Financial security is a primary determinant for most of us when making decisions about major life pursuits. Chief among routine benchmarks are graduation from college, change in marital status and/or an expanding family and change in employment status. It is a good thing to periodically evaluate our financial health and to revisit both short and long range economic plans.
Financial needs are generally very personally defined. Considerations include choices about what to wear, how to get around, where to live and the pursuit of social engagements; toss in debt management and planning for retirement. While online financial planning tools and financial planners abound most of us can at least do some of the basic math ourselves. Identifying how much we actually need to meet routine living expenses provides a good foundation.
We do not, however, live by bread alone. Most of us want to factor in some discretionary want funds. Financial Serenity is achieved when we find that very intimate point of balance between want and need, and in the process choose peace of mind over financial anxiety.
Cosmic Gardener - Cultivating a Life 