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Top Tips To Staying On Top Of Your Money

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When you’re trying to stay on top of your money and put some savings away, there are numerous ways in which you can achieve this. Once you realise that there are some clever ways in which you can put money away without having to put any real effort into it, life will become a whole lot easier.

Pay Off Your Credit Cards Every Month

One of the most basic principles of financial responsibility is to pay off your credit card balance in full every month. Credit cards can be of great benefit, but the key tip is here is to pay off your balance before any unwanted interest accrues. If you are to leave your credit card for weeks, months, or even worse, years, then you might find yourself in an unfortunate situation. Pay off debt on time, avoid interest, and simply enjoy the benefits of your credit card, without having to face any penalties. 

Plan Ahead To Pay Off Your Debts

By establishing good financial habits, you can avoid accumulating additional debt. Whether it is same day loans, household bills, or anything in between, when you pay off your existing debt, you can avoid accumulating additional debt. One common technique is the snowball method. The snowball method recommends that you must pay off your smallest debts first before moving on to bigger ones. This tends to encourage you to keep on paying off your balances, as you experience contentment from eliminating your smaller balances.

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

The question is, what do you really need? Nearly everyone has the ability to trim their monthly expenses. Paying for things you can’t afford has become the norm, and changing these habits really isn’t that difficult. Potential unnecessary expenses can be a variety of things, including:

  • Streaming services that you don’t use
  • Eating out
  • Overspending on groceries
  • Unnecessary clothes purchases 
  • Gym memberships

Stick to a Realistic Budget

This may sound somewhat vague, but hear us out.  The most important aspect of developing healthy financial habits is to create and stick to a reasonable financial plan. Follow these steps and you should find your financial situation improves hugely:

  • Calculate your income
  • Quantify your necessary expenses
  • Make a plan for your leftover money
  • Cut out unnecessary spending

Create an Emergency Fund

This is our final pro tip for you to save money. Don’t be caught out unexpectedly! The worst can happen to all of us, so don’t leave yourself financially unstable. Whether it is damage to your home, an unexpected bill or an immediate repair, having an emergency fund can stop you from ending up in serious financial trouble. It’s never a bad idea to set up an emergency fund to help cover unexpected expenses. For guidance, we would suggest that you attempt to save up at least three months’ worth of living expenses, set this money aside, and make sure you don’t touch it until an emergency occurs! 

By following this guidance, you should find you start finding money, where you never knew you had it. 

Picture of Emma Drew

Emma Drew

Emma has spent over 15 years sharing her expertise in making and saving money, inspiring thousands to take control of their finances. After paying off £15,000 in credit card debt, she turned her side hustles into a full-time career in 2015. Her award-winning blog, recognized as the UK's best money-making blog for three years, has made her a trusted voice, with features on BBC TV, BBC radio, and more.

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