spending, you want to have some money left in your accounts after your year of hard work. This is among the most common money mistakes you can make. 

Overspending can happen when you feel you deserve a high life and seek instant gratification. Or when your friends are hitting up bars and expensive restaurants every weekend. Resist the urge to buy designer clothing for work, an expensive new car, or go on lavish vacations. Don’t fund a costly lifestyle on credit cards when you can’t afford it.

4. Getting Rid of Your Roommate

After graduating college, the last thing you may be thinking about is living with a roommate again. However, your housing costs are going to be a significant portion of your budget. Are you ready to hand over most of your hard-earned paycheck to your landlord?

A roommate may not have been in your plans, but by absorbing all of the costs of rent, utilities, and renter’s insurance, you may be deferring other financial goals that you may have, like paying off your student loans or saving to purchase a place. Sharing expenses with a roommate, you may not see very much may provide you with worthwhile savings.  Those savings can give you the financial flexibility you may not otherwise have.

5. No Student Loan Repayment Plan

One of your most considerable new responsibilities will be to make regular student loan payments. Don’t put off paying these loans or extending the time further into the future. Go for the standard repayment plan with equal monthly payments up to ten years.

There is usually a grace period, allowing you six months to financially settle down before payments are due. If you live at home or have a roommate, why not start making payments right away?  It’s a good idea to schedule automatic debit payments from your bank account and linking your paycheck deposits.

By doing so, you may be able to shave a 0.25% interest rate reduction on certain federal loans over their life. That’s saving money!

Having several loans can be complicated. Organize your payments from multiple sources into a spreadsheet. If you have varying due dates, contact the loan servicers to see if you can synchronize payments, or spread them out across the month, to make it easier. Alternatively, you can automate all your payments so you don’t miss a bill.

6. Ignoring Company Freebies

What’s in your company goodie bag? Many answers to your financial future are in your benefits package, yet some don’t look close enough. There are different types of company benefits that add meaningfully to your compensation. As a new employee, you may overlook some essential features trying to make sense of it all.

Beyond the paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, look for perks like flexible work options, paid gym memberships, professional development grants, paid smoking cession offers, or student loan repayment programs that will directly benefit you.

Some of the valuable offerings in your package may need your immediate attention, like an employer-sponsored 401K plan that you may need to opt into for participation. Look for insurance plans, such as health insurance, to know the details of the plan.

7. Turning Down Free Retirement Money

Why would a 22-year-old be thinking about retirement?  After finding out where the restroom is in your new workplace, your employer-sponsored 401K retirement plan is next. Seriously, it’s that important.

The best time to start contributing to retirement is now, especially if your company is giving you free money for your retirement account. Many employers increase your account by matching part or all of your contributions.

When you make contributions early, even if it is small amounts initially, you can fuel your money through compound growth. Compounding is when you earn interest on interest, which magnifies your growth over 40 or more years.  Automating contributions from every paycheck takes care of it in one step.

Waiting will cost you tons of money in the long run. If your younger brother starts investing $100 a year at age 25, but you wait to invest the same amount until age 35, you’ll have less than half in your bank account at age 65. So even though your sibling only contributed $12,000 more over a ten-year time frame, he’ll have $162,000, and you’ll only have $89,000.

8. Skipping Health Insurance

You’re young and healthy and rarely think about big doctor’s bills. Should you break your leg skiing or hurt yourself playing basketball and require surgery, you may be looking at a very high bill if you don’t have health insurance.

If you’re under 26 years of age, you can continue to stay on your parents’ health insurance plan. Depending on your employer and employment type, you could potentially get your own plan. Ensure you check the monthly premiums and deductibles to truly understand the cost and your new healthcare coverage details.

9. Racking up Credit Card Debt

Credit cards can be beneficial but can tempt college students and recent graduates beyond their means. It’s fun to collect credit card rewards, airline miles, or cash back. However, they can also be financially toxic if you don’t handle them with care.

If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t pay the balance off in full, you should always pay the minimum on time to not dent your credit score with late or missing payments. But if you only pay the minimum amount required, you will be building a mountain of high-cost debt you can’t easily shed.

Say you charge a $1,500 vacation on your credit card that has a 19% interest rate.  If you repay the credit card company only the minimum amount each month, you’ll start with a $60 payment. But to pay the whole amount, plus interest, you’ll have to make a total of 106 payments and pay them $889 in total interest. That’s more than half the amount of your vacation extra!

10. Ignoring Your Credit Score

Building a good credit score may not even be on your radar. But if you want to rent your own apartment, purchase a car, or buy a home in the next couple of years, having a good credit score is crucial.

Be patient about getting your credit to where you would like to be. It can take years and effort to build credit on your own and earn a good score. Good financial habits matter and can help the process along. Monitor your credit report and track your score periodically.

First, you need to build your credit file. Start opening a couple of accounts that report to the primary credit bureaus. Separately, you can become an authorized user on a parent’s credit card so long as they have a solid credit score.

Establish your track record as a borrower over time by handling your payments properly.  Your credit will benefit from paying your bills on time. Don’t carry a credit card balance which can increase costly debt, become a challenge to manage, and may get you turned down for an apartment lease.

11. Delaying Investing

A regret I share with many people is not investing earlier. The best time to start investing is now, even in small increments. When you are young, you have time on your side, so don’t waste it. Having a long-term perspective when investing allows you to ride out the volatility rather than bailing out of the market. Compounding power can fuel our investment returns to higher heights.

Once you have set aside some money for emergencies and automated contributions for your retirement account, use some savings to open a brokerage account and buy a low-cost index fund that tracks the market. These funds provide you with essential diversification from the start. With confidence and learning the ropes, you can expand your portfolio as you turn savings into investments. Understand your risks but avoid being reckless.

Final Thoughts

Avoid common money mistakes that can derail your financial future. You are just starting your professional career and earn a living that will hopefully rise significantly over time. Missteps can become very costly. By handling your money well, you will a clearer path to building your wealth.

Thank you for reading!

This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.