task1.txt

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We all know you should take a sick day
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or a mental health day
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or even a personal day.
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But a financial day is just as important.
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[Your Money and Your Mind with Wendy De La Rosa]
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You deserve to take time to get your life in order
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when you aren't on edge and under pressure.
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Employers, if you're watching this: you should also think about
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giving your employees a financial health day.
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Throughout this series,
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I've shared ways that you can change your environment
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so you can spend less and save more.
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But the secret ingredient for each tip has been time:
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calling your credit card company to change your interest rate takes time;
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deleting an app off your phone takes time.
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And if you haven't had time to put these changes into action,
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this is your chance.
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Mark a day on your calendar right now
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to devote to reorganizing your finances.
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Really commit to this day
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and make that day as productive as possible.
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But here are the big headlines that are the most important to cover,
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both from earlier episodes and beyond.
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So first I want you to focus on your fixed expenses.
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Take the day to evaluate your bills.
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Can you truly afford your housing payment?
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Is it time to start looking for a cheaper place?
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Do you need to switch to a low-cost cell phone provider?
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Do you need to trade in your car for something else?
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This is the day where I really want you to think about
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those large fixed expenses
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and make that one-time change.
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Number two: sign up for the boring-but-necessary stuff.
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Do you have life insurance?
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No? Sign up now.
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Are you enrolled in your company's 401(k)?
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No? Sign up now.
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Are you contributing enough to that 401(k)?
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No? Edit your contribution rate right now.
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Number three: if you haven't already,
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talk to your significant other about money.
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Get on the same page; it matters.
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Visit the link below for a list of questions
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to help get you started.
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Number four: create a singular savings goal.
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You can start by setting up an automatic plan
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so that a portion of every paycheck
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goes directly into your savings account.
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Number five: start paying off your debt every week,
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not just every month.
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Maybe it's your credit card debt
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or your mortgage debt or whatever you have,
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you'll end up reducing more of your debt over the course of a year
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if you pay that debt more often.
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Number six: renegotiate your credit card interest rate
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and change your payment due date.
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Get on the phone, call your credit card company
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and make your credit card company work for you.
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Number seven: use technology to your advantage.
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Redesign your online environment
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by unsubscribing from all your shopping newsletters
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and install an ad blocker.
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You can't spend on what you can't see.
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Number eight: delete those distracting delivery apps.
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Number nine:
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now, my tips are not all about cutting back spending.
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I want you to spend on things that increase your happiness.
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So focus on experiences, on spending time with others
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and on expenditures that help save you time,
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like hiring someone to clean your house
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or mow your lawn.
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That will save you time and boost your happiness.
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Number 10: last but certainly not least,
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schedule another financial health day
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for a few weeks later.
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Chances are, you'll need to revisit some of the things
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you started today.
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I know all of this may seem tedious or boring,
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but it's better to make these vital changes
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when you have the time to think about them,
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and not under the stressful conditions
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when we usually make these very important decisions.
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Not every day can be a spa day,
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but I think a financial day
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will leave you feeling soothed and pampered.