Most financial planners agree that the most important step you can take to strengthen your finances, is to pay down your credit card debt. There is a simple and logical reason for this. If the average interest on a consumer's credit card debt is fifteen percent, he would need to find an investment paying a guaranteed rate equal to that, in order to justify not paying that credit card off.
Ask credit card companies to lower your rates. If you've been paying your bills on time, they should have no problem with this request. Ask politely and calmly, and don't threaten them or harass the person you are speaking with. If necessary, talk to a manager. This way, you will save money on your credit card bills.
If you find yourself in need of a personal loan, but are faced with banks that are generally unwilling to make them, you should gather documents that prove that you are a low-risk credit consumer. This can include favorable payment records on car loans or credit card companies, as well as paycheck stubs from a stable employer.
To find areas where you can save money, track your spending carefully. Get a little notebook to take with you and write down everything you spend. Track cash, check and credit card expenses. Also write down what you spend to pay your bills. This is just like a check ledger. Write down the date, place, purpose and amount. At the end of the month, review your expenses. You will quickly see areas where you are wasting money.
Cut down on impulse buying with the "one week rule". If you want to buy something, make yourself wait a week before actually spending the money. Chances are, your spending will decrease because you probably will not even remember what you wanted to buy last week or the week before.
Make a list of your bills and put it in a prominent location in your home. This way, you will be able to always have in mind the dollar amount you need to keep yourself out of financial trouble. You'll also be able to look at it when you think of making a frivolous purchase.
Every time, you think about paying with credit or taking out a loan, take the time to calculate what you will ultimately pay for that convenience in the long run. Credit cards typically have interest rates of around 20% while some quick, secured loans can have interest rates that will ultimately cost you two to three times the amount you are getting in the first place. It is far better to go without in the short-term than to cripple yourself financially in the long-term.
One of the most botched personal-finance decision's people make is the unnecessary purchase of a new car. Because a new car depreciates by 20-30% as soon as it leaves the dealer, it is one of the worst investments you can make with your money. Consider buying a barely used version of the same model, and you can reduce your costs considerably without compromising the reliability of your car.
While it is a good idea to try and give charitable donations and do volunteer work, do not do it much more than you can handle. Only give money that you can comfortably afford giving, and do not do volunteer time that will take away from any of your other responsibilities.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, personal finance managing can be grueling. However, you do not have to be clueless on the subject. Hopefully, this article has provided you with advice that can help get your finances back on track and help you to live a more comfortable life.
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