If you have trouble with personal finance and budget balance, you’re not alone! Many people find themselves in financial trouble and debt because they just don’t understand how to manage their money! If this is you, read on for some simple ideas on managing your money and keeping yourself out of debt!
Set up a bank account for emergency funds, and do not use it for any daily expenses. An emergency fund should only be used for any unexpected expense that is out of the ordinary. Keeping your emergency fund separate from your regular account will give you the peace of mind that you will have money to use when you most need it.
Track all your spending through the day. Even the small, inconsequential purchases. You may be surprised at what you spend. If you put it away then you may completely forget about it. Try listing how much you spend on a whiteboard set up in your office or den. You will look at it every day and be reminded of what you need to do.
Don’t assume you need to buy a used car. The demand for good, low mileage used cars has gone up in recent years. This means that the cost of these cars makes it hard to find a good deal. Used cars also carry higher interest rates. So take a look at the long term cost, compared to an entry level new car. It might be the smarter financial option.
If you have more than one credit card – cut it up. Don’t use credit cards to spend money you don’t have. This is the easiest way to find yourself waist deep in debt. If you do all of your shopping with cash, you won’t be able to spend more than you have.
Attempting to stay as healthy as possible and curing any minor sicknesses at home will prevent one from making trips to the hospital that are not necessary. These trips that are avoided will save one large amounts out of their personal finances. Any trip that is avoided will surely save one money.
Sometimes your credit score may be penalized by shutting down all of your credit card accounts at once. You can continue to pay on all of your accounts, but consider carrying only one or two cards in your purse or wallet at any time. You will be forced to carefully choose your credit purchases and avoid temptation.
If you have your debt spread into many different places, it may be helpful to ask a bank for a consolidation loan which pays off all of your smaller debts and acts as one big loan with one monthly payment. Make sure to do the math and determine whether this really will save you money though, and always shop around.
If you are using a checking account that has fees save yourself the hassle and open a free checking account. You can save a lot of money every month by just switching to a bank that does not charge fees for transactions, etc. Shop around and find the best bank for you!
Be energy efficient! Change all of the light bulbs in your home to CFL lights, use energy efficient appliances, even if you have to buy new ones! This will save you money on your electric bill and perhaps even get you tax credits when tax season rolls around! Check tax laws to find out!
Maintaining good credit lets you buy the stuff that’s hard to buy with cash, such as a car or home. If you find that you can’t get a good interest rate for a big dream item, don’t just wish for a miracle. Fix your credit. Begin by reviewing your credit report and investigating any anomalies.
A great personal finance tip that can help you save money is to head to the library when you feel like reading. Checking a book out at the public library is free. Next time you’re at the bookstore, remind yourself that you can read the same book for free at the library.
If you want to save money, avoid eating out all the time. Eating at a restaurant is okay once in while but doing it all the time will really hurt your pocketbook. Not only do you have to worry about paying the bill, but you have to pay a tip and you are using gas to get there.
If you want to be able to efficiently manage your personal finances one of the things that you need to define is your budget. Not having a defined budget is like driving a car without a steering wheel. A well defined budget will help you define your priorities in terms of spending.
From a personal finance point of view, it is better to buy your car used. A new car depreciates immediately upon leaving the lot. If you buy used, someone else has already paid for that depreciation. Used cars can often be found with low mileage, and in great condition. Just shop around to be sure you’re getting the best deal.
Banks are more inclined to lend money to people who don’t really need to borrow it, so this means you cannot appear to be desperate if you’re seeking a loan. Make sure you have a strong co-signer, tidy up your credit score, and present a great case about why you need to take out a loan.
As a person acting responsibly and trying to get a hold on his or her personal finances, you can look to many areas in order to trim the fat. Try knocking out that subscription to Time Magazine and watch the news instead. Ditch that Netflix monthly premium and wait for your movies to come on cable. There are many areas to trim.
As you can see, managing your personal finances is simple once you know the basics of record keeping and controlling your spending. If you’re one of those people who have trouble with money, apply the tips you’ve read now to start getting yourself out of debt and into a comfortable savings.