5 Ways to Take Charge of Your Spending

Nov 7, 2023

A few simple steps can help you create a spending plan, which will be a part of the financial foundation that supports your goals and dreams.

Key Takeaways

  • Creating a budget can be an empowering way to make sure you are maximizing your income.
  • Tracking your earnings can help you identify patterns for months where income may have spiked or dipped. 

  • Every few months, review your income and spending, and adjust as needed.

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When you achieve more success on the court, you may earn more prize money and other income. That’s a good thing! Earning more money is a sign that it’s time to put your money to work with a solid saving and investing plan. Your goal should be to set yourself up for financial success—and have a backup plan in case of injury, a drop in performance or other unforeseen events that may have an impact on your earnings.

 

Creating a budget may seem like a lot of work, but if you think of it as a “spending plan,” it can be an empowering way to make the most of your income. Best of all, creating your spending plan takes just a few simple steps. 

 

1. Calculate your average monthly income

Your prize money will likely depend on the tournament you’re in and which round you reach, so it may be difficult to estimate your earnings before competing. Instead, add up your earnings over the past year and look for patterns, including months where income may have increased or decreased. You can review your year-end prize money summary on the WTA PlayerZone, and include any additional income you may have earned, including sponsorships, endorsements or other income sources.

 

Divide the total amount for the year by 12 to better understand how much you can spend each month. If you want to be especially cautious, consider working with the amount from one of your low-earning months and use that as your monthly income for the purposes of budgeting.

 

2. List your fixed expenses

A “fixed expense” is a recurring expense that does not change much from month to month. This may include: 

 

  • Rent or mortgage
  • Utilities 
  • Mobile phone
  • Insurance premiums
  • Coaching costs
  • Gym membership
  • Car payment

 

Create a list of your personal fixed expenses and how much they cost per month. Consider including monthly savings as a fixed expense, so you can develop the habit of paying yourself first every month. Your savings goal can be a minimum amount or a percentage of your income, so you save more when you earn more. As a pro athlete, you set and attain goals daily, so use the same discipline in your finances to see the results in your financial plan.

 

3. Estimage your variable expenses

A “variable expense” may not occur on a regular basis, or the price may change depending on where you are. This can include your meals, airfare, hotel costs, gifts or vacations. Consider reviewing several months of your credit card bills or bank statements to calculate how much you typically spend in each category. Even though these costs can change, it’s important to add these items to your spending plan so you can plan for the cost. 

If you’re consistently earning more than you spend, focus on paying down any debt you might have and increase the minimum amount you save.
 

4. Analyze the numbers

Once you know your fixed and variable costs for each month, the next step is adding them together. This number represents your total monthly expenses. Subtract that total from your monthly earnings. This calculation will show you how much you’re earning and spending on a monthly basis. Your focus each month should be on spending less than what you’re earning. If you’re left with a negative number, you’re spending more than you’re making and will need to adjust your spending plan. If you’re consistently earning more than you spend, focus on paying down any debt you might have and increase the minimum amount you save.

 

5. Track your progress

It’s important to remember that your budget will change over time—and that’s OK. To help stay on track, consider reviewing your income and expenses every few months and adjust where needed. For example, you may have a high-earning month that allows you to save six months of expenses in an emergency fund. This scenario may also give you some flexibility to contribute additional income toward saving for retirement, making charitable donations or focusing on investment priorities. 

 

One of the great things about taking control of your money with a spending plan is that you’re in charge. When you understand how to calculate the amount of money you have coming in—and how much you are spending each month—you can make the right decisions to help protect yourself in an unforeseen setback and, ultimately, exceed your goals. 

 

 

Personalized Financial Advice

Build a plan to help you navigate your complex financial decisions and achieve the future you want, with a Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment Financial Advisor dedicated to serving the needs of professional athletes.

 

Start the conversation: whatmovesyou@morganstanley.com

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