Last Updated on Feb 17, 2020 by James W
Your life is full, to say the least. You work from 9 to 5 and, afterward, you have a family and a home to tend to. However, if you don’t spend your money wisely now, you may end up struggling in your golden years. The good news is that you can make changes now that will afford you a comfortable life in your retirement.
The Importance of a 5 Letter Word
When you hear the word “budget” do you think sacrifice? Many people do. However, creating and sticking to a budget provides quite the opposite. When you live within a self-created budget it serves you, positively. You can plan for events later in the year, purchase large ticket items with cash, and tuck money away for your retirement. Starting a budget is one of the best ways to guarantee a successful financial future.
Shopping Trips
Going shopping, especially for food each week, can add up to a few hundred dollars or more. Thankfully, there are several ways to save big on the items you need. Use the local flyers made available by the local merchants as a way to compare prices, and make sure to clip coupons too. When it comes to buying a piece of furniture, you can use the same approach. With the help of apps such as Evernote, you can research the type of sofa you want, and save webpage after webpage. Then later, when you have the time to focus, check the stores that carry the sofa you want and compare the prices.
Living Within Your Means
It’s very easy to get off track and to go outside your comfort zone when it comes to money. For example, let’s say you are in the market for your first home. And, instead of seeing a diamond in the rough for much less, you opt to buy the house just a small stretch out of your price range to acquire the extras. The problem lies in the future. There will be times when unexpected expenses come along and if your mortgage is at the top of what you can afford, throwing in anything extra can cost you dearly. Instead, look for a home well within your price range, preferably at the lowest end and work on it slowly to transform it into your dream home.
Finding Ways to Save Money Daily
You may think that your hot latte on the way to work is worth the $5.00 invested. However, if you multiply it by 5 days, now that coffee is costing $25.00 each week or $100.00 a month. The same goes for buying lunch at work or ordering takeout a few times a week. Just those couple of personal enjoyments can cost you a large portion of expendable cash. Instead, treat yourself once a week to the hot latte or the lunch at work and reduce your takeout to a couple of times a month.
Cut Your Debt
Having a lot of debt not only ties up your money, but it also costs you more than you may imagine. Nobody provides a loan without tacking on interest, and that interest payment is better off in your pocket. While you may not be able to escape having a mortgage payment, you can avoid owing out thousands of dollars on credit cards and personal loans. Make it a practice that you pay cash instead of placing it on a card and absorbing ridiculous fees. If you want to use the credit cards for the perks like airline lines or a cash-back reward, that’s fine and beneficial. Just make sure that you are able to pay the credit card bill in its entirety by the due date.
Spending your money wisely now will allow you to enjoy today, tomorrow, and your retirement.
