Staying Grounded Through Every Financial Season

As financial seasons change, your financial habits should change with them. But in a volatile financial landscape, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips to keep you and your finances grounded.

Budgeting

Budget It’s proven time and time again that budgeting is key to staying financially sound. But a good budget shouldn’t just take into account essential purchases like bills and groceries. Consider your lifestyle and the non-essential purchases that come with it. You may need to alter your budget when economies and financial landscapes change.

Save

While you can’t control the economy, you often can control how much you spend and save. Saving money can provide a nest egg for when major expenses or financial uncertainties arise. You can save money for life’s financial goals, like retirement or a wedding. But you can also budget and save to pay off debt.

Have an Emergency Account

It’s smart to set aside money in your budget for unexpected expenses. But it’s even smarter to create an emergency account. An emergency account can offer peace of mind when the unexpected happens or when the economy takes a downturn. An emergency account can also prevent you from falling into a state of financial distress when the going gets tough.

Check Accounts Regularly

Keeping a close eye on your accounts ensures you know how much money you have and where that money is going. It can also help you visualize your financial goals and habits. Many financial institutions offer autopay options for your accounts, which can help you pay bills. Take advantage of this, but keep an eye on your account to ensure you’re not overpaying.

Keep Learning

Mindset is paramount to keeping yourself grounded. So, learn as much as you can as often as you can. There are many great financial literacy resources out there, from YouTube videos to news articles to Gulf Winds’ Save.Spend.Live Blog. Meeting with a financial coach can also prove valuable.

Staying flexible and organized can help you remain focused and build habits that work in any financial situation. All you need to do is put in the effort.  

Hunter Morrison

About Hunter Morrison

Hunter has freelanced for various print and radio publications across Northwest Florida, including The Bay Beacon, Navarre Press, Inweekly, Crestview News Bulletin, and WUWF. He was also the Editor in Chief of the University of West Florida’s student newspaper, The Voyager. In 2023, Hunter moved to Kenai, Alaska to take up a news reporting position with KDLL Public Radio. For fun, Hunter enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, photography, thrifting, traveling, and looking for the best Thai food around.