It's not easy to save your way to a better financial future. But, if you've been putting off the difficult decisions and long-term strategies needed to achieve your financial goals, now is the time to get started.
During the next 10 weeks, we'll be addressing the various areas in a comprehensive look at your financial life. From planning to budgeting, from debt to saving and investing, we'll cover it all. And by the end of these 10 weeks, you should be on your way to establishing a more solid financial foundation.
We're calling this series "Money Smart" because we want to show you how smart it is to plan for your financial future — and then work toward achieving those plans.
You may have heard that money management is simple. All you have to do is spend less than you earn, continue to save and invest what's left, and before long you'll have a solid financial foundation.
But it's not so easy. We live in an increasingly complex world where saving and investing are no longer predictable activities — especially once the stock market crashes in 2001. There are more investments. More types of investments. More complicated investment strategies. And more means of spending that we can hardly afford but can't seem to resist.
There are also more choices when it comes to the products and services needed to achieve financial security, such as borrowing and lending. These products come with potential rewards — yet risks and fees that could leave you vulnerable if you don't fully understand their implications.
It's not easy to save your way to a better financial future. But, if you've been putting off the difficult decisions and long-term strategies needed to achieve your financial goals, now is the time to get started.
During the next 10 weeks, we'll be addressing the various areas in a comprehensive look at your financial life. From planning to budgeting, from debt to saving and investing, we'll cover it all. And by the end of these 10 weeks, you should be on your way to establishing a more solid financial foundation.
We're calling this series "Money Smart" because we want to show you how smart it is to plan for your financial future — and then work toward achieving those plans.
You may have heard that money management is simple. All you have to do is spend less than you earn, continue to save and invest what's left, and before long you'll have a solid financial foundation.
But it's not so easy. We live in an increasingly complex world where saving and investing are no longer predictable activities — especially once the stock market crashes in 2001. There are more investments. More types of investments. More complicated investment strategies. And more means of spending that we can hardly afford but can't seem to resist.
There are also more choices when it comes to the products and services needed to achieve financial security, such as borrowing and lending. These products come with potential rewards — yet risks and fees that could leave you vulnerable if you don't fully understand their implications.
