When we are careful in the way we spend our money, it enhances the likelihood that over time our personal wealth will grow rather than stagnate or even shrink. This is what personal finance is all about. By taking even the smallest steps to ensure we are spending our money wisely, we are taking steps to secure our future.
Don’t pay big fees to invest your money. Long-term investment comes with a variety of fees. When you calculate your potential profits, these charges should be part of your equation. Do not use a broker that asks for too much in commissions and avoid high management costs in general.
Make the move to local banks and credit unions. Your local bank and lending institutions will have more control over how they lend money resulting in better rates on credit cards and savings accounts, which could then be reinvested in your own community. All of this, with good old-fashioned personal service!
Protection from identity theft is something that you should insure yourself against, especially if you do a lot of work on your computer. Make sure that all of your information is password protected and that you have a solid anti-virus protection program. This will reduce hacking and protect your financial information.
Do not borrow from your 401K. Consider this the same as robbing yourself, because you are taking valuable money from your retirement account. While you are using the funds for something else, they cannot be in the market gaining interest. In addition, you are likely to pay high fees and taxes.
Make sure you always pay your rent on time. Landlords are more likely to help tenants who are in good standing with them. If you make them wait extra time to get there rent then you can guarantee that when you have a problem they will not be in a rush to help you.
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.
When purchasing car insurance, be sure to ask a lot of questions and find an insurance agency that you can trust. A lower priced insurance is not always the best choice. Therefore, be sure that you are getting the complete coverage that you need. There are many discounts available (multiple car is a good example) so make sure to take advantage of those.
Save yourself the hassle of worrying about holiday shopping right around the holidays. Shop for the holidays year around by looking for deals on things you know you will be buying the next year. If you are buying clothes, buy them out of season when they go onto the clearance racks!
If you’re a responsible credit card holder who always pays balances on time and in full, it is a good idea to consider rewards credit cards. There are tons of different rewards that are available, so you should be able to find one that appeals to you. By doing this, you’ll be able to make a bit of money off purchases you normally make anyway.
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.
In order to save money on your phone, cable, and internet bills, you may want to consider getting a three-in-one through a cable provider. Many cable companies offer a discount if you get all three services from them. Plus, it is helpful to have all three services on one bill.
Here is some helpful info for improving your personal finances! Pay down loans with high interest rates first. Many people make the mistake of borrowing loans at very high interest rates. The payments for these loans, however, can be almost 100% interest if you just make the minimum payment. Play it safe by paying these high interest loans down first.
A great way to ensure that you won’t suffer in the future is to start a retirement fund now. If you already have one, then use what you can to boost your retirement portfolio. Unfortunately, the cost of living is still increasing and the dollar is continuing to go down. You will need a larger retirement fund.
Personal finance is determined as much by the small decisions we make in life as by the larger ones. Many small purchases over time, after all, add up to the cost of one larger purchase. Whether the two totals equate to value is something that should be considered well before that first dollar is ever laid down in payment.
