Feeling of late all your money has been going down the drain? Well, now is the right time as ever to take control of your expenditure. No matter the degree of pleasure you get after splurging on an expensive pair of shoes or fancy dinners time after time – is equally or more painful to see your plans on saving money and following a pre-planned expenditure chart gone for a toss. And staying on top of your cash flow is not a mammoth task as it is often perceived. It can be achieved by slightly altering your day-to-day. If planned meticulously and executed this could easily turn into an addiction, an addiction in a good way. That not only makes you feel better but also contributes a lot to your well-being.
Firstly, the most effective decision is to set aside a certain amount as savings or investments as soon as you receive a paycheck if you have not already enrolled for saving plans or investment plans. However, the latter is the most likely to generate more money than the former which gives you a return of a certain percentage of money time after time, with the unlimited access to the internet nowadays investing in stocks and mutual funds are just a few clicks away.
The availability of a plethora of online investment platforms has made investing easier than ever and to the users’ comfort, many of these online investment platforms even offer automated investment options. All you need to do to automate your investments is to select a specific investment amount and a date in which your investments should be invested in a certain entity every month for a certain period.
Secondly, switching from E-wallet transactions to cash transactions as the default payment method could be a real game-changer as we are likely to spend more and lose track of our expenditure when using E-wallets. This is something that leaves a psychological impression on you because whenever a bill is paid you do not only see just numbers decreasing from your bank account or the money loaded in the E-Wallet but your actual wallet growing thin due to loss of bills. No matter how easier the advent of electronic transactions has made your lives, you are likely to become even more responsible while opening your wallet often and paying with tangible money, in that way you get to see how much money you have left and escape the guilt of overspending.
The most common reason for losing money is in the form of credit card bill payments. Despite, giving you the luxury of temporary financial freedom, attractive offers throughout the year, helping you develop a credit score, etc. They can turn into real trouble if the spending goes out of hand. As the interest to be paid is generally high it is wise to make use of the Interest-free period after every transaction which typically ranges from 25 days to 55 days or more, depending on the provider of the card. Paying off credit cards in full within the interest-free period has its perquisites like helps you maintain your credit score, Waiving off annual fees after reaching a certain amount of transactions, and still, you get to utilize offers and discounts your credit card has to offer without losing your hard-earned money in the form of interests. However, a fully paid off credit card can act as your emergency funds during times when you are in desperate need of financial help. If paying off your credit card in full within the interest-free period is out of the question, it is advisable to keep your transaction below 30% of your total Credit card balance. So, you have to repay the due in small figures. Saving money from Credit card interests each month can help you in utilizing it in other ways like paying a month’s Internet bill or can buying a fancy meal as you deserve it.
Of all the possible remedies seen above, this one might want you to invest some physical effort in it. The effort may be in making regular trips to greengrocer and supermarkets many times a week. It is proven that consumers are likely to save 10-20% of their monthly grocery expenditures when buying in small quantities rather than bulk buying. When bulk buying we are likely to buy stuff that may not be necessarily needed or not need a refill or restock immediately. Just because having bought things that are not needed we tend to use it more just for the sake of emptying the existing stock, Whereas, buying daily or once in a couple of days you get to buy things only that are needed for immediate consumption. 2021 seems to be the best year to adapt to more efficient spending methods and managing your finances effectively. Happy spending!
Author’s Bio
Paul Harrison, an avid reader and a cinephile with an interest in writing.