Before a sky scraper can reach for the clouds, it needs a very strong foundation. Once the building is complete, the foundation is virtually unseen. The same goes for our financial strategies. Following are the basics of a strong financial foundation:

Budget – Governments and businesses use budgets to properly allocate resources. It’s known as good business. A budget can help you figure out where your hard earned income is going and to identify ways to cut spending or increase savings.

Rainy day and opportunity fund – Unforeseen emergencies and opportunities catch far too many of us by surprise. Such things as job loss, major repairs or investment opportunities are much easier to deal with if we have the funds available at the time. Debt is not a good way to handle these events. A minimum of three months’ income is recommended. Six to twelve months is even better.