Do you feel like you lack money management skills? It may seem that there’s some grand secret to successfully managing your personal finances, but all you really need is a little good advice. This article will provide you with some great personal finance tips that will help you save and spend the right way.
Stop spending money on things that promise you money overnight. Many novice marketers succumb to this type of gimmick. The majority of your money should be spent making more money, not on learning how to make more money.
Most new products already come with a 90 day or one year warranty, and if your item is going to mess-up, it probably will within that time frame. Extended warranties are just a way for the business to make an extra buck, but they’ll rarely be worthwhile for the user.
Don’t throw out all of your old tissue boxes – turn them into something useful again. For example, you can keep your old tissue boxes and keep your grocery bags inside. The box makes a useful dispenser, while keeping your grocery bag clutter at bay. Place your grocery bag filled tissue box under the kitchen sink for ease of use.
Pay special attention to the details if you finance your car. Most finance companies require you to purchase full coverage, or they have the right to repossess your vehicle. Do not fall into a trap by signing up for liability only if your finance company requires more. You have to submit your insurance details to them, so they will find out.
Be cautious when loaning money to your children or grandchildren and consider offering the money as a gift instead. Before you loan any money to a family member, you should think about the consequences if the money is never repaid. Remember, loans between family members often cause a lot of arguments.
An income tax refund is not the most efficient way to save. If you get a large refund every year, you should probably lower the amount of withholding and invest the difference where it will earn some interest. If you lack the discipline to save regularly, start an automatic deduction from your paycheck or an automatic transfer to your savings account.
Groceries are essential to purchase during the course of the week, as it should be your mission to limit the amount you spend when you are at the supermarket. One of the ways that you can do this is to ask for a supermarket card, which will give you all of the deals in the store.
Instead of trying to raise money to make a large purchase, consider enlisting the financial support of family members. Pooling resources to make a purchase for the entire family, can help everyone save some cash.
Make sure that you are only paying for the amount of home insurance you need. You cannot file a claim for more than the value of your house and it’s contents, so having high insurance coverage could mean you’re paying for something you can’t even use. Do an inventory of your house and get a rough estimate of what you would claim, then speak to your insurance agent to make sure that your coverage matches that amount.
Before signing a lease agreement, talk to your future property management about the privacy policies. Many places require social security numbers and many other personal pieces of information, but they never explain how this information is stored and kept safe. Stolen identities are on a sky high rise in the past decade and without proper safekeeping from the management company, yours can be next.
The best way to accumulate money and saving is to make a budget for less money than you earn, and stick to it. Those who spend every dollar they earn or take out loans to cover their spending are unlikely to amass much wealth, as their money flies out of their pocket the instant it arrives. The golden rule is to spend less than what you earn.
Buy breakfast cereal in the big plastic bags. They are usually located on the opposite side of the grocery isle from the boxed cereal. Compare the unit price and you’ll see that the bagged cereal is much cheaper than the boxed version. It tastes essentially the same and a quick comparison of the labels will show you the ingredients are practically identical.
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.
Anyone can learn to be responsible with their money. Now that you’ve read this article, you know what you can do to get your personal finances on the right track. While some of these tips may seem challenging, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you adjust to these healthy money habits.
