Time to Review Your Budget - Adviser Investments

Time to Review Your Budget

We recently talked about how to maintain your financial plan during volatile times, and this week we’ll focus on one of the few things you can control in this pandemic: Expenses.

As we continue to hunker down during the fight against COVID-19, revisiting your budget may seem like the last thing you want to do, but controlling spending could be the key to riding through the outbreak with your finances intact. Here ­­­are a few strategies to consider:

  1. Update the battle plan. In this sudden new reality, it’s time to change your budget strategy. For many, vacations, weddings and nights out are off the table (particularly for those who have lost a source of income). Redeploy those funds towards new priorities like paying down debts or equipment needed to make working from home more seamless. We’d recommend taking the time to revisit (or create) your budget for the next few months with our budget worksheet or by clicking the spending tab on your personal Adviser Insights website.
  2. Build a moat. In times of prolonged uncertainty, your cash reserves provide a welcome spending buffer. As you revise your budget, make sure you’re using cash you’re saving today to build up six months of expenses if you’re single. If you’re married and have children, bump that up to a year.
  3. Buy on sale. If possible, continue contributing to your retirement accounts as before. It may be hard to put money into a declining market, but history tells us that bear markets, while painful, can end as swiftly as they start. And missing out on the recovery could do more damage to your long-term returns than the fall itself.
  4. Maintain morale. As you rework your budget, once you’ve taken care of savings, put a little aside for something that will lift your spirits if you can. Maybe it’s a Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ subscription. Or ordering delivery for yourself or your loved ones to support your favorite restaurants—a little self-care helps all of us focus on how lucky we truly are despite the turmoil that surrounds us.

If you have questions about how to reprioritize your spending or saving plan, or if your circumstances or needs have substantially changed due to recent events, please give us a call. Your wealth management team is here to help answer your questions about expenses and your portfolio or to conduct a comprehensive review of your financial plan.

About Adviser Investments

Adviser is a full-service wealth management firm, offering investment managementfinancial and tax planningmanaged individual bond portfolios, and 401(k) advisory services. We’ve been helping individuals, trusts, institutions and foundations since 1994. Adviser Investments and its subsidiaries have over 5,000 clients across the country and over $8 billion in assets under management. Our portfolios encompass actively managed funds, ETFs, socially responsible investments and tactical asset allocation strategies, and we’re experts on Fidelity and Vanguard mutual funds. We take pride in being The Adviser You Can Talk To. To see a full list of our awards and recognitions, click here, and for more information, please visit www.adviserinvestments.com or call 800-492-6868.


This material is distributed for informational purposes only. The investment ideas and opinions contained herein should not be viewed as recommendations or personal investment advice or considered an offer to buy or sell specific securities. Data and statistics contained in this report are obtained from what we believe to be reliable sources; however, their accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Our statements and opinions are subject to change without notice and should be considered only as part of a diversified portfolio. You may request a free copy of the firm’s Form ADV Part 2, which describes, among other items, risk factors, strategies, affiliations, services offered and fees charged.

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