e-Article Tips

Do you feel like you lack money management skills? It may seem that there's some grand secret to successfully managing your personal finances, but all you really need is a little good advice. This article will provide you with some great personal finance tips that will help you save and spend the right way.

A good personal finance tip that can help you save money is to share an entree with your spouse or friend when you decide to eat out. Some restaurants serve portions that are too big for one person anyway. By sharing an entree, you'll save a lot more money.

Look for a high-yield savings account to make your money work for you. While many of these accounts do not yield the interest they did a few years ago, most of them do not require a minimum deposit and will give you a bit of return on your money. Additionally, they are more liquid than investments, making them a good place to stash your emergency fund.

Set a financial goal to work your way toward financial security. Your goal can be small initially, such as paying off one credit card. Later, you can grow that goal to something like being a millionaire by retirement age. Setting a goal gives you something to work toward. It also allows you to outline specific steps that you will follow in order to get there. Both are important steps toward improving your financial situation.

House sitting can be a valuable service to offer as a way for a person to increase their own personal finances. People will be willing to pay for someone they could trust to look over their belongings while they're gone. However one must maintain their trustworthiness if they wish to be hired.

To pay your mortgage off a little sooner, just round up the amount you pay every month. Most companies allow additional payments of any amount you choose, so there is no need to enroll in a program such as the bi-weekly payment system. Many of those programs charge for the privilege, but you can just pay the extra amount yourself along with your regular monthly payment.

When working with any personal finance company, watch out for scammers. As a general rule of thumb, if any offer sounds too good to be true then it usually is. Just read all of the fine print in the contracts, and if they do not offer any contract at all completely avoid their deals or promotions.

If you are self-employed, don't forget to deduct your insurance premiums on your taxes. The premium amount you deduct will reduce your adjusted gross income and you can use it even if you do not itemize your deductions. This can save you quite a bit come tax time, so don't forget about it.

Set up your savings account in a different bank than your checking account, and don't give yourself online or ATM access. Do all of your savings account business in person, by mail or via the night drop at your bank. In this way, you will discipline yourself to leave your savings account undisturbed and eliminate the temptation to access it except in extreme emergency.

To avoid surprise deductions from your checking account, access your account online at least once a month. Scroll back through the previous month and make note of all the recurring automatic deductions from your account. Go ahead and deduct those in your check ledger now - even if it puts you in a negative balance. The money won't be gone until the debit is posted, but you will know not to spend money on unnecessary items until you have built up enough of a balance to cover your recurring automatic debits.

Anyone can learn to be responsible with their money. Now that you've read this article, you know what you can do to get your personal finances on the right track. While some of these tips may seem challenging, you'll be surprised at how quickly you adjust to these healthy money habits.