It is strange that, considering the vital nature of the subject, many people lack training in managing their personal finances. Personal finance skills can save money, improve savings and increase one\’s effective income. Fortunately, it is never too late to educate yourself on the subject. Here are a few quick personal finance tips that anyone might find useful:
If you make too much money to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or want to retain your assets, file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead. This type of bankruptcy allows you draw up a payment plan in which you pay the trustee a specified amount each month, which is then disbursed to your creditors. If you make timely payments over the life of the 3-5 year plan, the rest of your debt is wiped out.
If one has knowledge in repairing electronic items then they can earn money for their personal finances. Items such as video game consoles can be repaired for a fee. These items can come from friends, neighbors, or other customers gained through advertisement. One can earn a nice amount of money by simply repairing other people\’s game consoles.
A penny saved is a penny earned is a good saying to keep in mind when thinking of personal finance. Any amount of money saved will add up after consistent saving over a few months or a year. A good way is to determine how much one can spare in their budget and save that amount.
Do not spend more money than you actually earn. If you have things you want to buy, and you know that buying them will set you back, do not buy them. The last thing you want is to get into debt from trying to live far beyond your means.
If you are having trouble paying rent, contact your landlord about reducing the amount you pay. Chances are that they won\’t want to go through the hassle of listing the property and finding new tenants, if a small deduction in rent would keep you around. This is especially useful if you are a good tenant, who pays on time and keeps the property in good condition.
Don\’t throw out all of your old tissue boxes – turn them into something useful again. For example, you can keep your old tissue boxes and keep your grocery bags inside. The box makes a useful dispenser, while keeping your grocery bag clutter at bay. Place your grocery bag filled tissue box under the kitchen sink for ease of use.
Take the habit of carrying cash with you or get a debit card. Use this method of payment for your small expenses. If you use a credit card for all your expenses, you will end up paying a lot of money in interests and perhaps lose track of how much you spend everyday.
Learning to handle money wisely is a great idea for self-improvement. By taking care of finances, a wise person reaps the same benefits that they would by getting a raise. After all, making dollars stretch further is just as effective as making more dollars. Time spent refining personal finance skills is never time wasted.