Omaha insurance agent and philanthropist, suggests the following to ensure financial health for the year ahead and beyond:

• Develop a budget and stick to it. Start by making two columns, one for expenses and the other for income, and total them. Whether you make as much as you spend or not, see where you can cut corners, such as on luxury items, pay down debt and increase savings
• Add line items to your budget such as for taxes, savings, college and vacation funds
• Add financial goals to your everyday calendar, such as paying off student loans by a certain time. Consider paying off the largest balances first and try transferring outstanding balances to lower-interest-rate accounts
• Consistently view credit card and bank records to make sure transactions are accurate and see where you can cut spending
• Pay credit card bills in full, cut up the cards you don’t need and try to use cash whenever possible
• Take advantage of programs through work such as discounts on phones, computers and fitness memberships
• When shopping, buy in bulk, clip coupons, look for sales, shop around, purchase generic or store brand, and stick to the shopping list
• At home, use a programmable thermostat, evaluate the air system to find holes that need repair, and get rid of the home phone and bundle your cell phone plan into a family plan
• Take care of your car’s engine and tires to save on gas and repair
• See if there are any extra expenses you can eliminate, such as getting rid of cable and switching to Netflix or Hulu for a small monthly rate. Some subscriptions like Amazon Prime already come with TV and Video included.

Some of these tips might seem like big changes, however once you start making these changes and seeing results, they become daily/monthly habits. Practicing the

Through hard work, dedication and attending both passionately and professionally to the needs of clients, Manley and his small team at his Farmers Insurance agency in Omaha, Nebraska have grown the agency into the largest Farmers Insurance agency in the state. His agency also is the second largest for the entire Farmers Insurance region.

Manley’s service to the community includes support of the Siena/Francis house, Restoration Exchange, Homeward Bound animal rescue, the Ronald McDonald House, and The Stephen Center.

Give him a call at (402) 391-1656 and he’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.