Your Best Money Year Ever (2024)

For years (and years), I lived under a dark cloud of worry that I would end up financially destitute—a bag lady, all alone living under a bridge.

A study conducted by Harris Interactive for Allianz Insurance Group reveals that I’m not the only one. In fact, most of us have felt that way, not because we’re broke, but because we don’t have confidence when it comes to managing our money. That makes us timid, worried and financially insecure.

Your Best Money Year Ever (1)

We don’t have to accept financial insecurity as some kind of life sentence. And that constant and gnawing fear of becoming destitute? Forget it! We can do something about this.

Financial confidence is a choice. It’s a matter of changing bad habits and choosing to learn simple financial principles. Then by consciously applying them over and over again, those principles will become automatic responses—financial habits.

Your Best Money Year Ever (2)

Are you ready to make 2019 your best money year ever? Here are four simple things you can do starting today to improve your financial confidence—and take control of your money.

Get mad

Decide once and for all that you will not sell your soul to the likes of MasterCard and Visa—not one more day, not one more purchase. Get righteously indignant at the very idea of transferring your future wealth to them by carrying a never-ending pile of debt.

Remember this: The borrower isa slave to the lender. Determine right now that you will do whatever it takes to break those chains and get out of debt.

Become a saver

Saving money is like magic because it changes our attitudes and calms our fears. The simple act of choosing not to spend money so you can save it is a soul soother, a nerve calmer.

You must start now, today—no matter your situation. Even if you are in debt, even if you are struggling to catch up and even if you are already contributing to a 401(k) plan at work or another kind of retirement account. This is different. You need money in the bank to boost your financial confidence.

Start with a dollar and stuff it in a coffee mug if that is all you can manage. Then make it $5. Soon you will be saving $10, $20 even $50 a week, plus all the change from the sofa cushions and washing machine.

Years ago my husband gave me five $100 bills for Christmas. I was so determined to save that money, I nailed those bills between two pieces of wood using his pneumatic nail gun.

With that,spending became muchmore difficultthan saving!

Your Best Money Year Ever (3)

It is not a requirement that you have your own paycheck to become a habitual saver. Whatever money you manage—the grocery money, the household account—whatever it is, take some of it right off the top for savings.

MORE:8 Easy Ways to Grow a Cash Stash in 2019

Make it automatic

Setting up a plan where you have money automatically transferred to your savings will move your financial confidence to a new level. Check out an online savings account at Ally Bank (Ally.com) or fill out an automatic deposit authorization form at the bank or credit union where you have your household account.

Here’s the principle: If you don’t see it, you don’t miss it.

Set a financial goal

For any plan to succeed, it needs to be 1) specific, 2) reasonable and 3) measurable.

Let’s say you want to save $2,400 in the coming year—about $50 a week, which makes it specific. That may be reasonable provided you are willing to really stretch and make adjustments in other areas. And you can certainly measure your progress by simply checking your account balance regularly.

As you begin to understand that money and personal finance are empowering, not repulsive, you will open the door to taking control of your finances. One step at a time you will make progress. Single steps made consistently become miles.

This year really could be your best money year. It’s not a decision that anyone else can make for you.It really isup to you!

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Your Best Money Year Ever (2024)

FAQs

What are your highest earning years? ›

What Are Peak Earning Years? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of American workers is highest between the ages of 45 and 54. These peak earning years are a critical time to take control of your finances and hone your money management strategies.

How much should a 30 year old have saved? ›

If you're looking for a ballpark figure, Taylor Kovar, certified financial planner and CEO of Kovar Wealth Management says, “By age 30, a good rule of thumb is to aim to have saved the equivalent of your annual salary.

How much is enough money for a year? ›

Generally, $100,000 per year is a good goal for most people.

A lot more! And if you have a lot of debt, you'll need to make more to pay it off. But the point is, once you have enough money to live comfortably, more money won't really make you any happier.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What age do men peak financially? ›

Peak earning years are generally thought to be late 40s to late 50s*. The latest figures show women's peak between ages 35 and 54, men between 45 and 64. After that, most people's incomes typically level off. Promotions favor younger people with longer futures*.

What age do most people make 6 figures? ›

The majority of people who make six figures will do so in their 30s. Keep in mind that annual income says nothing about someone's financial health.

Is having $4000 in savings good? ›

Ready to talk to an expert? Are you approaching 30? How much money do you have saved? According to CNN Money, someone between the ages of 25 and 30, who makes around $40,000 a year, should have at least $4,000 saved.

Is $50,000 in savings good? ›

If you're nearing retirement with just $50,000 in savings, the reality is that you're frankly not in the best shape. The average 60-something has a retirement savings balance of $112,500, according to Northwestern Mutual. Even that, frankly, isn't a ton of money.

Is $40,000 a lot of money? ›

The $40,000 figure represents earning more than the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour). So is $40,000 a good salary? Well, it depends. A $40,000 salary may be sufficient for an individual in a low-cost area, but it may not be enough for a family to live comfortably in most parts of the US.

How much is $100 everyday for a year? ›

$100 daily is how much per year? If you make $100 per day, your Yearly salary would be $26,031. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

Is $200 a day good money? ›

While $200 a day may not seem like a lot of money compared to what some people make, it can add up quickly over time. If you're able to make $200 a day consistently, that's $6,000 a month or $72,000 a year. For many people, this is a substantial amount of money that can make a significant difference in their lives.

What is a livable salary in the US? ›

According to research from MIT, the living wage in the United States was $25.02 per hour ($104,077.70 per year) before taxes per year in 2022 for a family of four (two working adults with two children). That's an increase from $24.16 ($100,498.60 per year) in 2021.

How to budget $5000 a month? ›

Consider an individual who takes home $5,000 a month. Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give them a monthly budget of: 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,500. 20% to savings and debt repayment = $1,000.

What is your biggest financial goal? ›

Long-Term Financial Goals. The biggest long-term financial goal for most people is saving enough money to retire. The common rule of thumb is that you should save 10% to 15% of every paycheck in a tax-advantaged retirement account like a 401(k) or 403(b), if you have access to one, or a traditional IRA or Roth IRA.

How much should rent be of income? ›

A popular standard for budgeting rent is to follow the 30% rule, where you spend a maximum of 30% of your monthly income before taxes (your gross income) on your rent. This has been a rule of thumb since 1981, when the government found that people who spent over 30% of their income on housing were "cost-burdened."

What age should you be earning the most? ›

Earnings by Age Group

Recent data from Forbes shows that annual salaries typically reach their peak for workers in the 40 to 49 age group.

What is a high income per year? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

What is top 10% annual salary? ›

What are the annual wages of top earners?
BracketAverage annual wages
Top 0.1%$3,212,486
Top 1%$823,763
Top 5%$342,987
Top 10%$173,176
Apr 30, 2024

What age range has the highest income? ›

This statistic shows the average annual total money earnings of individuals in the United States in 2022, by age group. In 2022, the average worker in the United States aged 45 to 54 earned an average of 82,280 U.S. dollars per year. That made 45 to 54 year olds the highest earning age group, on average, in 2022.

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