Budget and Save Money in 5 Easy steps

Here are five steps you should take to reorganize your finances, prioritize your spending, deal with any debt you may have, and trim your taxes. These strategies, taken together, have the very real potential to improve your financial situation.

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1. Get Your Budget on Track

You’re not going to get ahead financially until you develop a reasonable budget — one that allows for both some indulgences and for emergencies — and then stick to that budget.

Budgeting your money is the cornerstone of a sound financial plan. You might scoff at the idea of creating a budget — after all, you pretty much know what you spend every month, especially on big-ticket items like rent/mortgage or car payment.

But try this anyway. Creating a budget — and then following it — can help you spot areas where you’re spending more than you realize. Here you will find tips on how to create a budget and track expenses along with other money management techniques.

• Budgeting 101
• How to Create a Budget

2. Learn to Reduce Spending

Developing your budget will help you spot areas where you’re spending more than you realized. But the next step is more difficult: cutting your spending on unnecessary items.

This will require some soul-searching on items both large and small.

For example, do you really need a R25 coffee every morning? (Some will say yes, while for others the answer is no.) Could you make do with a smaller, older car? Instead of an expensive vacation this summer, could you try a “stay-cation,” where you stay home (much cheaper) and relax there?

All these choices are very personal and many factors come into play, so there’s no right answer for most of them. But laying them out will help you prioritize your spending, and that will help you spot places where you can save money.

• The Causes of Overspending
• 5 Tips to Cut Spending Leaks

3. Deal with Your Debt

Few people get far in adulthood without accumulating some form of debt: credit cards, student loans, car loans, and mortgage payments are common. In fact, debt can be a good thing (who has the money to buy a house outright?), but the key is to use them wisely.

Credit cards and other forms of debt can be an essential part of your financial toolbox, but you must exercise care when using these tools. Understanding the difference between good debt and bad debt will go a long way in making sure you create and maintain a good credit history.

• Credit and Debt 101
• How to Eliminate Credit Card Debt

4. How to Save Money

To build wealth, you have to start somewhere. Therefore, the ability to save money is the cornerstone of building wealth.

In order to save money, you need to spend less than you earn. This may seem obvious, but so often, it’s easier said than done. Fortunately, there are several devices you can use when beginning to save money, even when your budget is tight.

The most important of these is automatic savings. Open a savings account, and set up your checking account so that you automatically transfer a set amount each month into your savings account.

You don’t have to transfer much money — start with whatever your budget can afford. But making this automatic (and then resisting the urge to spend the money impulsively) will get you on the road to long-term savings.

• Make Saving Automatic
• Where to Keep Your Savings

5. Make Sure to Trim Your Taxes

Nobody likes paying taxes, but they are an important aspect of any financial plan.

Even if you don’t make much money, you might be surprised to learn how certain tax strategies and decisions can impact your finances.

Learning how to minimize the impact that taxes have on your finances can ensure that more money is going into your pocket and being put to use towards your financial goals.

Remember to set up your free personal budget by becoming a Smart Money Member

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