Every facet of your life feels the effect, for good or ill, of your personal finance skills. You must take charge of your finances if you want to be in control. Incorporate these tips into your financial plan and you’ll be on your way.
The most important factor in successful personal finance is effective money management. Capital that you invest should be well protected. If you put your profits into your capital you can build a better foundation; you need to keep a careful watch on them so you can see more profits. Fixing a firm ratio between profit and reinvestment will help you keep a handle on your money.
Don’t pay full price for everything to help your budget. It is not prudent to restrict your purchases to certain brands unless those brands are truly better. When you do buy brand name items, look for manufacturers’ coupons and use them! If you always buy Purina Cat Chow, but this week’s online coupons has a coupon for Fancy Feast, you might be able to get the Fancy Feast for less than the Cat Chow for once.
Purchase your lean meats and other protein sources in bulk. This will provide you with both a cost and time savings. Buying in bulk is always cheaper when you are going to use everything you purchased. Take some time out of one day and cook the whole batch of meat and make your meals for the week so that you time and money.
If you are looking to improve your credit report, it is a good idea to have between two to four active credit cards. If you use one card, it could take longer to build your good credit score. Using four or more cards could indicated that you aren’t efficient at managing your finances. Begin with just two cards to raise your credit; you can always add more when it becomes necessary.
Avoid debt whenever you can. Sometimes you can’t avoid debt (e.g. education loans, mortgages) however, you should avoid debt such as that created by credit cards, as it can be deadly. Learning to live within your means insures a life free of high interest rates and massive debt.
Health Insurance
You can start to get your finances in order with a good health insurance policy. It is inevitable that you will get sick some time or another. For this reason, it is vital to have good health insurance. An emergency room visit or short hospital stay, plus doctor’s fees, can easily cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more. This will leave a huge hole in your pocket if you do not have insurance.
Consider your circumstances when filing your taxes. You should aim to file as early as possible in order to get your refund faster if you think you will be getting one. If you owe money, it may be wiser to file your taxes just before the due date in April.
Try not to max out a credit card; instead, spread purchases among two cards. Paying interest on two lower balances will be cheaper than paying on a single card that is close to your limit. This won’t be as damaging to your credit score, which can help you to get your credit built if you’re wisely managing two cards.
When talking to a collection agency, see if you can negotiate the payment down. It’s likely that they only need a small amount of the total to come out ahead. For this reason many will accept an amount less than what was originally owed. Take advantage of this to get rid of any old debt at a low price.
If you desire a favorable credit score, use two, three or four credit cards. Having just one card will make it longer for you to get a better credit score, while five or more cards can make it harder to deal with finances. Use two cards to start, then add new cards as needed to build your credit.
Pay yourself first by making a savings deposit from each check your receive, before you spend any of that money. Do not expect to save money if you simply plan to save what is left. Knowing from the start that those funds are off limits sets the right tone for budgeting and being mindful of your spending and planning.
You cannot fix your credit before you get out of debt. The best way to get yourself out of debt is to pay down your loan and credit card debts, so you will need to cut back a little. You can decrease your monthly expenses by eating at home and spending less money on entertainment. Bringing lunch with you to work and eating in on weekends will make great strides in your personal savings. When you cut this spending, you can put those funds elsewhere.
It might be possible to make some extra money and get rid of unwanted items with a garage sale. You can even sell items for neighbors on consignment. There are plenty of inventive ways to make money at a yard sale.
Credit Card
Keep your finances straight by avoiding accruing too much credit card debt. You need to keep a close eye on your credit use to avoid getting in too deep. Before you put anything on your credit card, step back and really think about it. Think about the time it will take you to pay it off. If it will take you in excess of one month to fully pay and the item is something you can live without anyway, leave it in the store.
A program you can enroll into if you’re traveling by air a lot is a frequent flier mile program. Credit card providers give out rewards for purchases that you make. These miles can normally be used in hotels for discounted rates, and other tourist areas as well.
Try cutting costs of your Christmas bills by making presents where they fit in. This can save hundreds in department store prices during the holidays and give a personalized touch to your gifts. You will increase your net worth and reduce your overall cost with creativity.
If someone wants to buy something but it is too expensive for them to get right away they may be able to involve their whole family. If the item could benefit multiple people at once, such as a game console or stereo, they might be able to buy it with the help of other family members.
Find a bank that offers free checking. Check out the banks in your community, and don’t forget to also look for free accounts available online or through credit unions.
As stated above, they way you handle your money matters a lot in every facet of your life. Get the most out of good money management by integrating these ideas into your own financial management.