Being financially savvy will mean different things to different people. But a common trait that the money-smart share is an affinity for long term financial planning and goals.

Those who are great at it don’t have to make huge sacrifices, but still manage to enjoy a high standard of living while traveling and pursuing a range of hobbies.

To be financially savvy, you should have a plan for the future and manage your cash flow with a budget. A budget and a long-term plan clarify your goals and guide your day-to-day behavior so you can avoid leaving your finances to chance.

Whether you are starting out with setting your financial-building goals or trying to get back on track with your finances, the following top tips of the financially savvy are sure to change your life:

13 Habits of Financially Savvy People.

1. Plan and budget.

If you want to achieve your financial and wealth-building goals, you must have a plan and a budget. Your plan encompasses both long and short-term goals, and it includes leisure and purchase goals (such as holidays, houses, and a car) as well as investment goals.

Your plan identifies what you want and tells you how to get there.

On the other hand, your budget sets out the day-to-day things you need to do to achieve your long-term plans. You can use it to guide your behavior and make smart choices about everyday spending.

Your budget also lets you track, review, and adjust your spending and saving habits. Budgeting doesn’t have to be time consuming or complicated, and there are hundreds of apps or free spreadsheet templates that you can use to start budgeting today.

2. Living within means.

Related to no.1 above, this means living within your financial capacity, or income. If there are items that you really need to purchase, you can check on other cheaper alternatives or wait until you have more money to use for it. As they say, if you can’t pay cash that means you can’t afford it.

3. Find additional sources of income.

Since we are talking about increasing purchasing power, how about finding more additional income sources?

Whether you’re working on that e-commerce idea or driving for Uber in your spare time, additional streams of income will see you boost your savings and wealth by not just cutting back on spending, but by maximizing your earning power.

The financially savvy aren’t just cutting back in small and large ways; they’re constantly on the lookout for ways they can generate an extra R500, R1000, or more each month. Start small by exploring your hobbies and talents. Don’t discount things like renting out your spare room or using extra downtime for some freelance work.

While it doesn’t sound like much, an additional R500 a month translates to an extra R6000 over the course of a year. This is extra money you can use to invest in shares, drop into an investment property, or start another side business project.

4. Save a fixed percentage of your income.

Save for a rainy day. The financially savvy are super disciplined at saving, and many pay themselves first by putting away 5%, 10% or more of every paycheque received.

Always pay yourself first, and then save for specific purchase goals – such as a holiday or a new car – on top of your regular savings habit. Given the concept of compound interest, this will have you maximizing the power of your money over the long term.

5. Get advice when you need it.

Financially savvy people also know when to get advice when they need it, whether it’s consulting a tax expert, accountant, or financial planner.

These experts know the latest tax and legal changes, so they can help you with everything from minimizing your taxes and maximizing super contributions to structure your wealth-building vehicle for optimal tax outcomes.

Financial experts can also introduce you to investment and savings products you might not be aware of. While you might not need to see an expert right now, keep in mind advice from professionals in the field is money well spent and will help you make the right financial decisions in the future.

6. Be smart when using credit and debt financing.

Credit and debt can be useful tools for short-term needs and ‘good debt’ such as mortgages and car financing is used by millions of people to achieve their purchase goals more quickly.

High-interest debt generators on the other hand like credit cards can impede your wealth-building strategy over the long term. Delays in paying off this type of outstanding debt can increase your interest burden over time.

Always aim to pay high-interest debt first and avoid living beyond your means by saving up to buy where possible instead of buying things on credit.

7. Prepare for risk.

This is where your rainy day fund comes in handy.

Financially savvy people plan for the unexpected events in life to protect themselves and their family, so they are not easily overwhelmed by the sudden unexpected downturns in life.

A good financial risk management plan should include an emergency fund (which might be equivalent to three to six months of your living expenses) and possibly taking out income-related insurance.

Your risk management strategy will allow you to recover from setbacks more quickly. It can ensure you keep meeting your financial obligations in the event of sudden illness or unemployment.

8. Plan for retirement.

People who are great with money know that it’s never too early to start planning for retirement. You will want to maintain a suitable standard of living when you’re no longer earning an income through your salary.

So an early start gives you the best chance to build wealth through incremental contributions to super, tax minimization, and other wealth-building strategies.

Start putting away money for retirement as early as possible and work with experts to find out what you can do to grow your retirement funds.

9. Keep emotions far from your money.

Money and finances are an emotional topic for most people, and financially savvy people have learned to keep their emotions in check when making financial decisions. This is true whether they are deciding to buy a new household gadget or making a major decision such as buying a house or investing in a business.

When you surf online you must have seen a lot of advertisements related to your interests. These can stir your emotions, especially if it’s something you really want to buy.

However, financially savvy people know these advertisements are meant to attract you to whip out your credit card and buy. They are designed to make you confused which ones are your wants and needs, so beware. If you are an online shopping addict better to install adblockers to at least minimize the number of ads you see online.

Keeping your emotions in check also means avoiding the temptation to spend within your own lane and means.

10. Apply money management insights.

Financially savvy people never stop educating themselves and are constantly investing in their financial education.

Staying informed, reading new books on money management, strategy and consulting with financial professionals are all ways you can continually learn, apply, review, and adapt to successful wealth building. In the end, educating yourself means recognizing that you are the one responsible for your financial destiny.

11. Not delaying maintenance.

Maintenance is part of our lives, whether you like it or not. Cars break down, faucets loosen up, aircon filter, ovens, and others also need every day checking and maintenance.

Financially savvy people care for their possessions and if there are things that need to be fixed, they do it immediately. Further delay will just cost more in the long run so it’s best to attend to them as early as you can.

12. Only insure important items.

Home, car and life insurance are a must. But getting insurance for your house items like tv, laptops, clothing and similar items might not be what you really need right now if you are strapped of cash. These items get a chunk out of your earnings that you rather spend on more important items.

They are nice to have but at this moment, think if they are really necessary.

13. Don’t lease cars.

Every finance savvy person knows that leasing a car is not financially healthy in the long run. After paying all those rental fees, the car is not yours at the end. It is much better to buy a reliable second-hand car instead if you can’t afford a new one.

So there’s our post of habits of financially savvy people that all of us should emulate. It might be hard at first, but all can be done with hard work and determination to get out of a financial rut.

If you need help with your debt, contact The National Debt Review Center for a free assessment.

We are more than willing to help!

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