Financial independence starts today 2. Budget. Budgeting the process of tracking income, subtracting expenses and deciding how to divert the difference to your goals each month – is the essential first task of personal finance. 3. Spend less than you earn. It might be obvious, but it’s one of the most difficult financial behaviors to execute. 4. Build smarter safety nets. Emergency funds and insurance are rarely discussed in combination. The traditional definition of an emergency fund is a separate account for cash that can be used By Françoise Rhodes dence offering us the ability to vision of financial indepen- instead of credit to repair a brolive comfortably off one’s sav- dence actually looks like – and ken appliance or other expenses. Our past economic crisis hit ings and investments with no then get a reality check from a Do you have enough ready-cash many of us hard, in fact so hard debt whatsoever. qualified financial expert. The to cover an insurance deductible our thoughts of financial indepath to financial independence if you had a sudden claim? If not, pendence flew out the window. Start now with these may be considerably different build deductible amounts into Thankfully times have changed 9 helpful ideas: at age 20 than it is at age 50; but your emergency fund. and financial experts are saying that now is the time to strive 1. Visualize first, then plan. at any age, start with a realistic Continued on page 7 and reach financial indepen- Start by considering what your picture of your options.
Tips for insuring your manufactured home - pg.3
Gluten free cherry pie - pg.6
Traveling with Françoise to Grand County, Colorado - pg.8