It's the final Friday of Financial Literacy Month. Let's look at some of the biggest figures in history to get some timeless insights and shed new light on spending habits, budgeting, and fine tuning your financial goals.
“If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.”
—Warren Buffet
We know you’ve probably heard it before, but this advice from Buffet is timeless: it’s important to assess needs vs. wants when spending. It’s easy to spend on things you don’t need or use credit on impulse purchases, but over time that can lead to debt and limit your financial freedom. Focus spending on the everyday things you need first and then allocate funds for more “fun” purchases.
If you haven't already been using Branch Rewards for everyday purchases, now's the time to get rewarded for spending on the things you need. Branch Rewards offers cash back deals near you when you spend online or at your favorite stores—get rewards and build your savings today.
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
—Abraham Lincoln
Honest Abe stays true to his nickname by being honest with himself with this quote. It’s one that hits home for many of us trying to plan our finances, budget and use credit responsibly.
Are there financial tasks you’ve been putting off that keep you up at night? Being honest with yourself and facing them head on can be tough, but liberating. Take credit card debt for example—putting things on a credit card can quickly rack up high interest and eat away at your disposable income. Learn more about common credit misconceptions and how to start paying off debt today.
“It takes just as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanore reminds us of the importance of making plans, especially for short and long-term financial goals. Sometimes just writing things down helps to set intentions and build a way forward. Take some time to make a list of your financial goals for the next six months, year, and three years. Seeing these different time increments can help you prioritize what you want and start budgeting accordingly.
Saving your money is a lifelong journey and finding new tips and tricks along the way could be just what you need to take your finances to the next level. Explore these sneaky ways to save.
“Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”
—Ben Franklin
Ben’s words are especially relevant today, when buying everything from a latte to a new shirt is just a tap away. He reminds us that all of the so-called “little” expenses add up. It’s essential to track your spending and be careful not to let those impulse purchases add up—they can sink your savings.
As a reminder, CashFlow is a free budgeting tool built into your Branch Wallet that tracks and organizes your spending. Set up direct deposit to utilize CashFlow and reach your savings goals.
“Stop buying things you don’t need, to impress people you don’t even like.”
—Suze Orman
Suze’s words are blunt, sassy, and remind us to self-reflect. What drives your spending habits? If we take a moment to reflect on why we buy things—we might find that most have good intentions, but others perhaps aren't serving our best interest. Remember to make the most of Branch with our budgeting tools included for free when you set up direct deposit.
