(upbeat music) (cymbals crashing lightly) Welcome to "Income, Saving and Banking." These lessons will focus on managing income and saving money. There are various strategies for income management that often depend on what stage of life you're in. You will also learn about meeting financial goals through budgeting. These lessons will cover a general overview of taxes, banking, and personal account management. When it comes to income management, many people simply have their paycheck deposited into their banking account and proceed to spend it right away. Relying solely on a single source of income without much management can lead some people to live in a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. To manage income effectively, you'll need to have a strategic approach. To realistically set your goals and expectations for income management, you have to be aware of your current financial situation. Imagine someone working a minimum wage job while finishing school, but they expect to earn a much higher income soon after graduating. Perhaps someone else is planning to retire in the next few years so they expect a major reduction in a income. Everyone has a different situation in life so you'll need to customize a strategy that works best for you. Income management strategies will differ depending on your stage of life. For example, recent college graduates with entry level jobs maybe more focused on affording their basic lifestyle needs, as well as paying off student loans and saving for their future. People who are at a stage in life where their income is actively growing, whether they're raising a family or running a business may have different needs. At this stage, many of their income management efforts will need to for additional expenses that can come with owning a business or providing for a household. Investing, saving and accumulating assets are typically part of these types of individual strategies to better manage their money. For example, saving for retirement can become increasingly important because it often takes decades to accumulate enough to retire comfortably. Many employers offer their employees an option for retirement savings accounts. In the United States, this is often referred to as a 401(k). There are also individual retirement counts, or IRAs. Many other countries have similar programs to these. The idea is to save for retirement so citizens don't have to solely rely on a state pension such as Social Security in the U.S. It's also wise to save for emergencies. Even a small amount put aside from each paycheck can help you accumulate enough money over time to cover unexpected expenses. To manage your income effectively, you should track your spending habits to see where your money typically goes. By analyzing your spending, you might be able to determine which habits do and don't fulfill your needs, or whether do they add value to the quality of your lifestyle. Some common lifestyle habits that can accumulate additional expenses might be hobbies, travel, streaming services, or other forms of entertainment. Most of these aren't really a necessity. Once you're a aware of your spending habits and you learn how to adjust them, it might be easier to create a budget and stick to one. Try to avoid extreme measures to save most of your money. It's important that you allocate enough money for your basic needs and general expenses that are necessary or useful for your lifestyle. Extreme budgets are like extreme diets. They aren't always realistic, and you might not stick with it long term. When budgeting, you should also account for your savings goals. It's possible for lower and higher income individuals alike to set and meet their own saving goals. It's important to learn how to manage your unique income so you can fulfill your lifestyle as much as possible while still being able to save cash or invest.