by Sharon Jones

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If there’s something that most of us will have in common when it comes to money, it’s that we all want to make the most of it. Because money tends to come and go far too quickly. As soon as you make it, you often have to spend it. With living expenses alone, you’ll probably find that a huge portion of your earnings will get sucked up, leaving you with little else to spend on yourself. And that can feel quite stressful. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You CAN enjoy your money more, and ensure that it works harder to support your lifestyle.

Right now, you’re probably wondering how. Because you’re working hard, you’re earning money, and you’re trying to be careful with what you have. So what’s going on? Well, it’s highly likely that you’re missing a trick or two (or even ten)! Because if you are earning well, and you are being smart with your money, it should technically be working for you. But it’s not. So this means you’re going to want to rejig the situation that you’ve got going on in order to get some better results. If you’re tired of working hard and feeling like you’re not getting what you want in return, here are ten tips for help you change that around.

Keep Your Expenses In Check

First of all, you have to be able to nail your expenses. Because if you realize that you’re spending more money than you should, or than is necessary, you’re definitely missing a trick. Not only may this get you into debt, but it’s careless too. So, instead, you’re going to want to work with a bare bones budget that can help to keep your expenses in check overall. By only allocating money to the essentials, and also planning in your extras, you’re going to maximize your income and free up funds for more fun stuff in life.

Spend Consciously

But at the same time, you’re also going to want to think about spending more consciously. When you’re just handing over cash or your credit card freely and frequently, it’s more likely that you’re going to overspend each money. But when you choose to be conscious as you spend, and ask yourself if you really need what you’re about to buy, maybe even waiting a minute or two before you make the purchase, you’ll find that you’ll start to get more conscious of how you spend. This way, every purchase you make is worth it.

Save For Something

From here, you’re then going to want to start thinking of your money in the long-term. Because saving is hard, but when you set yourself savings goals, and you’re working towards something you want, it’s so much more enjoyable - exciting even. When there’s a lot you want to do in life, you need to be able to pay for it. Saving for something is a great way to make it happen and teach yourself better discipline with money too.

Get A Better Rate

When it comes to all of your finances, it’s always going to be in your best interest to keep an eye on your rates. Because as you may know, some are always more favorable than others. Whether it’s your savings rate or the interest percentage on your credit card, be sure to shop around and compare rates to make sure that you’re getting the best possible deal. This is how you can make your money work harder.

Do Something About Your Debt

If you do have debt, it’s time to realize that it’s not going to go away on its own. And not only that, but unless you do something about it, it may only get worse. So alongside conscious spending and tracking your expenses, you may want to look into debt consolidation options to work on getting rid of it once and for all.

Work On Your Credit Score

Whether you’re in a bad financial situation right now or not, it’s always a good idea to work on your credit score. Because when you want to get a mortgage or any other financial product, you need this to be in your favor. By keeping debts to a minimum and making your payments on time, you’ll be doing good by your credit score.

Pay For The Right Insurances

From here, you’re then going to want to think about your insurances. Making sure you have the right policies is important. Whether that’s Medicare beneficiaries getting the right supplement, or choosing the right levels of life cover, be smart about it. By getting cover for what you need, you’re more likely to save money in the long-term.

Make The Right Choices For You

At the same time, you also have to make sure that any financial decision you make is the right one for you. This is especially the case when it comes to the whole rent vs buy housing situation. Everyone will always have their opinions on which is best, but you need to make sure you’re going what is best for your own circumstances.

Give Investing A Go

Next up, there’s also investing to think about. Even the sound of it might freak you out, but if you’re staying away from the stock market because you’re scared, then you really are missing a trick. Because when you start investing, especially if you start off slow, you realize that it’s not as big and bad as you thought. Instead, it’s a great financial way to grow your finances in the long term.

Work On Your Income

Finally, you’re then going to want to think about working on your sources of income to see an increase. Whether this is working hard for that promotion at work or starting something on the side, you’re really missing out if you’re not striving for more. There are lots of passive income ideas you could be working on to make this easier for you in the future too. As long as you’re looking to push your earnings, you’re good.