You haven't taken the time to manage your money because it can seem impossible.Keeping your finances in order is easy today.With careful budgeting, smart saving, and some basic attention to your income and expense, you can manage your money without getting an MBA.
Step 1: List your guaranteed income.
You can calculate your income on a monthly basis.You should not include any income you hope to get from overtime, tips, bonuses or anything else that is not guaranteed.You will only be able to earn that month if you use income that you know.You can draft an accurate budget by knowing how much money you have to spend each month.Extra money includes tips, bonuses, etc.It should be considered extra.If anything happens to you, you should have enough money to cover living expenses.When it comes, there is a happy "surprise" of extra money.
Step 2: All of your expenses are tracked each month.
To get an accurate picture of your spending habits, keep all your receipts.Thanks to modern technology, you can log-in online to see your bank and credit card activity.Most banks break this up by type of spending, such as "food/Groceries," "Gas," or "Rent."Make a note of what you bought and keep the receipt.You can sync your credit cards, bank accounts, and investments with apps like Mint, Mvelopes, HomeBudget and more.You can get a view of your finances with very little work.
Step 3: Your expenses should be broken down into fixed, essential and non-essential.
This is the best way to see where you can save money.Rent, car/loan payments, etc., are things that do not change month to month but must be paid.The cost of food, transportation, and utilities varies from month to month.Movie tickets, drinks with friends, and toys/hobbies are all included.Most people know they can save money here.
Step 4: You should keep these records every single month.
You have to do this many times to get a perfect budget.One of the best ways to see how you spend money is to keep an eye on it all the time.If you feel like you are losing money, you will need to adjust your expenses.Place your income and expenses in a spreadsheet.They can be written down in a journal or notebook.You can see how much money you have left over by looking at the numbers next to each other.
Step 5: How much money have you left over after expenses?
How much of your income would be left over if you only spent the money you needed to live?To find out how much money you have to spend each month, subtract the fixed and essential expenses from your guaranteed income.It is your allowance for savings and fun that you need to have this number.Money spent on rent, mortgage, utilities, phone bill, and other essential needs are included.
Step 6: You can split your allowance into savings, investments and lifestyle activities.
Discretionary income is the money left over after you subtract essential bills.There are many schools of thought on how much money you should be saving each month, and they all have their pros and cons.The bare minimum is what you should be saving.In the short-term, this will not hurt you much.If the debt is large and the interest is high, the money should be used to pay it off.It is considered a good amount of savings.If something happens to you, you will have enough saved income to protect you for a full month.It allows you to save a lot of money.Everyone should aim for the goal.This will allow you to save money for retirement, big purchases, and vacations.In the short term, it may limit what you can afford.
Step 7: If you want to stick to a budget, set a personal one.
You need to commit to spending no more than you have if you know how much spare cash you possess.If your problem is shopping for clothes, you need to ask yourself if you really need it.There is a person in the store.Shop at used clothes stores if you don't want to spend money on designer brands.If you need things from the store, shop during sales.What are your top priorities in life?It is possible to avoid costly impulse buys if you know what you care about buying.What are the things in your life that you don't notice, such as a scone to go with your morning coffee, 200 cable channels, and bottled water?If you build your budget around how you spend money, it will be easier to stick to it.If you find places where you can cut back, you will be able to adjust your spending.
Step 8: You should only use credit cards for bills that you know you can pay.
Credit cards aren't free money.Credit cards have huge interest rates, even if you don't have to pay them right away.Use your credit cards as extensions of your budget, not separate budgets, to manage your money wisely.Credit is required for home and car loans if you use a responsible card.Before you sign up for a card, you should read all of the agreement form.What is the interest rate on a monthly basis?How is the minimum payment calculated?Is there an annual or overdraw fee?Try to pay more than the minimum.You won't pay interest down the road if you pay the entire balance each month.Credit card debt is a result of juggling multiple bills and statements.Don't spend more than 40% of your limit on credit.It is difficult to repay without high interest rates, so you should never get close to your limit.
Step 9: Know what you are shopping for.
Money managers and smart shoppers don't like impulse buys.Do you need this to live?Will you enjoy it for a long time?Saving shopping for the essentials is a better way to avoid shopping as a recreational activity.Making grocery lists will help you save money and plan meals so you don't throw out food.Don't buy something just because it is on sale, you are still spending money, no matter how much the advertisement talks about "savings."
Step 10: Before you make any big-ticket purchases, do your research.
It's not the right time to buy a car.No matter what the car dealer is trying to tell you, it is not the time to get swept up in a sales pitch.You can save a lot of money by taking a few hours to research.Get what you came for and nothing more before you go shopping.Set an appropriate spending cap when you browse online, it will be the absolute maximum you will spend on a car, house, etc.No matter what the salesman says, be very strict about this cap.memorize the number and look up how much the object costs.You can compare the prices of different vendors.You can ask a vendor to lower their price if you feel comfortable negotiating.Wait and look for sales if you have time.In the summertime, car dealerships offer sales.
Step 11: Buy in bulk when possible.
It is not easy to lower your essential expenses.Buying in bulk will save you money in the long run.If you want to save money, you can buy items online or at bulk stores.You only save money if you don't throw out food, otherwise you pay more for the same amount you normally eat."price per pound or price per ounce" is the small label in stores that says it.You are getting more product for less money if you buy bulk items.
Step 12: If you don't have enough money to save, take out the money you can spend.
One way to keep from overspending is to take out the entire amount of money at the beginning of the month.It should be separated into envelopes for food, gas, rent, and so on.You know how much you have.Don't use your credit cards at home.It's a lot simpler to use a credit or debit card than it is to think about the dollar value of the purchase.You are more likely to pause if you have to give the same amount of cash each time.
Step 13: At the minimum, aim to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved.
3 is the bare minimum that you should have on hand in case of emergencies, and many financial advisers suggest going further, saving for at least 9-12 months.If you need to pay medical bills or lose your job, this money will only be spent.What are your expenses for a month?If you add this number to 3-6 months, you'll get your minimum emergency savings.
Step 14: Make a list of your saving goals.
Are you planning on taking a vacation to Aruba next year?Depending on what you want to save for, the amount will change a lot.Make a list of events you want to save for, their costs, and the number of months until the event occurs.You may need to buy a car for a new job.The job starts in 6 months if you buy a used car for $5,000.You need to save $834 a month to pay for the car.Save for the holidays 3-6 months in advance.By the end of the year, you'll have a cushion of $300 for gifts.It's important to start saving early to send your kids to college.When they're born, make separate savings accounts for them.
Step 15: It is advisable to invest in your future early on.
If you put $5,000 a year in retirement savings in your 20's, you will earn twice as much money when you retire as someone who invests $20,000 annually.With time, a small amount of money gains interest.That interest increases your money's value quickly.Saving now will pay dividends later in life.
Step 16: Pay debts and save at the same time.
You could be losing money if you try and prioritize one over the other.If you write off $2,500 of your student loans on your taxes, the interest rates will stay the same.Paying the minimum now and pocketing any excess cash in savings will make you money, as the write-off can offset interest payments and the savings have more time to grow with interest.High-interest credit card debt is the exception.If you find yourself sinking into a hole of credit card payments, you can take a few months to pay them off and save money.
Step 17: Put away money in savings accounts.
Throw additional cash into savings and investments whenever possible.Saving money now will make a huge difference later in life, even if you are tempted to buy a nice new car or toy.Add that amount to your savings when you get a raise.In the long-term, you will save more and keep your quality of life.
Step 18: There are employee matching options.
Matching benefits, meaning they will double what you pay for your own future, are offered by many companies that offer 401k investments.It is free money for your retirement, and it cannot be overstated.Some companies have matching college saving programs and stock or investment options as well, so talk to your HR department to see what options you have.You may have to pay a fee or give up gains if you remove money from a long-term investment before it matures.