Never Go Broke Again By Taking These Top Personal Finance Tips to Heart

InspirationMarch 24, 2020

With the current year coming to a close and people gearing up to welcome a new one, it’s time again to start making various resolutions to better one’s life. This means dealing with the aftermath of the spending spree that the holidays brought, too. Here’s how people can welcome January with better spending and saving habits as they regain control over their personal finances, according to What Investment‘s John Elmore.

Getting Honest

photofriday/Shutterstock
Take note of the inflows and outflows of money in your accounts

First, experts recommend people to be honest with themselves and look at their current situation with regards to money. Going on unaware of where one is finance-wise would only prevent them from actually creating and setting a long-term financial plan in motion. Knowing exactly where one’s money is going will also help them come up with realistic plans.

Become More Disciplined

Of course, awareness alone won’t save one from potential financial ruin. Imposing some form of discipline on one’s self with regards to cash will also keep a person from overspending. One good thing to do is to create a savings pot as a means to motivate themselves into meeting specific milestones whether it’s something big like putting together a deposit for a house or something smaller like a vacation abroad.

Another helpful habit is setting a spending limit on one’s credit cards or decrease the number of times one uses them. Once these have become a habit, one will surely notice positive effects reflected in their finances.

Comparing Before Buying

studioworkstock/Shutterstock
Always look for promos and discounts to save on purchases

Spending can’t be avoided altogether. But when a person does have to splurge on certain purchases, they are recommended to consider all options available to them before paying. Going to comparison sites for car insurance is a good place to start.

Searching for discount codes and sales online for plane tickets is another great money-saving tip. In the end, one would be surprised at just how much they can save just with a few clicks and a few minutes of research.

Getting Thrifty

In connection with the above advice, people are also recommended to practice thrifty habits when doing regular shopping and other routine activities. This means going for deals at the grocery store, reusing wrapping paper for holiday gifts or taking a cheaper route when traveling. All of these may seem small, but the savings they can give a person can add up over time through continuous practice. Some methods may take a little extra effort but will pay off in the end.

Know When to Get Help

Vitalii Matokha/Shutterstock
Reach out to a close friend or a trusted family member to open up about mounting financial worries

Breaking bad habits can’t be done overnight. So, don’t be afraid to ask another person for help or assistance when things get tough. Dealing with financial problems like having debt can actually lead one’s mental health to deteriorate.