Oct 04, 2021 09:11 PM EDT By David Thompson, UniversityHerald Reporter

One of the best ways to learn how to do something is to imitate other people who do it well. If you're trying to improve your financial habits, a great way to do it is to look at the habits of people who are already financially successful. What do they tend to do? How can you apply their practices to your own life?

Don't Overspend

Forcing yourself to live within your means can be tough, especially if you've never done it before or you're surrounded by people who live off their credit cards. However, it is a key step in financial success. Creating a budget can help make this easier. While it can feel frustrating at first, you may be surprised at how relieved you feel knowing that you always have enough money to cover your bills and other costs.

Have a Plan

How strict you should be about living within your means varies from person to person. Some people will only pay cash for absolutely everything, even their home, despite the fact that this might not always be the most financially advantageous choice. At the same time, for some people, this can be psychologically satisfying and helps them stick to their financial goals. If you don't plan to be quite this stringent, you may want to consider where you want to turn if you do need to take out a loan. Credit cards can leave you paying off a lot of interest. If you're a homeowner with equity, a better solution might be a home equity loan. A guide online can explain more to you about this process.

Take Responsibility

One of the challenging things about dealing with your finances is that so many unexpected things may happen, and this can cause you to feel as though you don't really have any control over this area of your life. Prices may rise, or you might lose your job. However, even when setbacks occur, having a sense of agency about your life can go a long way toward helping you cope with those setbacks better. You will tend to react in ways that work toward solving the problem instead of simply throwing up your hands and assuming that you'll never achieve financial stability.

Save Money Wisely

Alongside living within your means, saving wisely by adopting certain habits may be the other most important thing you can do to improve your financial outlook. There should be several different components to your savings plan. First, you should put away money in an emergency fund. This can help you stave off those incidents that can send you spiraling into credit card debt with unexpected expenses. 

People generally aim for three to six months of savings, but you can have more than that. Second, you should make the most of any workplace retirement plan that you are offered, especially if there is the opportunity for matching contributions. Finally, you should look into investing beyond your retirement plan. This can help ensure that your money is working for you. What investments you should choose will vary based on several factors, such as your age and your goals.

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