Back to Basics: Fundamental Money Skills (2024)

Back to Basics: Fundamental Money Skills (1)

Let’s review the most basic things you can do with your money!

When you simplify your spending habits down to the most basic skills, you end up with three things: you can spend money, save money and give money. Let’s break down what each skill means for you, starting with spending money.

Spending -Spending money can be really fun! It can also be a slippery slope if not closely watched. It is oftentimes the little things we throw in our cart, either physically or online, that can threaten our budgets. A great practice is to double and triple-check what exactly is in our carts and if we need everything we added. This is not to say that spending a little extra money is a bad thing.

Learning to enjoy spending money is an important skill to have along with the ability of self-restraint when needed for your spending habits. In the long run, spending money wisely and responsibly is a necessary life skill.

Saving -Saving is by far the most difficult money skill to practice. There are more aspects to saving than just stowing away money in banking accounts or under your mattress. Your savings fund can give you peace of mind, both for unexpected expenses and future expenses you have planned for. You never know when there might be an emergency you need cash for, like vehicle repairs, health issues, or another surprise life event. Saving for future costs should also be part of your saving strategy. Maybe you want to make a healthy down payment on a home, pay for your children’s education, and pay for other large purchases such as a vehicle or vacation. The best way to save money is to establish and stick to a written budget!

Giving -Giving money can be the most rewarding of the three money skills. It also requires that you have been successful at saving first. Whether you give money to a religious organization, charity, or another non-profit, there are many benefits to doing so. The primary benefit is that you are helping others who are in need. Even just a few dollars could result in multiple meals for a child, much-needed medical attention or improved education.

Sharing your wealth can bring more meaning into your life. If you give to an IRS-approved charity, you can write off donations on your tax return. Giving money is a great way to give back if you are financially able and an easy way to lower your taxes!*

If you have any questions about how to wisely spend, save or give money, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our Financial Wellness Counselor is available to help you make the most of your money.

*Please consult with a tax advisor for additional information.

Back to Basics: Fundamental Money Skills (2024)

FAQs

What is the fundamental of money? ›

It is about having the confidence and financial skills to make informed decisions about money. It is about your financial well-being.

What is the best way to learn finance for beginners? ›

The Bottom Line

Listening to podcasts and reading books about specific areas of finance that interest you help break down more complex financial topics and speed up the learning process. There are also many paid and free courses out there that offer courses in different areas of finance and investing.

What are the fundamental skills of financial literacy? ›

What is Financial Literacy? Financial literacy is the cognitive understanding of financial components and skills such as budgeting, investing, borrowing, taxation, and personal financial management. The absence of such skills is referred to as being financially illiterate.

What is the best book for financial literacy? ›

10 Financial Literacy Books to Learn From
  • Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.
  • Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! ...
  • How to Retire Early: Your Guide to Getting Rich Slowly and Retiring on Less by Robert and Robin Charlton.
Nov 3, 2023

What are the basics of money? ›

Personal finance basics include budgeting, saving, investing, managing debt, and understanding credit. Budgeting involves tracking income and expenses, setting financial goals, and making informed spending decisions. Saving is important for emergencies, future goals, and retirement.

What are the basic principles of money? ›

Saving, budgeting, investing, and spending your money wisely are fundamental habits that can help build financial discipline. These habits also help you become financially independent and disciplined. However, wealth creation goes beyond these four principles.

Can finance be self-taught? ›

Finance can be easy to learn if you are willing to seek out informative content from books, podcasts, videos, blogs, and even professionals and then invest some time soaking up knowledge.

How long does it take to learn financial? ›

Learning financial concepts can take the average person anywhere between six months and five years. The time it takes to learn finance will depend on different factors such as: prior experience. Degree requirements.

What is the easiest course in finance? ›

10 Best Short-Term Certification Courses in Finance
  • Financial Modelling Courses. Duration: A few hours. ...
  • International Financial Reporting Standards. Duration: 6 months. ...
  • Certified Financial Planning. Duration: 3.5 hrs- 14 hrs. ...
  • Chartered Alternative Investment Analysis. Duration: 12 months. ...
  • Chartered Wealth Management.
Aug 12, 2024

What is the 80-10-10 rule? ›

When following the 10-10-80 rule, you take your income and divide it into three parts: 10% goes into your savings, and the other 10% is given away, either as charitable donations or to help others. The remaining 80% is yours to live on, and you can spend it on bills, groceries, Netflix subscriptions, etc.

How do I teach myself financial literacy? ›

6 ways to improve your financial literacy
  1. Subscribe to financial newsletters. For free financial news in your inbox, try subscribing to financial newsletters from trusted sources. ...
  2. Listen to financial podcasts. ...
  3. Read personal finance books. ...
  4. Use social media. ...
  5. Keep a budget. ...
  6. Talk to a financial professional.

How to be financially smart? ›

7 financial habits to help make you smarter with your money
  1. Automate whatever you can. Automate your savings, automate your loan repayments, automate your bills. ...
  2. Have specific, meaningful goals. ...
  3. Invest. ...
  4. Don't spend that unexpected cash. ...
  5. Prioritise high interest debt. ...
  6. Track your spending. ...
  7. Learn however you can.

Who has the highest financial literacy in the world? ›

The countries with the highest financial literacy rates are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, where about 65 percent or more of adults are financially literate.

Is financial literacy a hard skill? ›

Employers value both hard skills and soft skills when hiring candidates. Students completing a co-op placement may also be asked to complete a qualification test to validate their hard skills such as financial literacy.

Can financial literacy be taught? ›

Key aspects of financial literacy include knowing how to create a budget, plan for retirement, manage debt, and track personal spending. Financial literacy can be obtained through reading books, listening to podcasts, subscribing to financial content, or talking to a financial professional.

What is the fundamental purpose of money? ›

To summarize, money has taken many forms through the ages, but money consistently has three functions: store of value, unit of account, and medium of exchange.

What is money fundamentally? ›

Money is a medium of exchange; it allows people and businesses to obtain what they need to live and thrive. Bartering was one way that people exchanged goods for other goods before money was created. Like gold and other precious metals, money has worth because for most people it represents something valuable.

What is the basic theory of money? ›

The quantity theory of money is a framework to understand price changes in relation to the supply of money in an economy. It argues that an increase in money supply creates inflation and vice versa. The Irving Fisher model is most commonly used to apply the theory.

What is the main concept of money? ›

A medium of exchange that is centralized, generally accepted, recognized, and facilitates transactions of goods and services, is known as money. Money is a medium of exchange for various goods and services in an economy. The money system varies with the governments and countries.

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