False Promises and Financial Freedom

If you have them, you probably know that credit cards and after pay services make false promises of financial freedom, only to find out later that instead of being free, you've been imprisoned in debt. It's as bad as some men, lulling you into a sense of security, only to be screwed over in the worst way possible. Indeed, credit cards as well as after pay services are the bane of everybody's existence, and the sooner you realise it, the better it is for you. 

The Freebie

Most people, men and women alike, are enticed by credit card and finance companies with freebies. You've all heard about it. As long as you put in your application, you're promised free and in the words of Keith Cunningham "things and stuff" as soon as your application is approved. What you don't know is you'll be paying for those freebies faster than you can grab the credit card or your phone from your purse. Indeed, in this day and age, freebies come with a price, so find out what it's really going to cost you. 

Not Interested 

Credit card and after pay companies thrive on interest and hidden charges. Every time you take out your credit card, you can be sure that you're secretly being charged for something. Before you add another credit card to that arsenal you already have in your handbag. Whether it is a credit card or after pay product, read the fine print and find out what additional charges and interest will inevitably come with your purchases. Don't be fooled by the fancy lingo as it is time to get educated. Check your statement on the interest rate you are paying and the additional charges in interest if you do not pay in full or miss the payment deadline and incur late fees.

It's Payback Time 

Your credit cards work best if you can pay for it in full every time your bill comes out. You won't have to deal with monthly interest and additional charges. But then, that defeats the purpose of having a credit card in the first place. However, you can't fight the system, so the best you can do is make the system work with you. Use your credit cards responsibly. 

Using afterpay is not worth it when you do the numbers, by the time you have paid off your favourite outfit, it will be at the back of the wardrobe with all the other clothes and shoes you don't wear.

Ostentatious and unnecessary purchases should be avoided, and no, that doesn't include those strappy, brown sandals you've been checking out for the last two weeks, regardless of your payment option.

Only take out your credit card when you absolutely need to, such as when you're buying groceries or things you really need and can't live without. 

Better yet, hide your credit card somewhere where you won't be tempted into making impulse purchases. If you read my story, I used to keep my credit card in the freezer.

Indeed, credit cards are more liabilities rather than assets and it's not easy to get rid of them. But as long as you take control, you'll be okay. 

Eventually, it'll all be paid off and you won't have to worry about exorbitant interest and finance charges. 

Then and only then are you really on your way to financial freedom. 

Learning Good Financial Habits Today

You understand that to build wealth you need to make goals, a budget and create good financial habits. Right? Okay, you do, but now what habits are good? Which financial habits will help you save more, spend less and get you to retirement in dignity? 

Here is a short list to get you started on making good habits to help you get to your goals. Master these first since they are the most important, then move on to some that may be a little harder or less obvious.

1. Keep a "Spending Tracker" and balance it every week. If you don't use a tracker  then how will you know how much money you have. 

It's so easy to spend more money when you don't know how much there is. So start record keeping now and balance it every week, so you always know exactly how much you have. 

There are plenty of online apps (apps are geography dependent so please check which are applicable for you) or your bank may also provide this service.

2. Spend cash. It is proven that when you spend cash, you spend less. I know for me when I put down $100 for groceries I can almost feel part of me leaving with that $100, whereas with a debit or credit card, and or payment facilitated by your mobile phone, it's easy to swipe and move on. Plus when you have cash you can physically see what you have left, rather then look at some number written down. I say just keep the credit card at home, and only pull it out for emergencies, where you may not have enough cash out of the bank account or when you travel.

Delete any mobile phone payments apps you may have, this will also prevent you from buying on impulse.

3. Use a diary and write down everything you spend each day. No matter what it is coffee, newspaper, a vending machine, if you spend it write it down. Then at the end of the day total it up. It's amazing how much that end number can be. Before I changed that number would sometimes be $30 or more. Seeing how much I was spending greatly changed what I bought throughout the day and now I save easily 400-500/month because of that. 

4. The most important thing you can do to build wealth is to start saving and do it now. Every payday, deposit a portion of it to savings. Better yet if you have direct deposit and can put it in different accounts have it go directly to savings so it's like you never even had it to begin with. 

These habits can seem hard at first and may take time to perfect. However, if you work hard and consistently build and develop these habits you will be glad you did come time to retire. These habits will even help you short term, like when the the car requires new tyres, your son's public education is going to cost $900 or even when the dishwasher breaks down. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kayle_Rowe/573649

Easy Ways to Protect Your Personal Finances From Further Economic Contraction

Increasing job losses, higher inflation rates, and the growing food and energy costs are making personal finance budgeting difficult for most families to achieve. The variable interest rate of recent mortgages makes critical, and the prospects for personal finance do not look bright for the next several years. 

However, an ounce of personal finance planning is certainly worth more than a pound of monetary cure. It is not too late to start preparing your personal finance budgeting efforts to brace yourself for further economic contraction - ensuring that when your Country does recover from its economic weakness, your personal finance will be intact and still healthy. 

Debt management strategy: watch your interest rates 

When economic uncertainty is on the horizon, interest rates are the first to react - making debt management critical. Powered by both the Government's reserve rate and each banking institution's tolerance, interest rates can either soar or plummet, depending upon several factors. 

Whereas our interest rates were at historical lows, Government Chairman's make adjustments to the rate in order to curb inflation, while attempting to simultaneously stimulate economic investment. What does this mean for your debt management? In essence, banks will now offer you great interest rates if you have good credit, making your debt management easy. If you have bad credit, then banks will increase your interest rates, as the risk of a default grows greater during an economic contraction. 

Therefore, for debt management that will prepare for further economic contraction, you want to lock in low interest rates, which will be easy for those who already have good credit. You can refinance your credit cards by consolidating your debts, or you can even renegotiate your interest rates with your existing credit card company. 

For those who have less than stellar credit, you want to carefully watch your mortgages, loans, and credit cards to ensure that they are not raising your interest rates. You may be particular susceptible to interest rate hikes in further economic contraction. 

Smart personal finance budgeting 

Keep in mind that regardless of how much income you earn, the key to maintaining financial stability is through intelligent debt management and personal finance budgeting. Even if you earn millions, your spending habits and debt are what determine your financial stability. In preparing for a further economic contraction, it is important that you take several personal finance budgeting steps:

• Tally all of your required expenses including your mortgage or rent payment, car payment, health insurance, and utilities. There are the bills you must pay each month, and therefore, are part of your mandatory personal finance budgeting process.

• Allocate a set amount each month for groceries. Keep in mind that you should try to purchase everything "on sale" for smart personal finance budgeting. Research shows that simply by purchasing the brand that is on sale, you can save approximately 20% each time you go to the supermarket. 

• Minimise your entertainment expenses. Smart personal finance budgeting means limiting how frequently you eat out, or spend money on entertainment. For example, if you have a four-person family and you typically watch a movie at the Cinema each week, cutting this expense out could save up nearly $200 each month. Or, make your own lunch instead of eating out. This small change in your personal finance budgeting can save you conservatively $150 per month. Just these two small changes alone in your entertainment expenses can give you an extra $350 per month for your personal finance budgeting. 

• Set money aside for your savings. In a further economic contraction, the greatest, yet most probably fear, is losing your job. Therefore, by taking conservative approaches with your personal finance budgeting now, you can still set aside emergency funds that will help your family if times are difficult. Saving 10% of your income each month is a healthy, yet reasonable, amount to save in your personal finance budgeting. 
  
  

The key to protecting your personal finance against any additional economic contraction is through smart debt management and intelligent personal finance budgeting. By taking several preventative measures now, you can ensure that your financial situation will remain healthy - regardless of what happens to the economy.

 Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_MacGrueber/252415

Why Personal Finance Software Is Important

Why personal finance software is important 

These days, technology has really revolutionised people's way of life, including their financial life. Back in the day, most people used a pen and paper to document their earnings, spending, and finances. 

What is personal finance software? 

Home finance software refers to a financial tool that enables you to prepare a budget, track your expenses, and check your overall finances. These days, there is no valid reason why you should be disorganised and mired in debt because there are many good personal finance programs that you can use to keep track of your money, plan your future, and completely control your finances. If you have a PC, mobile or laptop, you are lucky because you can easily find good home finance software at little cost or free. Application programmers have now catered for the high demand for these applications as they now come with all sorts of functions and capabilities that can save your money, time and effort. 

Analysis 

You can now analyse your finances unaided. Finance software will analyse your important financial details. Details such as your monthly expenses will stick out. Many personal finance applications also allow personalisation. If there is one particular aspect you want to know about your finances, you can simply create a specialised analysis. Many personal finance programs can also give you a monthly analysis-an excellent way to see how you actually spend your money over this timeframe. 

Budget creation 

We all know the importance of a personal budget. But creating a real budget that you'll stick to is easier said than done. You can find a personal finance application that creates a realistic budget for you. Simply enter your basic information into the software and quickly create a simple budget. 

Checkbook balances and bill payments 

Sometimes you'll fail to pay bills on time. When it happens, interest rates are more than likely to shoot up. Fortunately, you can avoid this mistake once and for all. Look for a personal finance application that'll remind you when to pay your bills. Likewise, you can create a Direct Debit with your bank just by ticking a box. Sum up any amounts withdrawn from your account and check carefully anything that seems suspicious. Once you have everything on record, it becomes much easier to know how your finances are faring. 

Trust yourself and no one else 

When it comes to finances, it is best to keep track of all you have carefully. You may trust your finances with your financial adviser, however, it is still important to know where every cent is at, always. With a personal finance application, your money will never be far away from you. Whether you are paying bills, balancing your checkbook, tracking your paycheck, or creating a personal budget, you should not live without personal finance software. 

Whatever your financial lifestyle needs are, any financial software will help you budget properly and plan for your future.

Check out the FREE personal debt calculator Undebt.IT software (Link at the top of this page) as well as our Instagram and Facebook pages as to which other apps/tools we recommend. 

Please also get in touch for FREE Support if you need a bit of extra help.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_C_Watson/1346542

Six Finance Tips to Money, Wealth, Financial Security and Personal Finances

 Today everyone wants their money to be safe and secure. However, the financial world is growing more unstable and our needs are changing at a rapid pace. The necessity for individuals and families to save and manage their money has never been greater, harder and it is not getting any easier. Managing a budget, saving and investing your money wisely is the immense subject on everyone's mind. Saving money has become extremely hard today. You should save for retirement, save for your kids' college education, save in case you get laid off and save just to create a sense of comfort. 

Have you looked at your finances lately? The process of saving money, create wealth and achieving all of your financial goals start with the awareness what personal finance is. Personal finances are not about cashing your payroll check, paying your bills and meeting all of your monthly obligations. It is about having enough money saved in order to meet all of your financial goals in life. 

Money is a medium of exchange, but the lack of money adds to great emotional stress in our lives. Take control of your finances immediately by reviewing the following tips provided.

Today is an excellent time to start reviewing your finances and put together a good financial program with goals that fits your financial needs. After you review your finances, take immediate action and make some positive adjustments. Do not try to take care of it by yourself. Make sure all of your family members know about your plans and they can assist you in meeting all of your financial goals. An important issue is to measure your results and make all possible changes needed. When you and your family achieve all of the goals, reward yourselves. Rewards are always great motivators. Start Today.

Six Personal Finance 

Tips 1. It is not what you earn, it is what you save. Save at least 10% or more of your net earning from every paycheck. The important issue is to spend less than what you earn. Do not go beyond your means. 

2. To maintain a good savings account take control of your spending. A good spending plan, not a budget, will let you know where you are spending. Decide on what you want to spend your money on in advance and keep track of all of your monthly transactions. From there you will know what your spending habits are. 

3. Is your Bank meeting your needs? Possibly you might need to look at another bank that offers a much greater savings and or investment program. Today, Online Banks offer great investment programs.

 4. Apply and use credit cards that offer 0% for 12 months or more. Every monthly payment that you make will go directly to the balance and not to the high interest. When the 0% intro program is about to expire review what the interest rate will be. If the rate after that period is 10% or more, apply for another 0% credit card and transfer the remaining balance. Keep this process and you will never make an interest payment. 

5. Buy a home. Your best investment is your home but only if you get a low interest rate mortgage. If the current interest rate is 2% lower than your present rate, refinance and lower your monthly payment.

 6. The only possible way to build wealth is to determine a percentage of your income that you are willing to invest every year. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alfredo_Valenzuela/795153

Growing Your Business - Why Separating Business and Personal Finances is Good

 This article is not all about finances. Well, it's partially about finances. More importantly, it's about how to grow your business. Growing your business doesn't just happen by magic. There's no business growth fairy that takes away a balance sheet and leaves a bigger business under your pillow. It takes a consistent, carefully managed investment to create your own success.

 And that investment starts with something that you might not have considered: Separating your business and personal finances. Surprised? 

Here are the reasons. First, you'll want to separate your business and personal finances for tax purposes. If you keep them combined, you might not be eligible for certain deductions, but if you separate them, you may be entitled to deduct expenses for your home office and mileage allowance. Likewise, you may be responsible for paying certain taxes on your business that do not apply to your personal income. Separating your finances is the only way to ensure that you properly follow all tax laws and receive all advantages to which you are entitled by law. That can grow your business by clarifying your paperwork and possibly making more money available (because of more deductions) which you can reinvest in your business. 

Another important reason for separating your finances is to get a loan or a grant so you can invest in your business. Separating your finances helps to establish a paper trail and helps you to create financial reports that demonstrate the business' performance. If your finances are separated it will be much easier to determine which income and expenses belong to the business itself. 

Third, separating your finances can help you decide how best to grow and develop the business as well. You will be able to see the areas in which the business excels as well as those areas in which it needs some extra help. You can generate targeted, accurate reports and financial statements that show at a glance how the business performs in various areas. 

 How Can I Separate My Business and Personal Finances? 

The easiest way to separate your business and personal finances is to open a business bank account. If you use credit to make business-related purchases, apply for a card in the name of the business. Have all payments made to the business account, and use only those funds and the business credit card to make purchases. 

How Do I Get Paid? 

You have multiple options for paying yourself. Some business owners find it best to write themselves a set paycheck every week. If you are confident that the business will retain enough funds to pay your salary each time, this will streamline the process and make it easier to accurately pay your personal income taxes.

 However, if your business is new or unstable, you may find it better to pass funds through the business account to your personal account. You might decide to retain just enough money in the business account to pay for expenses, and transfer everything that is left into your personal account. This is an ideal solution for those who have many personal expenses but few business expenses and earn wildly different sums on each contract. 

Setting Up and Maintaining Bookkeeping and Accounting 

Many business owners find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the paperwork that is involved in maintaining separate accounts. 

Check out Invoice Ninja, the leading free open-source online invoicing app for freelancers and businesses.

Also consider hiring outside help. A Virtual Assistant company can set up and maintain your bookkeeping and accounting. Your VA can even handle payroll, writing your paycheck each week. You can maintain as much or as little control over the process as you desire. You can hire the VA for a set number of hours per week or per month, or simply retain his or her services on a per-project basis.

My post last week recommended "Successful Female Entrepreneurs" as a source, alternatively, you can also find VA's from websites such as Fiverr and Upwork.

Ultimately, separating your business and personal finances can seem like a complicated task in the short term but in the long term it is an effective way to grow your business. 

 Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Heather_Villa/388875