Tag Archives: Bad Money Habits

Habits That Can Work Against Wealth Creation

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Are You Undercutting Your Efforts to Build Wealth?

Good money habits can help you as you save and invest for the future. Bad habits can leave you treading water financially. Let’s review three bad money habits to avoid.

1. Not saving enough. Instead of paying themselves first, some families pay others first. Dollars they could save and invest are instead spent on consumer goods and services they don’t truly need. Money that could be saved and invested for tomorrow is spent today. Are there areas in your life where you could cut costs?

2. Carrying too much debt. Every effort should be made to reduce the size of credit card bills, student loans, and other consumer debt that risks siphoning money away from the pursuit of your long-range financial objectives.

3. Investing too conservatively. Historically, equity investments offer the potential for double-digit returns when the markets perform well. Fixed-income investments are frequently dependent on interest rates – when interest rates are low, their value is greater. When interest rates increase, these investments are subject to increased loss in value. Accepting some risk may give an investor a chance for greater reward.

Are these habits slowing your wealth-building momentum? Why not see where you stand today and gauge the potential positive impact that can come from paying yourself first and adjusting the way you invest? Call or email the financial professionals in the First Financial Investment & Retirement Center at 732-312-1534, mary.laferriere@lpl.com or maureen.mcgreevy@lpl.com

 Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker/dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. First Financial Federal Credit Union (FFFCU) and First Financial Investment & Retirement Center are not registered as a broker/dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using First Financial Investment & Retirement Center, and may also be employees of FFFCU. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from and not affiliates of FFFCU or First Financial Investment & Retirement Center.

Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.

This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC

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5 Bad Money Habits to Break Today

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When it comes to money, we all have some bad habits from time to time. Sometimes they’re learned early in life, and sometimes they’re picked up along the way. Here are 5 habits that you should kick ASAP.

1. Buying snacks at work

Getting hungry in the afternoon is totally normal. But if you find yourself feeding quarters into a vending machine or swiping your card at the convenience store every afternoon, you may have an issue. Just spending a couple dollars a day can really add up over the course of the year. You can probably buy the same snacks at the grocery store for a fraction of the price, and in larger quantity. And that’s without coupons. So next time you get that 2:30pm hunger pain, jot down a note to hit up your favorite grocer on the way home.

2. Making impulse buys

Whenever some people see something they like, they just have to have it. By taking time to think it over, you may eventually decide it wasn’t a wise purchase. Sometimes, all you need is a few minutes to let it simmer in your brain to realize it’s not worth it. Try out a “waiting period” next time you get the impulse to buy something, and see what happens.

3. Not saving money

We probably all started saving later than we should have – whether it’s for retirement, an emergency fund, or just a fun rainy day fund. If you save money first, and then budget the rest when you get a paycheck, you probably won’t even miss that money.

4. Carrying credit card balances

If you have a credit card you’ve probably heard about the evils of using it. While it can get out of control for some people, it can also be a valuable tool for others. If you regularly use your credit card, you’ve most likely carried a balance on occasion. Anyone who’s ever done this realizes how bad credit card interest can really be. Paying off credit card debt can take decades for some people. Don’t get trapped.

5. Paying big bucks for cable

There are plenty of other alternatives out there for entertainment. Cable can become very costly and sometimes that’s not your top priority in terms of bills. Netflix and Hulu provide hundreds of movies and TV shows at much lower rates. Do a price comparison and decide what’s best for your budget.

Article source: John Pettit for CUInsight

3 Bad Money Habits You’re Passing on to Your Children

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It can be easy to forget in our busy day-to-day lives, that our children are paying close attention to our words and actions. They emulate what they see around them and grow increasingly impressionable with age. It’s important to positively influence them by demonstrating proper behaviors and habits they can learn from. When it comes to finances, there are a variety of ways you can properly educate your children, including discouraging them from practicing these three bad money habits.

Impulse buying

When you go shopping do you follow a set shopping list? If your answer is “no” and you shop with your children, it’s time to start sticking to your plan. When you’re shopping, and grabbing things without any forethought, you are showing your children that sticking to a budget is not your priority. They may also view your impulse shopping as disorganized and unstructured. Instead, instill in them the importance of writing down a plan and getting only what’s necessary, to stay on the right track with spending.

Not talking about money

As children get older and they begin to understand the value of money, it’s important they are taught to be open about financial issues. Some view money matters as difficult or awkward to talk about. But, when it comes to building confidence in your children, it’s vital they learn the skills necessary to effectively manage their personal finances. Developing healthy financial habits from an early age is extremely important and it begins with everyday conservations.

Living above your means

If your child asks for something at the store, but you don’t have the money to buy it, it’s okay to use that old saying, “money doesn’t grow on trees.” So many Americans live outside of their means in an effort to “keep up with the Joneses.” Instead of raising entitled children that expect everything no matter how tight funds are, teach them the importance of differentiating between “wants” and “needs.” Help them understand that it’s okay to splurge on occasion, but it’s more important to budget and save in order to maintain good financial standing for a happy, stress-free life.

Article Source: Wendy Moody for CUInsight.com

More Bad Money Habits You Need to Let Go Of

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Habits happen. When it comes to money, it’s a good idea to recognize the bad ones and kick them to the curb as soon as possible. Here are a few less-than-stellar money habits that you need to let go of right away.

Not setting goals: If you don’t have savings goals, you’ll never have the savings you need. You should be packing away money for retirement and at least have an emergency fund for those unexpected bills. If you don’t know how much you need to retire, checkout a retirement calculator like this one.

Picking up every check: It’s great to buy dinner sometimes, especially when you’re out with friends and family, but don’t feel you have to pay the check every time. Even if the bill is only $40-50 bucks, if it’s a regular thing, it can really add up. Having separate checks is the best plan, and feel free to pick up the check every now and again.

I’ll have what he or she is having: If you see your friend pick up a new 60” flat screen, it can make you very envious. Remember just because your friend has some new, cool toys doesn’t mean they haven’t put themselves in debt to get it.

Paying ATM fees: When you are going somewhere and you need cash, make sure you plan ahead. You may feel like stopping at a random ATM is no big deal, but those little service fees will rob you blind over time. If you’re going somewhere that doesn’t take plastic, plan to stop at your local branch and use the free ATM that’s provided for you.