Getting your personal finances in order can be quite a challenge. Habits are hard to break and purchases are hard to resist but personal financial order is a necessary part of both short and long term success. So read on for some useful advice and tips on getting your personal finances in good shape!
Consider using a re-loadable check card. If the thought of your credit or debit cards getting lost or stolen on your trip makes you too nervous, you can always use re-loadable check cards. You can find them at most retail stores. It is arguably safer and easier than carrying around cash.
To establish a good credit history or repair a bad one, you will want to keep your credit card balances low. You should never let your balance get anywhere near your maximum credit line. Having reasonable balances that you pay off regularly is a sign of a responsible credit user who can be trusted with debt.
Buying certain items in bulk can save you money over time. Items that you know you will always need, such as toilet paper or toothpaste can be bought in bulk quantities at a reduced prices to save money.
When you need to borrow money, ensure your personal finance stays safe by never going over 30% of your income. When people borrow more than 30% of their income it can drastically reduce your credit score. So as long as you stay within these safe parameters you can enjoy having good credit.
Make big purchases a goal. Instead of putting a large item purchase on a credit card and paying for it later, make it a goal for the future. Start putting aside money each week until you have saved enough to buy it outright. You will appreciate the purchase more, and not be drowning in debt because of it.
Always pay your credit card bill in full! Many consumers do not realize that paying only the monthly charges allows the credit card company to add interest to your payments. You may end up paying much more than you were originally quoted. To avoid these interest charges, pay as much as you can up front, preferably, the whole amount due.
Sit down and add up all the money that you have coming in to the house each month. Then sit down and add up the amount that your monthly bills cost. Subtract the money you spend on your bills from your monthly income. The number you come up with is the amount of money you have to spend on everything else – food, clothing, medicine, luxury items, etc. Don’t go over this amount. This will insure that you have enough money to pay all of your bills and aren’t spending more than you’re earning.
Save a little money where you can. Look for substitute goods. For example, this week at my grocery store, I could have bought a pound of beef for stew, precut into neat little cubes from the scrap trimmed off of beef round, for 3.50. On the other hand, I could have chopped it myself from the beef round roast for $2.50.
Even if you have just a little money left over after paying your monthly expenses, you should look for ways to invest it. When you invest, the interest that you earn from your investment compounds over time. So if you invest just a small amount, this can add up to a large amount.
Avoid window shopping. If your personal finances are tight, or if you are trying to follow a strict budget, avoid window shopping, as it is likely to lead to impulse purchases. Think about whether you really need to make the purchase, and if possible, follow the 24-hour rule. Go home, and think about the item overnight. If you still believe it’s necessary, you won’t feel as guilty when you purchase it, as it’s no longer an ‘impulse’ buy.
Just because you’re out of school doesn’t mean you should stop learning. Take the time to learn more about finances regardless of what your major was. You need to stay ahead of the game here, and there’s no better time to start than when you’re fresh out of school and ready to enter into the workforce.
To avoid throwing your money away, always pay in cash when you can and save your credit cards for real emergencies. It is all too easy to use credit cards all the time, but the interest on accumulating debt really adds up. In other words, when you buy things with your credit card when you do not have to, you are literally giving away your money.
Most people need some help in sorting their personal finances at one point or another in their lives and hopefully this article has provided you with valuable tips on how you can do just that, starting today. Personal financial health is vital to happier and less stressful living and with the right advice you can be on your way to it!
