Hacks to Make the Hard to Do Easier

"We do things not because they were easy, but because we thought they were going to be easy."  ~ parody of JFK quote on going to the moon.

Yes, a number of personal finance activities are hard to do, even though they sound easy.

Here are some hacks to make the hard to do, easier:

• Automate.  Have contributions to savings or retirement accounts done automatically.  Don't need to think about it or put any effort towards it except for the initial decision.
  
  
• Routine.   I set up my bank to receive most of my bills on its bill pay service.   When the bill shows up, I pay it and have the funds withdrawn the next day, way before the due date.  That way I have a running current balance in our bank account and know immediately whether I have enough funds and the amount remaining.
  
  
• Habit.  Here are examples of some financial habits.   Regularly use cash instead of credit cards.  Buy only what one needs, instead of things that one wants.  Always have a three month emergency fund. Put a percentage of raises into savings.

Progress will happen and, of course, YMMV.

For more on The Practice of Personal Finance, check back every Wednesday  for a new segment.

This is not financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

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