Little decisions in the day-to-day can go a long way. We choose things by impulse, emotion and sometimes by ignorance. But some of these choices can be very costly. To help keep an honest perspective, here are four decisions that can lead to stronger financial independence.
- Marry the Right Person
You could lose half of your assets in just a few hours. That’s the worse-case scenario in a tenuous marriage. People often don’t think of financial compatibility when considering marriage, but the truth is it’s just as important as any other factor. Money mind-set can be a big predictor of relationship success. Many marriages have torn apart as a result of conflicting financial beliefs and habits.
- Watch Your Costs
Fixed costs are very easy to lose track of. From a gym membership, to a cell phone plan, to a subscription of your favourite magazine – it all adds up. The key is to stay ahead of all these and find those unnecessary expenses. When is the last time you have been to the gym? Do you really use four gigs of data? And, who really reads magazines these days? The point is there are always areas to trim and all it takes is a little attention and awareness.
- Tune Out the Noise
Given the volatility in the market there is a reason every day to pull out. But more often than not, these knee-jerk reactions usually prove to be very costly. Try to turn out the noise and think long-term. Also think about low-cost index funds as the investment of choice.
- Don’t Rush for Government Benefits
The longer you can put off collecting government benefits the better. We as Canadians are living longer than ever.
