Horrible with money and really need help

[Anonymous]

I am someone who is classically bad with money and looking to change these habits NOW.

I know there are tons of books, blogs, etc out there, but my eyes just glaze over after a while and I get more and more confused.

I need someone who is really savvy, can apply some tough love, sit down with me and really help me to sort out my finances, help me create a realistic monthly budget, sound investment plan, etc.

Should I go with a financial planner, adviser, etc? Does anyone have any recommendations?

TIA

[Anonymous]

I would recommend looking for credit counselors. Look for ones that are not tied to any "plans" and don't offer any "programs", but just credit counseling. They really have the most experience with people with poor financial habits.

[Anonymous]

Do you belong to church? Some have volunteers (Michelle Singletary is one) who could get you started.

[Anonymous]

try youneedabudget, or a fee only financial planner.

[Anonymous]

Meet me for a beer and I'll slap you silly while looking at your budget. That work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meet me for a beer and I'll slap you silly while looking at your budget. That work?

OP here. That's exactly what I need! When and where? haha

I should also say I am not in debt - thank goodness! - but just need help budgeting and investing.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that.I love budgeting.I know where every penny goes.
Write down your spending for 1 month starting tomorrow.
Have your friends help you see where you spend too much money.Cut the spending,start investing.Start with Roth unless you have one.No adviser needed.
I have another problem.There's nothing in stores worth buying-it's just stuff.
Seems like you have not been interested in having money work for you.You can put it on auto-pilot and forget it.
Mortgage,IRAs,emergency fund, then spend the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meet me for a beer and I'll slap you silly while looking at your budget. That work?

OP here. That's exactly what I need! When and where? haha

I should also say I am not in debt - thank goodness! - but just need help budgeting and investing.

All jokes aside, I'm not a financial advisor, but I'm a early 30s with over a million to my name. Its not magic, its just math. Give me a break down of your expenses and income in an excel format and ill find you money.

[Anonymous]

If you post details here, you'd probably get brutally honest critique of your spending. Of course, you don't know anyone's qualifications and we won't all agree, but it would be free!

[Anonymous]

OP here. That's it. Starting tomorrow (May 1 is a good day as any) I am going to really analyze my spending patterns.

I will take PP's advice and write down every expense for a month so I have a better picture of what's going on.

I also have savings (approx 200K) that are sitting in a freaking savings account because I am too scared/don't know how to invest the funds. I don't know why but I have some weird blocks to educating myself around this process - kind of paralyzed out of fear that I will make a bad investment decision and lose all my savings. But obviously I am making bad decision by NOT doing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That's it. Starting tomorrow (May 1 is a good day as any) I am going to really analyze my spending patterns.

I will take PP's advice and write down every expense for a month so I have a better picture of what's going on.

I also have savings (approx 200K) that are sitting in a freaking savings account because I am too scared/don't know how to invest the funds. I don't know why but I have some weird blocks to educating myself around this process - kind of paralyzed out of fear that I will make a bad investment decision and lose all my savings. But obviously I am making bad decision by NOT doing anything.

Oh boy yes. I am up nearly $90,000 this year already just on the performance of my investments. That needs to be doing SOMETHING.

[Anonymous]

Spend less than you make.

Find out what you make and what you spend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That's it. Starting tomorrow (May 1 is a good day as any) I am going to really analyze my spending patterns.

I will take PP's advice and write down every expense for a month so I have a better picture of what's going on.

I also have savings (approx 200K) that are sitting in a freaking savings account because I am too scared/don't know how to invest the funds. I don't know why but I have some weird blocks to educating myself around this process - kind of paralyzed out of fear that I will make a bad investment decision and lose all my savings. But obviously I am making bad decision by NOT doing anything.

You never said how old you are and what you plan to do with your $200K. Do you need to buy a house in a few years ? or you don't need this $200K for the next 10 years. This will help you on your investment option.

[Anonymous]

Get You Need A Budget and start tracking every dollar this month. It'll change your life.

I'm not a financial planner, but I posted an earlier thread about offering my services as a budgeting coach. You could be my first client!