For so many people personal finance is a mystery that seems impossible to figure out. The average American will make about one million dollars in a lifetime, but will still retire with only a small fraction of that money available. This article will share useful tips to show you how to make your money last longer.
Resist the illusion that your portfolio is somehow perfect, and will never face a loss. Everyone wants to make money in trading but the reality is, all traders will lose from time to time. If you understand this early in your career you are a step ahead of the game and will remain realistic when a loss happens.
In order to avoid personal finance disasters, make sure you have at least three months equivalent of your salary in the bank. This will mean that if you do run into difficulties, for instance losing your job or facing other unexpected expenses like house or car repairs, you’ll be able to cover the cost.
If you are fortunate enough to have any extra money in your checking account, be wise and don’t leave it there. Even if it’s only a few hundred bucks and only a one percent interest rate, at least it is in a traditional savings account working for you. Some people have a thousand or more dollars sitting in interest free accounts. This is simply unwise.
To make sure that bills don’t slip through the cracks and go unpaid, have a filing system set up that lets you keep track of all your bills and when they are due. If you pay most of your bills online, be sure that you use a service that will send you reminders when a due date is approaching.
Don’t ever cosign on a loan for a friend or family member unless you are financially able and emotionally willing to take on the entire amount of the debt. Being a co-signer does not mean you are vouching for the trustworthiness of the other borrower; it means you are taking on responsibility for the loan if the other party fails to pay.
If you are in a long-term relationship, don’t ever lie to your significant other about the status of your finances or your spending habits. Debt you have accrued will always come out eventually, and hidden debt may wreck plans your significant other had for going on vacation, financing a car, or buying a house.
If you want to keep your credit score as high as possible, you should have between two and four credit cards in active use. Having at least two cards helps you establish a clear payment history, and if you’ve been paying them off it raises your score. Holding more than four cards at a time, however, makes it look like you’re trying to carry too much debt, and hurts your score.
Understand your priorities when it comes to money. You can’t begin to improve your situation until you fully understand the financial decisions that you’ve made. Analyse your perspective on material possessions and write down some thoughts on your attitude toward money. See if they are related to events in your past. Make sure that you have the most positive attitude possible.
Personal finance also includes setting goals for yourself and your money. This includes both short and long term goals like paying off your car and figuring out how much you should put away each month towards your retirement. It is helpful to have some goals that work together, for example, how much extra should you pay each month towards your mortgage so that your house is paid off when you retire.
You should avoid unnecessary debt. Having said that, mortgage and vehicle loans generally are okay, as it is nearly impossible for most people to purchase homes and cars without them. Try to avoid using credit on a daily basis just to get by.
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.
Have an emergency savings cushion. Without one to fall back on, unexpected expenses unavoidably land on your credit card. Put away six to twelve months’ worth of living expenses into your emergency savings account so that if you have a huge medical expense or the car breaks down, you’ll be covered.
It is a very scary and real thought to think that when you really need your money, you may have none left. Don’t take this article lightly. Being broke is a nightmare that you can prevent. Take what is given to you in this article, and make sure you don’t find yourself in that situation.
