Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A Budget Guide to Surviving Christmas
Here, I have put together a guide to help you have a fantastic Christmas, without having to face the New Year with some serious debt to consider.
First, avoid taking out store cards. As tempting as '10% off' sounds, these cards are often disguised as a money saving option but can get very expensive, as well as making it easy to accrue a large amount of debt in a very short space of time.
Secondly, chop up the credit cards. If there is plastic cash available to you then there is a greater temptation to buy.
Wait until your bonus is in your bank account before you spend it. Businesses have had a tough year and therefore bonuses may not be as high as they have been previously.
Christmas shouldn't be all about lavish gifts. Explain to people that you are trying to control your spending this year, so look out for small token gifts which will mean something to that person rather than forking out on something expensive.
Try to spread the cost of Christmas by starting your shopping as early as possible. This will prevent panic buying situations on Christmas Eve.
A personal budget listing how much you have to pay out on essentials like bills and the mortgage will give you an idea of your Christmas budget. By reviewing and analysing your income vs. outgoings, you will highlight areas where spending can be cut down.
If it is possible, try and spread the payment for presents over a period of time. This will mean that you don't have to pay lump sums all at once. Give yourself time so your finances are not hit in one go.
Get crafty! Instead of forking out on decorations, entertainment and cards, have a go at making your own. Get your kids busy making bunting and paper snowflakes, send e-cards and plan games to play on Christmas morning. Not only will you save cash, you'll have lots of fun too!
Victoria Poolman is a freelance writer who writes for many UK businesses. For debt management plans, she recommends Debt Advice for Women who provide a specialist service just for women.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Poolman
First, avoid taking out store cards. As tempting as '10% off' sounds, these cards are often disguised as a money saving option but can get very expensive, as well as making it easy to accrue a large amount of debt in a very short space of time.
Secondly, chop up the credit cards. If there is plastic cash available to you then there is a greater temptation to buy.
Wait until your bonus is in your bank account before you spend it. Businesses have had a tough year and therefore bonuses may not be as high as they have been previously.
Christmas shouldn't be all about lavish gifts. Explain to people that you are trying to control your spending this year, so look out for small token gifts which will mean something to that person rather than forking out on something expensive.
Try to spread the cost of Christmas by starting your shopping as early as possible. This will prevent panic buying situations on Christmas Eve.
A personal budget listing how much you have to pay out on essentials like bills and the mortgage will give you an idea of your Christmas budget. By reviewing and analysing your income vs. outgoings, you will highlight areas where spending can be cut down.
If it is possible, try and spread the payment for presents over a period of time. This will mean that you don't have to pay lump sums all at once. Give yourself time so your finances are not hit in one go.
Get crafty! Instead of forking out on decorations, entertainment and cards, have a go at making your own. Get your kids busy making bunting and paper snowflakes, send e-cards and plan games to play on Christmas morning. Not only will you save cash, you'll have lots of fun too!
Victoria Poolman is a freelance writer who writes for many UK businesses. For debt management plans, she recommends Debt Advice for Women who provide a specialist service just for women.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Poolman
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Living Without a New Car?
Is it possible to live your life without paying car payments?
My response is yes. I know; it's a novel idea. Credit has been a main staple in most people's lives in this day and age. But what did people do 100 years ago when they wanted or needed to buy something? There were no credit cards at that time, and there were no "borrow money from the bank to buy that horse to get you where you need to go". People paid cash...imagine that... using cash for your purchases. "But I need a new car to get to and from work", you say. But do you? Will a good quality used car do the job? We don't have brand new cars, but they are good quality cars that get us both to and from work and we work a minimum of 30 miles away from home; often times my husband works much farther away.
But cash for a car? I am living proof that it can be done. We don't drive new vehicles. My husband drives a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville and I drive 2006 Chevy Malibu Max. These are definitely not luxury cars but they were well maintained prior to our purchase and we have taken good care of them since aquiring them (other than the baseball size hail that put some pretty dents all over mine). But that didn't hurt anywhere near as much as those people in my office watching the storm and crying over their new, financed car and wishing they were in the position I am in.
Is this something that can be done overnight? Of course not...but it can be done. I highly recommend for you to read "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. This is a guide to help you do the things you want in life...all without paying someone else to use their money.
(Edited 8-1-10)..just found more information on this idea at:
http://www.livingonadime.com/paying-cash-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3623
My response is yes. I know; it's a novel idea. Credit has been a main staple in most people's lives in this day and age. But what did people do 100 years ago when they wanted or needed to buy something? There were no credit cards at that time, and there were no "borrow money from the bank to buy that horse to get you where you need to go". People paid cash...imagine that... using cash for your purchases. "But I need a new car to get to and from work", you say. But do you? Will a good quality used car do the job? We don't have brand new cars, but they are good quality cars that get us both to and from work and we work a minimum of 30 miles away from home; often times my husband works much farther away.
But cash for a car? I am living proof that it can be done. We don't drive new vehicles. My husband drives a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville and I drive 2006 Chevy Malibu Max. These are definitely not luxury cars but they were well maintained prior to our purchase and we have taken good care of them since aquiring them (other than the baseball size hail that put some pretty dents all over mine). But that didn't hurt anywhere near as much as those people in my office watching the storm and crying over their new, financed car and wishing they were in the position I am in.
Is this something that can be done overnight? Of course not...but it can be done. I highly recommend for you to read "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. This is a guide to help you do the things you want in life...all without paying someone else to use their money.
(Edited 8-1-10)..just found more information on this idea at:
http://www.livingonadime.com/paying-cash-car/comment-page-1/#comment-3623
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