3 Tips to Afford Multiple Major Expenses at the Same Time
Written by
Cindy Lamothe
Edited by
Angela Corry
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Ever feel like all your big expenses decided to show up at once, like uninvited guests to a party you didn’t plan? Maybe you’re saving for a wedding, your car suddenly needs repairs and your rent just went up.
Juggling multiple major expenses can feel overwhelming. And it’s no joke. Even Newsweekreported that Americans are suffering from financial burnout.
But with the right strategies, it’s totally possible to stay afloat (and even ahead).
“When life throws several big expenses at you all at once–maybe you’re buying a house, replacing your car, and starting a family–it can feel like your wallet’s being pulled in every direction,” said Michael Foguth, Founder of Foguth Financial Group.
Here are some practical tips to help you manage it all without losing your mind — or your savings.
Focus Your Efforts
If all of a sudden you add a home, a new car, children and college costs to your budget, focusing your efforts is wiser than dealing with each of these the same way, said Chunyang Shen, Finance Expert and Co-Founder of Jarsy.
For expenses, he recommended considering how pressing they are, what you pay for them and what profits or advantages you’ll enjoy.
Be sure to put down on your list those aims that have a fixed time frame such as saving for a home down payment or dealing with medical expenses for your baby.
Look At Costs That Are Flexible
Next, Shen said you need to look at costs that are flexible such as buying a new car or contributing to a 529 education fund that can be adjusted.
If everything’s working with your car, waiting to buy for another 6-12 months may help you prepare for other important bills.
“It’s useful for clients to think about having money for now, later, and in the years ahead,” he explained.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Immediate Bucket: you hold funds for immediate needs and required expenses.
- Medium-Term Bucket is meant for your children’s future and a new car.
- Long-Term is assigned to their education and retirement.
He advised adjusting your monthly contributions according to what life throws at you.
“Realizing that it’s important not to fall behind in college doesn’t mean you should put getting out of high-cost debt on the back burner.”
So, while loans, scholarships, and aid help cover college expenses, you shouldn’t borrow money when trying to save for the future.
Check Out Low-Interest Loan Choices
You can find it easier to manage your money when the monthly costs of your mortgage or auto loan don’t reduce your savings by much, said Shen.
Even so, he noted that it’s important to avoid taking out loans with high interest or on credit cards–doing so is damaging to your future finances.
Once done, go ahead and update and examine your marketing strategy. Establish a system for saving and paying bills and every three months examine your budget.
“Rapidly changing times mean that your financial plan should change as well.”
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