среда, 9 марта 2011 г.

15 Smart Money Habits That Will Boost Your Finances in 2018

15 Smart Money Habits That Will Boost Your Finances in 2018

In the new year, a lot of people will make resolutions (regarding their health, finances, relationships, etc.) to do new things or do some old things differently.


The statistics are not great on the percentage that will actually follow-through with their new year resolutions (8% success rate according to Forbes). Even if most new year resolutions fail, I’m optimistic you can make positive and incremental changes to your life this year ��


Here are a few money habits to improve your finances in 2018:


Set Financial Goals and Make a Budget


It may sound simple, but this is the starting point if you want financial success. Take a close look at your income and expenses. This will give you a picture of where your finances are at. Set specific financial goals for the short, medium, and long term, and start working towards reaching those goals one after the other.


Track you spending using free apps like Mint, or just use a simple spreadsheet. Have a monthly budget – nothing complicated, keep it simple! Your budget is the key to meeting your goals.


If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. – Benjamin Franklin


Automate Your Savings and Investing


After budgeting and documenting your savings/investing goals, it is time to make it happen automatically. Set up your savings/investing accounts to automatically withdraw funds from your chequing account i.e. pre-authorised deposits. The chances of you following through with your savings/investing plans are significantly increased with this approach.


One option for your savings: Open a Tangerine Savings Account and earn 2.4% on your account for up to 6 months. Use my Orange Key Code (43979980S1) on registration to get a welcome bonus of $50.


Automate Your Bill Payments


As with your savings and investing, consider automating your bill payments. This will help to pay your bills on time and avoid late-payment fees and a damaged credit score.


Shop Around


Don’t get used to paying the “sticker-price.” And, this is not only for high-priced purchases like a car. Get used to doing comparison-shopping and look around for the best deals – including on groceries, car and home insurance, mortgage rates, etc.


Comparing prices and checking out reviews have never been easier to do, and you’ll be surprised how much you can save by deploying this simple strategy. The cost-savings will add to your bottom-line by lowering your expenses.


Pay-Off High Interest Debt


Paying just the minimum amount does not cut it with credit card debt – it’s like digging yourself into a hole. With the high interest rates charged on credit card debt, you should be paying it off first before trying to save or invest. When your credit card debt is defeated, you will have more funds to put towards boosting your finances.


Educate Yourself…Financially


Knowledge is power. To boost your finances, you need to be financially literate and understand how money works. And, not just financial literature – read widely, and you will be the better for it. Educating yourself may also include learning new skills that increase your earning power.


My financial reading checklist for 2018 include:


An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin


Ask For More


Yes, become an “Oliver Twist,” and ask for more!


To start, ask for more from yourself – you can probably do better in many facets of your life. Start small; like they say: “Rome was not built in a day.”


And, if you are already doing more, consider asking your boss for more (if you believe you deserve it). Negotiating your salary can be a smart move if you are an asset. I came to understand the power of “asking” a few years ago when I got a $10,000 plus salary raise after I asked for a promotion at the conclusion of a 6 months anniversary performance review!


You can also “ask for more” by simply offering your skills to another company that better appreciates your talents and is willing to pay you more.


Review Your Bank Statements Regularly


In a world where fraudsters are just a click away, it’s important to check your bank statements for any odd activity. At the same time, this will give you a good idea of where your money is going, and if you need to make adjustments. As an aside, you may also note that useless magazine subscription that you need to call and cancel …again!


Work on Your Credit Score


A good credit history and high credit score means you can access credit at much lower interest rates. Check your credit score routinely not only to see where you are at, but also to detect any fraudulent activity, including identity theft. You can now check your credit score for free in Canada.


Also remember to request your free credit report from the credit bureaus in Canada at least once a year.


Check Your Investments


Don’t just forget about your investments, check-in once in a while. If you are a passive index investor, you may need to re-balance your portfolio once or twice every year to ensure your asset allocations are still intact. You should also be renewing your investments for fees. Minimizing the fees you are paying for the management of your investment can significantly increase your returns.


Talk About Money


Discuss finances with your spouse and children. It will be easier to achieve your financial aspirations when everyone in the family is on the same page with regards to financial goals, budgets, and plans.


Start a Side Gig


While you can try cutting down your expenses, you can only go so far. Another strategy to increasing your savings and improving your finances is to increase your income by starting a side business(es) and increasing your sources of income.


Stop Living to Impress Others


If you want to “keep up with the Joneses”, you had better be able to afford it and be willing to live with the additional stress it will bring. While you should aim to do well for yourself and be a responsible member of society, you still want to live within your means.


We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like. – Dave Ramsey


Don’t Pinch Pennies While Losing $$$


I’m all for frugal living, but its gotta make sense. I will shop at the dollar store etc. for some items and ensure I get them as cheap as cheap can be. I won’t go into specifics, however, for some other items, I would rather buy expensive aka good quality aka safe aka peace of mind…


The question is – are you saving pennies today only to lose $$$ tomorrow or in the long run?


Don’t Wait to Win the Lottery


Yes, don’t hope and wait for a lottery win to solve all your financial troubles. The odds are against you in that department, and it will likely never happen. Don’t bank on luck. Plan – plan – and do something about your plans.


A can-do attitude will do you a lot of good in 2018.


Happy New Year!!


Original article and pictures take www.savvynewcanadians.com site

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