Spring Clean Your Finances During Financial Literacy Month
April 6, 2023, Goshen, Indiana – April is Financial Literacy Month and no better time to clean up your finances than this Spring. The month is dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to the importance of financial literacy and resources available in the community. To help you get organized, Interra has put together several tips and tools to set you up for success.
1. Revisit your budget. If you don’t have a budget, it’s vital to take time to make one. Be sure to review any debts, bills, or financial obligations you have. Then create an income worksheet to view how much you owe on each account, what current bills you have, when they are due, and any past due bills that you still need to pay. An income worksheet will show your monthly earnings and what is being deducted either weekly or monthly to showcase the amount you have leftover to spend or save. Having a budget in place can aid in obtaining your financial wellbeing.
2. Set financial goals. Whether your goal is to pay off student loan debt, save for the future, or even determine home ownership funding, there are several resources you can utilize to best assist you. Visit Interra’s website to access free financial calculators that are easy to navigate. All you need to do is change the numbers to match your goals, expectations, or specific financial situation.
3. Start an emergency savings fund. If you don’t currently have an emergency savings fund, now is the time to start one. Beginning with any amount, even five dollars a week, can be beneficial in the case of a crisis. Events such as the loss of a job or illness are examples of when an individual might utilize their emergency fund. Having a savings can help alleviate the stress during unpredictable life situations.
4. Don’t get discouraged. Budgeting often times requires tweaking in order to stay on track. Taking a few moments each month to review your personal budget will help you stay the course of your dreams.
5. Attend financial education seminars or webinars. Don’t hesitate to attend financial education seminars and webinars to learn about financial forecasting or ways you can make your dreams come true. Financial institutions and mortgage companies will often offer free seminars for the community to address a variety of financial topics.
Taking control of your personal budget, and adjusting as needed, will keep you moving forward towards strong financial success. Have more questions about your own personal budget? Check out Interra Credit Union’s free calculators to help you crunch numbers at www.interracu.com/calculator.
Interra Credit Union, headquartered in Goshen, was charted in 1932 and has assets of $1.7 billion. The credit union’s field of membership spans 18 counties in northern Indiana, with more than 300 full and part-time employees serving nearly 92,000 members. Interra currently operates 16 offices in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, and Noble counties in Indiana and via a suite of robust electronic services at interracu.com.
