Saturday, June 15, 2013

Be Prepared With This Excellent Personal Finance Advice

By Priscilla Giles


America has a high level of ignorance with regards to personal finance. In this article, you will learn some basic financial concepts that will help you get the most from your money. You will understand how to make your income go further and make some extra money beyond that.

Discuss your financial situation with your close friends and family members. If they're aware you're having money problems, you won't need to worry about them inviting you out for events you can't afford. By being honest, your friends will not think you are mad at them when you cannot go to dinner. Clue your friends in as to your financial situation - this way they will be better able to understand what you are going through.

If someone notices that they always have a left over dollar bill after paying for something, there may be a way to stretch that to have some fun and win some money. Try collecting them in a money jar, and if you have any money to spare, try buying one lottery ticket once a month. Only purchase one though, as purchasing more can lead to the loss of the money you just saved.

Work with a tax planner to overhaul your financial situation. Consider investment opportunities offered by your employer to invest pre-tax dollars in qualified plans. Put aside some pre-tax funds for medical bills. Utilize 401K matching programs your employer offers. It makes good financial sense to use the money that you earn wisely.

Check out your credit score if you are having a hard time securing credit for a house or another big purchase. Often, there are errors on these reports. Contest anything that is incorrect in writing and ask the consumer credit agency to remove the mistakes.

Avoid bottled water. Tap water is free, and bottled is too expensive. If you find the taste offensive, perhaps you can buy a filter to place on your faucet, or you might want to add some flavoring to the water. That can make the water taste better so you enjoy drinking from the tap.

If you are thinking about relocating to take a new job, consider the cost of living in the region when evaluating salary offers. Take a hard look at average prices for rentals, homes, food and utilities for that area so you know what to expect.

If you have a job that's full time already, try to get yourself a side job too. There are plenty of part-time jobs available to you, including pitching in at a restaurant or helping out with neighborhood sports. Adding that extra money each week can really help your financial situation over time.

Consider staying out of the rabbit hole that is credit card debt if you want to keep your personal finances in order. Really consider any purchase you are about to make on your credit card. You must take the time it takes to pay it off into consideration. You should stay away from charges that are not necessary, or that you can't pay off within a month's time.

Use two to four credit cards to enjoy a satisfactory credit report. If you only have one card, your credit score will rise, but slowly. If you have more than four, it is an indication that you have difficulty dealing with your finances. Start out slow with just two cards and gradually build your way up, if needed.

It's important that everyone has a liquid savings. This account should have a high yield. Some of the best savings accounts are offered by online banks. Savings accounts are always FDIC insured.

It is a good idea to apply your tax refund toward paying down your debts. A lot of people go and waste their money when they get their refunds instead of being responsible and paying off their debts. This does nothing to eliminate debt.

Don't take out large amounts of student loan debt unless you expect to be in a financial situation to pay it back. Choosing a costly private college without having declared a major is a good way to land yourself in perpetual debt.

Now that you know the basics of personal finance, it's up to you to put it into practice so that you don't spend your money frivolously. Put away some money and you will make money in the long run.




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