Personal finance is the bane of everyone’s existence. Let’s face it, there are not a lot of people who will put their hand up and say that this is their favorite subject. However, without having a little bit of knowledge about it, your life is going to get financially complicated very fast. So here are a few things that you need to know.
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.
Concentrate your loans into one simple loan to fortify your personal finance goal. Not only can this make keeping track of where all your money is going, but also it gives you the added bonus of not having to pay interest rates to a variety of places. One simple interest rate beats four to five interest rates at other places.
Quite often it is said that if you make more you spend more. The biggest tip I can offer in that case is to try to live below your means. If you can afford that luxury $1000 apartment, don’t! Live at a more modest $700 dollar one and pocket the difference perhaps to use as a down payment on a house.
Support from the people you love is one of the best ways that you can improve your motivation to succeed from a monetary perspective. Surround yourself with your friends and family and tell them about the goals that you wish to achieve. Therefore, if you ever get off track, you will have people to help you get back on the right path again.
If you are attending a sporting event, try to look for the signs that lead you to free parking. Even though this may require you to walk a few extra blocks, it can save you up to 20 dollars during the night. Saving small amounts over time can really add up as they can be treated just like profits.
Applying for financial aid and scholarships can help those attending school to get some extra money that will cushion their own personal finances. There are many different scholarships a person can try to qualify for and all of these scholarships will provide varying returns. The key to getting extra money for school is to simply try.
Have your premium payments automatically deducted electronically from your checking account. Insurance companies will generally take a few dollars off of your monthly premium if you have the payments set to go automatically. You’re going to pay it anyway, so why not save yourself a little hassle and a few dollars?
Teaching guitar lessons can help one support their personal finances as well as build ties both in the music community and with people from all walks of life. As one builds a customer base or finds a music school to teach out of they will increase their finances and network at the same time.
Do not pick products just because they are expensive. It’s easy to get fooled into the idea that the more expensive the product the higher your commissions will be. The premise is accurate but in reality you can make a lot more from a more mid-range product due to the volume of sales you can receive.
If you are traveling overseas, be sure to contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know. Many banks are alerted if there are charges overseas. They may think the activity is fraudulent and freeze your accounts. Avoid the hassle by simple calling your financial institutions to let them know.
Small daily savings will quickly add up. Do your research before grocery shopping. Read circulars to find the best deals. Plan your shopping to save gas and money. If an item is on sale, choose it over food that is at the regular price.
You need to assess the balance in your portfolio each year. Re-balancing your portfolio annually will align the mix of your assets with your situation. By taking time to do a regular analysis, you can also take advantage of the “sell high, buy low” mentality while you take stock of your investments.
You should always have at least 10 dollars on you in cash. Recent law changes now allow merchants to dictate a minimum purchase when you are using a credit card.
So there you have it. Not such a scary subject now, is it? Armed with the advice presented in this article, you now have the knowledge you need to tackle your finances with a little more confidence than before. Who knows, over time you may even look forward to long term financial planning!
