By Sharon Jones
A lot of younger people think that good finances only come later in life. It's certainly true that it’s easier to make mistakes when you’re younger and that responsibility does come easier with time. But it’s not difficult to start thinking forward with your money at any stage. It doesn’t require all that much effort, just a real will to start making a better financial situation for yourself.
Don’t keep yourself in the dark
There are too many people who don’t keep a close enough eye on their money. We’re not talking about checking your bank balance to see how much you have between now and payday. We mean taking a serious look at how you use it. For example, creating a budget. If you want to start having money to work with, you need to budget your money towards different needs. You have your essentials, like groceries and rent. Recreational spending is important too. But you need to budget some money that’s going to be dedicated solely to improving your finances.
Use a strategy to deal with debt
For example, that portion of finance improving money budgeted aside can help you deal with debt. Debt is one of the most common mistakes a young person makes. When it’s easy to borrow, they do. Then it starts becoming a serious risk. When tackling debt, there are a few strategies to implement. It’s a good idea to start with the smallest and easiest to get rid of first. This is purely for the morale boost of chipping some debt off the block. After that, however, you need to tackle those with the biggest interest. You should consider consolidating it too if it will help decrease that interest.
Get a close look at your credit
If you think people are negligent of their finances, then you’ll be astounded at the fact that nearly half of them don’t know their credit score. If you’re in those numbers, change that now. Credit is essential in getting you a good deal on loans needed for those bigger purchases. Houses, cars and even starting your own business. Dealing with debt and staying on time with loans will help it. Even using a credit card (responsibly) can give it a boost. But it’s also a good idea to contest any negative marks on your score that you don’t think are true. Mistakes can be made often and you need to speak up to get them removed.
Don’t just sit on your money
Being future oriented means not only improving your current finances but having an aim for them. For most people, savings just don’t work. Interest is slow and sometimes even eclipsed by inflation. Instead, aim for real growth. Even if you don’t know the first thing about investing, people like PDS Planning Finance Services can help. Just don’t expect your money to truly grow unless you’re not actively investing it.
With the above tips, you’re a lot more equipped to start putting more money towards your future. You don’t have to earn a lot, you just have to be aware of where your money is going and how to make it do more for you.
Sharon Jones is a contributor to zenruption and has her B.A. in political science from UCLA. As a new mother, she is interested in helping shape the world her daughter will inherit. She likes pina coladas and taking walks in the rain.