2012 May Be a Financially Great Year

2012 may be a financially great year, that is IF you are willing to do something about it. 

It's important to keep in mind that things just don't happen. You have to take action and make things happen.  So why does this bit of perspective help me out financially?

In the wonderful world of finance where everyone must do basic math on up to advanced math albeit with your income, investments or other means of support, there is action happening.  Your spending behavior is directly reflected in your wallet even if it is buying food or fuel or other.  By not paying attention to your budget or how you spend your money, you are taking action. 

Perhaps you are neglecting your finances.  It's easy to do because many folks dislike the accountability factor involved with budgeting, reconciling your accounts and making financial decisions.  Sometimes financial hardship resurfaces hard times from your past and can cause you to turn the other way  or can cause you to get intense when it comes to your money.

Perhaps you are a good steward of your money, track it and live within your means.  This routine action of managing your finances deserves a pat on the back AND a time to reassess your financial goals.  Are you interested in a return on your funds?  Are you going to take a risk and step out of your circle of comfort?  Are you willing to do more work for more financial gain or are you determining your retirement options?

Perhaps you are in between where you earn income and yet just can figure out why the money was there and is now gone.  This constant merrygoround gets old, discouraging and lackluster.  This is when taking a personal finance class or something related to the topic will help jumpstart you back into action.

Perhaps you have been in recovery.  For many veterans and military personnel coming back from the combat zone, they are faced with medical costs that wipe out whatever savings and/or income that they have.  The financial hardship on the families is difficult.  For some the physical disabilities create challenges including finding a job, keeping a job, and dealing with certain limitations.  For many, they are dealing with PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder.  It's a major issue that few talk about nor the negative effects it has on many military families.  Sweeping it under the carpet is difficult when a military member dealing with PTSD  has a hard time getting out of bed to go to work or to even funtion in American society. 

I write that 2012 may be a financially great year because it can be if you take action.  One problem is the word may, and I specifically use this word to make a point.  Many want to live up to doing a good job and yet they (especially the men) feel that what they do is not good enough.   Bosses and/or supervisors provide negative feedback, expect more than what is realistic and pass judgement on subordinates that beats them down.  Few workers underestimate their ability to do a good job yet most question their superior when it comes to job performance and evaluation.  Yet employment provides a financial means to support the family so many workers just grin and bear it.

Today is the day to take action even if it is a baby step in your financial affairs.  Perhaps you organize your bank accounts into a notebook and your bills into another notebook.  Perhaps you learn about a new financial software via your financial institution's web site page or Internet or package.  Perhaps you pick up a book from the library to read.  Perhaps you cut up your credit card and start paying it off.  Perhaps you open a new account to help jumpstart your financial future with just $20 a month. 

Little steps of action will enhance your financial situation.  Balancing your life and keeping hope abreast will help you navigate through this tricky time.  Perhaps reducing or cutting back in certain areas is a necessary action to help your family go forward.  For example, buying a frozen pizza versus ordering a pizza for delivery is a small step to save some outflow.  Now, if you are on TDY orders and/or PCSing and don't have access to a kitchen, it is wise to eat healthy, drink lots of water instead of sodas or alcohol and make practical choices.  Ask for the military discount when possible and seek restaurants who do give it so that you can cut back on this eat out expense.  Also, during lonely times it is easy to spend money to compensate for not having someone around.  This is when it is very important to do a low cost activity such as a craft, sign up for a class, exercise, attend a church social function or go to the local library for free events (sometimes they are posted on their bulletin boards more so than on the web).

Just taking action to do something will help you come alive with life, venture out, learn something new and gain a whole new perspective on life.  It is so much better than watching tv, playing a video game or anything else via your couch.  Act and see what great possibilities lie ahead.