Budgeting Tools for Retirement Planning
Budgeting tools for retirement planning are slightly different in the sense that the focus of your budget is to divert more cash to your chosen retirement savings account.
You have done your homework. You have educated yourself regarding the various issues around retirement planning. You have done your estimates. You have used a retirement income planner. And any which way you look at it, you are not going to have enough accumulated in your retirement provision plans and savings accounts combined to provide you with the retirement income that you would need.
You are not alone! In fact, most people face this reality sooner or later. I realized that my retirement provision was hopelessly inadequate when I turned fifty. It can be turned around. The key is to cut your spending and rework your budget. And for that you need some budgeting tools.
If you are exposed to the corporate world you'll know that companies, to survive economic downturns, would at times cut their budgets brutally. Workers are laid off. Capital projects are suspended or even cancelled. Executives spend days in meetings to find ways to conform to the revised budget.
Budgeting for personal retirement planning – to find the funds to plug the gap in your retirement provision – is a very similar exercise. You'll have to call a family member meeting. Every member of the family must understand that you have a serious shortfall in your retirement provision. That the family's spending will have to be cut big time. That you and your family will have to stop being consumers!
At the time when I called this meeting our children were very wise young adults. Only problem was that they were still wholly dependent on us! Not the best time of our lives!
When your family members have grasped the seriousness of the situation you'll have to propose a transparent budget that all can understand. If you have never worked to a family budget before, it is going to be tough. Spending will have to be tracked on a weekly basis and compared to the budget. When the worst shock is over and the discipline has been set and accepted, you can track spending on a monthly basis and make sure it is within the budget.
My company used to execute huge projects that lasted sometimes 36 months. I always marveled at the skill of a professional project manager who can draw up a detailed budget and, when approved, execute and complete that project on time and within the budget. For your emergency retirement planning budget you will have to develop the same skill and diligence!
Below do we discuss and review some budgeting tools:
|
Track Spending Accurately to Balance Your Budget Track spending accurately to take control of your budget in your effort to maximize your retirement provision savings. In fact, it is a good practice to track your spending accurately even after retirement.
Multiple income streams are often a quick way, and relative easy, to boost your retirement savings when your retirement income planner indicates that you are going to have a shortfall at retirement. Personal finance management is often ignored or not taken seriously. It is only when some financial crisis looms that we start to focus. Often the situation can be rectified, but sometimes it is too late.
So, you're planning a budget. Sooner or later we are all forced to do that. And the last thing young couples want to hear is that their retirement provision should be their top priority! |
A Budgeting Spreadsheet to Manage Your Expenses A budgeting spreadsheet is one of the most useful budgeting tools in managing your expenses. There are of course very fancy personal budgeting and expense tracking software available for sale, but with basic spreadsheet skills and a bit of dedication you can achieve the same results.
Planning your dream retirement is not as simple as many advisors make it out to be. We listen to opinions and make assumptions. However, planning your retirement is not an exact science.
Pay Off Debt... Debt is The Enemy of Retirement Provision
Pay off debt. Full stop. You can't make adequate provision for your retirement if you need to juggle to service your debt. Budgeting tools are more effective when you've paid off your debt. Personal budgets were introduced, and are still being deployed, in England. It is a Social Welfare initiative to help older people who need social care support to stay longer at home in their community. |
Retirement Planning Central › Budgeting Tools for Retirement Planning
Copyright © Retirement-Planning-Central.com. All Rights Reserved.
