So you bought a new home, congrats! Now what? Oftentimes we can be so excited about this transaction that we may lose focus on what it is that we actually signed on the dotted line for. So we’re going to cover 5 tips now that you have a new space and are

ready to make it your own!

It can be difficult to actually know the cost of your housing—not just your mortgage or rent, but the total amount you spend for housing. Looking at a number of areas that may not be included or considered will ensure that you actually know what you are spending on your housing. It’s probably more than you thought when you signed on for the mortgage or lease!

Sometimes it’s especially difficult to know how much you should actually spend on your home. We have seen some shocking migration patterns in the last year or so, that have caused both the redefinition of home but also the value placed on home. Looking at three steps to help identify whether you are spending too much on housing is greatly important to ensure that you don’t become house poor. Figuring out what you can comfortably and reasonably pay on an ongoing recurring basis for housing will help you to not lock-in a payment that doesn’t actually fit your lifestyle.

We have seen a surge in the interest for housing and so much in fact that we are experiencing a double-digit increase in pricing over last year. At the current growth rate you and I may be wondering how people afford these increases with relatively stagnant wages. The average new home cost is 5x that of the average household income. In this theme on shelter, we will be covering all things having to do with where you live.

Reviewing the theme on recharge focused on helping you learn the importance of and need for rest. Rest is so important in helping us to properly plan for what matters most to us. Looking at how to apply this theme will help you tremendously in your perspective and management of your personal finances!

What would it be like to feel like everyday is a vacation for you? Unfortunately more than 3/4 of Americans hate their jobs and are not living that way. Figuring out what you value the most and adjusting your life to accommodate what it is that matters most to you will ensure that you are living your best life.

The plan you formulate is only as good as your ability to apply that plan. This is no different with planning for a vacation. Oftentimes it is the little things that eat away at your financial margin preventing you from saving for something like a vacation. Now, of course, we all have them, but it is important to actually build a plan to save up for a vacation and stick to it. Looking at four key areas, this will help you determine what you are saving for. Figuring out how to save up for a vacation instead of using debt to fund it, will prevent that vacation from causing undue stress.

We have all heard about various life hacks, but what about vacation hacks? Most people don’t take vacations because they don’t believe they can afford it, whether monetarily or due to workload. I typically look at four components of taking a vacation in order to limit the costs and maximize the experience. Taking an approach to be mindful of what brings the most value to you and capitalizing on that can prevent you from needing a vacation from your vacation.

Over the last 18-months, we have seen a significant shift in travel behaviors. As the travel restrictions lift, people are traveling more. However, many may be traveling more but not actually traveling in order to get a vacation in order to get downtime and rest. Now how you recharge will depend on your personality type and preferences, but figuring out what your needs are will enable you to vacation based on that. If you are not able to travel, you may consider a staycation. This may allow you to disengage quicker, cheaper, and more easily. Whichever route you take will help you prioritize what matters most to you specifically.

Are you addicted to your job? Wow, that’s a tough question to answer for most. Most would respond with a definite no, but really think about it. Does your job consume you? How often do we so closely relate what we do with who we are that the two are difficult to distinguish? Looking at how this happens and better yet how to gain a proper perspective, will help you take a step back and prioritize.