Getting your personal finances in order might seem overwhelming, with the variety of products on the market, particularly, if you’ve never had a head for figures or are put off by the idea of having to stick to a budget. However, this article will show that there’s lots of ways to improve your ‘financial health’ and give you some interesting suggestions about how to do this.
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.
Stick to your goals. When you see the money start pouring in, or the money flying away, it can be hard to stay the course and stick with what you originally planned. Before making changes, keep in mind what you really want and what you can really afford; and you’ll save yourself money.
One piece of advice that you should follow so that you are always in a safe position is to establish an emergency account. If you are ever fired from your job or faced hard times, you will want to have an account that you can resort to for additional income.
If you love to shop, one tip that you can follow is to buy clothes out of season. When it is the wintertime, you can get great deals on summer clothes and vice versa. Since you will eventually use these anyway, this is a great way to maximize your savings.
House sitting can be a valuable service to offer as a way for a person to increase their own personal finances. People will be willing to pay for someone they could trust to look over their belongings while they’re gone. However one must maintain their trustworthiness if they wish to be hired.
One of the best ways to stretch your budget is to stop smoking cigarettes. Who can afford to pay almost the equivalent of the minimum hourly wage for a pack of cigarettes that you will go through in less than day? Save that money! Stop smoking and you’ll save even more money in long term health expenses!
In an effort to improve your finances, compare Savings account and CD rates online. In the current low-interest rate environment, it’s more important that ever to find the best possible yields on deposit accounts. Chances are that by searching online, you can find a better interest rate than your local bank is offering, making the most of your emergency fund or other savings.
Be willing to substitute goods. For example, the canned tuna that is the store brand at my local grocery store has just about the same amount of meat, drained weight, as the Chicken of the Sea brand name cans of tuna. But it only costs half the price. That makes tuna surprise a lot cheaper.
“Reward” credit cards might not be a good deal. Unless you pay off your balance in full each month, the higher interest rates and fees on “reward” cards might offset the value of the rewards you earn. If you usually carry a balance, you’ll save money by using a low-interest card instead.
A good personal finance tip – that can help you save money – is to purchase groceries, so that you can cook more meals at home. Eating out can get expensive, especially when you do it a lot. Cooking meals at home, instead of eating out, can save you a ton of money!
Carry at least ten dollars in cash or a debit card. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act lets merchants set a minimum amount for credit card transactions. The minimum amount cannot be more than ten dollars and does not apply to debit cards. Previously, some merchants inflicted minimums in violation of credit card agreements.
Little things can make a surprising difference over time when you are trying to save money. Giving up your morning coffee, daily candy bar or even soda can add up over the year. By doing this simple saving task, you can save approximately twenty-five dollars a week! Take the bus to week instead of driving. You can save a couple of hundred dollars a month. This money will accumulate and you can use it for your retirement fund or for a good investment. Those things are certainly more important than a coffeehouse brew.
If you are having trouble making ends meet during the winter heating season, then apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). This program will pay some or even all heating expenses to eligible consumers during the winter heating season (generally November – April). All energy companies are required to participate, so find out more by going to your energy company’s website.
Save your pennies–literally. Choose a container, such as a large jar and make it difficult to get into, so you don’t rob yourself. Drop all of your pocket change into the container, and when it’s full, treat yourself or your family to something fun. Depending on the size of your container, it could be a special day out–or an entire vacation!
This article has shown that improving your personal finances doesn’t have to be difficult, boring, or hard to understand. There are different approaches for different people. Some people might be excited by the idea of investing and others may be encouraged by the idea of saving up for something that they’ve had their eye on for a while. Whatever your attitude, you’ll find there are tricks and tips to suit your needs and help you to make the most of your money.
