Best Piece of Advice #13

Money Matters When, Your Money Matters!!

Times are hard for everyone as of late; the economy is still out of whack and the recession a very real state of affairs in our society. Making your money stretch and a dollar go farther than the floor board of your car can be mission impossible at times. When it comes to money, I am a money managing wiz!! I believe it to be one of my Gods given gifts, literally! Here are my 8 tips on how to stretch your dollars and still live a full social life at the same time.

Tip #1: PAY ALL OF YOUR MONTHLY BILLS 1st! Before doing anything else, if you have a job which allows you to pay your priority bills (water, car insurance, electric bill, life insurance, cell phone, etc.) do it!! Paying these bills first permits you to get them out of the way and the rest of the money can become "play" money. Never assume you can pay it later, its best to get priority bills taken care of on or before the due date. This tends to build credit and can sometimes grant you grace in the future if ever you're late paying later on down the line. Always take care of your needs before you indulge in your wants. This way when you go to spend money on hair, nails, clothes, or social outings, etc., you know home is in order because you already took care of the big stuff!!

Tip #2: By All Means Save A Dollar!! Even the smallest budget when examined has potential for saving. If you’re only able to put away $10 to $20 a pay check, DO IT!! You'll be surprised how quickly it’ll add up! Think about it, how often do you go out blow $10 or $20 and can't remember where you spent it? If you're like me, it can happen a lot! Instead of wasting money which you may need for a rainy day; save it to buy an umbrella that rainy day instead? You'll find your savings adds up fast and you’ve saved some serious cash before long.

Tip #3: ANYTHING ON SALE IS WORTH HAVING!! I love a sale! It’s the perfect opportunity to stretch those short dollars to more than just gum. If you're a shopaholic such as me, you know our eyes can be our worst enemies?! We tend to go to a store and want the first thing we see which appeals to us in our mind's eye. Instead of shopping off the rack, head for the clearance racks first. A lot of times you will see something hanging in the window for full price however, if you head over to the clearance spot you may find its cousin hanging around for much less!! I say, NEVER PAY full price for something when you can pay less and use your imagination at the same time. Be creative. The clearance rack is a great opportunity to get more for your money. You may not only find what you’re looking for, for cheap you may have the money left over to get into an event to show it off later!!

Tip #4: ANYTHING DOLLAR TREE!!  Dollar stores are a God send in these financially binding times. A dollar can sometimes be stretched as far as you need it to be when you respect and use it correctly. I love Dollar Tree! With $1 you can purchase almost anything!! Dollar Tree sells food, hygiene products, baby clothes, car maintenance items, party supplies, seasonal items, back to school and office supplies, household clean supplies, home decorating items, and much, much more!! If you find yourself having to stretch your dollars, head on over to Dollar Tree, you'll get more than you bargained for in the end!!

Tip #5: The More the Merrier: Go out as a group instead of alone, this way thing can be split between the group and all the financial whoa doesn't fall on you! If there are 4 of you the tab can be split 4 ways instead of one which breaks the bank! Not to mention, it gets you out of the house and socializing with friends and meeting new people. You'll save money and have a memory to reflect on in your down time.

Tip #6: Clip, Clip, Clip Coupons: I know it sounds a bit ole fashion however; clipping coupons is still the best way to save money! Not only will this save you money like nobody’s business it will also keep you on top of the changing prices of those things you can't live without! I tell you this is an excellent way to save money and get some of those name brand things you want as well.

Tip #7: My Bad Habits: For those of you with bad habits (of which I by no means support!) such as smoking or casual drinking, buy in bulk!! If you’re a smoker (YUCK!) buy a carton instead of a single pack, you'll find it costs far less throughout the month and leaves you with a little cash left over. Try tallying up what you spend on a pack every time you buy it and compare it against what you would spend and save if you purchase the carton instead. You'll see the benefit to buying in bulk and you'll have more money to add to your savings account as well.

Tip #8: Whew, I Made It!: Working with low income families I’ve learned that most crisis happen within $1000 therefore, this is your initial savings goal. Once you’ve made it to $1000.00 in your savings account, try to maintain it and KEEP GOING!! It’s far better to have more than to have less and it gives you a sense of accomplishment while you watch your money grow. There you have it, my 8 tips to surviving our society’s money matters for a time. If you follow these few simple tips balancing your budget should no longer feel like you’re standing on a high wire in the middle of the circus; but, leave you feeling like the ring leader man in control of all the acts!! Good journey!!