Thursday, January 13, 2011

A budget will help you make smarter spending decisions

If you don’t win a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot, wise spending is the only method to avoid debt and conserve for retirement. A key concept in financial literacy 101 is learning the basic principles of smart spending. Comprehending the inevitability of unexpected expenditures could possibly be just as important. Keep away from living in debt with payday loans by using some wise spending tips. Source for this article – Financial independence relies on smart spending as much as saving by MoneyBlogNewz.

Literacy in finances can help independence greatly

Winning the lottery and inheriting money isn't how financially independent people do it. Making smart spending decisions is part of being financially independent. This way you can save for retirement and live a realistic lifestyle. To be a smart spender, one cannot simply rely on other people’s advice. You will also need Financial literacy. This is how you can make a budget work for you. The 50-30-20 rule is what Elizabeth Warren recommends as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You should pay 50 percent for necessities like food and shelter. Then you have to live your lifestyle. 30 percent should go to that. Another 20 percent should be saved.

Money spent in an educated manner

Many think it is extremely difficult to save 20 percent of every paycheck, even if you spend smart. Just looking at what’s coming in and what’s going out won’t get the job done. You need to look around for phone, food, Internet, TV and insurance to make sure you get the best price. This will help get you to 50 percent for those items. Swallow your pride and start clipping coupons. You may feel it is worth it clip coupons once you save 50 percent. This is possible. A family of four focusing on coupons could save $5,000 a year, according to grocery spending numbers in the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey. Developing that level of discipline can be made easier by keeping financial goals such as college tuition, a vacation or a mortgage at the top of your mind every day.

Getting to an emergency fund is important as well

When it comes to allocating 30 percent to support your lifestyle, an important aspect in that category should be an emergency fund. Unexpected expenses always happen. Just plan for them. Personal finance gurus tell people to have an emergency fund to cover living expenses for a year. Those who don't win the lottery or inherit a fortune may feel like this is unrealistic. Your credit score is another important thing to protect. This way, you always have access to cash when needed.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/mutfund/09shelf.html?_r=1&src=busln

NewsObserver.com

newsobserver.com/2011/01/09/908945/spending-smart-seven-habits-of.html

USA Today

usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2011-01-08-managing-a-windfall_N.htm



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