Simple Personal Finance Tips Anyone Can Use

To really be in control of your personal finances, you must know what your daily and monthly expenses are. Write down a list of all of your bills, including any car payments, rent or mortgage, and even your projected grocery budget. This will tell you how much money you have to spend every month, and give you a good place to start when making a household budget.

Use cash for purchases. Eliminate credit cards and debit cards and use cash for purchases. Use the envelope system to allocate a budget for monthly expenses. Have a separate envelope for each different type of expense, and place a specific amount of cash in each one. This way, you won't over-spend on any monthly expenses. A good idea is to have another envelope marked 'emergency', containing cash that can only be used if really necessary. Seal this envelope, as this will make you less tempted to 'borrow' from it.

If you are plagued with credit accounts that have been turned over to collection agencies, you can save money by negotiating a smaller settlement to pay them off. Many collection agencies would rather get something for the account, than paying the high cost of attorneys and court fees trying to collect their money.

If you are tempted to play the lottery, while struggling financially, then you need to have the right attitude. A miracle win that bails you out or sets you up for life is really unlikely. However, a very moderate habit of a few tickets a week can have a few advantages. Pacing yourself prevents overspending and a ticket, now and then, can be both fun and a source of dim hope.

To get the most out of your money and your food -stop buying processed foods. Processed foods are simple and convenient, but can be very expensive and nutritionally poor. Try looking at the ingredients list on one of your favorite frozen meals. Then the shop for the ingredients at the store and cook it yourself! You'll have a lot more food than you would have if you had purchased the dinner. Furthermore, you may have spent less money!

If you are looking to purchase a new car, go for one that is fuel efficient. Not only are they better for the environment, but fuel efficient cars will save you tons of money on gas. Just be aware that many cars that were not made in recent years are not fuel efficient.

Spend less than you make. Living even right at your means can cause you to never have savings for an emergency or retirement. It means never having a down payment for your next home or paying cash for your car. Get used to living beneath your means and living without debt will become easy.

Keep track of all of the money you spend. You should invest in a program that will help you keep a tally of every cent that you dish out. When using this type of software, make sure to put in all purchases, regardless of how small, they seem to be.

Anyone who makes very little money and has trouble paying his rent should get on the waiting list for Section 8 housing as soon as possible. Due to the economy, waiting lists for Section 8 housing are very long, with average waiting times of 1-3 years. Some people, such as those with certain disabilities, can get into units somewhat faster.

Before you shell out your hard-earned money on a luxury or unnecessary items, try to use the '30 Day Rule'. Wait for at least 30 days before going back and following through with the purchase. This gives you plenty of time to consider whether your finances would be better served some other way.

To have long-term success in financial planning, consider debt investment opportunities. If you have a student loan at 2% interest but you can get a 2.75% savings rate in a bank account, it makes more financial sense in the long run to make the minimum monthly payments, while saving up a lump sum to pay it off entirely. Coversely, any debt with an interest rate higher than a savings interest rate should get priority.

Burn used cooking oil in your older diesel vehicle! There are entire web pages and forums devoted to doing just that. The first diesel engine, after all, was designed to run on peanut oil. Just make sure you research your options and take the precautions you need to insure you don't damage your engine.

Always pay off any outstanding bills for housing or electricity before worrying about paying personal debts back, as the former cannot wait. Try to only borrow from understanding loved ones that have your best interests at heart. Remember these tips and make the most of your income each year, despite what bracket you are in.

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