In life, things happen that can set us back financially every once in a while. You could lose your job, or you can have an emergency that wipes you clean. You could also have made some mistakes because you didn’t actively pay attention to your finances. Whatever the reason was, there is still hope. You can get back on track with your finances. You just have to so some things a little differently this time.
Save more
When trying to get back on track with your finances, one of the most important things that you can do is to start saving more money. Having money in your savings will help you if you ever have another dire financial situation occur. It is always good to have something to fall back on. Setting a savings goal will help motivate you to save quicker. Some people need that extra motivation to save. Once you start saving, you will be glad that you did.
Budget
Create a budget and stick to it. Don’t just blindly spend money or splurge. It is not worth it in the long run. Look at how much money you have coming in and going out. If there is too much going out, it is time to update your budget. Since your starting over with your finances, some things can be cut from your budget such as cable television. It’s not going to be easy at the beginning, but you have to stick to your budget. Your finances depend on it. You’re not trying to be in a situation like this ever again.
Use your credit card wisely
If you have a credit card, please use it wisely. If you’re not careful, your credit card debt can have your starting over with your finances every year. That doesn’t need to happen. Don’t go on crazy spending sprees using your card. Use it on things that you can afford to purchase.
Another tip when it comes to using your credit card is to pay it off each month. Paying your credit card off will help you keep your debt down. It will also help you to become more mindful of what you’re spending.
Track your spending
Tracking your spending is imperative. You need to know where every dollar bill is going. I worked in a bank for nearly two years. You’d be surprised to find out how many people don’t track their spending. There are several ways to track your spending. You can use an online app like Mint, or you could do it the old-fashioned way and use a checkbook register. It doesn’t matter which one you choose. The object here is to pay attention to what you’re spending.
In review, some money management tips for those starting over are to save more, create a budget, use your credit card wisely, and to track your spending. Starting over financially isn’t easy, but it can be done. You just have to be ready to work at it. Hopefully, you learned from your previous mistakes. I know that it could happen because I started over a few years ago myself. I sacrificed and did what needed to be done. I know you can do it too.
Have you ever had to start over financially?
Jason Butler is an Atlanta native, as well as businessman, blogger and teacher. Not only is Jason a prolific flipper, marketer, writer and side hustler his number of years in higher education and student support have given him expert knowledge in understanding the economics of the student loan industry.