subject: Great Advice For Handling Your Personal Finances [print this page] Let's face reality. Today's current economic situation is not very good. Times are tough for people all over, and, for a great many people, money is particularly tight right now. This article contains several tips that are designed to help you improve your personal financial situation. If you want to learn to make your money work for you, keep reading.
Create a budget that prioritizes your spending, with bills and other necessities like groceries at the top. If you need to replace a major appliance or other item like a bed, this should go next but isn't as urgent. Also, don't spend too much on going out to eat or other unnecessary things.
Use online deal sites. There are many different sites like this and they usually offer a new deal every day or two. Each site has different options, but you can usually find deals at local stores, beauty parlors, coffee shops and many other places in your area. This is a great way to save money and support your local businesses.
While it is not a good idea to use your credit cards too often, you also, do not want them to remain inactive for too long. An inactive card will not help your credit rating. Many companies will cancel a card if it has not been used for a while, which can hurt your credit score.
If you have a lot of debt, pay off your credit card debt first. Credit card debt tends to have the highest rates of interest and the amount can build quickly and ruin your finances. Once your credit cards are paid off consider closing all but one account and then use that only for emergencies.
Use a smart payment method. Are you a sales shopper who loves to boast about the great deal you got on a new pair of shoes? Did you pay for them with a credit card? Well, consider this: a pair of shoes on sale for half price will probably cost you more than full price, if you charge it and make minimum payments on the credit card! Pay cash instead, or pay-off your card each month to avoid finance charges.
If you write checks monthly, balance your checkbook. The easiest way to lose sight of the money you have available, is to not know how much of it you are spending.
Writing checks is an easy way to lose sight. Sit down with a calculator and pencil, and keep your checkbook organized, and balanced. Do it at least once a month.
Rethink your cell phone expense. What are you paying for your cell phone bill? This is one of those things that get everyone. If you can't afford the latest phone with all the gadgets and the best plan, then you shouldn't be getting it. Make sure your phone fits your budget, and do not feel stuck in a situation where you are just simply paying too much money for your phone.
As was talked about in the opening paragraph of this article, during the present economic downturn, times are tough for most folks. Money is hard to come by, and people are interested in improving their personal financial situation. If you utilize what you have learned from this article, you can start improving your personal financial situation.
by: srp
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