Your overall financial health starts, like everything else, at the beginning. There's very little point in attempting to formulate a retirement-, investment-, or any other type of long-term plan if your day-to-day finances are out of control. So, how good of a money manager are you? Are you a stickler for every debit and credit card receipt, balancing your personal accounts faithfully and knowing to the penny how much you have on deposit? Do you simply drop your paycheck into your account and keep a running mental tabulation of what's been spent? Are you aware of the fees that your bank regularly imposes on you? How much do you spend visiting your local ATM machines? Do you know how your credit card charges are calculated?
If you're unsure of the answers to any of the above questions, then you're in the right place. The information contained in this section can help you to get – and keep – a handle on your personal finances. With the basics of everyday money management under control, you'll be in a much more stable position to begin successfully implementing a solid and workable plan for your financial future.
