Finance Tips By Alistair Moncrieff
                     TOP PERSONAL 
FINANCE TIPS FOR THE 
LONG-TERM
FIRST THINGS FIRST: A FEW FINANCIAL BASICS
 Create a Financial Calendar
 Check Your Interest Rate
 Track Your Net Worth
HOW TO BUDGET LIKE A PRO
 Set a Budget, Period
 Consider an All-Cash Diet
 Take a Daily Money Minute
 Allocate at Least 20% of Your Income 
Toward Financial Priorities
 Budget About 30% of Your Income for 
Lifestyle Spending
HOW TO GET MONEY MOTIVATED
 Draft a Financial Vision Board
 Set Specific Financial Goals
 Adopt a Spending Mantra
 Love Yourself
 Make Bite-Size Money Goals
 Banish Toxic Money Thoughts
 Get Your Finances–and Body—in Shape
 Learn How to Savor
 Get a Money Buddy
HOW TO AMP UP YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL
 When Negotiating a Salary, Get the 
Company to Name Figures First
 You Can Negotiate More Than Just Your 
Salary
 Don’t Assume You Don’t Qualify for 
Unemployment
 Make Salary Discussions at Your 
Current Job About Your Company’s 
Needs
HOW TO KEEP DEBT AT BAY
 Start With Small Debts to Help You Conquer the 
Big Ones
 Don’t Ever Cosign a Loan
 Every Student Should Fill Out the FAFSA
 Always Choose Federal Student Loans Over 
Private Loans
 If You’re Struggling With Federal Student Loan 
Payments, Investigate Repayment Options
 Opt for Mortgage Payments Below 28% of Your 
Monthly Income
HOW TO SHOP SMART
 Evaluate Purchases by Cost Per Use
 Spend on Experiences, Not Things
 Shop Solo
 Spend on the Real You—Not the 
Imaginary You
 Ditch the Overdraft Protection
HOW TO SAVE RIGHT FOR RETIREMENT
 Start Saving ASAP
 Do Everything Possible Not to Cash Out 
Your Retirement Account Early
 Give Money to Get Money
 When You Get a Raise, Raise Your 
Retirement Savings, Too
HOW TO BEST BUILD—AND TRACK—YOUR 
CREDIT
 Review Your Credit Report Regularly—and Keep 
an Eye on Your Credit Score
 Keep Your Credit Use Below 30% of Your Total 
Available Credit
 If You Have Bad Credit, Get a Secured Credit 
Card
 How to Get Properly Insured
 Get More Life Insurance on Top of Your 
Company’s Policy
 Get Renters Insurance
HOW TO PREPARE FOR RAINY (FINANCIAL) DAYS
 Make Savings Part of Your Monthly 
Budget
 Keep Your Savings Out of Your Checking 
Account
 Open a Savings Account at a Different 
Bank Than Where You Have Your 
Checking Account
 Direct Deposit is (Almost) Magic
 Consider Switching to a Credit Union
 You Can Have Too Much Savings
HOW TO APPROACH INVESTING
 Pay Attention to Fees
 Rebalance Your Portfolio Once a Year