Money management is a crucial skill that every young adult should learn. The need for financial literacy isnreflected in the alarming rate of only 27% of the entire population in India being financial literate. Financial Literacy is not just about paying bills or saving for the future but it is much more than that. It is about making informed financial decisions that can impact your life in profound ways.  To help you navigate the world of personal finance, here are some smart and profound tips for money management specifically for young adults. 

Setting Financial Goals

Before you effectively start managing your money, you need to know what you’re working forward to. A simple way to start is by setting up both short-term and long-term financial goals. Short-term goals could include paying off student loans or saving for a vacation, while long-term goals might involve buying a home or retiring comfortably.

Budgeting Basics

Begin by creating a budget as a budget is the foundation of good money management. It helps you track your income and expenses, ensuring that you’re living within your means. You can begin by listing your sources of income and all your monthly expenses, including rent, utilities and phone bills, groceries, and entertainment. In order to curb unnecessary expenses or simplify your budgeting, you can also use budgeting applications to track her expenses. By monitoring your spending, you’ll be able to locate unnecessary expenses and cut back on them thereby increasing your savings.

Build an Emergency Fund

Life is unpredictable, and unexpected expenses can arise. It’s crucial to have an emergency fund to cover these costs without derailing your financial goals. One must aim to save at least three to six month’s worth of living expenses.

Saving and Investing

While saving is important, investing can help your money grow over time, which is very important too. Consider opening a retirement or pension account early as the power of compound interest cannot be undermined. Retirement plan accounts also offer tax advantages and compound your money over the years while making a small dent in your pocket. To start with, you can check out PPF and other such items. One must also begin goals based investing earlier than later, be it investing in mutual funds, equity, gold, real estate- the earlier your start the more benefits you can reap out of your investment. So start exploring your investment options today or get in touch with www.dhiraa.org community for advice from peers and like minded before approaching formal financial planners 

Debt Management

If you have any kind of debt, or have taken a loan, begin with tackling high-interest debt and prioritize paying them down. The interest on these debts can accumulate quickly and hinder your financial progress. Simple things like a small delayed credit card payment can lead to an almost 30% per year interest to be paid. The best thing to do is get rid of the high interest debts first followed by low
interest debt. Credit has to be used wisely, to create long term assets and not create more liabilities via wasteful expenditure

Financial Education

The world of finance is always evolving. To make informed decisions, invest time in learning about personal finance topics, like investing, taxes, and retirement planning. Attend workshops, read books, take online courses to expand your knowledge or simply follow us @Dhiraa to stay updated on Financial Literacy. 

Protection: Insurance is Important

Whether Life Insurance or Health Insurance, do ensure you start a basic term insurance for Life and Health. This will secure your dependents and loved ones in any eventuality. In light of the high number of casualties and health issues that we are facing today, health Insurance cover for the family is most important in today’s day and age. 

Monitoring Progress

Once you get started, it is extremely important to stay on track. Review your financial goals and budget regularly. While reviewing your budget, always keep in mind that life changes, and your financial plan should adapt accordingly. Adjust your goals and strategies as needed. There are a lot of apps available today to monitor your progress which simplifies the task of monitoring

Seek Professional Advice

Lastly, if you’re unsure about certain financial decisions, don’t hesitate to seek advice from certified financial experts, financial planners, or your CA. They can provide guidance tailored to your unique circumstances or at least give you a perspective Money management is a lifelong skill that young adults can and should learn. By setting goals, budgeting effectively, saving and investing wisely, managing debt, continuing to learn, monitoring progress, and seeking professional advice when needed, you can achieve financial security and build a prosperous future. 
Remember, it’s never too early to start managing your money wisely, and the decisions you make today can have a profound impact on your financial well-being tomorrow.