Your ability to manage your personal finances can affect almost everything that you do in life. Taking control over your personal finances can be a great self esteem builder and stress reliever. Managing your personal finances is easier than you think.
If you need the services of a broker, you should choose a professional that you can rely on. Ask for references and be sure that your feel comfortable communicating with them. You want to be informed before making any decisions.
Keeping a written notebook on your daily expenses can be a real eye-opener into where your money is going. Make sure, however, that you do not tuck your notebook away and forget about it. Rather than a notebook, try using a whiteboard that is set up in a room of the house that you spend a lot of time in. You will see it often throughout the day so the message stays fresh.
Make sure you always have a small envelope handy. Use this to store all of your receipts and business cards. You’ll need these later for your records. Keeping astute credit card statement records can help you if there is ever a dispute about payment or being overcharged.
Credit Cards
Try to stay away from getting into debt when you can so your personal finances can benefit. Almost everyone has a home mortgage or loans for educational purposes, but every effort should be made to eliminate dangerous credit card debt. The less loan debt you have, the lower the percentage of your income that you will have to spend on servicing debt.
Instead of only using card that is about to be maxed out you can use two or so credit cards. The interest from multiple credit cards is typically lower than a single card that is maxed out. The lower amount will be less of a burden to your credit, as long as you stay in control of both cards.
If you are contacted by a debt collector, express willingness to negotiate. They are likely a junk debt buyer who bought your debt for 10 cents on the dollar or less. Paying a little of what you have to pay can help them still make a profit. Use this fact to your advantage and negotiate a lower settlement.
You can save a good amount of money if you remain patient. Many people buy the latest and greatest electronics as soon as they come out. The prices of such items tend to drop rapidly, though, so you should wait a bit before purchasing. You can apply the savings to other purchases.
Replace older incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency CFL bulbs. Replacing these bulbs can lower your electric bill and help the environment. As an added bonus, your CFL bulbs will last longer than the average incandescent bulb. This will help you save money on replacement bulbs.
Switch to a free checking account. Credit unions and local banks are a good place to start looking.
If you are struggling with very old debts, educate yourself on when they expire. Consult an expert about the statute of limitation laws pertaining to debts in your state; you may not have to pay anything depending on how much time has gone by.
It may be more beneficial for you to use credit cards than debit. You can use your credit cards on daily purchases, like food or gas. By purchasing items with your card, you will usually gain rewards, such as cash or maybe even frequent flier points.
Sign up for online banking alert services that may be offered by your bank. Many banks will notify you when changes are made to your account, often through text or email messages. Finding out if your balance is low or a large amount of money has been withdrawn from your account can be a lifesaver.
A yard sale can get rid of unwanted clutter and help you earn a substantial bit of money at the same time. Also, ask your neighbors to see if they have items that they would like to sell. Get creative with your garage sale.
You must be sure to pay your utility bills promptly each month. If you pay late or miss payments, you may hurt your credit score. Also, most utility companies charge a late fee. Pay bills on time so you can avoid the headaches that arise when you pay late.
Over time, it’s possible you will have issues with financial problems even if you have planned carefully. Know your late fees and grace periods for all your accounts. Find out what your options are before you get decide to sign a yearly lease.
Dump your old incandescent bulbs and install efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs in their place. Your new CFL bulbs will significantly reduce both your carbon footprint and your energy bill. Compact fluorescent bulbs also have much longer lifespans than incandescent bulbs. You will end up purchasing fewer bulbs and therefore saving money.
As was discussed previously, good money management as well as bad dominates every part of your life. You want to make sure you get the most out of your money, and by using these tips, you will have good idea how to better manage your personal finances.
