|
|
Mom Life Features :  Back to Momlife |
|
| Beauty and Style Home and Garden Relationships Family Life |
|
| Travel - Vacation Astrology Taxes |
|
| Finance and Investing |
|
How To Save More Money |
|
Even when one has the best intentions at heart, saving is quite a challenge; one that can only be overcome with sheer determination, an understanding of finances and consistency.
You too can be a smart saver by:
- Starting early
The importance of getting a head start in finances cannot be stressed enough. It makes such a difference to the end result, in ways one might not expect. When it comes to saving, early is more, so don’t keep putting it off until you earn enough to stash some cash away.
- Looking around for saving opportunities
While continuing with your saving plan, it’s always good to look around for ways that will increase your money in a healthy manner. Deposit any unexpected sum (such as an allowance, a bonus, a tax refund or even a monetary gift) directly into your savings. This way, not only is it convenient but you will not even miss this additional money or be swayed by temptation.
- Setting benchmarks for your financial goals
This applies to medium and long term goals where you have to divide the deadline into shorter segments. For instance, if you want to save for your child’s college education which will begin in 10 years’ time, have benchmarks for each year, in order to keep the target in sight. This also makes the task look accomplishable.
- Having an emergency fund
This should cover three to six months of expenses. Keep a sufficient amount of cash with you in order to avoid selling shares or running credit card debts in case of an emergency. This way you will not lose out on those higher returns that come with long-term investments. Make sure that the emergency money is safe and accessible or it will not serve your purpose and, at the worst, it can put you off saving.
- Weighing your financial options
Let’s say that you want a car and are not sure whether to buy it or lease it. It should depend on the car of your interest, your future plans and what else can be achieved with that money. If you are the type who experiences car phases, then leasing is the better choice. You don’t need a down payment and your monthly note is nearly half as much for certain luxury models. Buying is more profitable than leasing if you plan to keep the car for a considerable time. You can apply this basic rule to all your expenses.
- Being ‘waste- conscious’
Saving is a big part of who we are and what kind of lifestyle we lead. You won’t be successful if you save just for the sake of saving-you need to feel that some things will run out or that you would come up short. Were you aware that keeping TVs and VCRs idle (turned off but plugged in) can cost you about $30 a year? Don’t let little imperfections gnaw holes in your saving plan. Every bit counts. |
|
|
|
| Featured Advertisers |
|
 |
|
|
