3 Mistakes You May Be Making in Managing Your Money: Quick Guide for Beginners

"If you don't know how to care for money, money will stay away from you." - Robert T. Kiyosaki

And we don't want that, right?

In this post, we discuss three rookie mistakes you are likely to be making along with ways to rectify them and manage your money better.

In this blog we will give tips on money management and the top 3 mistakes which people make:

1. Spending > Earning

2. Imbalance in Investments

3. Budgeting Guidelines that don't serve your Goals

Mistake #1: Spending > Earning

To err is human. Weaknesses are human too. So are money weaknesses.

If we keep succumbing to our money weaknesses, we will keep accumulating a mountain of debt before we realize it. We either have to earn more or spend less to avoid a debt trap.

Hence, it becomes super important to keep a close watch on our spending and saving habits.

As a rule of thumb, always remember to save more than enough before you spend.

It is so important to save because everything adds up after years. Small amounts eventually amount to a huge number and can make an impactful difference.

It's hard ( we feel you ), but it is wise to brush aside your weaknesses and cut out on expenses that don't serve you. Believe it or not, the average Indian may lose up to 1 crore in a lifetime by making the wrong choices for his goals.

A smart, efficient, and holistic plan is all you need to stay on top of your finances effortlessly.

" Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving. " - Warren Buffet

Mistake #2: Imbalance in Investments

Growing your money is as important as saving it. Thinking through the difference between an investment and an expense is just as important.

The word "investing" has connotations of financial investments alone. However, there are several other avenues in which you could be "investing", that have a direct impact on your financial and overall life.

First things first, let's look at the different types of financial investments. There are stocks (equity), bonds (debt), mutual funds, options, annuities, retirement plans, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and so on.

Decide what kind of investor you are. Conservative, moderate, or risky?

While evaluating any investment, bear these three parameters in mind.

1. Liquidity - How easily you can withdraw the money in case of an emergency

2. Risk - Chances of losing the money

3. Returns - How much will the money grow
   

Decide what options work best for you and try to strike a balance. Optimization is the key. Here is a resource to help you understand where to invest your money.

Moving to the other not-so-often discussed ones, two of the best-paying investments are Health & Personal Growth. Productive investments, in turn, increase your financial wellness. Apparently counter-intuitive, isn't it? Not really. Well, we leave the thinking to you.

"The best investment you can make is in yourself. The more you learn, the more you will earn." - Warren Buffet

Pro Tip: Here's our yardstick for distinguishing an investment from an expense.

If what you purchase is going to make you more productive, healthier, fitter, wiser, or more skillful, then it is undoubtedly more than worth it. Discover what you need to add value to your life, and invest in it guilt-free.

Mistake #3: Budgeting Guidelines that don't serve your Goals

We have a myriad of necessities and desires. We have a few important financial goals to accomplish. How much to allocate for each of them? How to distribute amongst the various needs and obligations?

The famous 50-30-20 budgeting technique is a common rule for planning ( 50% of your after-tax income is used for your needs and obligations while 30% for savings and clearing debts and the remaining 20% for your wants).

As a general rule of thumb, it is prescribed to not spend more than 25% on rent, 15% on food, 10% on entertainment, and 5% on vacation.

However, no two people have the same fingerprint, not even twins. No two people are the same. You are unique, like your fingerprint. Your goals are as unique as you are. And it is you who have to plan your goals in such a way that you reach them as effortlessly and peacefully as possible.

In today's fast-paced ever-changing world, innumerable factors and variables come into play in every goal you set for yourself. For instance, crucial factors such as inflation, market volatility, tax fluctuations are almost always overlooked.

A suitable technology-driven platform that places the power of deep financial planning in your hands can serve you to your goals. Discover such a platform here.

You can find the MoneyPlanned app on Google PlayStore or AppStore.

For more exciting and fun bits of financial wisdom, do check out our blogs on Quora and Medium!

We hope this post gave you a fresh perspective on how to manage your finances while avoiding a few not-so-commonly discussed rookie mistakes one might be making.

Happy Money Management to you!

Happy & Healthy Finances! Happy & Healthy You!