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The ideal life would be one where financial worries did not exist. Unfortunately, in tough economic times such as these, the path to financial freedom is one fraught with an increasing number of obstacles.
From seeking out the best deals on necessary expenditures to putting away a little cash where we can, here are a few top tips which can help you on the road to financial independence. Your life might not be complete free from financial concerns by the end of it, but the burden will certainly be lessened.
Plan
Not all financial problems are inevitable. In fact, most of them can be avoided simply by garnering and maintaining an awareness of one’s finances. Every now and then it can pay off to sit down with a pen and paper and analyse what goes in and out of your bank account on a regular basis.
This awareness is key to allowing you to plan for the future. If you can understand the gap between that which comes and that which goes out of your account, you can paint a far more accurate picture of the freedom which you have under your current financial situation.
Cover all bases
However up to date you are with your finances, there will always be the odd development which costs you more than you’d anticipated – this might be a faulty car, unexpected theft or inexplicable loss of something valuable. The only way for you to combat such occurrences is to take out an effective insurance policy.
Finding an insurance policy which not only covers all bases but comes at an affordable price is something which isn’t always easy to do on your own. It’s far better to consult a professional team to help keep you up to date with the latest industry news and find a policy and deal which is right for you.
Act wisely
Whether it’s due to a bonus at work or an unexpected discount on a regular expenditure, sometimes we’re blessed at the end of the month with a little more spare cash than we’d anticipated. When this happens, it can be tempting to treat ourselves or our loved ones at once.
While a bit of retail therapy can do a world of wonders, it may be the case that we’re left pining after this surplus income in a few months’ time. If you’re lucky enough to come into a little unexpected cash, think wisely about what best to do with it. If you’re unsure, stash it away for a rainy day using a high interest savings account to achieve the best return on your investment.
Don’t be scared to switch
It might not be the most glamorous way to adorn your bank balance but switching energy suppliers can often save us more money than we expect. Make use of any one of the myriad of comparison websites out there today to see how much you could save from a simple swap.
Energy companies will make the switch easy on you and the wealth of comparison sites are a breeze to use. Simply gather the key information from a few past utility bills, enter your information and see your bills fall throughout the year. Contacting your current supplier to inform them of your intention to switch may also prompt them to lower their rates with you, so it’s always best to investigate your options.
Great tips, Pauline. A good actionable plan can really make a difference. Our emergency fund has saved us countless times because the only thing you can plan for is something is going to happen! 🙂
Hope for the best, prepare for the worse… You are right, something is bound to happen sooner or later.
Love this post, especially the part about having a plan. That one tip has made all the difference in the world for us!
I am not very organized myself but have to admit you do need a plan if you want to get somewhere faster.
Pauline, great tips! I need to put together a total plan, and write my goals down. I think of goals frequently, but the act of writing them down for some reason ties you to them.
thank you Jim. I find that my goals are much easier to achieve now that I publish them on the blog, it gives some accountability, even though no one reads them, they are there.