Sunday, August 19, 2012

Great Guide On How To Survive In This Tough Economy

By Rian Steve


Realizing that you have more debt than you can afford to pay off can be a frightening situation for anyone, regardless of income or age. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with unpaid bills, read this article for tips on how to make the most of your income each year, despite the amount.

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.

Put your paperwork together before you fill out your rental application. Make sure you have your employment history for at least the last 5 years and be ready to explain any gaps there might be. Make a list of your addresses for the last 5 years and have the names and phone numbers of your landlords. Without these, it is very unlikely you would be able to lease or rent anything.

One of the things that you need to take into consideration with the rising rates of gasoline is miles per gallon. When you are shopping for a car, look into the car's MPG, which can make a huge difference over the life of your purchase in how much you spend on gas.

To truly take advantage of an emergency fund, keep it close but not too close. Three to six months pay should be sitting in an account somewhere so that an unexpected expense is not the end of the world. However, it should be money in an easily accessible interest bearing account, but not in your primary checking account where you can kill it with your debit card in one day.

Before you make an investment, decide how big a risk you're willing to take. The wrong investment can leave you sick with stress, and may not be worth it, even if it does pay off in the long run. Low risk investments may not yield the big rewards that high risk investments can, but they'll allow you to sleep soundly at night.

If possible, steer clear of the emergency room. Walk-in clinics, and actual appointments at the doctor will both have a huge reduction in cost and co-pays. Emergency room doctors can also charge separately from hospitals if they are contracted. So, you would have two medical bills instead of one. Stick with the clinic.

In today's economy, with so many people out of work or underpaid, it is possible that you will need to live on a leaner budget than that which you have been accustomed. Doing the hard work of cutting expenses and expectations will pay off in the long run as you make it through this recession without added debt, but saving instead.

A good personal finance tip is to keep an eye on your credit score and make sure it's always in good standing. Using a credit card when you don't have enough money in your account can damage your credit score. Having a good credit score can make a huge difference.

Increase your savings by cutting back on sodas. Learn to drink water and healthy, inexpensive beverages, such as, tea. Drinking water every day is a healthy habit to form, and you will also cut calories out of your daily diet. This helps you save more money with the extra benefit of improving your health!

Do everything you can to see if there are ways to save some money. What bills do you pay that you can try to make cheaper for your family? Could you cut down on the electric bill by paying more attention to usage? Have you checked with your insurance company recently to see if there is a savings waiting for you?

Keep up with your bills to have better personal finance. Many times people will pay part of a bill, and this gives the company the ability to tack on expensive late fees. By paying your bills on time, it can actually bring up your credit score, and put a few extra dollars in your pocket in the end.

Always check and see if there are rebates for products that you're thinking about buying. A lot of electronic products are eligible for rebates, which means that you can get some of your money back, after making the purchase.

When investing money, make sure that you do not bounce around too much. Find a few solid investments and stick with them. Moving money around may seem like a smart idea, but the money you will end up spending in commission and transfer fees will make it, not worth your while.

Managing your personal finances is a complicated process when you have mouths to feed and bills to pay. However, there are steps you can take to budget and save no matter your income level. The advice in this article is designed to help you learn those methods and put them to use on a daily basis. From clipping coupons to investing in the stock market, making the most of your financial situation is something that everyone can do if armed with the right knowledge.




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