Post-Pandemic, Time to Re-Assess Your Personal Finances

Post-Pandemic, Time to Re-Assess Your Personal Finances
Selling an investment is a very important part of managing your portfolio. Fotolia
Rodd Mann
Updated:

For two years our nation has had to adapt to an entirely new reality. From social distancing to keeping our sanity while sheltering-in-place, virtually every aspect of our lives has been affected, with new and different ways of social interaction, school, work, and entertainment.

The pandemic started with a shock; our nation shuddered to a stop. Almost no cars were seen on the roads, a few brave people moved carefully through the grocery store aisles, keeping safe distances, while many others had their food either delivered or picked up curbside so they could scurry back home to safety.

Government Help

Government came to the rescue. From the CARES Act to multiple stimulus checks, enough money came in to prevent many of us from suffering serious economic harm. We could eat, and if the assistance wasn’t enough to pay our bills, the debt forbearance program allowed us to forestall making monthly payments for rent, vehicles, student loans, and credit cards. In fact, so much help was provided that many of us were able to sock away more savings during the pandemic than we had before the virus arrived.
That was then. This is now. So, what now? What must we do to take back control of our financial lives and return to the business of living, saving and preparing to retire without being financially strapped?

Jobs Are Plentiful

Today we have good news on the job front. The nation has all but returned to the strongest job market in decades. Jobs are plentiful, so much so that companies are having difficulty hiring. With what we saved from pandemic government assistance, and with a great many jobs to choose from, the future is looking better and brighter. It’s time to rebuild our lives and strengthen our financial future.
A "now hiring" sign is posted in the window of an ice cream shop in Los Angeles, California on January 28, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
A "now hiring" sign is posted in the window of an ice cream shop in Los Angeles, California on January 28, 2022. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

New Technology Continues to Help

New vaccines came to us at “warp speed” through new technologies, but a great deal of other assistance came through these new technologies as well. Remote learning removed the obstacle of face-to-face college courses and expensive tuition. Zoom video conferencing replaced driving to work and settling into your cubicle.

The technology that helped us navigate and survive the pandemic also created numerous money-making opportunities. So-called gigs and side hustles have become the preferred choices for working today, in many cases allowing remote work to continue. Skills are offered and advertised in virtual marketplaces, and those skills can be enhanced through educational tools available on YouTube. We can learn Python programming, for example, online for free.

While we are learning online, we can leverage our existing skills by working from home, providing services—from food delivery to “how-to” advice—based upon our personal knowledge and skills. Online websites like Shopify—where you can build your own store—make it possible for us to offer what we enjoy working on and do well.

Planning and Budgeting

Use this time as an opportunity for reflection. Rather than simply return to all the activities you were accustomed to, why not take a clean slate and list your priorities, including the financial aspect of each one? Start with a simple budget.  List your sources of cash and your anticipated expenses, with as much left over as possible to boost your savings. A goal of saving 20 percent of your expected take-home earnings may be difficult, but it will pay future dividends.  You will sleep better, knowing money is not going to be your chief concern.

With an eye toward future pandemic-like disruptions, take a cautious, careful, and conservative approach toward saving as much as possible. Make your emergency fund a priority! Almost as high a priority should be paying down debt. Avoid the stress that comes with not knowing if you will be able to pay your bills on time.

After the two-year-long pandemic, it's time to review and update your budget and investment plans. (Karolina Grabowska/Pexels)
After the two-year-long pandemic, it's time to review and update your budget and investment plans. Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

Inflation and the Cost of Living

Though the news on the job front is encouraging, inflation is driving up prices, so your expenses will probably be trimmed. Inflation has hit some products and services more than others, so a reshuffle of the ways you spend your money may be required.  Restaurants, for example, have become a far more expensive choice.  That may mean eating out less, choosing less expensive restaurants, and avoiding expensive menu items like alcoholic beverages.

The savings plan you choose will depend upon access to investment opportunities. This may be a good time to find a financial advisor to help walk you through investment options and opportunities. If you can save 20 percent of your take-home pay, your financial advisor may suggest a variety of investment choices that will grow your savings and investment portfolio, all the way to your planned retirement.  A savvy advisor will start with the amount you can save, discuss your retirement savings goals, then work backward to help you make investment choices that reach those goals.

The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are only those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
Rodd Mann
Rodd Mann
Author
Rodd Mann writes about carving out a creative and unique new career in a changing world. His own career has taken him all over the world, working in accounting, finance, materials, logistics and manufacturing operations. Author, teacher, writer, consultant, Rodd has worked in many high-tech roles. Follow him here: www.linkedin.com/in/roddyrmann
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