If you find yourself in a mountain of debt, it can seem like you will never be able to dig yourself out. Start creating strict budgets and shopping lists that will help you stay on track with your income. Read this article for more tips on managing your personal finances.
Check your financial assets for a down payment source. You may be able to cash out certain investment accounts and use the money without penalty, if it is for a primary residence. You may also be able to borrow against certain assets, giving you the money you need. Check with your investment professional for options.
If this is the wrong time for you, you should not sell. If you’re earning money with a particular stock, just let it be for a period. If certain stocks are doing poorly, decide if you want to sell them.
Take a look at your investments. If it’s been a while since you did any financial shifting of assets, it might be time to do that. With the changes in the economy, what used to be a good safe bet, and what used to earn lots of interest per year, has changed.
When writing checks or using your debit card, always write down your purchase in your check ledger. You don’t have to do your subtracting at the very moment you make the purchase, but do make note of it. Calculate your expenses at least once a day. In this way, you will never be overdrawn.
If you are out of school, go ahead and get your various student loans consolidated into one account. You will be able to combine multiple loans into one fixed interest rate and you will avoid having to remember to pay multiple lenders and accounts each month. Shop around for the best interest rate before choosing a lender.
Credit cards can be a wonderful replacement for debit cards. Credit cards can be used for things such as groceries and gas. Unlike debit cards, these purchases can often earn you rewards, and sometimes even cash back.
The best way to manage your personal finances in the short-term is to maintain a monthly budget. Yes, budgeting can be annoying and difficult, but nothing else will let you see where your money goes. Tracking your spending and keeping a budget will help you build a savings account and limit unnecessary spending.
Start saving. Many people don’t have a savings account, presumably because they feel they don’t have enough free money to do so. The truth is that saving as little as 5 dollars a day will give you an extra hundred dollars a month. You don’t have to save a lot of money to make it worth it.
Splurge every now and then. No one likes the feeling of deprivation, and if you know that you have the freedom to have one big meal or one pair of shoes every now and then, you will have a feeling of mastery over your finances. Don’t overdo it, but a small luxury purchase periodically is worth it.
An area of personal finance that sometimes gets overlooked is insurance. If you were to lose your job or become ill, even a substantial savings account could be depleted pretty quickly. Many mortgages, loans and credit cards offer insurance that will pay your payments during such events. Disability insurance is another way to ensure a source of income if you were to get hurt. It is usually not as much as your regular salary, but combined with your savings, it can cushion the blow a bit.
Look at the fees you are paying to institutions like your bank and any bills that you pay. You may be paying for services you don’t need or that you could get for less with another company. Your bank may be charging you all sorts of fees for convenience payments, paper statements, etc. See where you can knock off just a few dollars from each bill and that can add up to a lot.
Many people think that unreasonable fees and minimum balances are a normal part of banking, but that is not the case. Most banks actually offer free checking accounts, and some offer accounts that become free if you use a debit card regularly or sign up for direct deposits. Avoiding those pesky fees will help you save money.
A great personal finance tip is to make sure you buy appliances that will help you save energy. Appliances that can help you save energy usually have an Energy Star sticker on them. Purchasing these appliances can go a long way in helping you save money by reducing energy.
As said in the beginning of this article, it can be overwhelming to pay back any of the debt you owe. Don’t give in to loan sharks or credit card companies with high interest rates. Remember the tips in this article, so that you can make the most of your income.
