3 Financial Planning Tips for Women

1. Have your own goals

Being a woman, we often put the goals and objectives of others before our own needs. At least, that’s what I was taught to do growing up. I, later on, realized that as I put other’s needs and goals before my own, I also might end up being dependent on others’ opinions, decisions, and be influenced by their decision-making. To be financially independent, I learn to put my own wants and needs first. I set an achievable goal for myself, to be a better me today than yesterday, and the day before. Financial planning takes a big part in this journey. For example, you want to have a nice affordable house so that you don’t have to rent, and that one day when you have a baby, you can have a place you truly can call home. Your husband, on the other hand, wants to have a really nice fancy car, so you guys feel good about the life that you are living. The idea of having a nice fancy car sounds so great, especially since you are already living in a really nice house that you are renting. Is it necessary to save up or should you just live your life and buy the car? Would you plan and make your financial decisions based on your goal or your husband’s wants?

2. Surround yourself with like-minded people or similar mindsets

I am not saying to stop hanging out with people that don’t see things the same way you see things. I am saying to surround yourself or connect yourself more with like-minded people because you will help motivate each other to accomplish your dreams. For example, you have a group of friends that love shopping and cannot say no to the things that they like when they go shopping. You also have a group of friends that always talk about their financial goals, what they want to achieve, when they want things to happen, they share with you what they are doing to be on the way to their financial success. If you go shopping with the first group of friends on a regular basis, more often than not, you will be spending more money. If you have little tea parties with your second group of friends on a regular basis, more often than not, you find yourself paying attention to what you spend, what you make, you think more about your financial decision making, and you end up saving more money.

3. Raise your voice

As a woman being raised in a very traditional Asian family, I was taught and learned to not speak up, to not raise my voice. Then life taught me to unlearn the act of not speaking up, and learn the act of raising my voice. It starts with something as simple as asking questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question and you should never feel like people are talking down to you or over you. You should not be rushed into making decisions or be influenced by anyone. Any financial decisions that you make should come from your own evaluation, especially financial decisions are one that will affect you and your loved ones throughout your lifetime.

Jennifer Nguyen

CEO

Jenn Financial Solutions