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Making Personal Finance a part of your lifestyle

Having trouble balancing the checkbook? Are you paying too much in late fee and bank charges? Is your wallet empty mere hours after cashing your pay? Don't fret; it is never too late to get help and make some changes in your financial woes. It is not about how much money you make, it is about how much you spend and how much you save.

First of all you need to focus attention to all the free budget advice available on-line. Secondly, you need to put it to use. Seriously, many people exist in dire straits through laziness or an unwillingness to change their ways. I have never been rich but I have always maintained the importance of paying myself first. My parents used to call it "saving for a rainy day." I never quite knew what that meant when I was younger but I sure do now.

I have been a starving student, a struggling single mother, and some of various things many of you are facing right now. My savings in my early days amounted to about ten bucks a month, but over time, even that meager savings plan grew and developed. Through the years, I learned to keep track of literally every penny I spent and was able to increase my savings considerably.

I need only to look at other's shopping carts at the super market or department store to see wasted dollars all around me. I see babies as old as three or more still wearing expensive disposable diapers. That seems to be the "easy" way out for parents. Many doctors support the fact that the child will "self-train" when the child is ready. To me, that is acceptable only if the good doctor is footing the bill for those diapers.

The coffee industry alone is a billion dollar industry. It costs $1.50 for a cup of coffee at the local drive through. My 2 pound container of coffee costs me $6.00 and makes up to 200 cups of coffee. Based on two cups of coffee a day, your savings is over $80.00.Take this extra money and start feeding your starving savings account instead.

If you make less money than you spend, look at your big expenses first. You may need to downsize your home or take in a tenant to help pay the rent. You may have to give up some things like cable tv and such until you get yourself back on your feet. Never shop retail until you have checked out all the sales first, both at the grocery store and other stores. Again, buy only what you absolutely need, not what you think you want or should have.

Although it seems to be too basic to be of much value, it is, nonetheless, the truth. Contribute to yourself first and then only purchase what you absolutely need. Treat yourself in some small way at the end of each month if you like. Do yourself and your children a favor. Teach your child the fundamentals of money management at an early age. Help him or her avoid some of the pitfalls you have encountered.

Learn more about this author, Melinda Barr.
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