FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN

Personally, gents no offense, I believe that since the ladies are capable and do manage one of the most difficult institutions in the society, that is their family; they are better at handling expenses (not through credit cards), than most men. This was not a compliment but a truth.

So principally, about 20% to 40% of your income is going to be spent on essential expenses, food, clothes, make-up and cosmetics, rent and commutation. Now before the month starts, calculate and estimate how much you would spend on each item. Also you would need to include some expenditures such as a couple of parties, sleepovers and hangouts while doing so. Some of you may have medical expenses hence consider those too. Listing these out was the first step, next analyze and make a list for identifying the expenses which you can cut down. If you look, observe and think properly, you will notice that except for things such as food, rent and medication, you can cut down on almost everything.

The third step is to make a table of budget with 22-30-31 columns (covering days of a month), whichever is appropriate. In this table, write down the expenses that you have estimated and throughout the month try to stick to them. This can be quite difficult and also quite easy. Since sticking to the budget is not always possible and some unexpected expenses tend to come up, one can always put away certain amount of money as a backup fund.

Financial Planning for Women: Investment

Now this part is the most important of all. After you have paid off all your expenses, you can turn your attention to investments. Again this can take about 30-40% of your income. The following are some excellent options which you can use.

    Life Insurance: If you have a family, then this is the most important investment for you, as a life insurance not only pays off all the returns on investment, but there is a death benefit which is available which ensures your family's financial security and well being. You can invest up to about 10-15% of your income in such an insurance policy.
    Funds and Securities: Mutual funds, variable annuities, Systematic Investment Plans (SIP), Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and other mutually invested funds are medium risk investments. Here you have a 5-7% return on investment along with the total amount that you invested initially. This facility is termed as guaranteed minimum returns facility. Apart from the minimum returns in such schemes, you also receive the bonus and portfolio performance returns, which chiefly depend upon the portfolio performance and also economic conditions. Again this can take up about 10-15% of your income.
    Government Provided Investments: These are the most secure of all as investment options. Channels such as IRA, 401(k), government bonds and certificates tend to provide a good rate of return that accounts to about 5%. Such investments will take up even lesser than 5% of your income.