3 Estate Planning Tips for New Parents

For many new parents, managing the family finances can prove very challenging. Not only is there now an extra person to account for, there are all the other unexpected costs that come with being a parent. Managing money isn’t something that all of us are naturally good at, but it is something that we can all learn to do; those people who you know who seem to have some kind of mystical power that makes them excellent at managing money are almost certainly following a few simple techniques that anyone can replicate. Below are some top tips for new parents looking for some advice on how to manage their money more efficiently.

Identify Your Goals

The first thing you should do is establish exactly what you want to achieve with your spending. By defining a goal, you will have a way of measuring whether your planning has been successful or not. If you have a spouse or partner, then you should involve them too, and set up regular meetings where you can both review your progress and identify any potential new areas for savings to be made.

For a lot of parents there can be a conflict arising from competing goals; for example, wanting to save for a down payment on a house while also putting money away in the college fund. There is no simple solution to this; you will have to work out for yourself what the most pressing concerns for you and your family are.

Make a Budget and Track Your Spending

Making a realistic budget is the first step in achieving your financial goals. When we fail at tasks, we feel discouraged. Conversely, when we succeed behavior is reinforced. Because of this, it is important to make sure that the budget you put together is achievable or you may well end up discouraging yourself.

If you find that you can’t stick to your budget, then you need to be honest with yourself about whether it is because of a lack of willpower on your part or due to a flaw in the budget you have devised. Gaining control over your finances isn’t a quick process; it takes time, dedication, and perseverance. It is important that you aren’t too hard on yourself or your partner if one of you struggles to adhere to your budget.

Set Up an Emergency Fund

It is always worth putting money away in an emergency fund whenever you can. You never know when you are going to find yourself unexpectedly short of cash, even all the planning in the world won’t protect you from every eventuality.

If any of your savings are tied up in investments then it is worth spending a little extra cash to have those funds managed properly, whether they are investments in stocks, commodities, or real estate.

Having a new baby is an exciting time for parents but it is also perfectly natural to have some worries, particularly regarding your financial situation. Effective estate planning will help new parents to relieve some of the pressure they feel. If this is something that you are interested in implementing into your will, you might require the services of an attorney you can trust in the managing of your estate. Developing a plan for your needs and specific family dynamics is important and you can look ahead to learn more about this from a law firm that specializes in estate planning.