Becoming F.I.T.—Financially In Tune (NAPSA)—Your financial health doesn’t have to keep you up at night. Do you worry you're not saving enough for retirement, your children’s education, or an emergency fund? Do you feel you just have too manyfinancial obligations? A sound fiscal program will address your financial concerns, Becoming F1.1—Financially In Tune STEP 1: GET A CHECKUP Check your credit report and review currentfinancial and insurance plans before beginning fiscalfitness program. STEP 2: SET PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS helping you secure a comfortable future for yourself and your loved ones. As with any fitness pro- Identity your goals(.g., saving for retirement, paying for a college education, buying a home). results and not a quick fix is the STEP 3: BEGIN YOUR WORKOUT PROGRAM gram, striving for long-term key to success. Ready to flex your money mus- cle? These simple steps from HSBC’s Center for Consumer Advocacy can guide you down the path to fiscal health. Step 1: Get a Checkup— Review your credit reports, current savings and retirement programs and your insurance coverage to see what changes you'd like to make. In the same way that experts recommend you see a doctor before beginning a physical fitness program, it’s a good idea to assess your current financial situation before beginninga fiscal fitness program. Step 2: Set Personal Financial Goals—lIdentify the things you’d like to be able to afford down the road, what they'll cost Your program should include a plan for both saving and spending. and investing are essential to financial planning. Whenestablishing a budget, be sure to include a savings component as part of your regular “expenses.” Your budget should be manageable and incorporate small rewards for reaching your goals. As your savings grow, consider opening a separate savings or investment accountfor each major goal. Also, find out if your em- STEP 4: MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS Check in regularly to make sure you're on track. CELEBRATE A FINANCIALLY HEALTHY YOU! Visit www.yourmoneycounts.com for more information and ideas. plan for accomplishing your goals. A financial plan is more than just a wishlist; it’s one part planning and one part follow-through. You'll discover that budgeting, saving @ and when youl need the moneyto pay for them. Group yourgoals by time frame—short, medium and long-term—and identify those that are the most important so you can focus on themfirst. Step 3: Begin Your Workout Program—Start by creating a ployer or bank can automatically transfer a predetermined dollar amount or percentage of each pay- check into different accounts. That makes saving easier, and you won’t be tempted to spend money you had intended to dedicate to yourgoals. Step 4: Monitor Your Prog- ress—Check regularly to make sure youre on track. If you're not, youll need to review your budgeting and saving strategies for new opportunities. For more information, including practical tips on budgeting, investing and saving, visit the Center’s Web site at www.yourmoneycounts.com.
