Times are very tough during the current economic downturn. Jobs are scarce and unemployment is sky high. Because of this, it is extremely important, now more than ever, to know how to properly manage your personal finances. Continue reading this article to secure your financial health by saving and making more money than you ever thought possible.
You must learn proper money management. This helps you to stay organized, and keep your finances in order. If you are planning for growth it’s okay to put profits into capital, but you have to manage the profits wisely. Choose how much of your profit will become capital and stick to the portion or amount.
If you feel like the marketplace is unstable, the best thing to do is to say out of it. Taking a risk with the money you worked so hard for in this economy is unnecessary. Wait until you feel like the market is more stable and you won’t be risking everything you have.
If you are currently paying for your checking account, it’s time to find a new one. Banks compete for your business, and so many offer free checking with amenities and services similar to those you used to have to pay for. Shop around and find one that won’t charge you on a monthly basis.
Find your own financing when buying a car. You will have more negotiating power than if you are relying on the dealer and their banks to get you financed. They will try to talk to you into monthly payments rather than the actual cost of the car. If you already have your loan in place, you can concentrate on the cost of the car itself, because you already know what your payment would be.
When writing checks or using your debit card, always write down your purchase in your check ledger. You don’t have to do your subtracting at the very moment you make the purchase, but do make note of it. Calculate your expenses at least once a day. In this way, you will never be overdrawn.
Don’t buy extended warranties on products. If your product already comes with a warranty that is more than likely when something is going to break. Extended warranties are basically just a huge profit making tool for a business. Don’t give them more of your money for no reason.
Never use a credit card for a cash advance. Cash advances carry with them extremely high interest rates and stiff penalties if the money is not paid back on time. Strive to build a savings account and use that instead of a cash advance if a true emergency should arise.
If a person ends up with many one dollar bills over the course of a month, there is an “investment” that could (emphasis on “could”) improve his financial position. Use the dollar to by a lottery ticket, and there is always the chance for winning!
Although one would never expect it, money can be made from spiders. Not just any spiders, but select tarantulas that are in high demand in the pet trade, can yield great benefits to one’s personal finances, if one chooses to breed them. If a person has an interest in spiders, they can use it to their gain.
Get yourself a free checking account. Checking accounts these days charge an average of about $13.00 in monthly fees, and usually require a minimum balance to keep the account free. Switch to a no-fee account that requires no minimum balance and does not charge per transaction. Try smaller banks in your community, online-only banks or credit unions.
Familiarize yourself with the fine print of surcharges and fees associated with your credit card payments. Most credit card companies assign a hefty $39 and up fee for exceeding your credit limit by even one dollar. Others charge up to $35 for payments that are received only a minute after the due date.
Recycle your old VHS tapes and even plastic bags into yarn! They call it “plarn” and avid craftspeople all over are recycling anything that they can twist around a crochet hook or weave through a loom to make useful water proof items out of one-hundred percent recycled products! What can beat free craft material?
You should always try and avoid bad debt. Carrying a balance on a credit card is a good example of bad debt. Most credit cards have very high interest rates, which means a small purchase can end up costing you two or three times what it cost to begin with.
As was discussed earlier, the current economic downturn has created tough times for just about everyone. The unemployment rate is frighteningly high, and good jobs are hard to come by. Properly managing your personal finances can help protect you from going into debt and losing everything that you have worked so hard for. Take the information contained in this article and apply it to your life.
