How To Balance Saving And Tackling Debt | Women Talk Money | Fidelity Investments

Financial Planning Fundamentals - The session focuses on refreshing financial fundamentals: spending, saving, and paying down debt [1] - The session introduces an eight-step plan to grow savings and pay down debt simultaneously [1] - The "Four-Quadrant Exercise" helps organize finances by categorizing assets into owe, own, earn, and spend [1] - Fidelity's "Full View" tool allows users to digitally input financial information for a comprehensive overview [1] Budgeting Guidelines - The 50-15-5 guideline suggests allocating no more than 50% of pre-tax income to essential expenses, 15% to retirement savings (including employer match), and 5% to short-term/emergency savings [1] - The remaining 30% is allocated for "want-to-haves" or discretionary spending [1] - The industry emphasizes that the 50-15-5 framework is a guideline and should be adjusted based on individual circumstances [1][2] Debt Management and Credit Score - Making minimum payments on time is crucial to protect credit scores [2] - Building an initial cash buffer, such as $1,000 or one month's rent, is recommended for emergencies [2] - The snowball and avalanche methods are two common strategies for paying down credit card debt [3] - If unable to pay credit card bills, the industry recommends stopping card usage, contacting the issuer to negotiate, and exploring credit counseling [4] Retirement Planning - Contributing enough to capture the employer match in a 401(k) or 403(b) is essential [2] - If there is no employer-sponsored plan, consider contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA [3] - The industry highlights the importance of saving for the future, especially for women, due to factors like the pay gap and caregiving duties [3] Additional Tips - The industry suggests considering side hustles to increase income [5] - The industry recommends exploring ways to cut expenses by 10%, such as negotiating rates and embracing home cooking [6] - The "Rule of 6%" suggests prioritizing paying off debts with interest rates of 6% or greater before additional investing [5]