Learning the Basics of Handling Money
With prices increasing all the time, saving money can be harder and harder to do. Here are some solutions for saving a little so that you can still meet your needs and still find ways to trim off a little for the future.
1. BUDGET ? Get one and stick with it! And set aside at least a small portion for savings while you're at it; savings for your future, your retirement, your education, your vacation, whatever. Head to your local office supply store for planning workbooks or budget sheets to use. Or head to your favorite search engine and type in, "budget planning" for hundreds of sites with articles, free downloads, tips, ebooks and other resources to help with your budget setup and follow up.
2. PLAN AHEAD ? Make sure to plan for emergencies and the unexpected, like an appliance break down or garage door malfunction. Even if you can only set aside $50 or so each monthly, place it in an account and earmark it for this "Miscellaneous" fund. Then when things go wrong, and they will ? nothing's perfect ? you'll be better prepared.
3. NON-MONTHLY ITEMS ? Work out a monthly payment for items that you don't pay monthly and set this up in your regular monthly budget. For example, for items like annual home owner or renter insurance, quarterly water bills and automobile insurance payments and annual trash bills, take the amounts and determine what they would be monthly. Then list the items on your budget log and pull these amounts aside, saving them in your account for those purposes. This way, when the bills hit, you won't be caught off guard and have to scrounge for the payments.
What works well, instead of handling multiple savings accounts for each company owed, is to use index cards and one savings account. Create one index card for each bill. Then simply log the amount you're setting aside on the card and deposit it into your savings account. Keep the index cards with your savings passbook to remind you what the balance covers. The total of all your index cards should equal the balance in your savings account. (Make sure to create an index card for your regular funds that you are saving each month in step one above and a card for your Miscellaneous fund in step two above).
So next time you get paid, take three giant steps forward. Grab your index cards, follow your budget and invest in yourself and your future. Get a grip on your money handling.
http://www.mydebtfreespace.com This site is dedicated to helping people manage their money. Latest news and articles are updated daily.
 Google News Updated : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:08:57 GMT Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open - FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com - by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com NEW YORK - About nine days after Serena Williams lost in the Wimbledon final to her elder sister, Venus, she was still killing herself, unable to shake her mind of the errors that came late in a contest that she ... Williams beats Jankovic for title, No. 1 ranking Winning US Open never gets old for Serena Williams Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:21 GMT "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings - Reuters
Reuters - By Paul J. Gough NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The industrywide "Stand Up to Cancer" telethon averaged a modest 10.3 million viewers during its hour-long simulcast on ABC, NBC and CBS Friday. In a star-heavy telethon, Hollywood takes a stand on cancer 'Stand Up to Cancer' Raises $100M Plus Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:37:28 GMT Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - As a ferocious Hurricane Ike ripped across Cuba, residents from Key West to the Gulf Coast watched the storm's unpredictable path, worrying it could hit anywhere in the US from Texas to Florida. 'Hurricane fatigue' shows Louisiana still possibility for Ike Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:20:42 GMT New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal - Xinhua
Xinhua - WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said on Monday that it got the best deal it could on nuclear trade with India. Indian shares rise more than 4 pct early Indian rupee rises as stocks rally seen Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:36:42 GMT Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Aaron Sheldrick and Demian McLean Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ike is crossing Cuba after smashing into the northeast of the country with winds of 205 kilometers (125 miles) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Video: Raw Video: Ike's Harsh Impact on Turks and Caico Hurricane Ike set to batter Cuba Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:56:09 GMT Store eases baby bottleneck - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - When Georgette Finnie e-mailed What's Your Problem? on Aug. 25, she was 9 months' pregnant with her first child. The expectant mom had done some research about the baby bottles she had received as gifts through her baby registry at Babies "R" Us. Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... That Plastic Baby Bottle Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:18:53 GMT McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports - Bloomberg Bloomberg - By James Kraus Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads Democratic contender Barack Obama by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters, according to a weekend USA Today/Gallup Poll, USA Today reported. Convention rejuvenates GOP US campaign sharpens as McCain takes poll lead Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:07 GMT Amazon Associate Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Recent security breaches at several credit card companies continue to... Read More Between 15 - 20% of people in our country (UK)... Read More Millions of people have a checking account and many people... Read More The Check 21 Law is the new federal law for... Read More Recently, many of these loyalty rewards programs have come to... Read More Debt levels are at an all time high in the... Read More As the saying goes: "Buyer Beware". If you see ads... Read More Most consumers are aware of the importance of their credit... Read More Finding a stable and secure income that will come year... Read More I have been a loyal user of Quicken(R) for more... Read More Despite how easy it is to balance a checkbook, very... Read More Each of us knows how to spend money, but do... Read More It doesn't take much for you to get behind on... Read More Would you be interested in freeing up 10% to 15%... Read More For months, we were trigger-swipe happy, putting our groceries, clothes,... Read More With the advent of the internet and especially auction services... Read More Doesn't it seem like the only impressive numbers we've seen... Read More If you're like most people, your personal financial records are... Read More Has anyone been to the gas pumps lately? Soon $3... Read More Most Americans have been brought up to be concerned about... Read More During the last twenty years, banks have offered a number... Read More Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms... Read More With interest rates being at an all-time low, I can... Read More Get Access to Realistic profitable strategies & discover the mindset... Read More For most of us the process of getting out of... Read More
Adsense
websites
Identity Theft ? More Tips on How it Can Be Avoided
Whats The Truth Behind Your Finances?
Personal Checks ? Extreme Benefits
How Check 21 Affects You
How To Reap The Rewards With Rewards Programs
Adverse Debt Levels Blight UK Consumers Personal Finances
Government Grants - Beware of Scams
Credit Card Debt ? Watch Your Credit Report and Your Bill
Are You Sick of the Financial Insecurity of Fluctuating Seasons and Income?
Do You Really Need the Power of Money Management Software?
How to Balance Your Checkbook ? Get a Calculator and Pencil and You are Ready To Go!
7 Simple Ways To Save Money
Budgeting is Bothersome
How To Free-Up 10% to 15% of Your Income
Personal Finance - Have Consumers Had a Belly Full of Personal Debt?
Financing Collectibles for Fun and Profit
Want Your Savings to Earn a Higher Rate of Return? Try Internet Banking
Organizing Your Finances - Thinking Outside the (Shoe) Box
If I Had a Structured Settlement, I Would Use It to Pay for Gas
Chex Systems ? Why Every American Needs To Guard His Checking Account With His Life
Debt Management ? Watch Out for Bank Fees!
Reduce College Debt with Scholarships
Budgeting Before Buying
Dramatically Improve Your Stock Trading Success
Accessing Funds You Never Knew You Had- Household Utilities and Mortgage Expense Reduction Plan
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Bankruptcy Laws Get Tougher - More Expensive
If you've been thinking about filing for bankruptcy, your best... Read More
The Origins of Check Writing
People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services.... Read More
Money Saving Tips. Maximize Savings on Everyday Items!
Frugal living is more than a lifestyle. It's a passion.... Read More
Personal Loans For Homeowners ? One Of The Numerous Rewards For Being A Homeowner
You no longer look at the pictures of homes cause... Read More
Organizing Your Finances - Thinking Outside the (Shoe) Box
If you're like most people, your personal financial records are... Read More
College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education
Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in... Read More
Single Mother Resources Directs You Towards Success
As a parent you are bound to face a few... Read More
5 Steps to Healthy Spending Habits
Next to our physical health most of us are primarily... Read More
UK Graduates Looking Short-Term At Their Long-Term Financial Responsibilities
With almost two thirds of university entrants from England and... Read More
What Happens if You Die Without Making a Will
If you die without making a Will in the UK,... Read More
UK Parents Inactivity Harming Their Children?s Future University and Mortgage Savings
The British government at the beginning of this year officially... Read More
The Magic Of Compound Interest
Christians are called to be good stewards of God's resources.... Read More
Save Money on your Clothing Budget. Tame the Closet Monster!
Reducing the clothing budget was a serious challenge for me.... Read More
Ways to Save Energy and Slash Electricity Bills
1. Lighting & Light Bulbs Install low energy light... Read More
Budgets And Eating - Can They Co-Exist?
Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, the truth... Read More
Budgeting the Key to being Financially Stable
Single Mother's in need of Financial GuidanceBudgeting is key to... Read More
Grocery Savings - Your Kitchen is a Goldmine!
Your food budget is the most flexible area of your... Read More
Budgeting: A Tough Love Way to Handle Your Household Budget
Developing and living by a household budget is by far... Read More
Budgeting Tips to Save Real Money
Sticking to a budget can be difficult, but with so... Read More
Budgeting -- The Critical Flaw That Causes Most Budgets to Fail
Budgeting. It's a word we're all familiar with. Everyone knows... Read More
Financial Fitness - Are You Exercising the Right Muscles to become Financially Fit?
Are your financial muscles well toned and healthy or flabby... Read More
Live Green; Save Green!
Have you seen the recent article on a new "green"... Read More
How To Get Ahead On A Low Income
Do you struggle from week to week trying to make... Read More
How to Choose Wisely a Credit Card
So, you've made the decision to apply for a credit... Read More
Knowing Me, Knowing You: Why ID Protection Plans Are Flawed For Fraud
ID theft is a major consumer concern, though there is... Read More
Personal Finance |