6 Financial Tips That Everyone Should Know

It’s no secret that everyone wants to get ahead financially. But just making a resolution to fix your finances is not going to get you anywhere. It just takes a few small changes to the way you think and live in order to make a difference. Here are just a few tips that you should follow to get your finances where you want them to be.

 

1. The Golden Rule – Make more than you spend! This should seem obvious, but a lot of people tend to live beyond their means. If you can’t afford to go on a vacation or buy a new car, you can always wait till next year. It does not always have to be big sacrifices; you can just pack your lunch instead of eating out everyday.

 

2. Create A Budget – And stick to it! Take a month to log all of your expenses and use that log to see exactly where your money is going. After you have logged all of your expenses, it is time to see where you can cut back. It is really not hard to create a budget and this will allow you to see how much you can save each month.

 

3. Get Rid Of Credit Card Debt – Using a credit card is so easy; you just whip the little plastic rectangle out of your wallet and swipe it without any regrets. But credit card debt seems like it will never go away. And it won’t if you don’t pay it. Also making the minimum payments is just basically paying the interest every month. Although it seems counterintuitive, taking a second loan, like a TitleBucks.com loan, and paying a huge chunk of your credit card debt can be beneficial. Often times these secondary loans are at a far lower interest rate and you will save money in the long run.

 

4. Create A Savings Plan – If you do not have one already, you should get one immediately. These are not just funds to save up for that new car or send your kids to college in ten years; it is also an emergency fund. In case you get laid off or get in an accident, you wont have to rely on credit cards to get you out of a hole. This can help you stay out of a recurring cycle.

 

5. Retirement – You may not think this is relevant if you are young, but this is actually the best time to invest in your 401(k). Many employers offer a program where they match whatever you put into retirement up to a certain amount. Therefore if you are not taking advantage of these programs you are basically missing out on free money, yes free. Also the earlier you start, the more time your money has to accrue.

 

6. Keep Records Of Everything – Keeping good financial records can help you when it comes to tax time. Rather than searching frantically for all of your records, you can spend time maximizing your return.

 

The best way to go about implementing these tips is to take them one at a time. Focus on the most important one and then work your way up from there.

 

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