Published on: 22 March 2021
Last Updated on: 27 December 2024
People often say that financial freedom is hard to achieve when you are a millennial. Though it can be true for the most part, it all lies in your mindset and how you control yourself. Achieving financial freedom is as easy as turning the tables to something positive.
And if you’re a struggling millennial who is stuck in this dilemma, this is the change you have been looking for. Are you ready to take on the challenge to achieve that financial freedom breakthrough? Seeing you here in this article is already a good sign. Read on!
Your Goals Matter:
Setting goals is the first step in achieving financial freedom and everything will then follow after. By having goals, you will be able to control and discipline yourself when it comes to handling finances.
And this not only affects your finances but also how you deal with life overall as well. This includes your relationship with the people around you, traits, and behavior. Settings goals mean doing yourself a favor in stepping up to greater heights financially and mentally.
Overspending Is Your Enemy:
Sometimes, we are all so glued to our wallet that leads to overspending. And the moment we are bombarded with bills, we have nothing left in our hands. That’s why you should always be careful when spending on things.
This is where self-control comes into play. We know it can be tempting to get that latest gadget that’s trending on the internet. But is it a good investment worth paying for? Or you just want to buy it so you can keep up with the trend? So take time to reflect before adding it to your cart.
Quality is King:
This section is a continuation of the one discussed above. Because when you opt for quality products, you will be assured that they will last for years. Thus, saving you cash from buying another one. That’s why it’s important to buy legit and authentic items when you go shopping.
And this can apply to anything, be it for work, personal use, or for your passion. If you are more into filming, it’s essential to see your work in all its glory. And for that, choose a LED screen manufacturer that you can trust. Love photography? Buy your camera from a trusted brand that is already known by many.
Whatever that might be, always choose quality over anything. Sometimes, companies love to sway customers with flowery words through the power of marketing. But before you get carried away by these promises, check the quality first and your wallet will thank you later.
Stick To Your Budget:
If you are a working millennial, it’s best to stick to your budget based on your salary. There’s no use eating in fancy restaurants or buying expensive things if your payroll won’t even last for a week. That’s why the importance of your budget should never be overlooked.
Don’t worry if your salary is not so big for now. Because you will eventually have a bulky wallet in no time as long as you work hard for it. One effective way to control your budget is by making a list of things or stuff you are going to spend with your money.
And of course, don’t forget to save some cash for your emergency fund too. Life troubles are just around the corner. That’s why it’s better to have extra money that we can grab in times of need.
Invest As Early As Now:
Start investing in things that will make your money grow while you are still young. Should you want to try businesses such as stock trading, or marketing, then go for it! Just make sure that the one you will be joining is not a scam.
Having trouble? There are myriads of guides and mentoring courses that you can find online that talk about investing. The best way to grow your money at such an early age is doable by the power of an investment.
Take the Leap of Faith:
Sometimes, the only enemy that is stopping us is ourselves. Maybe there are a lot of financial doors for opportunities in front of you. But instead, you choose to close them because you think that you can’t make it.
But have you ever thought that opportunity might be the one you’ve been waiting for? We never know, maybe that is finally the financial breakthrough that can give you financial freedom. So don’t be afraid to take the leap of faith even if how treacherous the path can be.
Become a person that is teachable to such possibilities when it comes to finances. Opportunities come and go, so it’s better to grab some of them before it’s too late. You will look back one day and thank yourself for finally taking the next step.
Conclusion:
Some say financial freedom is not a walk in the park if you are a millennial. But by following these pointers above, you will be surprised how far your wallet will take you someday.
It’s going to be one hell of a climb, but the journey will be worth every effort you have exerted for it.
So don’t give up just because things didn’t go your way financially. But instead, be a person who is willing to change and explore new heights to achieve financial freedom. So what are you waiting for? There is no better time to hunt for financial greatness than today.
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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
One of the common reasons why small businesses fail is the lack of working capital. Poor financial decision-making can be detrimental to your small business.
This will not scare you or put you off the idea of starting your very first business. However, it is to convince you how important it is to draft a financial plan for your small business.
The importance of predicting your financial health is not just to maintain a steady cash flow but also...
Understand how lucrative your business is in the long run.
How long will your business be at break-even (no profit, no loss)?
When can your business start making a profit?
Most importantly, what is the contingency plan of any financial hurdle?
In this blog post below, we will be discussing the following:
Importance of a financial plan for your small business.
Elements of a financial plan for your small business.
A template to create a small business plan (for any business).
Importance Of A Financial Plan
Here is why you should begin creating your very first-ever financial plan for your small business.
1. A Business GPS?
Imagine yourself driving to a new destination without knowing where you are or in which direction you should proceed.
This is what it is like to open a business without having a financial plan.
A financial plan will give you a clear roadmap to your business journey, and determine how much to spend on each destination.
2. Where Is The Goal Post?
We all have a vague idea of what a startup goal should be. However, getting overwhelmed is common without a clear picture.
A financial plan will provide you with a clear goalpost. I am talking about tangible, measurable, and achievable goals.
Whether you want to expand your business, increase profits, or reduce costs, a financial plan gives you a clear path.
3. What Ifs & Risks!
It is given that your business won’t be smooth sailing forever!
Businesses often face unexpected expenses. It could be something as simple as equipment breakdowns or sudden major market changes!
As a business owner, being financially ready is a crucial step!
A financial plan can help you set aside emergency funds, so you're prepared for these surprises.
4. A Long-Lasting Impression
Want investors early on for your business? Then, it would help if you offered them a steady financial plan.
Remember, lenders and investors want to see a well-thought-out financial plan before they commit their money.
Therefore, having a solid plan shows them that you understand your business's financial health, its cash flow, and the potential profit opportunity. Hence, we are serious about making your business a success.
5. Improves Financial Decision-Making
With a financial plan, you better understand your cash flow, revenue, and expenses.
This knowledge helps you make informed decisions, like when to invest in new equipment or whether to cut costs.
Important Elements Of The Financial Plan Of A Small Business
Before you begin your financial planning, you should be aware of the different financial jargon for a business.
1. Cash Flow Projection
This includes predicting the market, what effect your product will have on the market, and how much you can earn from it.
Now, taking the potential amount you create capital expenditure for each month. The function of a cash flow projection is to ensure you have enough (at the end of the month) in terms of expansion.
It is common for a business to live month by month with no profit for the first six to eight months of the business. Essentially you are establishing your business.
However, if it crosses the one-year mark with just a break-evens, the following could be the reason:
Your business is not making money because of the lack of demand.
The expenditure is way over your income. You must start some cost-cutting methods.
There is a lack of marketing, and your small business is not reaching the target audience.
You do not have enough investment for the small business you are starting.
Keep these points in mind when starting your cash flow!
2. Balance Sheet
A balance sheet is a financial estimation of your small business’s current state. Here are some of the important items your balance sheet will have:
Income & Expenditure
Total owning & total owing (personal debts or small business loans).
Assets that are currently under collateral.
Upon reading it might sound simple. However, when it comes to a balanced business sheet, you will require a finance professional to craft one.
3. Personnel Expense
This brings us to the next point in any financial plan for a small business. The personnel expense, or the amount you are spending on hired personnel.
It doesn’t always have to be your employees. In fact, the number of employees for a small business will hardly reach 15 in the very first year.
A personnel expense includes individuals working as consultants for the business, and the different professionals you hire to help with the internal work (e.g. Finance officer to create the balance sheet).
Some of the common elements of a personnel expense are:
Cost is based on the positions each professional is holding.
Personal insurance plans for your workers (at least medical insurance).
Expenses are spared for other professionals working externally with the business.
4. Assets
The tangible assets that your small business owns:
Current Assets: What the business currently owns. These include inventories, machinery & tech devices, prepaid expenses (for example, digital tools), and other office supplies.
Tangible Assets: The one that physically exists under the name of your small business. Real estate (This will not include rented warehouses or offices. These will go under the expenditure section), land inventory, tangible investment (gold & bonds), and saleable merchandise.
Non-Tangible Assets: These are assets that are not in a physical form. Intellectual property, pre-paid tools, investments (stocks, Cryptocurrency, mutual funds).
Non-Operable Asset: Assets under your small business but from which you are not getting any income. For example, land you have an investment in but not yet open for any business-related functions.
Operable Asset: Assets that your business owns currently, and that are bringing some income. For example: produced goods, factory space, warehouses, and office space.
5. Products & Services
The products and services you are planning to offer will also come into the financial planning for small businesses.
These include the following:
The raw materials are required to create the goods.
Factory costing.
Warehouse costing.
Transport & Drop shipping costing.
Worker’s salary & insurance.
Contingency management funding. (In case of any accident or unpredictable situation).
The summation will give you the total cost of production. With which you can create and understand the market value of your product.
This step is very important to assess the profit and loss of each item.
6. Income Projections
Another crucial part of small business finance planning is prediction. This is how you can predict whether your income will have any substantial income.
Here is how you can protect your business income (before starting it):
Check business income projections of competitors through several data analyses.
Is your small business subject matter trending in the market? What is the current market share of such companies?
Are investors willing to invest in a business venture as such? In fact, check some of the Shark Tank successes, and analyze which business venture seems more profiting by investors themselves.
The inflation rate of the past decade regarding the product or service you are about to sell also matters.
7. Marketing
You cannot spend everything on logistics and not worry about marketing.
One cannot ignore this matter, especially in today’s day and age when small businesses are reaching new milestones by a simple influencer shoutout, or social media virality!
Here are some of the factors in which you will need to spend in marketing:
Social media marketing tools.
Influencer marketing.
Small ad-films over YouTube.
Website building and digital marketing (Website domain and SEO tools).
8. Risk Management
No business is protected from the risks that come to every business in its lifespan. However, the contingency plan is not getting ambushed by a sudden change.
Here are some of the financial risks/uncertainties your new business could face:
Market Risk: The ups and downs of the current & dynamic economy. In fact, after the pandemic, things have become a little less predictable.
Reputation Risk: Social media is indeed bringing customers and businesses closer. However, the downside of such connectivity is the risk of a tampered reputation, especially when audiences jump to conclusions upon hearing anything on the internet.
Competition Risk: This is a common risk every business faces. When your competitors launch something new & exciting, there could be a significant shift in sales numbers for you.
Environmental Risk: One good example of environmental risk that has previously impacted businesses majorly is the pandemic.
Political Risks: The political scenario of your country can have a considerable effect on your business, especially in terms of export-import & business expansion.
This is one of the reasons why having a financial contingency plan for managing sudden risk is one of the crucial components of a business financial plan.
Business Template For A Startup
As promised, we have a business template that will help you take that very first step for your startup.
Financial Plan For Startup (Template)
Table of Contents
1. Financial Overview: A Financial Overview will consist of a financial overview of your business’s current state. Also, please provide the key points and takeaways of the financial data that you will provide.
4. Assumptions – Market Research: This is the step for market research and predicting the business’s profit potential.
5. Break-Even Analysis: A table or graph which provides information on the number of units your business needs, and how much you need to sell to make a profit.
6. Financial Statements: This will include the following charts.
- Profit & Loss (Optional if you have a startup)
- Cash Flow Statement (How the monthly cash flow will look)
- Balance Sheet (Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly Income & Expenditure)
Elements For Your Balance Sheet
The following is what your balance sheets should include based on items required: monthly, quarterly, and yearly income & expenditure.
Operational Financial Plan
Business Location and Facilities
Technology and Equipment
Key Operational Processes
Supply Chain and Inventory Management
Management and Organization Financial Plan
Organizational Structure
Key Management Team
Roles and Responsibilities
Hiring and Training Plan
Financial Plan
Start-up Costs (for new businesses like loans, downpayment; collateral, and personal investments)
Revenue Projections
Expense Projections
Cash Flow Statement
Profit and Loss Statement
Break-even Analysis
Funding Requirements and Strategy
Funding Needed
Purpose of Funds
Potential Funding Sources
Funding Timeline
Key Risks
Risk Mitigation Strategies
Financial Tools to Ease Your Job
In the modern age of technology, you can always lean on tools to automate some of the financial tasks.
So, if you need that digital assistance when
Begin Your Journey!
This is a sign for you to begin your journey as a first-time business owner. Yes, it is overwhelming, and yes it can be intimidating (hence the long procrastinating period!).
Creating a financial plan for even a startup can be intimidating. Here is how you can make this journey a little easier.
Start with defining your business first. The executive plan is a must. You should know what your business is all about.
Then, move through the basic income and expenditures.
Take help from professionals in tax advice and create a detailed balance sheet.
Finally, consider seeing your whole financial plan in a timely manner. It is important to take one step at a time.
Hopefully, we can give you enough answers about a business financial plan. How is your journey going? Please let us know in the comment section below.
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Before entering into marriage, you and your soon-to-be lifetime partner should talk about finances. Both of you might have different ways of handling your finances.
Settling down and starting to grow a family is one big responsibility that both of you will share. One may be frugal and minimalist, while the other is the opposite. Your differences, if not taken seriously, like by discussing it, might cause a collision.
Just let me share one fact about what happens in marriage nowadays. Few are getting married. Many are getting divorced. And according to Forbes, one of the factors why couples end up divorcing is money issues. Unsettled issues!
It's not the main factor, but somehow, it contributes tension to the couple. And we don't want to let that happen to you. This article aims to help you understand what a couple should do in creating your budget.
Take this opportunity to know what couples should do in handling money. These best-picked tips will guide you in building your budget.
Vital Tips For an Effective Budget-
Communicate at all times:
Discussing financial matters is vital, and it's the only way to know each other, especially in handling money.
Let's face reality. Not all couples have the same spending habits. One might want to save more and choose to live a simple lifestyle, while the other might want the opposite.
As you can see, managing your finances contrasts with the other. With that scenario, both of you might encounter some financial struggles while building your budget goals.
Through proper communication, you can set things up with an open mind. But both should adjust each other's expectations. This way, you can organize everything and meet one's goal.
Remember, this isn't a simple game to win. It's a real-life game that both should work together as one.
Categorize your budget:
If both of you feel like your goals are somewhat overwhelming, you have to remember that you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.
By simply categorizing your budget, you can have a more exact path to follow. You can see which to prioritize and which is more necessary. Do it one step at a time.
As you continue to discuss things, one should jot down everything. This way, you won't miss or forget some information or idea.
Identify your household needs:
Both should identify your household needs. This way, it will become easy for you to categorize them. List them down. Afterward, you order them to either mandatory expenses, significant, nice, or unnecessary.
Don't forget to include your existing debts on your list. May it be a mortgage loan, credit card, other outstanding debts, car loans, utility bills, food, and other different personal needs.
After listing things, you can now identify which category it is.
Mandatory expenses and significant ones should be your top priority. The rest will be considered as your minor focus.
You might be wondering what mandatory expense is? In layman's terms, mandatory means something that obliges you to perform. That means "mandatory expenses" are something that obliges you to settle.
For instance, debts that should be settled fall to mandatory expenses. Whatever type of debt it is, it will be considered mandatory spending.
Settling debts might be overwhelming. Why not consider paying your debts in full using a personal loan from a licensed money lender Tampines? It's a form of debt consolidation. It merely means combining your debts into one.
For example, you consolidate all your credit card debts and pay them using a loan from moneylender woodlands. You settle your debts in total, with lower interest and one monthly payment.
If there's something you are paying because you need it, you can categorize it as a pressing need.
Important or significant things refer to your basic needs. Foods, clothing, water, electricity, internet connection, and the likes are your basic needs.
Nice things give you fun and convenience, but not that important. For example, car accessories, upgrading or changing phones, buying too many dresses. Everything's look nice but not necessary.
Unnecessary things are simply those that don't have value. For instance, you purchased an online subscription that you seldom use for leisure. It's a total expense that you don't benefit anything. And it only cost you money.
Spending money to buy trendy things, eat at a restaurant, and travel around is not bad. As long as you know to discipline yourself. You can never deprive your happiness in reaching your goals.
But if you want to achieve your financial goals faster successfully, you have to be patient. Always remember that it takes strong commitment and determination to do it. Saving more, spending less will help you a lot.
Set money goals:
Setting goals means taking in-depth planning. It is about creating a path towards your goal, guiding you on how to achieve it.
Achieving your money goals is not impossible as long as you make a well-thought plan. To make it happen, both of you must cooperate with your plan.
Visualize what both of you want to have. Both should be specific.
Let’s say you are dreaming of buying a condominium property. In what location? How big should it be? Would it be a two-bedroom or three-bedroom unit? Such questions show what particular property you dream of having.
Aside from being specific, you evaluate whether it is realistic and achievable in your current state. Your partner dreams of having a sports car. The question is, is it realistic to get such a thing based on both financial capabilities?
The next thing you must consider is the time-frame. Home property is expensive and needs a considerable amount of money. If you aim to buy one, you have to set a timeline.
Just say, after two to three years, you will buy your dream property for your family. Within those three years, both will have to work hard and commit to saving a part of your income until you reach your specific goal.
The mentioned tips above will be the most thoughtful way to start building your budget goals. Otherwise, the case can probably push you to sacrifice valuable things. You and your partner should evaluate your money flow before you decide.
Determine how much you earn:
The next thing you do after setting your goals is to determine how much earning you have. There are types of income that we make - gross and net income. Among these two, net income is what you are going to use in creating a budget.
Gross income is a sum of money before your taxes and deductions. In contrast, the net income is your take-home pay.
The question is, are both of you work as a salaried employee or not? If you are an employee paid hourly, your income would likely be stable.
But if you work seasonally, or you are self-employed, that means you earn irregularly. That said, you have to track your income section monthly.
Track your spendings by having a meeting:
You both need to track your spendings. You can do it daily, weekly, or monthly. But for couples who have just begun to create their budget goals, it is recommended to do it every day. You can eventually do it weekly or monthly.
You talk about where your progress is towards your budget goals. You check every spending you take on different categories and manage what's left.
You can do less work by using some financial apps exclusively designed for couples to organize and track finances. It gives convenience and, at the same time, can make your meetings shorter and more effective.
The Grand Debate – Joint or Single Account
Any newlywed couple's financial choice is whether to open joint or separate accounts.
Now, many might love the idea of sharing finances such closely, or while others might run away from the idea.
There is not wrong or right about having a savings account. It is all about advantages and disadvantages based on your relationship with money and each other.
Some like more autonomy when it comes to financial reasons!
However, you should decide upon assessing both the pros and cons of the matter!
When it Comes to Joint Accounts
Many couples opt to open joint accounts as a way to keep their finances simple. With a joint account, each partner puts their income into one account, making it easier to manage household bills and expenses and work together to reach their financial goals.
It also promotes transparency and trust, and as everything is out in the open, you and your partner will both be on the same page when it comes to spending money.
Joint accounts can also make it easier to achieve long-term savings goals such as buying a house or traveling.
However, you will need to communicate well because if you have different spending priorities, this could cause tension.
In terms of Separate Accounts
On the other hand, keeping separate accounts can help partners feel more in control of their finances. This is especially true if one tends to spend more on hobbies or interests.
With separate accounts, both individuals agree on how much money they will contribute toward shared expenses (like rent, groceries, and utilities) and what they’ll keep for themselves.
While this approach allows for independence, it requires open lines of communication and clearly defined expectations.
Are you ready to begin your financial journey?
Creating a budget has to be undergone through in-depth planning. Start-ups aren’t easy.
Both of you might face financial challenges along the way. However, with concrete planning, if both are committed to achieving the goals, nothing is impossible. Follow what you should do, focus, and get it one by one.
You should also consider discussing bank accounts, and other matters early on.
In the end, some couples find that sharing a hybrid approach works best for them.
This is where they have one joint account for shared expenses and then each maintain a separate individual account for their own personal spending.
This way both individuals get some level of independence with their finances while still maintaining financial transparency.
The most important part here is to communicate on a regular basis and adjust along the way to ensure both individuals’ needs are being met and goals are being achieved.
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Why should you consider investing in gold bullion even if you’ve never invested in an asset before?
Gold bullion is a potentially valuable investment option for beginning investors looking to build a financial portfolio that can minimize risk and maximize potential returns.
Gold has a better portfolio weight than many other asset classes, and it’s also more affordable than other assets. (Silver bullion is even more affordable.)You don’t need to be rich to invest in gold bullion, nor do you have to invest in a lot of gold bullion for your investment to pay off in the short and long term.
Here are two reasons beginning investors may want to invest in gold bullion.
What Is A Gold Bullion?
First off, though, let’s define gold bullion.
Gold bullion refers to gold bars, ingots, and coins officially recognized as being made of at least 99.5% pure gold. Gold bullion is kept as reserves at banks, governments, and institutional investors.
The standard size of gold bullion bars and coins is 1oz.
In North America, you can use bullion coins as legal tender.
In Canada, sales tax doesn’t apply to gold bullion, and gold bullion can be included in RRSPs and other tax-deferred income plans. Some Canadian companies permit Canadians to include gold bullion in their retirement portfolios.
How To Buy and Selling Gold Bullion?
There are many reasons to consider buying and later selling gold in Toronto and elsewhere. Two reasons are that gold bullion is considered:
A safe-haven asset
A hedge against inflation
2 Reasons Are Making The Gold Bullion A Perfect Investment
You will hear millions of names and types of investments in the money market. But every investment has some risk factors. Unlike the other money investment types, Gold Bullion has multiple facilities, which makes this a safe asset.
Here are the two reasons. Take a look at these and know the advantages of the gold bullion investment.
1st Reason to Invest in Gold Bullion: Gold is Considered a Safe-Haven Asset
Gold bullion is a safe-haven-type asset. This is a specific type of asset that tends to increase or retain value over time.
That gold is considered a safe-haven asset doesn’t mean investing in it is risk-free. No investment is risk-free.
But gold tends to perform exceptionally well during times of economic uncertainty, like the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2007-2008 global financial crisis.
In fact, during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price per ounce of gold surpassed USD 2,000 for the first time in history.
Recently, the price of gold per ounce has been hovering around USD 1,800.
2nd Reason to Invest in Gold Bullion: Gold is Considered a Hedge Against Inflation
An asset that hedges against inflation is an asset that can keep pace with or even surpass inflation.
Investing in inflation hedges like gold bullion is a smart way to save money. During periods of inflation, gold tends to appreciate.
If you were to put your money into a traditional savings account, your money would likely fall behind the rate of inflation over time. Consequently, the value of your money in the future would turn out to be less than the value of your money now.
However, if you were to put your money in gold bullion, over time, your money might keep pace with or even surpass inflation, so that the value of your money in the future might turn out to be worth as much or even more than the value of your money now.
The Bottom Line
There are many reasons why beginning investors could benefit from investing in and buying and selling gold bullion.
In addition to being a relatively affordable safe-haven asset and hedge against inflation, gold is considered a strategic asset.
Also, gold bullion is easy to purchase. All you need to do is head over to your local gold bullion dealers (although to be sure, it’s always a good idea to try out a few options before settling on the one that will give you the best deal).
Later, when you’re ready to sell your gold bullion, you can take it to a gold bullion dealer that buys gold bullion. Your goal when doing so is to sell your gold bullion as close to the spot price as possible.
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