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When you think about your health, your mind likely goes first to your physical health and then maybe your mental and emotional health. But there is another key component to your overall well-being, and that’s your financial health.

While you may never discuss it with your doctor —- and may go months or years ignoring it —- your financial wellness has a significant impact on your daily life, as well as your future. What’s more, having poor financial health can in turn affect your physical and mental health.

But what exactly is financial health? How do you measure it? And, more importantly, how do you achieve it? Read on to learn all about financial health, from how to assess it to how to improve it.

Understanding Financial Health

Financial health is defined as the current state of your monetary situation, such as your credit, debt, savings, investments, and income. Being financially healthy means you can meet your monthly financial obligations, are on track to achieve your financial goals, and have enough cash in the bank to be able to absorb a financial setback.

Indications of Financial Health

Below are six signs that your finances are in good health:

•   You make enough money to cover your monthly expenses

•   You pay all of your bills on time

•   You have no debt or have debt that is manageable and being repaid on schedule

•   You’re saving enough to meet your short- and long-term goals

•   Your credit score is strong enough to help you qualify for whatever loans you might need at low rates

•   You feel comfortable with your financial situation

Metrics and Measurements

There are several core components of financial health. Here’s a look at how to measure the current state of your finances and discover areas where you may need improvement.

•   Your debt-to-income ratio: Carrying too much debt can be harmful to your financial health. Lenders use a calculation called debt-to-income ratio (DTI) that compares a person’s monthly debt payments to their monthly gross income to determine how manageable someone’s debt load is. Lower is generally better. Lenders often like to see DTI ratios of 36% or less.

•   Your credit score: Having a strong credit score is an indicator of good financial health. Factors that impact your score include amounts you owe on your debt accounts, repayment history, your credit mix, and the length of credit history. FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. Having a score above 700 is generally considered good credit, while above 800 is considered excellent.

•   Your emergency fund: A key measure of financial health is having enough cash in the bank to weather unexpected setbacks like a medical emergency, car breakdown, or job loss. Experts generally agree that you should have an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved.

•   Your retirement savings: Because there are so many variables, it’s hard to know exactly how much you need to save for retirement. One rule of thumb is to aim to save at least 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67. Check how your savings compares to ideal retirement savings by age to know if you’re on track or if you need to catch up.

Improving Financial Health

You might feel that achieving optimal financial health is a long way off. Don’t get discouraged. The good news is that implementing just a few good financial habits — such as tracking your spending and saving at least something each month -– can boost your financial well-being right away, and even more so over time.

Below are seven practical tips to help you move forward.

1. Get on a Budget

When it comes to money in and money out each month, many of us leave it to chance — and hope that the numbers work out. Taking some time to actually crunch the numbers and set up a monthly budget, however, can help ensure that you are living within your means, spending in line with your priorities, and working towards your future goals.

A simple way to get started is to collect the last few months of financial statements and calculate the average amount coming in (after taxes) each month, and average amount going out each month. Subtract the latter from the former and see what you get. If you’re spending more than you are bringing in, or it’s so close there is little left over for saving, you may want to take a closer look at your spending.

There are many different types of budget but one simple guideline you might consider is the 50/30/20 budget. With the approach, you divide your monthly take-home income into three categories: 50% goes to needs (essentials), 30% goes to wants (nonessentials), and 20% to savings and debt repayment (beyond the minimum payment).

2. Track Your Spending

Keeping tabs on how much you are spending each month, and on what, is crucial to financial wellness. Indeed, tracking spending can be both eye-opening and motivating. You might notice, for example, that you’re spending more than you think for certain things, or that your spending is out of line with your priorities. You might also spot some immediate areas for improvement.

One easy way to track spending is to put a budgeting app on your phone (many are free for the basic service). Budgeting apps typically connect with your financial accounts (including bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts), track spending, and categorize expenses so you can pinpoint exactly where your money is going.

3. Create a Plan for Debt

Credit cards and similar high-interest consumer loans can drag down your financial health by making it harder to meet your monthly expenses — and even harder to save for future goals. Paying off high-interest debt is an important investment in your financial future.

If you have multiple balances racking up high interest charges, here are two popular strategies that can help you whittle them down to zero.

The snowball method: With the snowball method, you list your debts by size then put an extra monthly payment towards the loan with the smallest balance, while continuing to pay the minimum on the others. Once the smallest debt is paid, you put your extra payment towards the next smallest balance, and so on.

The avalanche method: Using the avalanche method, you list your debts in order of interest rate then focus extra payments towards the debt with the highest interest rate, while continuing to pay the minimum on the others. Once that debt is paid off, you put your extra payments to the debt with the next-highest interest rate, and so on.

4. Look for Ways to Cut Expenses

Trimming back your expenses helps you increase your disposable income, giving you more money to put toward your goals. It also makes it easier to stick with your budget and avoid going into debt.

You might comb through your expenses to look for some easy ways to cut back. While you may assume your “needs” costs are fixed, it may be possible to shop around for a better price on certain monthly essentials, like insurance or a phone plan. Or, maybe you don’t need to drive to work but could spend less by taking public transportation or carpooling with a coworker.

It’s often even easier to find places to cut back in your nonessential sending. For example, you might decide to get take-out less often and cook more nights a week, get rid of streaming services you rarely watch, and/or jog outside instead of going to a gym. Every dollar you save is one more you can put towards saving and debt repayment.

5. Automate Saving

Tackling financial health can feel overwhelming, and it’s not likely something you want to be thinking about all the time. Fortunately, it’s easy to put one of the best financial health-boosters — saving at least something each month — on autopilot.

There are two ways to do this: One is to have a portion of your direct deposit go right into a savings account. The other is to set up a recurring transfer from your checking to your savings on the same day each month (ideally, right after you get paid). You can’t spend what you don’t see. And, chances are, you won’t even miss it.

To help your savings grow faster, consider putting this money in an online savings account. Since online institutions generally have lower overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar banks, they tend to offer better rates and low (or no) fees.

Build Your Emergency Fund

Without an emergency cash cushion, an unexpected expense (like a car repair or large medical bill) or loss of income can quickly derail your finances. You may be forced to rack up expensive credit card debt. This can put you in a debt spiral that can be difficult to get out of, and take a long-term toll on your financial health.

Even if you do have an emergency fund, it’s wise to periodically check in to make sure it’s sufficient. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least three- to six-months’ worth of living expenses in the bank. (If you’re self-employed or work seasonally, you may want to aim for six- to 12-months worth of expenses.) Ideally you want to keep this money in a savings account that earns a competitive rate but allows you to easily access your money when you need it.

Invest More of Your Income

If you’re putting just a small percentage of your paycheck into your 401(k), or other retirement fund, consider stepping it by 1% or 2% right now. While 1% is a small percentage of your annual earnings today, after 20 or 30 years it can make a big difference in your account balance when you retire. That’s because the longer you give your money a chance to grow, the better.

You might also ask your employer to automatically increase your contribution by a set percentage each year. As your income increases, those extra percentage points of income likely won’t be missed — but they’ll have a big impact on your retirement savings. Your future self will thank you.

Recommended: When Should You Start Saving for Retirement?

The Takeaway

Just as with your physical health, establishing and maintaining good habits is key to achieving good financial health.

Some habits that can significantly boost financial wellness include setting up a simple budget, tracking spending, automating savings, building an emergency cash reserve, paying down expensive debt, and investing more of your earnings.

No matter what your income or current state of financial health, putting some smart money habits into place now can go a long way toward boosting your financial security, reducing stress, and building wealth over time.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet..

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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When you’re in college, you don’t have a lot of control over the interest rates on your student loans. With federal loans, the U.S. Department of Education sets the rate each year for all borrowers. And if you get private student loans, a limited credit history can make it hard for young people to score favorable terms.

But once you graduate, there are a few things you can try to save money on interest. Here are a few tips that may lower your interest rate on student loans.

Refinancing Your Student Loans

Scoring discounts with your current servicer can help you get a lower student loan interest rate, but there is another option to consider. Depending on your financial profile, you may qualify for a lower student loan interest rate than what you’re currently paying with student loan refinancing.

There are multiple advantages to refinancing student loans. You can potentially lower your interest rate by bundling several loans (federal and private) into one new loan. And if you shorten your loan term, you may be able to pay off your student loans much faster and pay less in interest over the life of your loan.

Student loan refinancing is ideal for borrowers with high-interest student loans who have good credit scores and know they won’t use any of the federal loan benefits, like student loan forgiveness. (All federal loan benefits, including income-based repayment, will be lost if you refinance.)

Here are a few things that can help you improve your chances of getting a lower student loan interest rate with refinancing:

•   A high credit score: Lenders typically have a minimum credit score requirement, so the higher your score, the better your chances of getting a low rate usually are.

•   A low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Your income is also an important factor that lenders consider, especially as it relates to your overall debt burden. If a smaller portion of your monthly income goes toward debt payments, it shows you may have more income to dedicate to your new loan’s payments.

•   A co-signer: Even if your credit and income situation is in good shape, having a co-signer with great credit and a solid income might help your case.

•   A variable rate: Some student loan refinance lenders offer both variable and fixed interest rates. Variable interest rates may start out lower but increase over time with market fluctuations. Fixed rates, stay the same over the life of the loan. If you’re planning on paying off your student loans quickly, a variable rate might save you money.

•   The right lender: Each lender has its own criteria for setting interest rates, so it’s important to shop around to find the best lender for your needs. Some lenders, including SoFi, even allow you to view rate offers before you officially apply.


💡 Quick Tip: Enjoy no hidden fees and special member benefits when you refinance student loans with SoFi.

Consolidate Your Student Loans

Have multiple student loans floating around that you’d love to combine into one? Consider loan consolidation, where you’ll merge all your student loans into one easy monthly payment with a single interest rate. Here’s the rub, though: Consolidation alone does not necessarily get you a lower student loan interest rate. It just offers you one payment instead of multiple.

When consolidating federal student loans, you can use a Direct Consolidation Loan. Your new interest rate is simply the weighted average of all your current student loan interest rates. The weighted average might be a smidge higher than the interest rates you were paying previously. Often folks utilize consolidation to stretch out the life of their student loan, which lowers your payments but may increase the amount you owe over time.

Even though consolidation itself is not a direct way to get a better rate on your student loans, it can be helpful if you’re having trouble keeping track of your monthly payments. Consolidation may also be useful if you want to merge non-direct federal loans (like Perkins loans) with direct loans, in order to qualify for income-driven repayment and/or loan forgiveness programs.

By the way, the term “consolidating” is often used interchangeably with “refinancing,” but they technically mean different things. When refinancing student loans, you also happen to be consolidating, but it is done with the goal of achieving a more favorable interest rate on your student loans.

Recommended: The Basics of the Student Loans

Set Up Automatic Payments

Many student loan servicers — both federal and private — offer an interest rate discount if you set up autopay on your account. Depending on the servicer, you can lower your student loan interest rate. SoFi, for example, offers a 0.25% autopay discount.

The reason servicers offer this discount is that by setting up automatic payments, you’re less likely to miss payments and default on the loan.

In addition to getting a lower student loan interest rate, you’ll also (hopefully!) have peace of mind knowing that you won’t accidentally miss a payment. If you feel you’re putting a little too much money toward student loans, check with your loan servicer to see whether they offer an autopay discount.


💡 Quick Tip: Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans.

Get a Loyalty Discount

In addition to an autopay discount, some private student loan companies also offer a loyalty discount when you have another eligible account with them.

If you’re already a member with SoFi, for instance, you receive an interest rate discount of 0.125% on all new loans.

Other lenders may require that you have an eligible checking or savings account with them to qualify for the bonus, and you may even get a bigger discount if you make your monthly payments from that account.

To get an idea of how a change in interest rate would impact your loan, take advantage of a student loan refinance calculator to see what your new payments could be.

Choose the Right Repayment Plan

If you don’t choose a specific repayment path, you’re typically opted into the Standard Repayment Plan. In this plan, your payments are generally based on a 10-year timeline. But this one-size-fits-all plan is not the best option for everyone.

The federal government also offers four income-driven repayment (IDR) plans — Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) — where the monthly payments are based on your income and family size. While choosing one of these plans may lower your monthly payments, it will likely not alleviate how much interest you pay over time. In fact, you might even pay significantly more.

After 20 or 25 years, depending on the IDR plan, any remaining balance is forgiven. However, the amount forgiven may be considered taxable income by the IRS. So even though your student loan debt goes away, prepare yourself for a big tax bill that year.

Another money-saving repayment option for federal student loans is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. If you work in a qualifying public service job — for the government or a nonprofit organization — you might be eligible to have your student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

You can confirm whether your work qualifies here. You’ll want to submit an Employment Certification as soon as possible to be sure that you’re on track to qualify.

Recommended: 4 Student Loan Repayment Options, and How to Choose

Lower Your Student Loan Interest Rate

There are several ways to get a lower student loan interest rate. It can be as easy as calling your servicer to find out what discounts are available. You can also choose a new repayment plan, consolidate your federal loans, or refinance federal and private loans. With refinancing, you may secure a lower interest rate if you have a high credit score, low debt-to-income ratio, a cosigner, or a variable interest rate. Just know that when refinancing federal student loans, borrowers lose federal protections and forgiveness.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

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SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Financial wellness doesn’t have to be complicated. While you’ll eventually want to work up to a financial plan that includes a detailed budget, savings goals, and a retirement plan, there are small things you can do today to set you off on the right foot. What follows are nine hacks for money that can help you get organized, save more, knock down debt, and master the basics of personal finance.

9 Money Hacks to Help Save You Money

These simple moves can help you boost your financial health, reach your goals, and avoid financial pitfalls like impulsive spending and unmanageable debt spirals.

1. Use Multiple Savings Accounts

Having a different savings account for each one of your goals — whether it’s a new car, a down payment on a house, or even a big vacation — can be a great way to keep track of your progress. If you only have one account, it can be difficult to know what money is earmarked for which goal. For example, if you have $15,000 in your savings account, it may be hard to track that you have $5,000 saved for an emergency fund and $10,000 for a home purchase.

Separate savings accounts makes it easier to prioritize the goals you’re eager to reach, allowing you to fund those accounts first. It also decreases the chances you will raid the account to cover another expense. If an account is clearly labeled Emergency Fund, you may think twice about using it for a trip to Tulum.

And since many banks now offer savings accounts that feature the same interest rate, no matter how low your balance, you don’t need to put all your savings in the same account to get the highest yield.

2. Ditch Your Low-Interest Savings Account

Is there anything better than money you don’t have to work for? The interest you’re paid for keeping money in a bank account is basically that. If you’re still using your first savings account, however, chances are you’re getting a low interest rate.

Right now, the best online savings account interest rates are around 5%. Traditional brick-and-mortar banks, on the other hand, generally offer rates that are close to the national average, which is currently 0.46%. If you have a $10,000 savings balance, choosing an account that pays 5% will earn you about $500 in a year. If it stays in a bank account that pays 0.40% APY, you would earn about $40. The difference increases the more you deposit and the longer you keep the money in the account.

Failing to open a high-interest savings account means you’re giving up free money.

3. Put Saving on Autopilot

Automating your savings is a great way to separate your savings from your spending without any extra effort on your part. If you wait to see what you have left at the end of the month to make a manual transfer to savings, you may forget or, worse, you may have nothing left to move.

There are two ways to automate your savings: One is to split up your direct deposit and funnel part of it into a savings account; the other is to set up a recurring transfer from your checking account into a savings account for the same day each month (ideally right after you get paid). If you have different savings accounts for different goals, you can choose to have a set amount for each account.

4. Pay Down High-Interest Debts

Credit card annual percentage rates (APRs) are now averaging a record 28.93%, up from 26.72 percent in 2022. To whittle down high-interest debt, consider making at least one extra payment on your credit cards per month. If you have multiple balances, here are two ways to knock them down:

•   The snowball method With this approach, you make your extra payment on your smallest debt, while maintaining minimum payments on the others. When that debt is paid off, you focus on paying off the next-smallest debt, and so on.

•   The avalanche method Here, you put your extra payment towards the debt with the highest interest rate, while making minimum payments on the others. When that debt is paid off, you focus on the debt with the next-highest rate, and so on.
The money you save in interest payments can then go towards saving (and earning interest).

5. Audit Your Subscriptions

There’s a good chance you are paying monthly for things you no longer need or use. To find out, review your credit card or bank statement to see what subscriptions services you’re paying for each month. Do you have cable, but only watch streaming services like Netflix and Hulu? Are you paying for streaming services you never, or rarely, watch? You might also audit your music services — if you are paying for more than one, you might keep your fave and get rid of the others.

The monthly fee for each streaming service may seem small but, when you pay it every month, year after year, it can seriously add up.

Recommended: How to Track Your Monthly Expenses: Step-by-Step Guide

6. Put a Free Budgeting App on Your Phone

Keeping tabs on how much is going in and going out of your accounts is crucial to financial wellness. But who wants to spend hours coming through statements? A budgeting app does the work for you, and many are free (at least for the basic service).

Popular budgeting apps, like Goodbudget, EveryDollar, and PocketGuard, allow you to connect with your financial accounts (including bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts) and give you a bird’s eye view of your finances. Right from your phone, you can see what’s in your bank account, your current credit card balance, what you’re spending the most money on, how your spending compares to last month, and more. This can be eye-opening and help you make smarter financial decisions.

7. Practice the 3-Day Rule

Online shopping has made it easier than ever to impulse buy. You’re only one click away from a new jacket, blender, or television. So try this smart spending hack: Whenever you see something you want to buy, either online or in-person, DO NOT buy it that day. Put the purchase on pause for at least three days. Tell yourself that if, after three days, you still want the item, and you can afford it, you’ll buy it. This gives you time to reflect. You may well decide that you don’t need or want the item that badly. If you’re worried about missing a “one-day” or “flash” sale, don’t — retailers run sales all the time.

Recommended: How to Stop Spending Money: 7 Strategies to Curb Overspending

8. Use Cash

This may sound counterintuitive, but spending cash can actually help you save money. The reason: When you spend in cash, you actually have to physically give up your money when you spend it, unlike with a credit or debit card.

You might try taking out a set amount of money for discretionary spending for the week, and when the money is done, you’re done spending. Or, consider using the envelope budgeting system, where you take out a certain amount of cash for the week and divide it into envelopes for food, gas, etc. As you see the money go down in each envelope, you’ll have to think hard about every purchase.

9. Gradually Boost Retirement Savings

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You may have heard that you “should” be putting 15% of your income into your 401(k) or other retirement fund each year. It’s a solid goal. But for many young people, it may not be remotely realistic. That said, you shouldn’t give up on the whole idea. Why not try baby steps? You might start by putting just 1% of each paycheck into your retirement fund, then increase it by 1% every three to six months.

While 1% is a small percentage of your annual earnings today, after 20 or 30 years it can make a big difference in your account balance when you retire. That’s because the longer you give your money a chance to grow, the better.

Recommended: When Should You Start Saving for Retirement?

The Takeaway

Getting a better handle on your finances may perennially be on your to-do list. The problem is that this goal can seem too vague and too overwhelming to even know where to begin. The good news is that you don’t have to overhaul your personal finances overnight. Simply adopting some smart money habits (or hacks) can snowball into long-term financial stability and wealth. And there’s no better time to start than today.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet..

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Long-term personal loans can be an attractive option if you’re facing large expenses like medical bills or home repairs. By spreading out repayment over a longer period of time, long-term loans may allow for lower monthly payment amounts that can make major costs more affordable.

However, long-term loans can have drawbacks, too. They may have higher cumulative interest than short-term loans and can be difficult to qualify for since they’re often unsecured.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re deciding whether or not a long-term, unsecured personal loan is right for you:

What Is a Long-Term Loan?

As its name suggests, a long-term loan is one whose repayment period, or term, is fairly lengthy. Generally, long-term personal loans carry terms between 60 and 84 months, or five to seven years.

Mortgages and student loans are also examples of long-term loans. Mortgages, for instance, are frequently repaid over as many as 30 years.

For the purposes of this article, we’re talking about long-term, unsecured personal loans, which borrowers can use for a variety of things. These loans can allow consumers to make big purchases or pay expensive bills by paying the total off over several years’ time.


💡 Quick Tip: A low-interest personal loan from SoFi can help you consolidate your debts, lower your monthly payments, and get you out of debt sooner.

Benefits of Long-Term Personal Loans

There are plenty of reasons why a long-term loan might be a worthy consideration for large expenses.

Large Loan Amounts

While short-term loans and credit cards may cap out at a few thousand dollars, long-term, unsecured personal loans are available at much higher amounts — up to as much as $100,000.

So depending on what you need the money for, a long-term personal loan might give you more leverage than other types of funding.

Affordable Monthly Payments

Since long-term personal loans are paid off over many months, the monthly payments are often lower than they would be with a shorter-term loan.

However, that doesn’t mean a long-term loan is less expensive in the long run.

Flexibility

Unlike secured loans, which are tied to a physical piece of collateral or the need to be used for a specified purpose, unsecured personal loans can be taken out for a wide range of intended purposes. Common reasons borrowers take out personal loans include:

• Home renovations or repairs.

• Medical expenses.

• Wedding loans or funeral expenses.

• Debt consolidation.

Affordable Monthly Payments

Since long-term personal loans are paid off over many months, the monthly payments are often lower than they would be with a shorter-term loan.

However, that doesn’t mean a long-term loan is less expensive in the long run.

Drawbacks of Long-Term Personal Loans

There are also some drawbacks worth considering before you apply for an unsecured personal loan.

Potentially Higher Interest Rates

Although long-term, unsecured personal loans may have smaller monthly payments, they may carry higher interest rates than shorter-term, unsecured personal loans. And even at the same interest rate, they cost more over time.

Personal loan interest rates can range from as little as 6.99% to as much as 35.99% APR.

For example, imagine you take out a $10,000 loan at an interest rate of 10%. To repay the loan in a single year, you’d have to pay a whopping $879 per month, but you’d only pay a total of $550 in interest over the lifetime of the loan.

To repay the loan in seven years, you’d pay only $166 per month, but you’d also pay $3,945 in interest along the way.

So while long-term, unsecured personal loans can make large purchases feasible, factoring in the total cost over the lifetime of the loan before you sign those papers is also important.

Long-Term Debt

Along with higher interest rates, long-term loans do, obviously, mean going into debt for a longer period of time — unless you plan to pay off your loan early. A thorough review of the loan agreement will disclose prepayment penalties or other fees that can be costly in their own right.

Furthermore, the future is unpredictable. Five to seven years down the line, that promotion you were counting on might fall through or another life circumstance might supersede your repayment plans.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to borrow more cash, it can be difficult to increase your personal loan amount.

Although unsecured personal loans can be helpful when life throws big expenses your way, they’re still a form of consumer debt, and, ideally, minimizing debt is a smart thing to do.

Qualification Difficulties

Long-term, unsecured personal loans may have more stringent qualification requirements than other types of credit. That’s because, from the lender’s perspective, they’re riskier than loans for smaller amounts or those that come attached to physical collateral.

Along with your credit score and history, a potential lender might also require proof of income and employment or a certain debt-to-income ratio. Depending on the stability of your financial situation, you may or may not qualify for the best interest rates and terms or be considered eligible to take out the loan at all, at least without a cosigner or co-borrower.


💡 Quick Tip: Generally, the larger the personal loan, the bigger the risk for the lender — and the higher the interest rate. So one way to lower your interest rate is to try downsizing your loan amount.

Alternatives to Long-Term Loans

Ideally, the best way to pay for a large purchase is to save up the cash and pay for it without going into debt at all. Of course, this may not always be possible or realistic.

If you’re not sure about taking out a long-term, unsecured personal loan, there are other alternatives to consider. However, each of these comes with its own risk-to-reward ratio as well.

You might consider borrowing money from friends and family, but those important relationships can suffer if your repayment doesn’t go as planned. A written repayment agreement can go a long way toward making the transaction as transparent as possible, with expectations of both parties clearly outlined.

Another option might be saving part of the money you need and applying for a short-term, unsecured personal loan for the remainder. This means delaying a purchase until savings can accumulate, and might not work if the money is needed sooner rather than later.

The Takeaway

Long-term loans are those whose repayment periods generally span between five and seven years, which can help borrowers fund expensive purchases while making affordable monthly payments.

However, the longer-term can also mean more interest charges over time, making these unsecured personal loans more expensive relative to shorter-term lending options. And like any form of consumer debt, they carry risk.

Your credit score and/or personal financial situation can suffer if you find yourself unable to repay the loan.

That said, when used responsibly, long-term, unsecured personal loans can be a smart financial choice, particularly if you shop around for a lender who offers affordable, fixed interest rates, low fees, and great customer service to ensure you’ll always be in the know and in control.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2023 winner for Best Online Personal Loan overall.

Photo credit: iStock/Melpomenem

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Money management can be complex, but what if the best, smartest advice could fit on one little index card? That’s the idea behind the financial index card. It’s a concept that the researcher who popularized the idea that the most effective strategies could be summarized on a small piece of paper, whether you pin that to your fridge, carry it in your pocket, or keep it next to your laptop.

Here, you’ll learn the story of that financial index card and what exactly is written on it. The advice written on it could help build your money smarts and build your wealth.

The Story Behind the Financial Index Card

The financial index card got its start In 2013, when Harold Pollack, PhD, a social scientist at the University of Chicago, posted a photo of an index card online. On the card, he said, was the only financial advice anyone ever needed to know.

He created the card after interviewing personal finance writer Helaine Olen. During their talk, Pollack jokingly claimed that all the necessary info about good money management could fit on an index card.

Pollack’s off-the-cuff comment — at the time he hadn’t actually produced this index card — generated a lot of audience commentary with investors wondering what his advice would be. Pollack grabbed an index card, wrote down nine tips, snapped a photo, and posted it online.

The nine simple tips on the card resonated with the public and the photo went viral. In fact, the concept was so popular that Pollack teamed up with Olen to write a book, The Index Card: Why Personal Advice Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated.

The Financial Index Card’s Advice

Here is a rundown of the nine tips Pollack offered on the original card and an explanation of what each one means to help you better understand the value of the financial index card.

1. Max Out Your 401(k) or Other Employee Contribution

A traditional 401(k) is a retirement plan that offers various investment options and is often offered via your employer – but note that not all employers offer 401(k)s as a benefit. Sometimes your employer will make matching contributions to your 401(k) as well.

What makes 401(k)s particularly useful are the tax advantages that they offer. You can fund 401(k)s with pretax money.

Contributions can be taken straight from your paycheck before you pay any income tax, which in turn lowers your taxable income and potentially your tax bill that year. Keep in mind that when you later make withdrawals from your 401(k), you will owe income tax.

But once in the 401(k), your money grows tax-deferred. Your employer will likely offer a number of investment options for you to choose from, such as mutual funds or target-date funds.

The more money you can put into your 401(k), the more money you have at work for you. If your employer offers matching funds, aim to at least save the minimum amount to max out the match if you can.

Saving for your future merits a spot on the financial index card because it’s such a vital part of planning ahead, achieving your money goals, and building your net worth. What’s more, stashing away cash for tomorrow can also help reduce money stress.

2. Buy Inexpensive, Well-Diversified Mutual Funds

Here’s the next bit of advice from the financial index card: It’s about buying mutual funds. A mutual fund takes a pool of money from investors and buys a basket of securities such as stocks or bonds. They are an important tool investors can use to diversify their portfolios.

Diversification is a way to help reduce risk in your portfolio. Imagine that you had a portfolio that was only invested in one stock. If that company does poorly, your entire portfolio may suffer. Now imagine that you invested in 100 stocks. If one of the stocks does poorly, its effect on the portfolio as a whole will likely be much smaller.

Investors may choose to invest in a target date fund, which holds a diverse selection of stocks and bonds. Investors may use these funds to work toward a goal a number of years down the line.

Say you will retire in 2050, you may choose a target date fund with a provider called the 2050 Fund. As the target date approaches — aka the date at which you’ll likely need your money — the asset allocation inside the fund will typically shift to become more conservative.

Mutual funds typically charge fees to pay for management costs. The fees may take a bite out of your eventual return. Consider looking for target funds that charge lower fees to minimize the amount that you’ll end up paying.

This investing advice can help you grow your wealth and meet your long-term financial goals.

3. Don’t Buy or Sell an Individual Security

Buying and selling individual stocks can be tricky. It’s difficult to know how an individual stock will behave, and choosing stocks can take a lot of time and research. It may be easier for investors to use mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or index funds to gain exposure to many different stocks.

Investors who are interested in adding individual stocks when managing their portfolio may want to consider their overall asset allocation and diversification strategy to be sure that the stock is the right fit.

4. Save 20% of Your Money

Here’s the next bit of advice on the financial index card: Save 20% of your earnings. This saving tip from Pollack dovetails nicely with the popular 50/30/20 budget rule. This rule states:

•  50% of your income should be used to cover your needs, such as car payments, groceries, housing, and utilities.

•  30% of your spending should be used to cover your wants, such as eating out, vacations, or hobbies.

•  20% is the money you save, which can go toward paying down debts, building an emergency fund, or stashing cash for retirement.

Another formula for saving that some experts recommend:

•  Put 12% to 15% toward retirement

•  The remaining 5% to 8% goes toward paying off debt and building an emergency fund.

You can keep track of your savings with various mobile and online savings and budgeting tools. (Check with your bank; they may offer some.)

If it’s not possible for you to save 20% of your income (perhaps you live in a place with a very high cost of living), then save as much as you are able.


💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

5. Pay Your Credit Card Balance in Full Every Month

Credit cards can be extremely convenient, whether you’re renting a car or buying a new refrigerator with all the bells and whistles which you couldn’t otherwise afford.

However, if you start to carry a credit card balance from month to month, your credit card debt may quickly spiral out of control. The average annual percentage rate, or APR, for credit cards currently tops 20%. This rate represents that amount of interest that you’ll pay on the balance of your credit card.

What’s more, many credit cards only require that you make a minimum payment each month — less than the balance you’re carrying. But think twice before making these minimal payments. You can continue to accrue interest, and the time required to pay off the entire amount of debt can be lengthy.

To avoid being sucked into this spiral of revolving credit, follow the financial index card’s advice. You might consider trying to spend only what you can truly afford each month on your credit card and paying off your balance in full, if possible.

6. Maximize Tax-Advantaged Savings Vehicles like Roth, SEP, and 529 Accounts

A 401(k) is not your only option for tax-advantaged accounts. If you’ve earned income — and even if you already have a 401(k) — you can take advantage of traditional or Roth IRAs. Here are some details:

•  Contributions to traditional IRAs are made pretax and then grow tax-deferred. Contributions to Roth IRAs are made after-tax and grow without being taxed.

•  Withdrawals from Roth accounts, when meeting specific criteria, are not subject to income tax.

•  Small business or self-employed workers can take advantage of SEP IRAs, which allow employers to make contributions in an employee’s name.

•  A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account that helps people save to cover qualified education expenses, such as college tuition. These plans are sponsored by states, state agencies, and educational institutions. Contributions to 529 plans are made with after-tax money.

However, savings inside the account grow without being taxed and qualified withdrawals are not subject to tax. Contributions are not federally deductible, but some states allow deductions on state income tax.

Like 401(k)s, these tax-advantaged accounts allow you to supercharge your savings and can make your money work harder for you.

7. Pay Attention to Fees and Avoid Actively Managed Funds

The next point on the financial index card focuses on investing decisions. Actively-managed funds are run by portfolio managers who are trying to find ways to beat market returns. This requires time and manpower, both of which can be expensive.

Actively-managed funds pass this expense on to investors in the form of fees. Investors do have an alternative in index funds, which try to match the returns of an index, such as the S&P 500. They do so by buying all or nearly all of the securities included in the index.

Managing this type of fund takes less time and effort and is therefore typically cheaper than active management. As a result, index funds often have lower fees than actively-managed funds.

The potential to outperform the market may make actively managed funds sound pretty tempting. With an index fund you’re likely not going to do better than the market; the funds are actually aiming to mirror the market.

Understanding this difference can help you assess whether paying fees to go after better-than-the-market results is worthwhile for your financial management.

8. Make Financial Advisors Commit to the Fiduciary Standard

To understand this strategy on the financial index card, it’s helpful to first understand your terms. A fiduciary standard refers to the duty of financial advisors to always work in their customers’ best interests. That may seem like a no-brainer. Wouldn’t all financial advisors do that? Yet, there are myriad opportunities for conflicts of interest to arise in relationships between financial advisors and investors.

For example, advisors may be paid a commission when their clients invest in certain funds. If advisors don’t disclose that information, clients can’t be sure the advisor is suggesting investments because they’re the right fit for their portfolio or because the advisor is paid to use them. Advisors adhering to a fiduciary standard disclose conflicts of interest or avoid them altogether.

Since Pollack’s index card made waves in 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor has tried to issue regulations that all financial advisors maintain a fiduciary standard when overseeing retirement accounts.

The Fifth Circuit Court decided that this ruling was an overreach and shot it down in 2018. In 2023, the DOL put forth a proposal to revive the rule, but as of writing, no changes have been implemented. However, until it is (if ever), investors can ask their advisors whether they adhere to a fiduciary standard, and if they don’t, ask them to commit to doing so.

Another option: Investors may turn to fee-only vs. fee-based advisors, who accept fees from their clients as their only form of compensation. Fee-only advisors by definition operate under a fiduciary standard.

9. Promote Social Insurance Programs to Help People When Things Go Wrong

A rising tide lifts all ships. This final tip on the financial index card is about supporting social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which help keep the population healthy as a whole — financially and literally.

You likely already pay into programs like these through Social Security and Medicare taxes. These are taken straight out of your paycheck if you’re employed, or if you’re self-employed, you pay them yourself. (And even the savviest of investors may need to fall back on government support.)


💡 Quick Tip: The best stock trading app? That’s a personal preference, of course. Generally speaking, though, a great app is one with an intuitive interface and powerful features to help make trades quickly and easily.

The Next Financial Index Card

In 2017, Pollack acknowledged his financial tips were directed toward people of at least middle class means, so he came up with a second index card. This time, he focused more on the needs of those who had a lower income or more financial obligations.

The second financial index card included these points:

•  Set and pursue financial goals that excite you.

•  Follow a budget and track your spending.

•  Pay cash or by check rather than by credit card or payment plan whenever possible.

•  Save consistently, and build a financial reserve.

•  Make sure you are receiving all pertinent public benefits.

•  Make good use of your tax refund and/or your EITC.

•  Don’t buy any financial service/product endorsed by any celebrity.

•  By cheap index funds rather than individual stocks.

•  Invest in your 401(k) if you have access to one.

•  Work with a financial coach.

•  Protect yourself from fraud and abuse.

•  Look into a credit union, even if you have been unbanked.

Start Investing With SoFi

The financial index card is a simple concept, but it can be helpful to many people. Although Pollack’s advice covers a lot, there’s only so much you can fit on an index card. Tips like setting specific financial goals, simplifying your finances, keeping track of your spending (not just your savings), and setting a realistic budget, are also helpful in establishing and maintaining financial wellness.

As always, if you’re struggling to manage your finances, it may be a good idea to speak with a financial professional. A financial index card can help, but marshaling additional resources may not be a bad idea.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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