Friday 21 September 2012

Ways To Get Your Finances In Order

By Brian David


Learning how to handle your money in a responsible and mature way is extremely important. It will give you a sense of independence, and something to be proud of. Use the advice in this article to learn how to handle your personal finances in a way that will serve you best.

To teach your children about personal finance, start giving them an allowance when they are young. This is a good way to teach them the value of money while also teaching them responsibility. Earning their own money will ensure that children will know the worth of working and saving when they are older.

You should always try and avoid bad debt. Carrying a balance on a credit card is a good example of bad debt. Most credit cards have very high interest rates, which means a small purchase can end up costing you two or three times what it cost to begin with.

Get into a real savings habit. The hardest thing about savings is forming the habit of setting aside money -- of paying yourself first. Rather than berate yourself each month when you use up all your funds, be sneaky and set up an automatic deduction from your main bank account into a savings account. Set it up so that you never even see the transaction happening, and before you know it, you'll have the savings you need safely stashed away.

Burn used cooking oil in your older diesel vehicle! There are entire web pages and forums devoted to doing just that. The first diesel engine, after all, was designed to run on peanut oil. Just make sure you research your options and take the precautions you need to insure you don't damage your engine.

Read books about personal finance and make a point to do this consistently. Motivational books about personal finance keep you on your toes and help make you make great strides in this department. Dave Ramsey has some really great books out, and I definitely recommend his book "Financial Peace." It is a great read!

Read your mail from credit card issuers as soon as you get it, and take note of any changes to your credit card agreements. Credit card issuers must give you 45 days notice of any upcoming changes, such as increases in interest fees beyond the original agreement. Some changes you can opt out of if you do it in a timely manner.

Have a positive attitude about money. This can be difficult depending on how you've been raised, but realizing that money is merely a tool can change the effect it has on your life. If you're ready to receive more money and are sure it will come to you, half the battle is already won.

Keep track of debit card purchases. Always make a note on paper or your phone as soon as you swipe that card so that you do not forget. Debit cards are very convenient, but also make it easy to overspend a budget, and unless you keep a record it is way too easy to overdraw a bank account without realizing it.

Pay on time! When you fall behind you stay behind. Do your very best to stay on top of your bill and pay them on time and on pace. This will help you keep track of your finances and your bills at the same time and will help you be successful with your personal finance.

Write all of your expenses down by category. For example, putting all utility bills in one category and credit card bills in another. This will help you get organized and prioritize your bills. This will also be helpful in finding what spending you should cut back on to save money.

Do not take on more debt than you can actually handle. Just because you qualify for the loan for the top of the line model of the car you want doesn't mean you should take it. Try to keep your debts low and reasonable. An ability to get a loan doesn't mean you'll have the ability to pay it.

Never be shortsighted when buying something with credit, if you hope to control your finances. Regardless if you're buying a car, a home, or just a television set, pay close attention to what the payments are going to be like down the road. Add up the interest and figure out how much you're paying in total. Be aware of the total implications.

The stock market is in a dangerous state right now, so don't take any big investment risks unless you're willing to lose a lot of money. Any investment might seem like a good idea at first, but there are a lot of factors that affect stock prices and unless you're an expert, you won't see them coming.

You know that how you handle your money will effect every aspect in your life. If you have a family, it will also directly effect them. Apply all of the advice that this article has given you and you will soon be in complete control of your personal finances in a positive manner.




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