5 Smart Financial Steps Young Adults Should Take in 2022

A new year comes with many possibilities and the chance of a new start. Whether or not one’s goals were met in the past year, looking forward is always the first step toward a better future. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s important to save money and be ready for whatever life throws at you.

Building wealth takes time. According to scientific research, it takes a new habit about 66 days to become part of your daily routine. So, now is a good time to plan finance and build good money habits. Here are steps in financial planning you could take in 2022 to reach your goals.

5 Smart Financial Steps for Young Adults

Track Your Expenses

Tracking your expenses is a good first step in financial planning. Know where and how much of your money is going. When you look at something from a different angle, it can help you understand it better. So, look at your income and expenses from a wider angle. Then, narrow your attention to how wisely you can spend your money.

Keeping track of all your spending can take time and effort. Managing your expenses is the first step to plan finance better. You can keep an eye on all your transactions. You could better look at your spending history and decide how to spend your money. There has been a big shift toward digital spending in India in the past few years. So managing your expenses is one of the best pieces of financial advice.

Start Investing

There is no right or wrong time to start investing. You don’t have to be “The Big Bull” or “The Big Bear” to start investing in the stock market. Make several safe, low-stakes bets to get started. Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) are a simple and effective technique that you should use. SIP has become a popular way to put money into mutual funds regularly. It is similar to a recurring deposit. So, it gives you freedom in your steps of the financial planning journey.

After that, you can work on building a portfolio of different kinds of financial instruments. Look into low-risk mutual funds and always think about the long term.

Fixed deposits, recurring deposits, provident funds, the national pension scheme, and other safe options are also good for people who don’t want to take as many risks.

Also, remember another plan of finance, the power of compounding. This gives you a slow and steady income source. But keep in mind that market-linked financial programs cannot avoid risk. So, building a risk tolerance that fits our goals is important.

Don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) influence your investment decisions. Be sure to invest, but don’t invest just because you want to take advantage of it. As financial markets involve risks, you should always do your research and never depend only on the advice of others.

Set Financial Goals

Goals provide accountability. When did you last make a finance plan? If it has been a while, now is the best time. Think about what you want to do with your money in the coming year. Start a fund for emergencies or pay off your credit card debt. It’s okay if your goals differ from those of the other people in your life.

Once you have written down your goals, you can figure out what steps you need to take to get there. If a goal seems too big, you can break it up into smaller tasks that are easier to do. This will make the goal as a whole easier to reach.

Build an Emergency Fund

No one knows when something bad will happen. It could be losing a job, getting sick, or fixing the house. These kinds of emergencies can make it hard to stick to your budget. An emergency fund can help in this situation. You should have an emergency fund with enough money to cover your living costs for at least six months. This will help you get through a short-term financial problem.

Work on saving money for emergencies. At least 10% of your monthly income should go into a high-yield savings account that you can easily access in an emergency. You might have to cut back on spending or get a second job to put money in your emergency account.

Tax Planning

Tax planning is fundamental and essential financial advice. It helps to lower your tax bill. Don’t look for ways to save money on taxes only at the end of the year or when it’s time to file your taxes. Start making plans early, ideally at the start of a new fiscal year.

There are many ways to lower your tax bill, such as investing in government programs to lower your taxable income. Another way is to plan your tax deductions ahead of time so that you can get a lower tax bill. Standard deductions include life insurance, health insurance, mutual funds, and house loan interest.

Financial Advice for Your Better Financial Future

Check out Your Credit Score

It is one of the vital steps of financial planning. You need a good credit score to grow your assets and get good deals on loans and credit cards. Check your credit report from the three major credit bureaus once a year, and correct any errors right away.

Know the Debt-to-Income Ratio

Keeping track of how much money comes in and goes out is very important. This is the most important thing you can do to keep your money in good shape. The money that comes in is your salary, cash vouchers, bonus, rental income, investment returns, etc. The money that leaves your account is what you use to pay your bills and debts. Once you know how much debt you have compared to how much money you make, you can take the next step toward building wealth.

Save Money for Retirement

It’s always true that the earlier you start saving, the more money you’ll have when you retire. That’s how interest on interest works. When you regularly invest for retirement, your money grows steadily, which helps you be rich when you retire.

Wrapping Up

Planning your finances is the first step to being financially secure. It’s vital to begin the journey by completing simple goals. You can get a good financial start if you know the basics. If you make smart money choices in your 20s, it can help you become financially successful. Using the tips above, you can work on getting a good credit score, getting out of debt, and saving money for retirement and other big events.

Visit Piramal Finance for more financial advice and give your journey a wing.