You could save a lot of money and even make some money, if you knew how to properly manage your personal finances. These tips should help you take control of your expenses,open the right kind of accounts or avoid getting in debt. You will need this knowledge at one point or another.
Keep a daily checklist. Reward yourself when you’ve completed everything on the list for the week. Sometimes it’s easier to see what you have to do, than to rely on your memory. Whether it’s planning your meals for the week, prepping your snacks or simply making your bed, put it on your list.
Monitor your accounts for signs of identity theft. Purchases you don’t remember making or credit cards showing up that you don’t remember signing up for, could all be signs that someone is using your information. If there is any suspicious activity, make sure to report it to your bank for investigation.
After you’ve developed a clear cut budget, then develop a savings plan. Say you spend 75% of your income on bills, leaving 25%. With that 25%, determine what percentage you will save and what percentage will be your fun money. In this way, over time, you will develop a savings.
If you are looking towards Christmas with a tighter budget than years past you may want to consider making your gifts. This will reduce the amount that you spend in department stores, and can save you hundreds of dollars during the holiday season. Think of creative ways to cut costs, and show your friends and family your artistic side.
When you are taking out money, one thing that you must try to avoid is withdrawing from a different bank than your own. Each withdrawal will cost you between 2 to 4 dollars and can add up over time. Stick to the bank of your choice if you want to minimize your miscellaneous expenses.
Before signing a lease agreement, talk to your future property management about the privacy policies. Many places require social security numbers and many other personal pieces of information, but they never explain how this information is stored and kept safe. Stolen identities are on a sky high rise in the past decade and without proper safekeeping from the management company, yours can be next.
If you are looking to maintain a healthy personal finance setup, then you need to make sure that you keep your money in a bank that respects you. Do not put your hard earned money into a bank that charges you all sorts of charges for your patronage.
Order your checks through the mail instead of from your bank! Banks subcontract the printing out and hike the price up so they make a profit. Mail order companies, in comparison, specialize in printing and will usually print directly for the customer at much cheaper prices than you would have to pay through the bank.
You should always be prepared for incidental purchases; keep your wallet stocked with cash and your debit card. Never rely solely on your credit card to make daily purchases. Many credit cards have minimum purchase amounts, so having a debt card or some cash will keep you from getting into a jam.
To find areas where you can save money, track your spending carefully. Get a little notebook to take with you and write down everything you spend. Track cash, check and credit card expenses. Also write down what you spend to pay your bills. This is just like a check ledger. Write down the date, place, purpose and amount. At the end of the month, review your expenses. You will quickly see areas where you are wasting money.
Knowing how to manage your money could really have a huge impact on your life. If you know how to make the right decisions, you could enjoy a better lifestyle and afford anything you want. If you are in a touchy, financial situation, perhaps it is time for you to take things in your own hand and manage your finances.
