Dollars And Sense: Great Advice For Everyone’s Personal Finances

If you are like most people, you never received instruction on personal finance in school, and your parents probably did not discuss money with you either. After you moved out, you had to muddle along on your own, figuring out on your own how to best manage your personal finances. This article will discuss a few important concepts that you need to know, and will offer a few tips on getting the most out of your money.

Groceries are essential to purchase during the course of the week, as it should be your mission to limit the amount you spend when you are at the supermarket. One of the ways that you can do this is to ask for a supermarket card, which will give you all of the deals in the store.

While it may be tempting to take the advice of someone that has become very successful by writing self-help books on how to fix your finances, do not fall into that trap. They are successful at selling books, but that does not mean that the advice they are giving you is solid.

When you make note of expenses in your check ledger, always round up your numbers to the next dollar. When you make a deposit, round down. In this way, you will build a little padding into your checking account to help you avoid overdrafts. When your “slush fund” has built up enough to help you eliminate monthly fees, continue deducting them anyway. They will be set aside in your checking account and will add to your savings.

Don’t let credit cards lure you into living beyond your means. If you need to turn to your plastic to pay, for necessary expenses then you need to cut back your spending elsewhere. Never spend more than you earn, no matter how tempting it might be to splurge.

Open a savings account, and start putting money aside. Ideally, you should be saving at least 25% of your income. You can adjust the amount of money you put aside to your other financial obligations. Use your savings when you find yourself in need, or to finance major projects.

Start cooking your meals at home. It isn’t just healthier to make the switch from take out to home-cooked meals; it’s also easier on your wallet. Stop wasting money on fast food establishments and restaurants. Start cooking your own meals, saving the leftovers for later. With the wide variety of recipes out there, even poor cooks should be able to find something they can cook and enjoy.

When you have to go to the store, try to walk or ride your bike there. It’ll save you money two fold. You won’t have to pay high gas prices to keep refilling your car, for one. Also, while you’re at the store, you’ll know you have to carry whatever you buy home and it’ll keep you from buying things you don’t need.

Checkbook management, taxes, budgeting, and stock market investing are all equally important in your personal finance portfolio. Taking care of your personal finances isn’t difficult, but it does require discipline and a little education. Now that you you know the best ways to manage your money, you can put your money to work for you, turning it into a fungible resource.