BALANCING YOUR FAMILY’S SAVINGS PRIORITIES

With a little planning, you can plan for the savings goals that matter most as a family.
Saving for one is hard enough, but family savings multiply the challenge. You have short-term desires versus long-term goals, plus unexpected expenses that can pop up regularly.

This all may sound complicated, but with a little planning and setting financial goals, you can come up with a plan that covers your family’s needs, while allowing for saving and even vacations and other fun activities.

Priority 1:
Prepare for the unexpected:
l     Start an emergency fund. You never know what will happen: an illness, an accident, an unexpected layoff. That’s why it’s important to set aside money for emergencies. Experts recommend that emergency funds for families cover six to nine months’ worth of expenses. If, however, you or your spouse are self-employed or income is unpredictable, consider saving even more.

Priority 2:
Get long-term goals in order:
l     Retirement comes first. When setting financial goals, planners recommend saving for retirement over saving for your children’s education. Remember: Students have access to a wide variety of loans, but there are no loans for their retiring parents. Also keep in mind that federal financial aid formulas don’t factor in parents’ retirement savings. So consider contributing as much as you can to retirement funds, and take advantage of your full company match if your employer offers one.
l     Education savings come second. Then save for your children’s college tuition. You can then make tax-free withdrawals to pay for qualified higher education expenses such as tuition and room and board.
l     Now you can consider other long-term goals, if your family has them. One common family financial concern is caring for aging parents. If this responsibility falls on you, think about ways you can reduce costs, such as sharing your home with your parents, in addition to saving.
Priority3:
Your family’s five-year goals
What would you and your family like to achieve in the short-term? Your list might include things like a theme-park vacation, upgrading a car or remodelling your home. Now find the right savings strategy. You could open a savings account dedicated to each big-ticket item.
Or see if your bank allows you to open sub-accounts under your primary savings account. Doing this helps you focus on meeting each goal. Make weekly or monthly contributions after you take care of your long-term savings. You never know what might happen or what new family savings goals might arise. Planning for the long-term and saving for the short-term ensures you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

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