By Peter Kamuri
Everyone’s dream is to create wealth.
For the poor, their goal is to climb that financial ladder, as fast as possible.
The wealthy one’s are not an exception; they also dream to create more and more riches.
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to this dream.
The few shortcuts that might be there are laden with risks and uncertainties such that they are not worthy pursuing.
One critical way to create and accumulate wealth is by being financially responsible.
It is all about prudently managing the money that comes your way to help you meet your financial obligations and have the surplus as savings.
Personal finance experts say that financial responsibility starts with one’s ability to live within his or her means.
This is all about making more than you spend.
"Living within your means allows you to save. This is the first step towards creating and accumulating wealth.
Ability to save is an indicator that you are financially responsible and people who take this seriously are surely on the right track towards financial independence," says Henry Gambo, a financial expert.
But Gambo cautions: "Establishing a saving routine is not easy. You must come up with both short and long-term goals that will help you achieve what you want. Good planning is key to saving even when the cost of living is high."
Experts say that unless you have inherited some wealth, creating wealth is about growing your income or cutting on your expenses.
However, the growth of your income is not spontaneous, as you must overcome the challenges that hold you back.
"You should focus on outgrowing the challenges that could be holding you back. If you are working, get paid for what you do. In circumstances that what you are taking home is not enough to take care of all your needs, utilise it well by developing good money-management skills that will save you money," he says.
It always takes a good deal of commitment and sacrifice for you to get financial independence.
But when you are financially responsible, many benefits can come by your way and may overshadow the setbacks that you may have faced.
Monthly budget
"Having a personal budget is one of the critical ways to show that you are financially responsible. An accurate budget allows you to know where your money is going. This in turn will give you the ability to calculate exactly how much you can afford to set aside as savings," says Gambo.
He advises that when setting a budget, one should determine the period of time it is going to cover.
"It could be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. Most people prefer to make a monthly budget as this is when most bills are paid."
Experts say that you need to work out how much you make for the period you are budgeting for.
Your income may include salaries and other supplementary incomes like part-time jobs and investments.
"When you establish how much your take home is, you will be required to figure out how much you are likely to spend over the period you are budgeting for," he says.
He claims that the ability to keep good record is another indicator that can show you have financially responsible.
"To many people, this is the hardest part as they forget to keep track of their income and expenditure to know whether they are living within their budgets."
Financial experts say planning for the unexpected is another important step towards financial responsibility.
Contingent fund will cushion you against the unforeseen risks like an accident or a loss of job.
Experts concur that one’s financial worth is equivalent to the number of months he or she can stay without a regular income.
"Financial responsibly also means ability to meet all your financial obligations. You should be capable of taking care of your family and pay your bills in time. Failure to meet some of these liabilities is an indicator that you are also unlikely to have money to save and create wealth," says Gambo.
Financial goals
He adds, "To realise this, you need to have a set clear goals. Determine how much you will set aside regularly to reach the set goal in a reasonable duration. The amount of money you save should be guided by your financial goals. Be realistic and save what you can afford."
The personal financial expert observes that there is no way you can accumulate wealth when you do not know how and where to keep your money.
"A savings accounts can provide you a safe and suitable place to keep your money so that you can use it later. Before opening the account, determine the monthly fees and charges," he says.
Gambo says that to show financial responsibility, you must keep debts at bay. These can easily stop you on your way to amass wealth.
"Always avoid impulsive buying as this can makes you overshoot your budget. Ensure you pay off your credit card debts in time. by sticking to your budget, you are likely to live within your means."
Financial responsibility is a sure way to create and accumulate wealth.
However, you must know that this does not always come easy, even for the most responsible and intelligent people.
Many become weighed down other demands and find it difficult to remain on track.
But even after wealth accumulation, experts say it is critical that you undergo wealth management, an investment advisory discipline that incorporates financial planning and investment portfolio management.
In this case, high net worth individuals, small business owners and families who desire the assistance of a credentialed financial advisory specialist call upon wealth managers.
In most cases, with wealth management advisory team would rarely undergo financial stress as their money is put into respobile users.