Fitness. Likely what comes to mind when we hear that word is something related to eating well, regular exercise, and getting your daily dose of vitamins. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think that myself. When we talk about fitness, we think about setting our goals, tracking any changes, and hopefully seeing results that reinforce our behaviors and choices.

Outside of physical health, the idea of fitness can apply to several other areas of life. Financial fitness does not hold the popularity in our society that paleo and ketogenic diets do; however, financial fitness holds equal importance. Financial fitness entails being conscious of the daily decisions you make that impact the money you earn, save, spend, and invest. Whether you like it or not, your financial situation will dictate many factors in your life and ignoring that will be like ignoring high blood pressure. If it doesn’t get addressed and controlled, it will get progressively worse and cause damage down the road.

You don’t need to be a financial expert to get a hold of your finances. Understanding the basics is essential and once circumstances get too complex, bringing in a professional is a great option. However, even with a professional involved, it is imperative to still understand where your money is coming from, what it is doing for you, and what direction you are headed.