Article written by-Watts Stroud

Dealing with our personal finances can be a sore subject. We avoid them like the plague when we know we won't like what we see. If we like where we are headed, we tend to forget all the work that got us there. Dealing with your finances should always be an ongoing project. We'll cover some of the highlights that can help you make sense of your money.

Look into a better plan for your cell phone. Chances are if you have had your cell phone for at least a couple of years, there is probably something out there that will benefit you more. Call your provider and ask for a better deal, or look around and see what is being offered.

Do not close credit card accounts in hopes of fixing your credit. Closing credit card accounts will not help your score, instead it will hurt your score. If the account has a balance, it will count towards your total debt balance, and show that you are making regular payments to a open credit card.

If you live close to work, consider biking or walking to reduce gas expenditure, which will improve your personal finances a little. With fuel prices on the continuous rise, anytime that you can avoid using the car you will save. While some trips are necessary in the car, the shorter routes you can walk are often the ones you have the most stop and go. Cut the car out of the equation on these and watch your balance rise.

One of the best ways to start saving is to get an old-fashioned piggy bank. Get a big plastic one that cannot be opened. Put all your change in your piggy bank and if you find money or get money as a gift, put half of it in the piggy bank. When the piggy bank is full, cut it open. You will have a great start to a savings account.

If feasible in your area, try getting around without a car. Between https://fortworthbusiness.com/banking/comerica-bank-names-three-to-fort-worth-market-business-banking-team/ , gas, insurance, and parking, the dollars spent on owning a car can really add up. It isn't possible for everyone, but if you can try using public transportation or your own two feet to get around.

Create a budget - and stick to it. Make a note of your spending habits over the course of a month. Track where every penny goes so you can figure out where you need to cut back. Once https://www.portageonline.com/local/more-than-half-of-all-canadians-have-been-victims-of-fraud is set for the month, if you find you spend less than planned, use the extra money to pay down your debt.

Keep a journal of expenses. Track every dollar you spend. This will help you figure out exactly where your money is going. This way, you can adjust your spending as needed. A journal will make you accountable to yourself for every purchase you make, as well as help you track your spending behavior over time.

Rebalance any investments that you may have. Stocks and bonds have had an overall good year, though cash yields are near zero. Look at your portfolio and make sure that you don't need to move anything around so that you are earning more money. You should be doing this every year to help your portfolio.




A good personal finance tip is to keep an eye on your credit score and make sure it's always in good standing. Using a credit card when you don't have enough money in your account can damage your credit score. Having a good credit score can make a huge difference.

Carry a set amount of cash on you. This way, you know when you've reached your limit. Leave the debit and credit cards at home and you'll be forced to think about what you can afford any time you make a purchase. When the cash is gone, that's when you know you're done for the day.

If you're trying to save money for a big purchase, but find that it's not easy to stick to a budget every day, week after week, here's a different strategy. Make the effort to save money every other day. For instance, pack a bag lunch three days a week instead of buying lunch out. Put the money you save into a savings account towards your planned purchase.

If you have not started putting away any money for retirement, no matter how old you are, now is the time to start. If you have already started, try boosting up your contributions. Every year people find that they are having to support themselves more in retirement as social security goes down, and may one day disappear.

Make regular payments to your savings account. Many people set up a savings account, but don't make regular payments. If possible, have the money automatically taken out every pay period. This way, you'll have the money available for an emergency even if you don't always remember to deposit it.

A great personal finance tip is to forget about name brands, especially when you're going grocery shopping. A lot of the name brand stuff is expensive just because of the brand itself. What people don't know is that you can get the same quality products from generic name brands.

Make sure you automate your payments instead of handling them manually if you really want to ensure you always know what's going on. It's more convenient to handle things with computers these days, and records are automatically saved and very easy for you to access and print out for safe keeping.

Consider signing up for a flexible spending account (FSA). FSA allows you to pay for dependent care expenses, commuting and medical expenses and prescriptions or health insurance co-payments using pre-tax dollars. This simply means that you don't have to pay taxes from the funds you use to pay these regularly occurring expenditures.

Save your plastic grocery bags and tuck them in your car, your luggage, and your trash cans. What better way to recycle these bags than to use them again and again? You can take them along to the grocery store, use them instead of new garbage bags, put shoes in them when you are packing, and use them a thousand other ways.

After reading this article, your attitude towards your money should be much improved. By changing some of the ways you behave financially, you can completely change your situation. Instead of wondering where your money goes after each paycheck, you should know exactly where it is, because YOU put it there.