Financial stress can create a cloud of uncertainty over many aspects of our lives. Between budgeting, sorting bills and making sure your savings goals are on the right track, financial planning can be a massive undertaking - one that can create a continual cycle of stress if not managed carefully.
The good news is that we’re here to help you simplify your finances in 5 easy steps. While some financial issues may require more in-depth and long-term planning, there are a few simple steps you can take right now to help you stress less while setting you up for financial stability.
Here are 5 steps you can take to find financial simplicity:
- Budgeting
We know… there are probably many other things you’d rather do than set up a budget. But, budgeting has a huge impact on financial simplicity. If the task seems daunting, start with small steps! Consider simply writing out your monthly income and comparing it to your monthly expenses in something as simple as a notebook. In doing so, you put your finances into perspective so you can make purchases (or refrain from purchases) with confidence. Then, when you’re ready to take the next step in your budget, consider adding a budgeting tool or spreadsheet to help you plan out your budget for the next week, month or year.
- Automating Bills
Out of sight, out of mind! You have to pay your bills every month anyway, you might as well automate them. By setting your bills to come out of your account on a recurring basis, you limit the time and stress it takes to make payments manually each month. Speaking of automating, have you ever tried the “pay yourself first” model? It’s a way to set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings account each pay period. By automating your savings, you can prioritize your savings first without even thinking about it so you can “set it and forget it!”
- Go Green!
Switching your bills and statements to paperless is one less thing you have to worry about when you’re checking your mailbox. Plus… going digital has the added benefit for the environment and your space. We see that stack of papers piling up on your desk or counter. Let’s tackle that with e-statements!
- Review Subscription Services
Between streaming services, music sharing, apps and even meal and lifestyle subscriptions, there are probably a few you may not be utilizing fully (or at all). Take stock of your subscription services and cancel the ones you no longer use or find useful. Then… take it a step further and make a commitment to reroute the money you would have spent on them to your savings. After a few months, you may be surprised at how much you saved!
- Start Planning for the Future
As we age, we begin to experience more of life’s unexpected moments. That’s why it’s so important to start planning now. A simple way to get started is with a Health Savings Account (HSA) investment. Clarity offers a modern and personalized HSA that allows you to build wealth and save for retirement, like a 401(k), but without ever paying taxes on earnings or withdrawals for qualified medical expenses! You choose your preferred investment method and Clarity helps every step of the way. Now that’s financial simplicity!
Putting the Steps in Practice
While it’s important to set and maintain goals, it’s even more important to be realistic. These tips may not solve all of your long-term financial questions, but they are certainly easy steps you can take today to get closer to finding financial simplicity.
So now… see what you can do! Try incorporating just one of these steps into your financial plan this month and see how much of a difference it makes in your life. Or if you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to get started on your HSA Investment journey!
Clarity’s Commitment to Simplicity
At Clarity Benefit Solutions, we believe life is a journey; one that should be lived well. Our goal is to bring clarity into the challenging world of benefits and utilize technology to simplify benefits administration, reduce costs and empower our customers.
With a full suite of consumer benefits, we offer reliable solutions that ease pain points, provide clear direction, and lack unnecessary complexity. After all, simplicity is the key to living well. Simplicity solutions are at the heart of our company and in the details of everything we do from championing National Simplicity Day to our Simply Smarter Approach to employee benefits. This mindset has led to thoughtful new ways for all of us to get the most out of our benefits and to ensure that people are ready for whatever comes their way.
