Earlier, we talked about finding a financial expert who really speaks your language and who “gets” you and your needs. Well, no one knows you better than you do, right? What better person could you find to trust with all your private information, to keep your best interests at heart, to know what’s important in your life, than you?
“But I don’t have a degree in finance,” you might say. “How can I be my own expert?”
You are the expert in your life because you are the one living it. You are the only one who knows about those little extra debits you’ve made for a drink or a candy bar at the gas station. You’re the only one who knows exactly how much a new car would mean to you. You’re the only one carrying your wallet, and so therefore, no one is more qualified.
As far as becoming an expert in finance, we have one of the most amazing resources in the world literally at our fingertips. You are using it right now. That’s right—the Internet. It doesn’t matter what you need to learn—you can look it up on the Internet. You can get facts from accredited websites, and you can read opinions on blogs. You can read the stories of people who tried it one way and had success, or tried it another way and failed. You can even invest online, do your banking online, track your spending online … it’s amazing, the things you can do on your computer.
You can also visit your local library and check out books by financial experts. As you read through them, take notes as something resonates with you, and then compare it to your own unique situation. As you read several different books, you’ll find that they differ in some ways, but the basic fundamentals are the same: we should spend less than we earn, and save the rest. Each book can tell you different ways of accomplishing this.
You also know people with money, and successful people like to share the story of their success. Listen to them when they talk and feel it out to see if their methods might work for you.
At the end of the day, you’re the only one who knows what you need. You know what your bad habits are, and you know your strengths. Sit down and map out a financial plan. If you’re married, share it with your spouse and discuss ways the two of you can work together to bring your situation around. Ask questions, do Internet searches, read books—do what it takes to gain insight into your unique life, and then run with it. Yes, you can be your own expert.
Related Blogs:
Money Websites and Financial News Resources
SmartPhone Apps to Help You Manage Your Money
A Few Great Tips from Suze Orman