Spending, saving, investing, and tax tips for the year ahead
What a strange, stressful, unpredictable past couple of years we’ve had. Just as many people are adopting wellness habits that will continue to keep them feeling their best in a post-pandemic world, many people are also adopting healthier financial habits that will help them make the most of their money, avoid debt, and live prosperously no matter what surprises they face.
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or you’re just starting to set money aside in a savings account, there’s always going to be that element of what if? What if the market takes a downward turn? What if I find myself in an expensive emergency? What if my income is a comfortable amount for the first time in memory?
Coming up with a savings and investing plan isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice—instead, you need to create one that’s uniquely suited to your resources and your goals. But there are certain parameters you should keep in mind if you’re resolving to make the year ahead your most lucrative yet.
New Year, New Habits
If you’re committed to making a money-related new year’s resolution, let it be a combination of setting aside savings and paying down your debt. These two actions are crucial to good financial well-being, but far too few individuals adhere to them.
“Saving is critical,” says Ann Alsina with CovingtonAlsina. “The average American can’t meet an unexpected $400 expense. Having savings on hand is both offense and defense. When life happens, your savings keeps things running.”
But savings are about more than simply having money on hand to handle unexpected problems life throws your way. Having a little bit extra set aside will mean you have discretionary money you can put into financial opportunities that arise—thus, you’re making better use of your money.
“Financial planning makes a big switch when you shift from accumulation to distribution—going from saving to spending,” Alsina says. “The way we invest is completely different. Our insurance needs change as well. When you’re younger, disability and life insurance play a big role. As we age, long-term care insurance and umbrella policies to protect our assets become a priority.”
How much should the average person have set aside? Leaders in the industry recommend having enough to cover three months’ of living expenses at the very least, though as much as six months’ worth is preferable. These savings can be cash in the bank, investments, or some combination thereof.
The other important move is to pay down your debt, particularly credit card debt. Because debt incurs interest, you are losing more money over the time you take to pay it off. Credit card debt is especially bad because, unlike assets that appreciate over time, such as your home or your car, this kind of debt doesn’t actually hold any value to you.
Once you’ve tackled saving money and paying off debt, you have a good start, according to Larissa Costello with Ad Astra Wealth Management. “Beyond that, always start with a financial plan,” she says. “Review the plan periodically. Do not lose sight of your goals.”
What to Expect from 2022
You wouldn’t be wrong to be a little pessimistic about the market in 2022. After all, effects from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger in nearly every industry, and the economy has been slow to recover.
You might have noticed that the prices of many goods increased over the course of the pandemic. With so many countries going into lockdown, along with any businesses based in them, output decreased and products became in short supply. Unfortunately, demand for those products stayed the same—or, in some cases, increased. With smaller supply and greater demand, prices increase. And when there’s more money going after fewer goods, inflation results.
“People will pay a premium to get something now, rather than wait,” Alsina says. “We’re also starting to see wages increase as people have been reluctant to return to work after the shutdown.”
Although grocery stores are fully stocked with toilet paper and bread again, the effects of shutdowns continue. “Almost two years later, we are still dealing with the short supply and difficulty finding workers to fill the needs,” Costello explains. “History has taught us that prices rise much faster than they come down.”
These higher prices aren’t felt the same by everyone. Consumers with fixed incomes, such as retirees, or those with lower incomes feel the burden of expense much more than people with a greater discretionary spending budget. Somebody without a financial plan or without the ability to wait for a market rebound might have gotten rid of their assets early in the pandemic and lost money; however, others who kept their assets saw, as Costello puts it, “a serious increase in their investments in nearly every market.”
Despite this, experts see reason for optimism, even if it’s impossible to say for certain. Alsina notes that some economists are predicting a positive year for the market—a bit of a surprise given the rising concern of looming inflation.
The more important thing to consider is what you can afford to do in the longer term. If you invest in assets you can hold onto for long enough for them to appreciate, you’ll come out on top whether any one year is a bull market or a bear.
“Experience has taught us that, short term, the market will rise and fall,” Costello says. “Often without any real explanation. No matter how smart the analyst is, being able to predict with any consistency what the indexes will do short term is a fool’s game. Longer term, those who can wait out the volatility find they win. Hence the need for financial plans and emergency funds.”
For anyone looking to plan investments in 2022, Costello recommends they create a mix of assets that are appropriate for their unique needs. These will be determined by factors like age, risk tolerance, time frame, and liquidity needs.
“Trying to find that one investment that is going to blow the doors off is the surest way to lose money,” Costello says. The “meme stock” craze of 2021, ignited by the Reddit forum “r/wallstreetbets” and fueled by speculation around several select stocks, most notably GameStop and AMC, is a perfect example of high risk/reward that, ultimately, lost money for a large percentage of new investors. “Remember no one brags about the 10 investments that lost money, only the one that went up.”
Changes You Should Know About
If you’ve had some trouble following the tax changes and other legislation throughout 2020 and 2021, you’re not alone. But as you’re preparing your taxes for the April 15, 2022, deadline, there are still a few important notes you should keep in mind.
Most notably, there are still some taxpayers who are entitled to the third stimulus payment, which was issued in March 2021, but did not receive it. Michelle Crislip of Integrity Tax and Small Business Solutions explains that this is a 2021 stimulus payment and can be requested on your 2021 tax return. Additionally, business meals are 100 percent tax deductible this year, as opposed to years past when they were only 50 percent deductible.
Then there’s the child tax credit. “Taxpayers who are receiving the monthly advance on the child tax credit need to be aware that it is an advance of their 2021 child tax credit,” Crislip says.
“Anyone who has received the monthly payments will need to know the amount received when preparing their 2021 tax return. This is an advance of their child tax credit and will therefore reduce the amount still owed to them with the filing of their tax return. This may result in a smaller refund since they already received some of the credit.”
Making Your Checklist
If this info makes you feel more confident about your finances as you head into 2022 — great! Now the only thing left is to put together your to-do list. And while your to-do list won’t be exactly the same as somebody else’s, here are a few important items you should consider including:
Review your 2021 bank statements: This will help you assess where you’re losing money unnecessarily, such as overdraft charges, withdrawal fees, late payment charges, or interest. Evaluate how you can avoid certain fees—some charges might even be able to be waived by your bank.
Review your 2021 expenditures: In other words, where are you spending your money? When you take a critical look at your past expenditures, it can help you assess how much useless spending you’re engaging in and how you can apply that toward savings or investing so it can help you reach your financial goals in the long term.
Plan your 2022 expenditures: Saving is easier when you have a budget, and the first step to creating an annual budget is to figure out exactly what big spending you have to do. Additionally, this will help you figure out which of your expenditures have long-term value.
Analyze your savings opportunities: If reviewing or planning your expenditures helps you realize you potentially have excess money to set aside, figure out which options are best for your needs. Some of it can go aside in a savings account, but you might want to put other dollars towards stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
Consider fund diversification: You know the expression “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? That applies here. When you have a diverse portfolio of investments, you minimize your risk of loss. If one investment turns out to be bad, you still have money in other investments (and you can afford to wait patiently to see whether the depreciated investment improves).
Consult the right professionals: Not all financial professionals do the same thing, and you should see out the one that best fits your needs. A CPA, or certified personal accountant, works to help you minimize your tax liability. They are not the same as a financial planner, who helps provide guidance and advice on investment strategy.
