LIFESTYLE
13 Financial Hacks To Boost Your Finances
Some people are wealthy enough not to worry about money. Unfortunately, this isn’t the narrative for most – they need to think about how to properly live their financial lives. Hence the need for a realistic financial hack that can be used to put their finances in place.
Read on for 15 amazing financial hacks that would aid you in keeping your finances in place.
These hacks will not only keep you from being poor but would make you retire well if followed to the letter.
Financial Hacks to Save Money
1. Stay Debt Free
Avoiding debts at all cost is the first and probably the most essential financial hack. Granted, debts vary; some are better than others.
But as a general rule of thumb, avoid getting into debts. If you’re probably in debt, your major goal should be to get out of it as soon as possible.
2. Pen down your debts
If you’re currently in debt, you have to pay it off quickly. An easy way to do that is by writing down all your debts, from the smallest to the largest.
Every month, offset the lowest debt first and work your way down to the biggest debt. For a bit of accountability, get a friend to help.
3. Maintain a Budget
Doing this would take a truckload of discipline. It’s going to be hard initially, but everything is difficult before it becomes easy.
Expenses like utility bills, car payments, and mortgage are easy to budget because they are fixed. Budgeting other expenses will need you to be disciplined.
If you set aside a certain amount for food for each week, you must be stick to it, even if it means you’d have to forgo some delicious treat.
The same goes for other expenses, these financial hacks will not work, if you don’t stick to these rules.
4. Have an emergency fund
If you don’t already have an emergency fund, you need to build one as quickly as possible. This should be the very first thing your money should be channelled to when you receive your salary.
Payment for emergencies like medical bills, accidents etc should come from your emergency fund, not from a bank loan or savings.
5. Cross Out What You Don’t Need
This is probably going to be difficult, but the truth is that there are things in your life that you don’t need. Cable TV subscription, gym membership etc, are things you should cancel if you don’t need them.
There are things you can do without spending the small fortune you’re spending on them. Be creative, use your imagination to come up with alternatives.
6. Avoid unnecessary Outings
Outings are expensive and probably unnecessary. If it is a tradition to hang out with your friends in the bar for drink or meals, you can save unnecessary expenses by changing the venue to your houses.
The venue can be rotated amongst your houses, you can contribute money for drinks and food. This probably sounds funny and strange but it would save everyone a lot of money in a year.
7. Avoid Online Shopping
Its fun to shop online, but its the perfect avenue to spend money unnecessarily. Walking into a physical shop to buy stuff puts you in charge most of the time.
It takes a lot of discipline, which most don’t have, to stick to a budget when shopping online. The sweet deals and discounted products will always pop up on your screen.
8. Have a time out
Online shopping is a necessity for some people, especially People with some sort of deformity or disability. If you fall under this category of persons, don’t just buy things you see online. Take a time out period and make the period long.
If something catches your eye, place it in your cart and write it on a list, go back to it after three weeks to a month. If after that period you still need that item, then buy but if not clear it from your cart, you probably didn’t need it in the first place.
9. Avoid Unnecessary Spending
Do not buy a thing you don’t need. It sounds pretty obvious, but this has to be on your mind at all times. Everything you feel you need has to go through your time out list. The time out list is a must-have whether you’re shopping online or not.
10. Reward yourself
These hacks are going to be difficult to keep. Following these hacks and reaching a goal you set deserves a reward.
Ensure you set goals in life, regardless of where you find yourself, financial goals shouldn’t be left out.
11. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For A Raise
This is one of the simplest financial hacks. Having more money to spend, offset debt faster, and handling financial responsibilities with ease is something you’d want.
One easy way to achieve this is by asking for a raise. If your boss refuses, then you should start looking for a side hustle or a job that pays better.
12. Get a Second Job
If your financial situation is a mess, you should consider getting a second job. Working two jobs works very well. This is a good way to save money. If you’re scared of this idea, then set a goal to do it for only six months. This is going to bring a boost to your finance.
13. Start Investing Now
Saving your money in your bank isn’t making your money work well for you. Instead of putting your money in a bank, look for an avenue to invest it. It’s a better alternative than just saving.
What you need to do now is set these hacks in motion. Do this and there’s going to be an improvement in your finances. It’s going to be difficult initially, but your older self will shower you with gratitude.
For questions or contributions feel free to drop your comments below.
Ochamo
November 18, 2020 at 15:59
Thanks alot for that info.
It’s true Rich Dad poor dad book talks about the same thing. Especially in his book on cash flow quarant
Anonymous
November 12, 2020 at 16:48
Good hacks
But that NUMBER can’t be shy away from
Mehn you need it