

PAY YOUR ESSENTIALS WITH A CREDIT CARD, BUT… If you do this for one year, you will have $1,378 at the end of the 52 weeks. With the 52-week savings challenge, you begin by saving $1 the first week of January, $2 the second week of January, $3 the next week, $4 the last week, $5 the next week, and so on while adding an additional dollar each week. You will be surprised how much money you will save. Lastly, try the 52-week savings challenge. You will be surprised by how quickly your savings will grow. With Pearl Hawaii’s Holiday Savings Account, you can save in small increments automatically.

You should have $3000 to $6000 in your account just in case. For example, if your living expenses are $1000 per month. Ideally, you will need 3 to 6 months of expenses in your savings account in the event of an unexpected emergency. The money is pre-taxed so you will barely notice it leaving your paycheck.Īdditionally, try setting aside a set amount in a savings account each pay period. If possible, always match your retirement plan’s matching policy. Essentially, you should be using your employer’s retirement plan or have an IRA. PAY YOURSELF FIRST AND SAVE MONEYīefore you are paid, you should determine a way to put your money into a separate savings account that you do not touch. Drinking a daily coffee from your favorite coffee shop or are you stopping off each morning for a spam musubi? Consider limiting your visits to just a couple of times a week. Set small goals and changes to your money habits that won’t disrupt your routine. START WITH SMALL CHANGES TO YOUR MONEY HABITS Pearl Hawaii’s LIFE Manager will do much of this for you. When you track your money habits, you will know exactly how much you spend and how you spend that money. Once you have your budget, track your expenses. It’s often easier to reach financial success if you’re willing to prioritize your savings, spend less than you earn, and live within your means. Additionally, you can create a budget, plan out your life, assign accounts, add expenses or income, create goals, or monitor your progress, and spending habits. Overall, you can make transfers, view balances, and manage money more efficiently. LIFE (Loans, Investments, Finances, Earnings) Manager helps you link your accounts at other financial institutions so you can see the bigger picture. With Pearl Hawaii’s LIFE Manager, you can manage your assets all in one place. Pearl Hawaii offers our members LIFE Manager, which is available with PHFCU Online. Track everything you spend for at least three months to get a sense of your average monthly budget, but even tracking for one month will get you started. Creating a budget for the first time can be a little overwhelming. Understanding where your money is going each month will help you identify what you’re doing well and where you could improve.

If you want to improve your money situation, the easiest and smartest way is to track your money. Here are a few tips to get you started… TRACK YOUR SPENDING Building better money habits begins with taking ownership of your finances. Miscellaneous expenses and splurge shopping can add up fast. Practicing better money habits is not always the easiest thing to do.
