While it is sometimes difficult to consider something as seemingly inconsequential as a week’s groceries as an investment, that is exactly what they are. By wisely choosing what we spend our money on, whether that choice is between a groceries or a night out on the town or perhaps between a home or a luxury vehicle, we are deciding our financial future.
If you have lost a prior home to foreclosure, this does not mean that you are out of home owning altogether. You should be able to get a government-backed mortgage through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA, in as little as three years after your previous home has foreclosed.
Repairing your credit can lead to paying less money in interest. A lower credit score means higher interest rate on your credit cards and other loans, which means you end up paying more in finance charges and interest. Repair your score and drop these rates in order to save more money.
One of the things that you will have to avoid is giving into temptation and buying things that you do not need. Instead of purchasing that fancy pair of shoes, invest that money in a high yield savings account. These decisions can go a long way in building your net worth.
Smoking and drinking are two things that you will want to avoid if you want to put yourself in the best position financially. These habits not only hurt your health, but can take a great toll on your wallet as well. Take the steps necessary to reduce or quit smoking and drinking.
If you discover an error on your credit report, your first step is to write a letter explaining this error to that credit bureau. The second step would be to contact the creditor who made the error and ask them to fix it. If you attack the problem from both ends, you are more guaranteed to see a resolution.
Do not get a credit card until you are familiar with its terms. Credit card companies do not always tell you important information regarding their policies and fees. Make sure to read any documents carefully before signing up for a credit card. Ask a family member or friend if you do not know what the terms mean.
In an effort to improve your finances, compare Savings account and CD rates online. In the current low-interest rate environment, it’s more important that ever to find the best possible yields on deposit accounts. Chances are that by searching online, you can find a better interest rate than your local bank is offering, making the most of your emergency fund or other savings.
Check your credit report regularly. You have the ability to check into your credit report free of charge. Do this twice per year so that no unauthorized charges appear and to prevent I.D. theft.
Don’t invest in a long-term bond mutual funds. If you need the steady income from bonds, it’s better to buy the actual bond or find a substitute like bank CD’s. Mutual funds can be an excellent way to invest in stocks, but because all mutual funds are priced daily, funds that invest mostly in longer-term bonds can lose money quickly if interest rates rise.
Commit a specific amount of money to savings every month, and do not deviate from it. Start saving early, even with just a little bit of money, to get into the routine of saving. This puts you into a savings mindset, which is important in your overall money management strategy.
Use caution when considering a student loan. At least know what career you’ll pursue and how much you’ll make before accepting one. Defaulting would be very expensive. Think about how you will repay it. Unlike a car or home loan, you can’t sell off an asset when you realize that you have borrowed too much.
If you are going through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, re-affirm key debts so that you can keep property associated with secured debts. The default assumption going into a Chapter 7 proceeding is that all secured property, including houses and cars, will be repossessed. If you have enough money, you can keep paying on these debts to avoid this.
Cut out that unused land line. If you don’t talk on the phone much, a paid in advance cell phone could be significantly cheaper in the long run. Some mobile cell companies offer 1000 minutes of prepaid time for $100. This can last some people a year. For comparison, most land lines would cost $300 or more for that same year of service.
Even the purchases we make on a day to day basis can ultimately spell the difference between financial success and financial failure. The tips provided above help us make the types of decisions that will make the difference. Investments, after all, come in all shapes and sizes. So too do money bottomless pits which always ending up costing us more than they pay back.
