Showing posts with label managing your money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label managing your money. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

How You Should Start Managing Your Money and Earning If You Feel Like You’ll Never Retire



Those of us that are getting a bit older without a huge retirement fund might think that retirement will never come. There is a chance that you are simply mismanaging your money without realizing it. 

Financial literacy unfortunately was not taught in school while other subjects that have no relevance to real life were. The best thing that you can do if you think that you are bad with money is identify the reasons by doing online research. There is no shortage of financial advice online with much of it being applicable to the average person. 

You might need to start earning more to be able to retire at the age you desire. The following are ways to manage your money as well as earn a bit so you can reach your dream of retiring.

Rent Out A Room


Renting out a room can generate monthly income without having to pick up a second job. This could be to a friend or family member. Regardless of who it is, there should be a lease involved. It is important to have a great lease but also to live up to your end of the lease so you do not become a nightmare landlord. 


People that have in-law apartments at their home might never have to see their new tenant on a regular basis. Do rental background checks on any tenants. The last thing you want is to lose money when renting out a part of your home or have to evict your tenant.

Consider Earning Online


The freelance world has exploded, offering plenty of opportunities to earn from the comfort of home. Most people spend far too much time watching TV while they could spend that time earning. An extra hundred dollars per week adds up over the course of a year. 



You have to assess your skills to see what the perfect fit would be though. Many freelancer platforms having rating systems so you do not want to garner a bad rating as it will reduce the number of job offers.

Move Investments To Less Volatile Options


Moving investments to less volatile options as we age is great advice as we only have so many years of earning money left. The worst thing a person can do as they get older is invest in something like cryptocurrency instead of mutual funds. 


Getting a decent return is important and if you have the majority of your money in a savings account, it is being wasted. You can earn far more interest in safe investments than you could ever earn on bank interest.

Examine Current Debts and Payment Options


Taking a look at your current debts can allow you to figure out a payment plan that will reduce the amount of interest paid. For those that owe on the mortgage and can pay it off, they should if they do not have their money in an investment that is earning a higher percentage than their mortgage is charging. Credit card debts need to be wiped out as they compound so make sure to target the highest interest rates and largest amounts first.

As you can see there is hope if you feel like you are never going to retire. Start earning more today and saving where possible!



Click Here For Top 10 Personal Finance Blogs for 50 Something on the web





Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Make & Save - The Importance Of Actionable Personal Finance Habits




Being proactive and observant are one of the most important things when it comes to managing your money and family budget in overall.

Instead of waiting for that pay rise, you can make some money just by reverting some habits that are constantly getting money out of your pocket.

Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned!


Take your time to observe and compare


As every family budget has unavoidable expenses on weekly, monthly or annual basis learn how to cut your expenses by simply comparing the offer on the market.

No matter if we are talking about shopping for groceries on a weekly basis or car maintenance expenses, there are a lot of different suppliers that can quote you with different price for these.





Negotiation skills can always come in handy in these situations as you can drastically lower your cost just by engaging in a bit of a negotiation. Bargaining shouldn’t be something that you should be ashamed to do. In the end, it’s your money on the table.

Lastly, don’t run to the bank to pay your bills. Take your time to carefully review them for possible erroneous charges. Same goes for bank statements. Make sure you are not paying anything that wasn’t agreed upon previously.


Never stop planning and reviewing


Managing family budget can prove a very challenging task and it’s not for everyone. One simple yet golden tip is to always have your expenses planned up front. This way, you’ll know what you are dealing with and how much money will you have left after you have paid for all the bills and fees.

Good strategy here is trying to deviate as little as you can from what’s planned. Also, keep impulse shopping on a minimum and don’t carry large sum of money in your wallet as it can tempt you into spending on stuff you don’t really need.

Finally, don’t ever set a certain strategy and follow it without ever changing it. Things happen and there are always circumstances that you need to take into account, so take your time to review your financial plan and strategy on regular basis.


Fight unnecessary bank fees


This one can prove to be tough. In order to be on the winning side here you really have to be well-informed. Taking a bank loan when interests are tempting can prove to be a good thing after all.

Also, while you’re at it, try not to waste your money on paying interests that are piling up due to passage of time. Think about a debt agreement proposal that could save you chunks of money.

Investing your money is also a good idea when it comes to multiplying it and earning a little something on the side. However, you do need to have certain knowledge of financial instruments before going out and investing in stocks, for example.

Learn to proofread banking contracts and inform yourself thoroughly before engaging in any kind of deal with bank or any other financial institution. Beware of nasty hidden fees and try to keep things simple.

Hellen McAdams is the chief strategist at Marketee.rs. She loves a good digital marketing strategy, and isn’t afraid to ask questions everyday to keep up with the industry’s trends. If you have any comments or questions, shoot her a question at @hellen_mcadams.



Saturday, June 22, 2013

Manage your Money to Improve your Lifestyle

To make your living standard higher and to fulfill all your desires and needs the first thing you require to do is to manage your finance properly. Now money is something that should be used in a proper manner if you wish to improve your lifestyle. The first thing you need to do list your house and business expenses. 

By following this procedure you can save some money by eradicating the dissipate desires. It is essential for an individual to understand the concept of credit toil and mortgages; this will help the person to stay away from debts and other legal problems. If you wish to know more about economics, than there are several websites that provide complete information on budget planning.

Now the user should be very careful while providing personal information to these online firms. Here for planning or managing your budget you need to provide the account details. Therefore before relying on any of these budget sites it is necessary to do some homework and look out for an accurate one, as there are chances of getting cheated. Now the links which are genuine will charge some amount for the services provided, once the payment is done, software will be provided to the user. 

This software will allow the user to manage his/her personal funds, credit cards and bank accounts. If an individual prefers using a free site than he/she will get limited information plus the user will not get wide-ranging support and help. Users of the budget calculators and planners can have a regular check on their expenditures and savings. They can observe all their transactions this will give them a clear picture of how and where the money is being used. 

Once you are clear about the money saving concept, you can live a good and a high profiled lifestyle. Now if you are running a business the basic things that are be taken for consideration are set up a book to manage your credit stipulations and maintain the bank account to record of all financial transactions. By using online budget software you can easily manage all your financial transactions without assistance.

Now if you want to have a good control on your hard earnings apart from the above mentioned remedies, you must also try to eradicate few unusual activities. This may spoil your health and you can disturb your budget by spending more on medical treatment. If you are not concerned about your health then you can waste all your money on medicines and treatment. 

There are many ways to come out of this trouble like you can look out for a good health insurance plan and invest a handful of your income on any good and liable insurance scheme. This will protect you and your family from unexpected trouble. 

To stop misuse of money you can give up some unusual habits like drinking or smoking.The price of cigarettes has risen dramatically over the past few years. Government taxes on cigarettes are exorbitant. If you total how much you would spend on cigarettes per week, you would then see how much your smoking vice is costing you per year. For smokers, insurance policies are also more expensive. A good idea would be to replace regular cigarettes with electronic cigarettes which cost less and also doesn't contain toxins and harmful chemicals, the major cause of lung cancer.


Friday, June 21, 2013

7 Rules to Better Manage Your Money

 Every game has rules; managing and saving money are no different. Rules are a good thing; they set boundaries and keep people out of trouble, provided the rules are followed. By adding the rules that follow in this article, you can bet that your financial situation will improve. Here are 7 rules to to manage your money more wisely.

1. Needs vs. Wants 


If we all limited ourselves to our true needs, most of our money problems would disappear. After all, we don't really need much: food, water, shelter, and some company. At the same time, there are a variety of ways to satisfy those needs. For example, we can choose to eat beans every night or we can have a steak. There's also a difference between a tent and a $5 million home. 

Most material things in this world are entirely optional, and most of us have limited resources. Make sure you're not buying more than you need.

2. Don't spend new money 


New money is a raise or a financial windfall. You were already surviving without that money so don't expand your lifestyle to accommodate your new income. In general, we are not miserable because we don't have a new car or a bigger house; we are miserable because we can't pay our bills on time. Invest all the increases in your income and someday you can buy all the stuff you want. 


3. There is always an opportunity cost. 


Every decision has a cost, even if it's just the loss of other options. Buying a new car means the money for the car payments can't be used for something else. Going to college can cost four years of income. Always look at what you're giving up and decide if it's worth it. 

4. It's all about supply and demand


Consider that our income is largely determined by supply and demand. A brain surgeon makes a lot of money because when her skills are needed, the demand is extremely high. There are also relatively few people with her skill set. If you're easy to replace, your income is probably not as great as you would like. Always look for ways to make yourself irreplaceable. 

5. Understand risk. 


T-bills don't pay very well because the risk is minimal, perhaps next to zero. Stocks, on the other hand, pay much better on the average. However, stocks are more risky, too. Always consider the risk to your money and compare that with the expected return. Ask yourself, "Is the return I'm likely to get worth the risk?"

6. Understand the time value of money. 


Would you receive $100 today or $100 in 5 years? It is far better to receive $100 today. You could invest it or save it and start earning interest. Be sure to consider the time horizon for your investments. Here is some more information on the time value of money. The math can get complicated, but don't give up! 

7. Compound interest is an amazing thing. 


If you invested a single penny and were able to double it every day, in a month you would have over $10 million! The key is to leave your investments alone; don't take the money out and spend it. You'll be surprised just how quickly it can grow if you can just leave it alone. 

Anyone that keeps these 7 rules in mind will be handsomely rewarded in the future. If you're not already following all the rules, pick one and start today. Add a new rule each month until you're fully up to speed. Your bank account will thank you.

Melissa Wood contributes as an editor at RateSupermarket.ca. Obsessed with finding small ways to save money every day, she enjoys sharing her frugal lifestyle to the MoneyWise Blog. Read more about Melissa on her Google+ page.







Friday, May 17, 2013

6 Ways You and Your Spouse Can Manage Your Finances Together

Money is one of the leading causes of conflict in marriages today. This touchy subject often stays on the sidelines till after a couple has said "I do," only to rear its ugly head later. Managing your money as a team can do wonders for both your financial and marital health. 

Set Specific Goals Together



Many marriages have both a spender and a saver. If you work together to come up with achievable financial goals, your differences can balance each other out. It's important for both partners to share the same financial goals in order for your family to reach them together. Identify all your goals, large and small. This may range from saving for a house to maintaining a grocery budget large enough to accommodate organic produce. 


Create a Roadmap for Your Finances


Once you've set your goals, you need to decide exactly how you will reach them. Create a time-table for large goals, such as saving for a car or home. Determine how much you need each week or month to get to your goals in time. The clearer you are about where you're going, the easier it will be to decide whether you're on track. 


Choose a Money Management Plan


Sit down together and decide how you will manage your money. You can keep your money in a joint account or two separate ones. If you use separate accounts, you may want to keep a joint one as well for pooling money used on bills.

It's also a good idea to decide how you will track your money from month to month. There are many apps and programs to help you with this. A more traditional method is to take cash out for each type of expense and keep it in an envelope so your spending can't spill over from one area to the next. This keeps you from accidentally spending grocery funds on entertainment and makes it easier to visualize your situation. 


Set Rules for Spending


As a couple, you need to decide how much discretionary money each person gets. Do you have a set allowance for fun money each week, or are you able to spend freely as long as purchases are under a certain cap? Be very clear about how you feel on this issue, as a saver may prefer discussing any purchase over $20 while a spender would probably set the cap closer to $100. 


Collaborate on Savings Strategies


Saving is important for healthy finances in any situation. Talk to your spouse about the level of risk that you're comfortable with. There are lots of ways to invest and save ranging from gold bullion from the U S Money Reserve to stock and bonds. A diverse portfolio is usually the best option for balanced financial health. 


Communicate Clearly and Often


Set a meeting time each week or month for you and your spouse to sit down and go over the finances. Communicating often is your best defense against misunderstandings and conflicts down the road.

Using these strategies, you and your spouse can manage your finances wisely with both parties having a fair and equal say in your decisions. 





Thursday, May 2, 2013

Manage Your Finances Like a Small Business


You may not think personal finances have much in common with finances of a small business, but with a little creativity you can manage your money as if you were your own company. Here are some tips to keep in mind when working on your finances.

Hang On to Important Documents


As a homeowner, you probably won't have to deal with Cash Flow or Profit and Loss Statements like a business would. However, there are several forms and documents you definitely need to keep track of. This practice can help during tax season, when you might need to reference old statements for your files. Managing your finances will be a breeze if you store all your receipts, loan statements, and credit records in a safe, well-organized place.

Come Up With a System


Of course, knowing where your documents are is only half the battle. Once you've collected your files, you need to figure out a routine for keeping them organized and properly utilizing them in your financial management. It also helps to regularly balance your checkbook or keep track of your expenses in spreadsheets. Some business owners do a daily rundown of their gains and losses to maintain their financial flow. If you're struggling to figure things out, there's tons of free accounting advice online that can help you.

Focus On Profit


It might surprise you to think of a homeowner turning a profit, but this is basically what any individual with an income, expenses, and assets ends up doing. Consider the things you spend your money on every week--groceries, rent, energy bills, and probably some fun stuff, too. You can think of the dollars you don't spend on necessities as your profit and store them away in a savings account. Even non-monetary gains, like clothing or entertainment products, could be considered profits. One of your main goals should be to maximize these earnings so you can reap the most benefits from your hard work.

Plan Ahead


You won't get very far if you don't have a head for the future. Once you have all your files and systems ready, you need to consider what you want to do with your finances in the long run. If you want to make a large investment, like buying a house or a car, you will need to plan to save money and look for the best payment plan available. Financial programs can help keep track of your projects, or you can write a simple to-do list of tasks such as budgeting for food or allocating money for retirement. Just like a business, you should figure out your long-term goals and work on a good strategy to achieve them efficiently. 

Controlling your finances as if you were running a business is a great way to become more stable and more independent. Despite the differences between a small business and a homeowner, there are plenty of shared practices that can help any individual get a better grasp on their money.





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