By Jerry Mooney

Keeping a grip on your finances can be tricky. You think you’ve got the balancing act just right, and then your car breaks down, your washing machine goes kaputt, or an unexpected bill falls through your door. These kinds of things always hit you out of the blue, so for this reason it’s important to plan ahead and future proof your finances. Here are a few ways you can go about it.

Create a Budget

A budget isn’t just useful if you’re looking to cut back; it’s absolutely essential to the smooth running of any household. You need to work out exactly what comes in and goes out each month, taking into account all of your essential bills plus entertainment and everything else. If you’re crippled by debt, a company like debtsettlement.co can work to reduce or write off debt making life much easier. That way you’re less likely to overspend, and any money that’s freed up can be used towards more useful things instead of just being wasted.

Take Out Home Insurance

Insurance is a good backup plan. If the worst were to happen, and your home was flooded, a fire broke out, or you were burgled home insurance means you won’t be left out of pocket. Many will even cover for accidental damage. It might be annoying paying out every month, but should you ever need it you’ll thank your lucky stars that you took out a policy. A great guide that explains what home owner’s insurance does and does not cover has been published by Simply Insurance.

Write a Will

Many people avoid having a will made out, no one wants to sit and think about death. However creating one can be vital for your family’s future, and it’s easier than you’d think to have one put together. In the sad event that you do pass away, you’ll know you did everything you could for your family, and your assets will be divided up the way you want them to.

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Save For an Emergency Fund

Having money put away for a rainy day is one of the most responsible things you can do in your adult life. If you ever do need access to cash, then you’ll have it, without needing to rush around borrowing from loved ones or getting into debt with credit. Even if you have a savings account for things like buying a car, a house or any other large purchase, have a separate emergency fund that only ever gets touched during emergencies. You could you could transfer a small percentage of your wages into the account each month, it gives you peace of mind and could make a stressful situation in future run far more smoothly.

A few simple changes and precautions now can save you a whole lot of hassle in future. Being responsible with your money is one of the best things you can do, so make sure you are thinking ahead and not just living month to month.

Have you future proofed your finances? What would you do if you were hit with a tough financial situation, would you have the money in place to put things right?

Jerry Mooney is co-founder and managing editor of zenruption and the author of History Yoghurt and the Moon. He studied at the University of Munich and Lewis and Clark College where he received his BA in International Affairs and West European Studies. He has recently taught Language and Communications at a small, private college and owned various businesses, including an investment company. Jerry is committed to zenrupting the forces that block social, political and economic justice. He can also be found on Twitter.