Most people live from one paycheck to another. It’s not uncommon to not have a lot in savings or to have a significant amount of debt that’s owed each month. Unfortunately, when you don’t take charge of your finances, they can get out of control and cause you to spiral into a world of debt and bills. Reclaiming your future means taking charge of your money situation right now. The best time to plan ahead is before you’ll actually need financial assistance.
Regardless of the amount of debt that you’re in right now, there are ways to get rid of the problem and start working to save money for your future. In the event of an emergency or when you go to actually retire, having a bit of a nest egg to fall back on will help to prevent financial problems. The best way to begin saving up this nest egg is to clearly plan for your future needs and work to make these goals possible.
Debt Reduction
It’s not uncommon to have several thousand dollars in debt, whether this be credit cards, loans or other bills that are due on a routine basis. Unfortunately, one way that many lenders make money is by accruing interest over time and charging late fees the minute you forget to pay one of their bills. Reduction of debts is possible and it can be a lot easier than you might think.
First, you’ll want to consider refinancing, which refers to taking out a new loan or credit card with a better interest rate and longer-term. This will essentially lower your monthly payments on whatever you currently owe. The next type of reduction strategy is known as consolidation. A process like a student loan consolidation from Earnest.com means that you’ll take all of your loan payments and credit card fees and put them into a single payment. This minimizes the confusion of having to pay multiple bills and it can reduce what you owe because of a lower interest rate.
Savings
One of the most important parts of future planning is to save up some money. Saving money can be difficult, especially if you’re currently living paycheck-to-paycheck. However, there are ways that you can save without it feeling like you’re not left with anything at the end of the month. There are several apps available that actually automate savings for you and round up every dollar that you spend to put the extra into a separate account.
If you’d rather not link an app to your bank account, you can automate the process through your financial institution. This is done by setting up an internal transfer with your bank and then deciding when you want these transfers to be made and how much you’re willing to part with. Even just putting a few dollars a week into a separate account can add up big over time. Do not neglect the power of saving your money and try your best to avoid touching the savings account unless it is an absolute emergency.
Budgeting
Budgeting can be difficult if you’re used to overspending your money. Creating a budget first takes an understanding of your debt-to-income ratio. Determine how much you make in comparison to what you owe. From there, you’ll know what you’re left with at the end of the month. You can then divide this amount into four separate weeks for each month, which will give you a rough estimate of how much you’re able to spend before going over budget. A few tips for preventing going over the budget is to stick to your list when shopping. Look at prices online before heading to the store and see where you can make necessary cuts. Don’t be afraid to use coupons and other discounts that you may have as a way to further save on essentials.
Limit Overspending
Overspending is a major problem that virtually every family faces each day. Unfortunately, it is a hard habit to break and some people may even be overspending their money without knowing it. Let’s say that you eat out a lot during the week or you just have to swing by the local coffee shop every morning for an expensive brew. You can try to make coffee at home more often as well as working to create delicious home-cooked meals that the whole family can enjoy.
Overspending may also mean subscribing to too many streaming services or having extra add-ons on an insurance policy. By eliminating these extra fees, you’ll find that you’re left with a significant amount of leftover that can be put towards debts or into a savings account. It’s important to get the whole family on board when making these types of changes or else you’ll never be able to see a change in your finances.
Increased Income
Let’s face it, some of the reasons you could be struggling financially is that you’re just not earning enough money. This is an all-too-common problem that families face worldwide. However, the good news is that there are many things you can do to bring in a bit of extra cash flow. One of the most straightforward approaches is to ask your employer for a raise, bonus or promotion. Let them know that you’re struggling to make ends meet and then work with them to find a viable solution.
If you’re not getting anywhere with your current job, think about going back to school and earning some type of degree or certification. Jobs often pay workers more who have this type of knowledge under their belt. For quick, easy cash, simply sell items that are lying around outside or hold regular yard sales when the weather permits. You might not make a huge chunk of change, but it’ll be enough that can go towards debts, bills or into savings account for future spending. There are also many side jobs that you can consider doing, like home maintenance, ride-sharing or grocery pick-up for people who don’t want to do their own food shopping.
