Start the new year off right with the latest edition of our newsletter! We’ve got all the details on the hot topic of New Year’s resolutions, plus an exclusive scoop on the latest movements in the stock market. Don’t miss out on this valuable information – read on to get the inside scoop!
🤫Let’s fill you in on the secret
If you’re like me, the start of the new year is a great time to reflect on your financial situation. The holidays are over, and it’s time to get back to reality. I love this time of year because I can see all my mistakes—and how much better off I am because of them. We’ve put together some tips that will help anyone get their finances in order in 2023!
Set a realistic budget.
The first step to budgeting is to figure out how much money you have coming in, and then make a list of all your monthly expenses. Next, add up how much each item costs by writing down the amount that you spend on it per month. Comparing this total with what you earn will help determine whether or not your budget is realistic.
If you find that some items are costing more than they should, consider cutting back on them until they fit within your budget again. If an item has been cut from the list entirely (such as a gym membership), consider replacing it with something else that costs less but does not provide a similar service (such as walking outdoors instead).
Save money: Start with a small amount.
It’s never too early to start saving for a rainy day, and it can be as easy as putting aside $5 per week from your paycheck.
Start small and build on it gradually. For example, if you want to save more than $5 per week but can’t stand the thought of not spending any money at all on yourself, try saving just $1 until you get used to that amount; then increase it by another dollar every few weeks until you’re comfortable saving up enough for something bigger.
But what should I save? This question is one of many concerns people have when trying to decide how much money they should set aside each month or week or day (there are plenty). The best answer is: whatever works best for your life situation and goals! If you’re looking at this article because someone recommended it—a friend or colleague maybe—and that person only had success with their own method (which may not even match yours), then there’s no reason why their advice won’t work just fine here either!
Make a plan for your debts and save for the future at the same time.
- Make a plan for your debts and save for the future at the same time.
- It’s important to pay off your debts but it’s also important to not run out of money in the process.
If saving money is hard, you might need to change the way you think about money.
It’s a skill.
If saving money is hard for you, it might be because you don’t have good saving habits. The best way to change this is by taking baby steps. You can start by making small tweaks in your daily life that will add up over time. For example, if you leave the lights on when you leave the room or forget to turn off the stove when cooking dinner, these small things may not seem like much individually but they add up significantly over time! It’s not about making drastic changes all at once—it’s about slowly building up your savings account through everyday actions and decisions.
Once you feel comfortable with how much money goes into your bank accounts each month (which will take some trial and error), then try putting away an extra percentage of what comes in each payday until it becomes automatic behavior for saving just 20% of everything earned (or even 10% if necessary). This could end up being easier than expected because once this habit becomes second nature, it won’t feel like so much extra work anymore!
You can get your financial life in order if you want to.
If you want to be successful, it is possible. You can do it. But if you don’t make a decision and take action now, then nothing will change for you.
The first step to changing your financial future starts with making a resolution for yourself. It may seem like a small task, but once you do this one thing, other things will follow suit and fall into place as well.
📰 In the news
Stocks rose across the globe Wednesday, cheered by a relaxation of China’s quarantine rules and another round of strong earnings. The S&P 500 closed higher on Wednesday, but not by much. The index gained 0.1% to 2,530.51 as stocks rose across the globe amid a glut of positive earnings reports for U.S. banks and airlines, as well as better-than-expected results from Disney Corp., the parent company of ABC News.
U.S. stocks drifted higher, and the S&P 500 closed up for a fourth straight day amid a glut of positive earnings reports.
The S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 2,708.13 at 4 p.m., while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6% to 25,947.53 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.8% to 7,414.29 at that time. The S&P 500 has risen for four straight days and remains in positive territory for 2019 with a year-to-date gain of 6%, its best since November 2018 when it gained 9%.
The move higher came as stock indexes across Europe also posted gains on Wednesday amid a relaxation of China’s quarantine rules as well as another round of strong earnings reports from Google parent Alphabet Inc., Amazon Inc., Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., Netflix Inc., eBay Inc., FedEx Corp., Mastercard Inc., Qualcomm Incorporated and Visa Incorporated among others
Disney rose 1% after posting its first quarterly loss in more than two decades, but results beat analysts’ expectations.
The studio behind “Star Wars” and “Avengers” franchises said it had a net loss of $1.6 billion for the fourth quarter due to an impairment charge related to the company’s streaming service. On an adjusted basis, Disney reported earnings per share of $0.23 vs. estimates of $0.22, according to Refinitiv data; revenue also beat forecasts at $13 billion vs. estimates of $12.7 billion.$DIS
Bank of America rose 2% after reporting fourth-quarter earnings that topped analysts’ estimates helped by higher net interest income and lower provisions for credit losses.
BofA said its adjusted earnings per share were $0.56, compared with the consensus estimate of $0.53 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company’s net interest income increased 14% in the fourth quarter to $11 billion, driven by growth in commercial lending and deposits. Non-interest expenses rose just 3%, faster than expected but still slower than the overall economy’s inflation rate of about 3%. Last year BAC paid almost half a billion dollars in restitution related to its role in selling toxic mortgage securities during the financial crisis era; this year it paid nothing at all because no one was allowed into foreclosure on their home or commercial property due again until 2022 at least (and 2020 if they had an active loan modification)
Wells Fargo rose 1.2% as the bank reported a smaller-than-expected fourth-quarter loss as it benefitted from lower provisions for credit losses and higher net interest income.
The bank posted a $1 billion profit, compared with a loss of $4.9 billion in the same period last year, which had included a $3.25 billion charge related to the sale of its stake in BlackRock Inc. Wells Fargo also reported less bad debt than analysts expected, helped by recovering oil prices and slowing loan growth at auto dealerships
On Wednesday, Boeing actually fell 5% after reporting a bigger-than-expected loss in the fourth quarter, though revenue was less of a drag compared with an earlier update. Even so, it wasn’t enough to offset concerns about its long recovery from the pandemic.
It wasn’t enough to offset concerns about its recovery from the pandemic.
Boeing reported a larger-than-expected loss in the fourth quarter, even as revenue was less of a drag compared with an earlier update. The stock fell 5% Wednesday, dragging down both the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 indexes.
The company said it expects to deliver between 795 and 805 commercial planes this year, below its previous forecast of 815 to 820 deliveries. It blamed that on slumping demand in China and other parts of Asia where economies are slowing down.
What does this mean for investors?
We’re seeing several stocks in the air right now, with some investors willing to take on risk and others realizing that valuations have gotten too high. Enthusiasm for new highs may be waning, but there’s still time left before year-end.
🧰 This Week in Taylor’s Toolkit
I’ve been loving vision boards! A vision board is a powerful tool that can help you clarify your goals and aspirations, and keep them top of your mind as you work towards achieving them. By visually displaying your dreams and goals in a tangible way, you can keep yourself motivated and inspired to take action toward making them a reality. A vision board can also help you focus your energy and attention on what matters most to you, and stay committed to your goals even when the going gets tough. Additionally, a vision board can serve as a reminder of your progress and accomplishments, and provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as you check items off your list. Overall, a vision board is a powerful tool that can help you stay motivated and focused on creating the life you want for yourself.
- Here are some steps to help you get started:
- Gather materials: You will need a large piece of paper or cardboard, scissors, and a glue stick. You can also use magazines, newspapers, or printouts from the internet to find images and words representing your goals and aspirations.
- Choose your theme: Consider what you want to focus on for the coming year. This might be career goals, personal growth, relationships, or any other aspect of your life that you want to improve.
- Find images and words that represent your goals: Look through magazines, newspapers, or online images to find pictures and words that resonate with you and represent your goals and aspirations. You can also use words or phrases that inspire or motivate you.
- Arrange and glue your images and words onto your vision board: Lay out your images and words on your vision board and rearrange them until you are happy with the layout. Use your glue stick to attach them to the board.
- Display your vision board: Place your vision board in a location where you will see it every day, such as on your bedroom wall or in your office. This will help you stay focused on your goals and motivated to take action toward achieving them.
❓ Ask the Expert
“When you first got into finance what helped you succeed the most? I’m just starting and I want to get ahead!”
— Noah
Hey Noah!!! Here are some steps you can take:
- Start by setting financial goals for yourself. This could include paying off debt, building up an emergency fund, saving for retirement, or buying a home. Clearly defining your goals and creating a plan to achieve them will help you stay focused and on track.
- Make a budget to get a clear picture of your income and expenses. This will help you identify areas where you can cut back and allocate your resources more effectively.
- Save and invest for the future. Building up your savings and investing long-term is crucial for financial success. Set aside a portion of your income for savings, and consider speaking with a financial advisor to help you choose the best investment vehicles for your goals.
- Manage your debt effectively. High debt levels can hinder your financial success, so work on paying off high-interest debt as soon as possible. Consider refinancing to secure lower interest rates.
- Protect your assets by having adequate insurance coverage. This will help protect you and your assets in case of unexpected events.
- Stay informed and continue to educate yourself about financial management and planning. This will help you make informed decisions and stay on track to achieve your financial goals.Your finance friend,Taylor
Ask your question here!
