Properly handling your personal finances is a skill that everyone needs to acquire. Unfortunately, there are far too many people in this country that do not know how to handle their money. Failing to learn these important skills can cause you to struggle financially for your entire life. There is no reason anyone with a decent job should be living paycheck to paycheck. These are the four most important tips to follow for finance beginners. Make Financial Calendar Keeping track of all of your bills and other important financial information can be a little tricky. All it takes is one memory lapse for you to pay an expensive late fee. This is why it is important to use a financial calendar. Put the due dates of all of your bills on this calendar. You can even add the days you get paid, tax information, and other important dates to get a full view of your finances. Create a Budget You will never be able to properly manage your finances without creating a budget. This will give you a detailed look at exactly where all of your money is going every month. Once you have allocated money for all of your necessities, you need to budget no more than 30 percent of your discretionary income for entertainment. Everything that is left over after this should go directly towards savings. Set Financial Goals It is simply much easier to limit your spending and stick to a budget when you create financial goals. You will have more motivation when working towards something you desire. Making these goals finite is the only way to ensure you will not ignore them. Try to save a certain amount of money by an exact date. If you hit the goal, then you can treat yourself to something nice. Monitor Your Credit It is a lot easier to go through life when you have good credit. You will never be able to get the car or house of your dreams if the banks cannot trust you with a loan. The easiest way to boost your credit score is by constantly monitoring your credit. The report will show the problem areas in your credit history so you know what you need to do to raise your score.