Monday, November 4, 2013

Improve Your Finances With These Quick Tips

By Sara Ezan


With the economy struggling to get back on its feet, many people are struggling to keep their heads above water financially. If you're one of those people, you've come to the right place. This article compiles a bunch of different tips to give you a starting point to managing your personal finances.

Be careful not to make any long distance calls while traveling. Most cellphones have free roaming these days. Even if you are sure your cellphone has free roaming, read the fine print. Make sure you are aware of what "free roaming" entails. Similarly, be careful about making calls at all in hotel rooms.

Having a steady paycheck, regardless of the type of job, can be the key to building your personal finances. A constant stream of reliable income will mean that there is always money coming into your account for whatever is deemed best or most needed at the time. Regular income can build your personal finances.

If somebody is thinking about getting something that costs too much they may want to ask their family to help them out. If everyone in the family would benefit from another television, then it would be smart for everyone to chip in.

Some banks offer great rewards if you are able to refer a customer to their location and they open up an account at a branch. Try to take advantage of this opportunity, as you can add anywhere between 25-100 dollars just for recommending a friend or family member to the bank.

If you eat less fast food or eat out less in general, you can save a lot of money. Buying the ingredients and putting meals together at home will save one money, as well as giving one an appreciation for the effort it takes to make good tasting meals.

Drink water when you are eating out! Some restaurants charge almost $3.00 for a soda or glass of tea! When you're trying to manage your personal finances you just can't afford that! Order water instead. You'll still be able to eat out on occasion but over the long run you'll save a bundle in the cost of drinks alone!

If math is not your thing, enlist the help of a checkbook balancing software program. Many banking sites and programs allow users to quickly and easily track expenses, cash flow, and interest rates while managing budgets and savings accounts.

Stick to a budget! Take the time to write down what you make and what your monthly expenditures are. This will help you decide where to put extra money and if you have anything left over to invest to make yourself some more money! No matter what kind of money you make you need a budget!

Do not rush out and buy the newest product on the market when it first comes out. You may find that waiting until they hype has died down can save you big money in the end. You may not be able to brag to your friends but you will have cash in your pocket!

Buy generic brands instead of national brands. Name brands are more expensive due to their huge advertising costs. Choose the less expensive, generic option instead. There are very little differences in performance, quality, and taste.

Use your favorite credit cards regularly if you don't want to lose them. Credit card companies may close or reduce credit limit on inactive or unprofitable accounts without advance notice, which may negatively affect your finances in the future. Use them regularly and pay off the balances to stay out of debt.

You may want to consider buying generic products when you are shopping if you want to save money. Many generic products have the exact same quality as brand names do and you will be saving tons of money by purchasing them. You can buy generics for just about everything you need.

It is amazing how many people do not take enough responsibility to balance their checking accounts. In an age where we no longer use checks and follow our accounts online, we feel no need to balance our accounts anymore. Most never did it in the first place. However, what we find is days going by without keeping track of our balance, which is detrimental to our budgeting needs.

Taking the time to actually assess your goals is a great way to stay in full control of your financial situation. Sit down with a pen and a pad and write down your goals in life, as if you're creating a business. You'll find that spending a lot of money doesn't fall in with your plans, but saving money surely does.

Never cosign on a loan for a friend or family member unless you are willing and able to pay it in full. Even the best intentions could lead to financial ruin if something happens, and your loved one cannot pay up. This could not only strain your finances, but your relationship.

Don't let yourself be discouraged when it comes to organizing your finances. A lot of the different ways to do so are very simple to apply, even if you have very little money to begin with. Let this article be the starting point on your personal journey to keeping your finances straight.



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