Another month has gone by, which means another month of great Money Monday’s tips!
Our first tip gave readers a great way to get their money goals started:
Start With Small Debts to Help You Conquer the Big Ones
If you have a mountain of debt, studies show paying off the little debts can give you the confidence to tackle the larger ones. You know, like paying off a modest balance on a department store card before getting to the card with the bigger balance. Of course, we generally recommend chipping away at the card with the highest interest rate, but sometimes psyching yourself up is worth it.
Our next tip gave readers a quick rule of thumb when buying a house and deciding if they can afford their future mortgage:
Opt for Mortgage Payments Below 28% of Your Monthly Income.
That’s a general rule of thumb when you’re trying to figure out how much house you can afford. The true number is whatever you feel comfortable with but do some budgeting and see what percentage of your income you could handle throwing down each month for payments.
We took some advice from self-hep guru Tony Robins for the next Money Monday’s tip:
The first step is to decide to become an investor.
Robbins has said that if you want to reach financial goals faster, you have to make investing a habit. “Whether it’s saving 10 percent or 20, you’ve got to get in the game and you’ve got to become an owner, an investor,” Tony Robbins told GOBankingRates in a recent interview.
Robbins also told the story of a UPS driver who made $14,000 a year but retired with $70 million because he saved 20 percent a year. That habit of saving and the power of compounding interest created lasting wealth, Robbins said.
Tony Robins was so nice, we quoted him twice! Another Money Monday tip came from Robbins the week after:
Diversify to reduce risk and maximize returns.
“The most important first decision is becoming an investor and owner,” said Robbins. “The second decision is where to put it. That’s asset allocation. You need to make sure you diversify.”
Most seasoned investors know that diversifying a portfolio helps reduce risk because you’re not putting all of your money into a single investment. But if you’re a rookie investor, consult with an expert.
For our last Money Monday tip of the month we threw a simple tip your way that when actually followed, can be our best advice yet!
When it comes to investing the best time to start is yesterday, the second best time is today.
Have you heard that tip before? Many of us have. It seems simple, but why are we still waiting? Many of us are scared of this tip. It calls for instant action.
No matter what you’re making, put money away. Whether you’re stashing it in a savings account or investing in a TFSA or RRSP. 10 years from now you can thank yourself or wish you’d started now.
We hope you’ve enjoyed July’s Money Monday tips. We’ll be rounding them up here each month. See you next time!
