Do you know where your finances are taking you? Maybe you don’t want to go there!

When you go on a road trip, for example, you don’t just start driving. You decide on a destination, gather information to help figure out how to get there, have a contingency plan if you hit a roadblock, make adjustments as you go, and keep your eye on the final destination. That’s one of the major premises in Stephen Covey’s best-selling book, “First Things First.”

The same is true of your personal finances. If you withdraw cash but can’t recall where the money went, you probably don’t have a process for tracking your spending. And you probably don’t have a detailed plan for spending your hard-earned dollars to meet short- and long-term financial goals.

A useful budget—or “blueprint”—tells you where your money goes each month, instead of you asking where it went. The blueprint puts you in control, based on your needs, situation, and life cycle.

There are five easy steps to setting up your spending plan, and you’ll be successful as long as you set realistic financial goals, identify spending leaks, and make informed choices, live within your means, expect the unexpected, stay motivated, and never lose sight of your ultimate financial goals.

GEMC Federal Credit Union wants you to be informed. Join us for a fun learning experience to help you develop a personal action plan and gain financial peace of mind.  All are welcome, but space is limited, the next session will be offered on February 12th at 12:00 noon and 6:30 pm at the GreyStone Power building at 4040 Bankhead Highway, Douglasville, GA 30134.  Call Julie today at 770-270-7673 or Julie.brock@gemc.org  to reserve your spot. Refreshments will be served.