How many times have we thought, “If only I could win the lottery, my life would be better?”
The truth is that winning the lottery may make it better in the short term, but if you don’t know how to be responsible with your finances, you won’t be able to maintain it. When it comes to making your financial life better, only you can do it.
Here’s what you can start doing today to make your financial life better!
#1 Make a Spreadsheet
You can make a super easy spreadsheet right on your phone. Seriously, download Google Spreadsheets and do it right from your phone. Here’s what you need to put in it:
- Write down all your bills along the left-hand side.
- Mortgage
- Electric
- Gas
- Car payment
- Gas for the car
- etc.
- Then, in the next column write the amount you pay each month for each item.
- Finally, add up the total amount you pay each month at the bottom.
- Compare that amount to the income you have coming in. Do you make enough?
If you are barely making the bills with what you make, it is time to start thinking about another job. If you make plenty of money, then there are things you can do to be better with your money. Check them out below.
#2 Get Out of Debt
Once you figure out how much you owe in a month and how much you make, it is time to start paying off some debt. Pick the smallest debt and work towards paying it off. The less debt you have, the more financially free you will be. If you need to get a second part-time job. Not only does a second job help you pay off debt quicker, but it gives you less time to spend money on frivolous things you don’t need.
#3 Fix Your Credit
If you haven’t checked your credit score lately, you need to. You may have things on your credit report that shouldn’t be there. You may have a $10 medical bill you forgot to pay, and its drastically affecting your credit score. If you are in so much debt and don’t know where to start to fix your credit, visit creditrepaircompanies.com to get you started. We all need a little guidance here and there, but ultimately, you will be the one who has to make the call. If you can get your credit fixed, you will be able to get more credit at a much lower interest rate. Less interest means less money out of your pocket. So, take a look at your credit report today.
#4 Start Saving for a Rainy Day
The reason many people get into a financial rut is that they don’t save any of their money. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, barely paying the bills, and scraping by, you are going to be in a world of hurt if say your car breaks down. Instead, start saving for a rainy day, so when something does go wrong, you have a little extra without having to take out more credit. Start with $5 a paycheck and work your way up to $20. If you can’t save that much, start with whatever you can. Even a penny jar works.
#5 Lower Your Monthly Bills
In the days of everything digital, there are a few things we really can’t live without. However, we can get these bills lower if we put forth the effort. For instance, search around for cheaper car insurance policies like Root that allow you to pay for the way you drive. Get on a phone plan with a friend or your mom because it is a lot cheaper to add a line for $20 than to pay $90 just for your plan. Call your credit card companies and ask for a lower interest rate. If you aren’t sure you can get the bill lowered, it doesn’t hurt to call and ask.
#6 Say No to Going Out
After a long week of grinding, you may want to head to the bar, go see a movie, or even take a shopping trip. However, all those things are going to hinder your financial situation. Instead of going out with your paycheck, stay in. Have a party at your house where guests must bring their own beverages (which of course they share with you). Netflix and chill (there are some great movies like “Bird Box” playing). There are tons of ways you can have a good time without spending a fortune.
Remember, the more you do to get your financial life better now, the better you will be in the long run. It may take a couple of years, but if you can set your mind to it, you can do it!
