Money Talk Daily

Archive for the ‘Planning and Budgeting’ Category

In the series of financial tips for 2012, we’ve previously talked about paying off your debt and getting smarter about your credit. Both of these tips can definitely help you financially in this new year. Here is another great financial tip you definitely need to use this year, especially with the current recession going on at this time.

Tip #3 – Build Your Own Emergency Fund

Do you have an emergency fund built up? If not, 2012 is definitely the time to start building one. In this economy, you definitely have to think of how you will pay your bills if you lose a job or you have a health problem that keeps you from working. It’s suggested that you build up at least 6 months worth of expenses in an emergency fund, and 12 months worth of expenses is even better.

Emergencies happen. Right now, many people have lost their jobs are have found themselves in real financial trouble. Don’t wait until you lose your job to think about an emergency fund. Commit to building one this year.

Last time we talked about one of the best financial tips for 2012 – paying off debt. Paying off debt will definitely improve your financial future for this year. However, it’s not the only tip that you need to follow this year. Here is another great tip for the year that will help you financially during a time of economic recession.

Tip #2 – Get Smart About Your Credit

If you want to improve your finances for this year, it’s also important that you get smart about your credit. Do you have a good credit history? If so, keep working to keep that history strong and avoid getting caught up in too much credit card debt.

Do you have bad credit? If so, it’s time to start evaluating your credit and how you use it. Start working to fix bad credit problems. If you’re having a hard time living within your means, start using a budget. Do everything you can to get your credit back into shape this year.

Bad credit won’t just affect your finances. It can affect employment opportunities, the cost of insurance, and it will make it tougher to get credit when you need it. Getting smart about your credit will help you improve your life in many ways this year.

As you move into the new year, don’t forget to think about your financial fitness and how you want to improve it in the coming year. No matter your income, you can begin this year with a few great financial tips that will help you get started on the right foot, even in a time of economic recession.

Tip #1 – Pay Off Your Debt

During 2012, make it a priority to work to pay off your debt. Debt can be a big burden and it’s tough to get rid of it. Make it a priority to pay debt off this year and enjoy the financial benefits this choice brings.

Everyone is dealing with tough economic times right now. In fact, people are even more on edge with news that a double dip recession is still a possibility. While this may seem like the time to use credit if you have to, you actually should be laying off credit card spending if you want to weather the recession.

When money is tight, those credit cards look real tempting. However, you cannot afford to get trapped in a vicious circle of debt because it will only make it more difficult for you to deal with emergency situations. Instead of spending on credit cards, work to save money and only use credit cards in emergencies. You’ll avoid more debt, which will help in the long run.

Many people don’t realize all of the different ways there are for money to slip through their fingers which leaves them wondering why there’s not enough money at the end of the month. You will be surprised how much money you can save every month by making a few changes to your spending habits. The following are a few effective ways you can save money and have more control over your finances.

It’s fun to travel and take vacations but doing those things is also quite expensive; staying home saves money. Try not to view this as a sacrifice since your town or city probably has plenty to do that you will find enjoyable but you simply rarely have time to actually do it. If you have kids, check out theme parks and other attractions within driving distance. Pretend that you are new in town and go out to see the sights. Aside from gaining a better appreciation of your own region, you’ll be avoiding the stresses of travel, such as packing, making flights on time, airport lines and security, etc. Travel can be enjoyable if you can easily afford it, but if you’re trying to save money you can have a great time at a fraction of the cost by staying close to home.

Food prices are always rising, faster than most people’s wages. Saving at the store is very important if you want to stick to your budget.

Not only does this help you save money, it helps you avoid feeling like you are under duress to purchase something and helps you avoid the holiday crowds. Along these same lines: do not buy winter or summer clothing right before the season starts because that is when it is most expensive. It is better to plan ahead and buy things when they are cheap, no matter if they are for yourself or if they are for gifts. Stores always charge the most for products when everyone wants them, so if you plan ahead when things are on sale, you get the same items for a lot less.

You can see that there are lots of ways to save money. While each tip alone may not seem like that much, when you use them together these tips can be quite helpful in saving you significant amounts of money. The tips we talk about in this article can offer you great starting points for saving money every single day. After using them for a few months, you’ll see just how much they can save you.

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Decreased incomes

Many people have been complaining over the past year that incomes are dropping. This is the truth for many people who already have jobs. There are people who are living on unemployment benefits after facing job losses. Incomes are dropping but not expenses. The fact is, that expenses have been increasing all the time. A marked increase has been seen in the prices of consumables, utilities and food. Development of cash management skills quickly is the need of the hour. Household budgets cannot be controlled without these skills and that, cannot be ignored. To maintain a semblance of control over your budgets, here is what you can do.

Prioritize Household Purchases

Every purchase you make will affect your household some where down the line. Planning your expenses effectively will take you a long way. Every dollar saved is a dollar earned and this should be considered. When planning your budget, include basic goods and services. Your cause will be helped by ridding yourself of any thoughts about luxuries. These should be made to wait until you can afford it. You must leave out every commodity that is not important out of your shopping list. Your impulsive spending will have been reduced, releasing your budgets for debt repayments, by doing this.

Look Around for a Better Deal

Markets are also facing the same strain everyone else is. Shopkeepers are looking to get more consumers walk into their stores. Discounts and offers are available at the drop of a hat, so look around before you start shopping. Start your day early to give yourself plenty of time for leisurely shopping. When you can find lower prices for things that you intended to buy anyway, your budget will also be trimmed to size.

Cut Back on Borrowing Funds

Borrowing money increases your household expenses, because they must be paid. Making the payments on the specified date will leave you short of cash for the month, which affects your entire household budget. Reduce all loans that you have, which includes those from credit cards and other sources. By making purchases in cash, you will know exactly what you have spent. You will also not be liable to pay extra charges you face if you default on payments in the future.

Reducing the Costs of transportation

The average American household has two cars. The owners may be burdened with car and gas payments, while this may look impressive to others. It may not be a practical solution to suggest that families reduce the number of cars they have. The use of these cars can certainly be cut down and this should be looked at. Using public transport, or even signing up for the use of car pools can help bring these costs under control. Use the cars, if the need arises, as situations cannot be compromised. Make an attempt at saving some gas by giving the cars a rest. You will be well on your way to get your budget down to the bare essentials. This will be of help to keep control over your budget. Living a debt free life in the future is what you can look forward to.

It will save you money

Making a budget is essential for your financial well-being. Once you have a sound plan in place, the worst recession won’t be able to topple you. But beware, purveyors of payday loans – if you aren’t careful, you can fall prey to one of the top 10 budget mistakes.

Having two household incomes – because you need them

If there is a second income in your household, it’s nice to be able to use that one for savings. That said, too many people have a second income to overextend their credit, especially when buying more home than they need. What if one income dries up? Live within the means of only one income and you will be more economical, and safer.

Not putting money away

Savings accounts, college funds or even rainy day funds. Whatever you choose to use it for, you need to set small portion of each paycheck aside. It pays to be prepared!

Overspending

Will that hole in your soul really be filled with a new television? If your old one works just fine, seriously consider whether you need a replacement. Impulse buys can be lethal, so make sure your budget is about what you really need every month. Sure, there should be some money earmarked for entertainment, but you must be disciplined enough to stay within the boundaries. When you do shop, try to look for sales and special deals.

Not recording expenses

When your budget is young, this is essential. Record purchases in the register of your checkbook, Smartphone, or a notebook, and create visual proof you’re following your budget. Eventually you will get the hang of it and won’t need to record things right away, but if you start to notice trouble, don’t be afraid to go back to recording it all.

Going credit crazy

This is very symptomatic of overspending. If you don’t have the money for something, don’t buy it. Using credit makes it too easy to overspend, and long-term revolving interest is very expensive. If you have to use credit, try to pay it off as quickly as possible and not carry a balance.

Being too charitable

This one might sound odd, but it’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s nothing wrong with generosity, but your own bottom line comes first.

Going overboard with birthday parties

Parents of young children may know about this one. I’m not talking about how much to spend on junior’s gift, but on the party guests. Giving goodie bags is a common practice for kids, but is it really necessary? Cake, ice cream and games should be enough.

Too many bills

This is why it’s useful not to go crazy with credit cards. Sure, housing and utility bills are generally unavoidable, but do you need eight or nine credit cards, too? A too many bills can lead to errors and omissions, not to mention more money you’re paying out.

Being afraid to ask for a raise

If you are valuable to your employer, make sure they know. If you don’t feel your pay level is consistent with others in your field, talk to your boss about it. If you are indeed valuable, a reasonable employer will at least consider it. If your employer won’t, consider improving your skill set and education to get a better job.

Not creating a budget

A person without a plan is a person who will soon be parted from their money. Payday loans can help, but budgeting is the best way to handle your finances over time.

A Word about Personal Finance Education

Poor Debt Management Can Affect Generations

A lot of people that struggle with their personal finances, like debt and credit issues, run into trouble because they’ve never learned about good budgeting. They likely have relatives that have the same issues. They likely don’t discriminate between needs and wants, and altered expenditures accordingly. Left unchecked, such behavior has caused individuals to fall deeply into debt. Just as in situations of physical abuse and substance abuse, the dysfunctional handling of debt and credit is often passed down to future generations. Poor financial decision making, however, is much easier to rectify than the aforementioned dysfunctions.

You Have Control of Your Own Financial Future

In looking at personal finance, debt and credit, it is important to understand that an individual has ultimate control over their destiny in any of these arenas. While many feel as though their spending is out of control, the exact opposite is true. You can regain control over your spending, and you may need help to do so. Simply, a person must recognize that they have a problem, that this problem is a threat to their future and that correcting the problem is fully within their control.

Debt Education is the Answer

Once a problem is realized, a person can then begin to take steps to repair their personal finance debt by becoming educated on financial topics. We live in an information age, and there is unprecedented access to information on how to fix your finances. From budget tools and software, classes in your area, even books and articles written by experts, plenty of resources are available, many for free. Keeping this in mind, a great place to start one’s financial education is with the basics of understanding how to create a personal finance debt budget and to understand how credit works. This can be learned by combing the Internet and reading various articles written on the subject or books can be checked out from the library to gain a basic understanding.

Low-Cost Debt Counseling is Also Available

Also, several non-profit organizations offer low-cost debt counseling services. Contacting one’s local Chamber of Commerce or related public agency can help locate such services. In doing so, a debt counselor can help with creating a budget, consolidating outstanding bills and offer further resources helpful to one who is determined to regain control over their personal finance debt.

No More Excuses

No matter how things went wrong with your finances, credit or debt, there’s no excuse for keeping it up. Nor is there any reason for such economic woes to be passed on to future generations. A person really looking to get in the driver’s seat with their personal finance, correct bad habits, and start reducing stress as a result, there are plenty of resources that can help them get started.