Financial literacy is the ability to understand how to make sound financial choices, so that one can confidently manage and grow one’s money. A financially literate individual is able to distribute their income towards various goals simultaneously, that implies that a person is not only able to handle their expenses, but also save, repay debt, and maintain a contingency fund too. Being financial literate implies that one is aware of how much they’re earning, including their pay, benefits, and tax withholdings; they know how to save and invest, including creating an emergency fund and setting aside money for both short- and long-term goals; they know how to protect money by buying insurance and knowing how to avoid fraud. Next, they know how to spend wisely through budgeting and comparison shopping; and lastly, they know how to borrow money at the lowest possible interest rate and how to keep credit score strong with responsible repayment habits. A person/individual who is aware of and does these five things right is called a financially literate person.
Financial literacy is very important because it affects our life in every possible way. Understanding how to budget will help to budget, track expenses, and consequently spend wisely. It is an absolute essential to understand and manage debt, if one is financially literate, he/she can choose the best method to get out of debt. A financially literate person knows and understands how emergency funds work, they set aside – ideally three to six months’ expenses – and replenish it when necessary. The added advantage of being financially literate is that it allows you to be smart enough to plan and save for retirement.
Students nowadays are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of financial literacy, they are either taking up courses at universities and colleges in financial accounting and management to make a career in this field, or understanding the concepts to create financial stability for their personal life.
Students have started earning and managing their own expenses, at the same time the focus on academics as well to score good grades, however weekly assignments given to the students come in the way of their growth, so they look for financial accounting assignment writing services to get some financial accounting assignment help, which would save a lot of their time that they could utilize somewhere else.
Now, let’s read about the five components of financial literacy.
- EARN
Taking a good look at the paycheck, identifying the gross and the net income, and note any other deductions to determine the actual monthly income will enable one to spend with a personal budget. - SPEND
A personal budget is the most useful tool to achieve one’s financial goals, and for that one needs to keep a track of their spending. - SAVE and INVEST
Saving should be done with four specific goals in mind – creation of an emergency fund, planning for retirement, saving for a big purchase, and paying off personal debts. - BORROW
Even if one is a diligent saver, there comes a time when borrowing might be required, and it is not a bad thing as long as one knows how to compare interest rates, loans, and maintain a healthy credit score. - PROTECT
It means regularly reviewing bank accounts and credit card statements for any mistakes or suspicious activity; keeping documents and passwords secure to prevent scams and identity theft; and buying the right kind of insurance.
Summary:
Financial literacy is not a luxury – it is a necessity. Understanding money management will help one to keep control over their finances. Do you want to know about the five components of financial literacy? Read this article right away!