Today's Article

“Do you wanna be able to have your ducks in a row? You wanna have your finances 2organized.”

After a year of historic inflation, rising interest rates and growing 3recession fears, this duo of financial experts say now is the perfect time to reflect on your spending and plan for the future.

“4Prioritize 5paying off high interest rate 6debt, 7bulking up your 8emergency fund.”

If improving your finances is one of your 2023 9resolutions, here are 5 money moves to consider these final days of the year. One, look ahead and decide which big purchases you’d like to make next year. Then create a plan to afford that new car, house or trip.

“Making sure that you are building all of that into your budget is going to be number one.”

Two, look back at your expenses and figure out what worked and what didn’t. Three, tackle that 10lingering debt, either pay it off now and avoid dragging it into next year, or come up with a plan to pay it off in 2023.

“We see the Feds raising the rates on interest. And so things like credit card debt, personal loans, anything that has a variable interest rate is gonna cost you more.”

Four, boost your emergency fund. Figure out the most 11scaled back amount you need in order to get by month-to-month.

“That’s going to include housing, it’s going to include basic food and groceries, not a lot of 12dining out.”

And five, decide how much you’ll invest next year and in what. 

“Just make sure that your 13earmarking money for investing that you are not gonna need for at least the next 10 years.”