Being on top of your finances can be confusing and hard at times. If you track each expense, it is easier to maintain a budget. There are many tools available to you which can make this process easier, so that you can know where your money goes.
Invest in a small accordion style envelope and always have it on hand. That way, you have a safe place you can store business cards and receipts. You want to hold on to these so you have a record later. You might need these receipts later to compare against your credit card’s monthly statements in case a double charge or other error shows up.
When investing, refrain from ones that have large fees. Brokers do collect a fee for their services, of course. These fees can eat into your returns. Most of your investment funds should go toward your actual investment, not high commissions or management fees.
Try using the automatic withdrawal plan at your bank so that you will automatically have money transferred into your savings account at regular intervals. This can be a great way to ensure that you save consistently without having to maintain rigorous self-discipline. It can also be useful for when you are trying to save enough money for a major event, such as a cruise or a wedding.
Use from two to four credit cards to gain a good credit score. Using one credit card will make it harder to build your credit up, however, using too many cards can also negatively impact your credit. Begin by having two cards, and add more cards as your credit improves.
A great way to save money is to swap out all of your regular light bulbs for CFLs. This will lower the cost of your electricity bill, and also help out the environment. CFL bulbs also save you money and trouble because they don’t need to be replaced as often. You’ll buy fewer bulbs, and that means spending less money.
A sale at the grocery store is not a good deal if you buy more than you can use. Buying large sizes, or in quantity or bulk, can be a good deal, but not if the item will go bad before you can use it. Plan ahead, think before you buy and you’ll enjoy saving money without your savings going to waste.
Credit Card
One surefire way to keep your finances in order is to avoid racking up credit card debt. Before you opt to pay for a purchase with your credit card, carefully think through your decision. Be realistic and try to determine just how much time it will take for you to pay for these charges. Unless it’s an essential item, don’t buy more on credit than you can afford to pay off at the end of the month.
If you use online banking, then consider signing up for the alert features that may be available. Most banks will let you know about important activity on your account via text or email. Take advantage of your banks financial alerts to protect yourself from identity theft and overdrafts.
Set up monthly bill payments via your bank to make sure your pay your credit cards on time. Even if you are unable to pay your credit card balance in full, making minimum payments on time helps to establish a good payment history. Automatic debit is the best way to avoid late payments.
You need to balance your checkbook. If you cannot find the time to balance it on paper, then an online service may be a better option. Many banking sites and programs allow users to quickly and easily track expenses, cash flow, and interest rates while managing budgets and savings accounts.
Filing System
Rather than waiting until the last minute to hunt down and compile all of your financial documents for your income taxes, take the initiative to keep on ongoing filing system. Keep an organized filing system containing your receipts, healthcare statements, insurance documents, and other important papers.
Watch out for mail that may show up in your mail about changes in your accounts. According to the law, you must receive a 45 day notice ahead of time. Read the changes carefully and consider if you want to keep your account. If you do not think the account is worth keeping, pay off whatever amount you need to and then close it.
Credit Report
Check your credit report regularly. You may obtain a copy of your credit report without cost. Do this twice per year so that no unauthorized charges appear and to prevent I.D. theft.
Good management of your personal finances is the only way to avoid expensive and irritating troubles, such as overdrawing your bank account or failing to pay your bills on time. If you monitor your own money, it will help you to feel more confident about your personal finances.
