couple holding piggybank after learning about foundations of personal finance

What Are The Five Foundations Of Personal Finance?

An excellent way to improve your financial health is to grasp the five foundations of personal finance, which Fast Payday Loans, Inc. will explain.

This guide will explore income, savings, investing, spending, and protection to help you understand their roles in your overall financial health. We will also show you how to handle a financial emergency you have not prepared for with a payday loan.

What Are The Five Foundations Of Personal Finance?

Managing your finances doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Instead, you’ll be better off than most people if you just focus on learning and improving the five foundations of personal finance. Learning these concepts can help you greater understand personal finance and how to operate to help with financial flexibility, goals, and health.

The following are the five foundations of personal finance:

1. Income

The starting point for personal finance is your income. This affects every other foundation of personal finance, as how much money you make can determine how you approach these other concepts.

Your income is how much money you take home that you can use for your expenses, investments, and savings. Your income is not just the salary you make at your job but also your dividends and other money sources like investments.

Keeping track of your income through a budget can allow you to better plan your personal finances. You can know how much money you can expect to make in a month and plan for paying for necessary expenses, saving for the future, making sound investments, and keeping excess money aside for fun.

woman handling bills after learning foundations of personal finance

2. Spending

Another foundation of personal finance is your spending, which is directly tied to your income. Spending is how much money you likely have to use every month. The bulk of your spending will go to essentials, such as rent, mortgages, food, shelter, clothing, gas, other transportation costs, etc.

However, you are also likely to spend money on non-essentials to allow yourself to enjoy your life. This can include eating out at a fancy restaurant, buying yourself a new wardrobe, paying for streaming services, or enjoying a night of entertainment at a movie or concert.

It’s vital to track your spending on wants and needs and ensure you are not spending more money than you make as income. Managing your spending can help you avoid overspending, which can lead to debt. It also allows you to focus on saving extra income for a financial emergency.

3. Saving

Everyone should have a plan in place to save money. After spending a portion of your income on essentials, you will have leftover money for your savings. Putting money aside for emergencies and long-term financial goals is a vital practice for those looking to make the most of their money.

One misconception that people have is that they must save large amounts all the time. In reality, saving small amounts consistently is the best way to start. After all, saving ten dollars is better than saving nothing at all.

Your first saving goal should be to have an emergency fund with enough money to cover your living expenses for 3-6 months. Once you have that, you can start saving for other major goals, such as buying a car, moving to a better house, or even funding a vacation.

4. Investing

With budgeting, spending, and savings plans in place, the next foundation you need to build for your personal finances is investing. In other words, that means putting your money to work so it can grow over an extended period.

Investing helps grow wealth and protect it against the effects of inflation. Remember to get your investing advice from qualified sources and only invest in things that you understand personally.

A personal finance advisor can explain the different types of investments you can make, such as in savings accounts, dividend-paying stocks, and bonds. Once you understand the different types of investments, you can decide what to invest in based on your income level and familiarity with the investment.

5. Risk Assessment

Life will always throw you a curveball from time to time, no matter who you are. Most of the time, that situation will cost you a lot to resolve.

For that reason, you must also include risk management as one of your personal finance foundations. More specifically, that means having a plan to manage your financial risks. You need to protect yourself against potential financial disasters, such as losing your job, getting in a car accident, or receiving an injury with significant medical expenses.

For example, buying health insurance can help protect against the financial risk of having to pay medical bills. Similarly, paying for homeowner’s insurance can also protect you from the financial risks of fires or robberies.

Can You Borrow Money With A Florida Payday Loan?

Financial emergencies can arise that affect even those who understand the five foundations of personal finance. You can have to pay for medical bills, home or auto repairs, or late bills that you may not be able to afford out of pocket. If you do not have an emergency fund yet, you can turn to Fast Payday Loans, Inc. for a Florida payday loan.

This option can give you access to between $100 and $1,000 in quick cash, and you’ll only need these required items to qualify:

  • A driver’s license or government-issued ID to show you’re above 18
  • Your most recent pay stub
  • A blank check from an active checking account in your name

This quick option to pursue instant cash should only be used as a last resort when you have expenses you cannot afford. You can start the process online and meet a representative for an in-person meeting to verify your required items. If approved, you can receive your emergency cash the same or the next business day.

woman happy after learning about personal finance foundations

Contact Fast Payday Loans, Inc. For A Florida Payday Loan Today

To recap, the five foundations of personal finance are income, spending, saving, risk management, and investing. Learn and gain as much experience as possible in these areas to maximize your financial health quickly.

When you need quick cash, remember that Fast Payday Loans, Inc. is ready to help. Submit the online form on this website with your information, and a friendly representative will call you back soon.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.

June Mckaig

June Mckaig writes articles on finance and budgeting, hoping to provide insight amidst the overwhelming crowds of information on the internet. She feels that with all this accessibility comes a lot of false data, and she would like to contribute astute, helpful input that she knows can help others. If you would like to learn more about June's research, read more here.