10 Great Ways to manage your Money

Managing money may seem like a complex process if you don’t know what you’re doing, but thankfully for Internet and financial advisors, it isn’t that hard if you do proper research or ask the right people.  As you probably already know, managing your money is the path to future success.  With proper management, you can potentially retire early and live stress-free everyday without having to worry about money every second day.  To help you get started and make the most out of your money, here are ten tips to keep in mind:

#1 Grab a killer deal

It isn’t that hard to start saving money today.   Start learning when sales happen, shop at thrift stores and even shop at the dollar stores for your cleaning supplies.  You would be surprised at how much you can save just by comparing prices on Internet.  Remember that every penny counts.

#2 Start using coupons

Food coupons are one of the best ways to save when it comes to grocery shopping.  You can do that simply by stacking a coupon on top of a sale price.  Resources such as CouponMom and AFullCup can both help you produce killer coupon lists every week.  Aside from going to the grocery store, don’t forget to check local drug chains and warehouse chains.

#3 Get out of debt

There’s no reason to have any money on your credit card now.  Get into the habit of paying your card off in full.  This is a great way to not only avoid interest rates, but avoid other fees.  While there is nothing wrong with a credit card, you have to understand that to take advantage you must use it the right way.

#4 Slash medical bills

Medical bills can be expensive, but they will only be that way if you let them get that way.  If you don’t have health insurance, don’t be cheap!  You’re one surgery away from being in bankruptcy court.   Make sure that you have some sort of policy, even if it’s a highly deductible plan.  Aside from insurance, also look into prescription savings clubs and consider checking local schools to see if you can get any procedures done at a discounted rate.

#5 Keep emergency money

If you don’t have six months worth of emergency money saved up, why don’t you?  Since you don’t want to be one pay check away from disaster, it’s important to have that money set aside for a rainy day.  Find a high-interest money market account and start saving now!

#6 Haggle

With anything you buy, try to get a lower price.  Sure, while branded stores won’t bring down the price, it doesn’t mean that you can’t haggle on anything else. This can include a car purchase, a used electronic item on Craigslist or even the garage sale down the road.

#7 Plant a garden

If you have the yard to plant a garden, you may want to consider it!  If you think that growing a garden is hard, you may want to think again.  By growing a garden, you’re not only going to make yourself a little healthier, it’s going to save you a lot of money at the grocery store.  With that garden, don’t forget to plant the herbs too!

#8 Plan ahead

It’s important to start saving for your retirement today and if you haven’t done so, it isn’t too early to start!  Whether it’s an IRA or a 401(k), be sure to add as much money as you comfortably can each month.  If you have children, consider opening up a 529 account to help prepare them for college.

#9 Watch your money

Every month, create a budget so that you can watch where your money goes.  Try to track every single dollar that leaves your bank account. At the end of each month, make sure that you’re buying services and things that you truly need.  This exercise can also help with getting rid of wasteful spending.

#10 Consider borrowing

Lastly, consider borrowing items instead of buying them.  For instance, rent a DVD at the local library.  There’s no reason to set out and buy a $30 DVD if you’re only going to watch it once.  The same can be said with a video game.  Popular places such as Redbox have rentals for as little as $1 a day.