Top 15 Money Management Tips

We all have our own unique relationship with money. We certainly have our own unique way of both spending and saving money.

However, if you’re ready to start putting some money aside, or looking for tips on money management, or even the best way to pay your bills, the following tips may provide a little bit of help: 

1. Keep track of your income and expenses. This means looking at bank and credit card statements, not just assuming they’re accurate.
2. Opt out of paper billing and have your statements sent over via email. You’ll reduce clutter, bills will no longer be misplaced or tossed out in error, and you’ll always know where you can find a copy.
3. Pay your bills online if possible.  This reduces the need to sit down, write a check, put postage on the envelope, and mail it. You can pay the same bill in around a minute online with no added expense.
4. Start saving for retirement. While it may seem a long way off, it comes much faster than you may think. Be prepared.
5. Always pay more than the minimum on any credit card bill, even if it’s just a few dollars more.
6. Ideally, only use your credit card when you know you can pay it off in full at the end of the month. Then you can ignore Tip #5.
7. Always have an emergency fund on hand. While we never want to have to use it, you’ll be prepared should you have to use it.
8. Avoid the “Keeping Up with the Jones” syndrome. It’s so easy to get into the habit of keeping up with our friends. That latest purchase may bring some fleeting happiness, but then we’re left alone with a house full of material possessions that mean nothing. Make yourself happy and stop worrying about your friends. If they like you because of your possessions, you don’t need another big-ticket item, you need new friends.
9. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take out a payday loan. NEVER!
10. Regularly check your credit report for errors and report them promptly. Your credit score is one of the most important things in your life. Take it seriously and make sure your report is accurate.
11. Create a budget and use it. A budget app can be particularly useful for those that have the temptation to splurge and their budget is on a spreadsheet on a computer at home. Having a budgeting app on your phone makes it much more difficult to cheat.
12. Eat at home more often. Plan meals in advance or cook all your dinners on Sunday so you only have to rewarm them. Having a meal that can be easily prepared really cuts down on the desire to eat out.
13. Negotiate. Don’t assume that any price is final. There’s always room to negotiate.
14. Splurge. While it’s important to stay on your budget, it’s also important to splurge once in a while. 
15. When you do splurge, don’t just buy an expensive item, buy an experience. You’ll remember it a lot longer.