Just like most working class graduates out there, my finances aren’t perfect; but within the last few months of last year, I learnt a lot I implemented, and it worked wonders for me. Making progress on financial issues can prove to be difficult. To say “I want to be debt free” is general – as there is no starting point or call to action. Setting up your financial house isn’t impossible; you only need to start from somewhere.
These are the basic steps I took, and you can also use it to improve your financial condition as a white collar jobber man.
Pay yourself first
This basic step to improving your financial situation is to pay yourself first. It might seem a little bit odd, but it is the one convenient ways to improve your financial condition. As soon as the paycheck drops, you should take out an amount and pay yourself first, before looking out for other debts to clear. This was how the richest man in Babylon came about.
Paying yourself means taking out a portion of your income daily, weekly, or monthly, then you save or invest it. If I were you, I will choose the former as the best way to pay myself.
Several times when an investment opportunity springs up, one of the common excuses to hear is “I don’t have enough to invest.” This isn’t because you don’t have enough; it is because you didn’t pay yourself first.
Just learn to pay yourself first, and then you will be fine.
Don’t Save to Spend, Save to Invest
Nothing scares me more than when I hear someone say “I need to save to buy a new car.” No one should save his hard earned money to spend it; rather you should invest it into something reasonable, then you use the passive income and accomplish your needs.
According to Wikipedia, passive income is a cash flow received on a regular basis, which requires minimal to no effort by the recipient to maintain it.
Passive income has been the best thing since pizza. To improve your financial condition or status, you should have your eyes all opened for streams of passive incomes.
There are several ways to earn passive incomes and improve your financial condition, and a few of them are;
- Invest in an already established enterprise
- Negotiate for higher pay
- Take up side jobs/projects
You can either speak to your financial advisor or reach out to me using the comment section and I would guide you properly.
Have a Budget and a Financial Calendar
Have you ever seen the big corporations and organizations making financial plans and projections? That’s exactly how you should run your finances. The only way to improve your financial condition without any side income is to stay with or below your budget.
But what if you don’t even have a budget?
You should really learn how to draw up a budget now, keep it real with a financial calendar and then make projections.
Having a budget is one task, spending within your budget limit is one hell of another task on its own.
Read and Master Financial Numbers
It might not sound too interesting at first, but it is a crucial and basic step to improving your financial situation. I was never a finance student in college, but I am working on correcting that right now. I need to know what the banks know, so I am reading up on stocks, taxes, interest rates, and 401(k).
There is a lot to learn, so I am taking my time, and it has really helped me make better plans. This means I can now take decisions without hurting my financial condition.
Put money out of your reach
Credit cards and ATMs for those in Nigeria are one of those things that will aid you go broke before you say Jack Robinson. A simple rule is to make sure you don’t have any of them for your ‘real’ savings account.
You should also not keep a large sum of money in the house, as the urge to spend on irrelevant things will always crop up.
Learn to shop online during festive periods
Easter, Halloweens, Christmas, Black Fridays, and New Years are known for one thing “DISCOUNTS”. If what you need to get now isn’t so urgent, you can wait for a festive period to buy it at a more discounted price.
A premium theme I bought $65 is now selling for $9 just because of the New Year promotion. It was urgent then, so I have no regrets.
Start Something
The best was saved for the last. If you sincerely wish to improve your financial condition, then you need to stop running from poverty and chasing wealth. How long can you keep cutting cost just to stay afloat, when you can live the way you want by minding your own business?
No business is little as long as it generates revenue for the owner. As a working graduate, couple or single parent, all you need do is start something no matter how small. If you manage it properly, you may just live the life you dreamed of.
To improve your financial condition is not rocket science. It is all about making plans and getting down to work. You may plan all you want about improving your financial situation; but if you don’t take actions, you might just keep making movements without covering any distance.
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