Here Is Whatever You Need To Know To Manage Your Personal Finances
Content written by-Hart Reed
Owing a lot of people money that you can't pay back often leads to depression. Then, once you get depressed, you can't see your way out of the financial problems and aren't motivated to find a solution. This in turn makes the problems worse and makes you more depressed. Break read the article and get empowered again by reading the tips in this article.
You should write down every penny you spend to find where you are blowing the most money. Though writing in a book that can easily be put away so you don't see it often will allow you to forget about it and not use it. If you list your expenses in a noticeable area, such as on a marker board, this may help. Since the notes will be constantly visible to you, you will stay aware of your fiances.
Sometimes it's a good idea to take the "personal" out of "personal finance" by sharing your financial goals with others, such as close friends and family. They can offer encouragement and a boost to your determination in reaching the goals you've set for yourself, such as building a savings account, paying off credit card debts, or creating a vacation fund.
Set up a deduction from your paycheck to automatically go to your savings account. Saving is much easier when it requires no further conscious action. As you begin to think of your spendable income as the new, smaller amount, you can adjust your budget accordingly while your savings keep growing with every deposit.
To make your savings account earn money while you sit back and watch, invest in a long term fixed rate. These accounts offer a higher, fixed interest rate for a longer period of time. Most banks offer high interest to get your money, then cut the rate after a few months. Long term fixed rate accounts will have your money making money while it is in the bank.
To reduce credit card debt completely avoid eating out for three months and apply the extra cash to your debt. This includes fast food and morning coffee runs. You will be surprised at how much money you can save by taking a packed lunch to work with you everyday.
Make sure you keep track of what you are spending. This will allow you to see exactly what you are spending your money on, and you will be able to see places where you can easily save some money. For example, instead of buying a $5.00 coffee, you can just make coffee and buy a travel mug.
Burn used cooking oil in your older diesel vehicle! There are entire web pages and forums devoted to doing just that. The first diesel engine, after all, was designed to run on peanut oil. Just make sure you research your options and take the precautions you need to insure you don't damage your engine.
If you want to get your personal finances under control, try freezing your credit cards. Credit cards are good for emergencies, but are often used to buy things we can't afford. Avoid this spur of the moment spending by literally freezing your card. Put it in a container of water and freeze it. You can still use your card in an emergency, but having to thaw out the credit card will give you time to rethink those impulse buys that lead to more debt.
Pay off your high interest debts before saving. If you are saving in an account that pays 5%, but owe money on a card that charges 10%, you are losing money by not paying off that debt. Make it a priority to pay your high interest cards off and then stop using them. Saving will become easier and more beneficial as well.
A great personal finance tip is to select the most efficient roof for your house. If you're looking to save money, you should opt for a lighter color roof because they're better at reflecting light from the sun. Lighter colored roofs will save you more money than darker colored roofs.
Do not throw away mail that suggests there has been changes in your credit account. The law says that they have to let you know 45 days ahead of time. Take careful note of the changes, and determine if the account is still acceptable to you under those terms. If they are not, then close it!
Don't let banks use your money for free. Many banks require customers to maintain a high minimum balance to avoid fees for checking or savings accounts, but pay very low or no interest on the amount. You can usually find a better deal at a credit union or an online bank.
Helping someone move in to a new house or apartment can be a way to get some quick cash for ones personal finances. Even if one doesn't earn any money or only earns a small amount of money they will have at least earned a favor from the person that they helped move.
If you are upside down on your home, think about "strategic default." This is the practice of intentionally defaulting on a loan because the asset the loan is paying for has dropped in value. This is an especially good idea if your financial situation is such that you will probably face foreclosure in the future anyway.
Save as much money as you can every month. Having a solid amount of savings on hand is very useful in case of any emergencies. It will enable you to avoid taking out loans or suffering great losses, like your car, simply because you could not afford what you needed at that time.
The easiest and most obvious way to give yourself more financial breathing room is to ask for a raise. If you have been with your company for over a year without a raise and research shows that their competitors are paying as much or more to their employees in comparable positions, then use this information to negotiate your way to better pay.
Maximize your mutual-fund investment with dollar-cost averaging. Everyone knows the advice to "buy low and sell high", but even experts can't usually time market tops and bottoms. However, by investing a fixed dollar amount in a mutual fund on a regular schedule, you automatically buy more shares when the price is low and fewer shares when the price is high. This can lower your overall average cost, especially during volatile market conditions.
In conclusion, you now have been provided with many helpful tips regarding personal finance. While you may have already known some of this information, The hope is that you have either reinforced your curent knowledge, or learned something new. Use this information and be the controller of your own success.
