It’s Not Too Late to Become Financially Literate

No matter your age, when you understand how to manage your money and finances, you can make sound financial decisions and take the needed steps toward your financial goals.

So, if you are approaching retirement and want to improve your financial literacy, below are a few simple ways to get started.

Budget for Today and Your Future

Budgeting is crucial both for your present financial situation and future financial goals; when you create a budget and spend within its parameters, you can save money for your retirement and any future emergencies. First, start with a current budget to manage your monthly expenses. Ensure you include all your expenses, including money you currently put in savings. Once you have it completed, see if there are any deficiencies or areas where you could cut expenses.

Next, you will want to create a future budget as well. Try to paint a picture of what your budget will look like in retirement the same way you would in your current monthly budget. If you feel that money from Social Security and your savings may produce too little income to cover expenses and the things you'd like to do in retirement, look at ways you can put more into savings to prepare.¹

Get to Know Your Credit

Your credit score and personal credit history will majorly impact your financial situation. Poor credit may lead to limited borrowing power, and higher interest rates may derail your financial plans. Also, be sure to pay your bills on time and keep older credit cards open, even if you don't utilize them.

Consider signing up for credit monitoring services. Identity theft will quickly damage your credit and may take years to repair. Monitoring services will alert you to potential errors and suspicious credit behavior that may signal possible identity theft.²

Save for the Future

Whether you are a few years from retirement or a decade away, continuing to save for your future is always essential. Don't be discouraged even if you feel like you have fallen behind. Find ways to cut back on expenses so that you may put more toward your retirement savings. Consider increasing your 401k contribution or adding a lump sum to your IRA to get your savings beefed up quicker.¹

Cut Back Where You're Able

Taking control of your spending is the perfect way to save more and ease up your monthly budget. Find expenses you may not have known you had or ones you may no longer need and immediately cut them. You will also want to cut back on spending, ensuring you only buy things you plan to use or fulfill a specific need. This will help you reduce your overall debt.

 

 

 

_{Important Disclosures:}

_{The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.}

_{To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.}

 _{All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy}

_{This article was prepared by WriterAccess.}

_{LPL Tracking #540922}

_Footnotes:

_{1 7 Steps to Financial Literacy, Skillsyouneed.com, https://www.skillsyouneed.com/rhubarb/financial-literacy-steps.html}

_{2 The Ultimate Guide to Financial Literacy, Investopedia, https://www.investopedia.com/guide-to-financial-literacy-4800530}

_Sources:

_{https://www.skillsyouneed.com/rhubarb/financial-literacy-steps.html}

_{https://www.investopedia.com/guide-to-financial-literacy-4800530}