They say the only guarantee in life is death and taxes. There may be a couple other things that can be guaranteed, but those are two of the biggies. Hopefully, you’ve either filed, are preparing to file before the April 15th deadline, or have filed the proper extensions. It may be too late to advise you on how to save and/or invest the proceeds from your tax filings but it’s the right time to plan for next year. Because, as we advised taxes are a certainty and if you are blessed enough to have a productive year working, in some capacity, then you will be in this same position again next year. And, the next. And, the next.
At Carod Properties, we are not just in the business of buying and selling property. We want everyone to share in the American dream of home ownership and the feeling of financial security and personal accomplishment that owning a home can bring. You may be renting because it truly is the best option for your situation. Many relish in the convenience that comes with not owning the property and all of the responsibilities that it brings. However, some are doing so because they are not in a financial position to buy, rather than rent. Whether you are renting out of choice or necessity, the desire to buy a home may be sparked at any time. Are you prepared?
It’s probably too late for us to guide you in how you can use your 2015 tax refund as a jumping off point towards a dream of home ownership, but the time to prepare yourself for next year’s, is now. If you don’t have a plan, you need to devise one…NOW! Financial security doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a plan, sacrifice and follow-thru. As with anything else, if you are unsure of how to go about making decisions that will have maximum benefit and return, consult an expert. There are financial counselors that are equipped to help every income bracket, reach every financial goal. They can aid you in evaluating your financial goals (home ownership, early retirement, soft income possibilities); determine areas to save, areas to cutback, and areas of waste; help you explore investment opportunities; and teach methods to bring your financial goals to fruition.
The first step to reaching financial goals starts long before any money comes into play. First, you have to change or reinforce your current thinking about money, what you need it to do for you and realizing how your thinking about it shapes your ability to save, invest, and make your money work for you and your life. You may not end up being a billionaire. You may not even want to be. Mo money, mo problems, right? What everyone wants is to be able to have enough money to do the things they want and need.
If you plan for your monthly bills throughout the year, incorporate some saving measures and maybe even some investing, you can get the things you want and need. Then, you can look at next year’s tax refund as extra income that can go straight into savings, instead of a welcome rescue to “catch up on things”. Every decision informs the next. Every savings measures prepares you for investing in your financial future. Then, just maybe, Carod Properties will be helping you find your family a home to buy or as an investment. The [financial] decision is yours!
