Top Tips for Financial Management
- Pay yourself first
- Spend less then you make
- Create and use a budget
- Be careful not to exceed your budget when buying an automobile or house
- Crete an emergency fund of 8-12 months worth of expenses
- Don’t carry a balance on your credit card(s)
- Consider using a “fee only” financial advisor (NAPFA.org); avoid commission based advisors
- Avoid payday and title lenders. These types of lenders trap you in a cycle of debt.
- Avoid expensive annuities (variable, equity indexed.) Be sure you know all of the fees involved before investing in these
- Buy term life insurance instead of whole life or permanent insurance
- Invest in the stock market for the long term and don’t worry about swings in the market
- If your employer offers to match your 401(k) or 403(b) plans, be sure to contribute enough to receive the full match. This is FREE money
- Start investing early to take advantage of compounding interest
Courses
The main money challenge in life is to make our money last as long as we do, or longer – and without giving up enjoyment along the way! That’s a tall order, but it’s not impossible to achieve. It all starts with awareness.
The mistake most people make is that they don’t take the long-range view about life…..much of their energy goes to worrying about current problems and issues. That’s a normal response. After all, the bills have to be paid. But without taking a long-range view of our lives and doing the best job possible of planning for the future, we are likely to experience some unpleasant money surprises along the way. This is lesson number one. Money is for life, not just for now! This means that we must see money as a resource to be earned, managed, spent, and grown! And we have to figure out a way to have financial resources even when our working days are over.
Community Services
- Bank on Denton is for those in our community who are unbanked or underbanked are often forced to use alternative financial services such as check-cashing, high-interest lending, rent-to-own, or pawn shop services. To help our community, United Way of Denton County is establishing Bank On Denton County, an initiative that will collaborate with banks and credit unions to reduce the obstacles preventing some community members from using the basic financial instruments that preserve, rather than deplete, their hard-earned money.http://www.unitedwaydenton.org/BankOnDentonCounty
- Welcome to the Hands on Banking® program! Want to take charge of your own finances and reach your goals? Just pick your age group and get started! Whether you want to build your credit, your investments, or your own small business; invest in the market, a home, or higher education; shop for a loan, buy a car, or open your first bank accounts, the Hands on Banking program offers all the basic money tools, skills, and information you need.
http://www.handsonbanking.org/en/
Every effort has been made to identify all governmental and not for profit agencies and organizations in Denton County, providing programs and services on a regular basis. Agencies wishing to be considered for inclusion should apply in writing to:
Information & Referral Helpline
625 Dallas Dr., Suite 525
Denton, TX 76205
- Serve Denton is a 501(c)(3), community-based nonprofit organization that exists to help other nonprofits fulfill their mission in advancing the common good of Denton County through co-location, collaboration, and communication. We help nonprofits collaborate, communicate, and we’re working to help them co-locate in our unique nonprofit center.
Videos
A variety of videos on a range of financial topics are here.