On Defense With Your Money

Taking a breather from thinking other topics, this is something I wrote recently about personal finance. I should note that it's directed toward Americans.

Gaining financial independence won’t happen overnight, nor will it happen only by cutting expenses and getting rid of non-essential items. But that’s the best place to begin.

As many sports fans say, defense wins championships.

Playing great defense with your money is the best way to rack up small victories and quick wins in your quest to achieve financial security. It’s perhaps the first thing you should think of regarding ways to boost income. Defense is where you learn what you truly need and hone your sense of discipline.

Some people might first think of trying to earn more money, and thereby keep more of it. That’s great--nothing wrong with making more! I’m all for that, but defense comes first. Simply trying to bring in more money won’t make you rich if you haven’t learned how to use it.

If you can’t manage $500 well every month, you won’t manage $2,000 much better.

“The really good business manager doesn’t wake up in the morning and say ‘Today I am going to cut costs’ any more than he wakes up and decides to practice breathing.”
-Warren Buffett

Think about what’s under your control. Choosing to play great defense is almost entirely up to you, unlike getting a raise at your job, returns in the stock market, or clients hiring you as a freelancer. These aren’t bad things, but they aren’t as much of a sure bet.

If you cut costs, you immediately keep that money. It’s a guaranteed win for you.

Think about where you can cut costs. I bet there are a number of ways. Here are a few quick suggestions from my own life.

The Gym. Do you use it? Is it worth your money? For many gym members, it’s not worth the expense, especially if it’s more of an aspirational statement rather than part of an actual routine. I gave this up. I run almost every day, and it doesn’t cost me anything.

TV & Cable. Spending lots of time and money on TV is a good way to be less healthy and keep less of your money. The same is true of many entertainment choices.

Fees. You’re being charged fees on all the financial accounts and products you have. By looking at these critically, you can almost certainly find cheaper options. If you have investments, look for things like low expense ratios and low administrative fees.

Saving your credit card. By having your credit card(s) saved on websites like Amazon, you make it easier to have them stolen and you make it easier to buy things. That’s exactly the opposite of what you want. You want to cut down on impulse buys. (See? We still talk about psychology in this post.)

Car. Drive the kind of car you need, not the newest or the biggest. Don’t get caught up in those TV ads with cars doing all sorts of rough-and-tumble things you never actually do. What it does on a closed track with a professional driver is completely irrelevant to you. Don’t get taken in. You may not even need to own a car.

Add 25%. Remember that everything you buy is bought with after-tax income, meaning that you should add 25% to account for your tax bracket. (25% is easy math, even if it’s not your bracket.) Keeping this in mind can only help you cut spending. And if your state has a state income tax, you're paying even more with every dollar you spend.

Timing. Most things have some element of timing built into the price. Restaurants with happy hours or special deals, stores offering time-sensitive deals, vacation spots with off-season discounts...you get the idea. Use it to your advantage.

Lifestyle creep. Avoid it. Stay away from spending more on luxury goods like high-end gadgets or designer clothing just because you can. That’s a good way to end up owing more than you own, spending more than you keep. What you keep matters more than what you earn.

Save more than 10%. No matter your income, you’ll likely thank yourself later in life for saving more now. Compound interest needs time to work in your favor, and you need to give it a push. It’s commonly recommended to save 10%, but I see this as pretty insufficient in a world of longer lifetimes, potentially lengthier retirements, and rising healthcare costs. I don't want to be too alarmist, but you need to try to save more if you can.

Keep the network alive. This relates more to advancing in your career than it does saving money right now, but staying connected with people you’ve known in the past or work with now can only help you. Even if you don’t stand to benefit right now, continue building your relationships by helping those you can. This kind of human capital pays dividends too.