As young adult or someone who is in college it can be very tempting to blow a lot of money on dining out and other forms of entertainment such as going to clubs. Learn to spend wisely, be responsible and avoid going into debt whenever possible.
Make sure you always have a small envelope handy. Tuck receipts and any cards you pick up from businesses you like into the envelope. This way you can ensure you have all the documents you need for your records. Keeping your receipts helps you have proof of your purchases in the event that your credit card is incorrectly charged.
Arrange an automatic withdrawal from checking to savings each month. This method makes it easier to increase your savings over time. This technique can also be helpful for accruing money for expensive events, such as a wedding.
Don’t keep using a credit card if you are finding it hard to pay off its balance. Reduce your expense as much as you can and find another payment method to avoid maxing that card out. Finish paying off your balance before using the card again, and then try to pay your credit card balance in full every month to avoid future troubles.
Replace incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Replacing your bulbs will cost more initially, but you will see greater savings in the long run and do your part to help the environment. CFL bulbs also last much longer than traditional light bulbs. Buying bulbs less frequently can help you save money.
Make sure that your checking account is free. Possible options to consider are credit unions, online banks, and local community banks.
Don’t take out large amounts of student loan debt unless you expect to be in a financial situation to pay it back. Attending an expensive school for a major you’re unsure of may put you into serious debt.
Credit Card
Perhaps the most effective way to avoid jeopardizing your current financial situation is to avoid incurring credit card debt. Take some real time to consider whether you really need to pay for an item with your credit card. Think about the length of time it will take you to pay it off. If you can’t pay off the charge in a month, and it’s something you don’t really need, avoid it.
Purchasing a vehicle is a major decision that will affect you in many ways over the next few years. The easiest way to get a cheap price on your next car is to shop, shop, shop around to all of the car dealers in your driving radius. You can sometimes find great deals on dealership websites.
Use the leftover dollars accumulated throughout your day for building your savings. Put the single dollars in a piggy bank, home safe or even your savings account for an easy savings plan. Use your change to buy lottery tickets or small items you need. You can also take your coins to a change machine once you have a jar full of pennies.
If you have any old laptops lying around, you can generate extra cash and supplement your income. If it is working or the person fixes it, then one can sell it for even more than a broken one. Selling nonfunctional laptops can be a great way to generate quick funds.
To make sure that your credit card payments are paid in a timely manner, try setting up automatic payments through your bank. You may not be able to pay off the card completely, but pay what you agreed to on time to improve your credit rating. If you set up an automatic payment, late payments never happen and you can pay more than the minimum if you happen to have some extra funds free.
Spend Less
The fastest track to wealth is the one where you spend less money than you earn. People who always spend every last dollar or always have to borrow extra cannot possibly become rich due to their poor spending habits. Figure out how much you make, and spend less than that.
There are many home improvement projects you can do yourself, so don’t pay the high prices charged by professionals. Many home improvement stores offer classes that can teach you how to complete a project, or you can look at books or online videos to learn how to make your desired improvements.
Choosing a credit card that offers rewards can be a smart financial move. If you always pay your card balance in full, you are an ideal candidate. Rewards cards compensate you with airline miles, cash back, and other ways, for everyday purchases. See which rewards are appealing to you and try comparing the offers by basing them on how much of your purchases will give you rewards.
Creating an itemized weekly and monthly log of your expenses helps you to gain a clearer idea of how your money is used. The more you understand about your consumption patterns, the better prepared you are to identify potential areas for improvement.
Start Saving
Start saving for your child’s college education as early as possible — at birth or even before. College costs rise each year and if you wait too long to start saving, you will not be able to meet your goal.
Think about working from your home to save money. In reality, going to the office can cost you a lot. After you pay for gas, parking and lunch, you may spend half your check!
Stay away from excess debt by making a budget and planning your expenditures so that you get the most out of every paycheck. Keep these ideas in mind in order to remain solvent and free from bill collectors.
