Money management is an important topic. There are five common mistakes that people make regardless of how much income they have when it comes to money management. You can avoid those mistakes by recognizing if you’re making them.
1. Not Having a Budget
One of the biggest mistakes you can make with money management is not having a budget. A budget is simply a plan that provides you with guidelines on how to spend your money. The more in-depth your money “plan” is, the better. Far too many people just wing it when it comes to budgeting.
For example, let’s say you’re a server at a local restaurant. You may think because you depend on tips that it’s hard to budget. As a server, your tips may vary from day to day, but you should be able to come up with an average amount of tips you get each day. Use that average to set your budget. Having a budget is essential to managing money successfully.
2. Using Your Credit Card to Save Cash
If you’re using your credit card to save cash, then you are making a big mistake when it comes to money management. There are ways to save cash with your credit card, but you have to use the right cards. A cash-back card is a great way to save some cash. A card that offers bonus points is another way to save on additional purchases. Get familiar with the perks of your credit card and use the perks. Just be careful that you’re not wracking up more money on your credit card than you can pay back.
3. Not Upgrading to a Better Internet or Phone Provider
Many people stay loyal to their internet or phone provider for far longer than they should. Global server hosting services are valued at about $102 billion and will rise to about $321.5 billion by 2025; there are a wide variety of services you can use rather than the one you’ve had for years. If you can get a better deal for your internet or phone service, you should take it. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by switching to a new IP service provider.
The market is highly competitive regarding IP server providers and cell phone providers. Ask yourself, do you really need to pay high dollar amounts for a service that you can get for much less?
4. Not Saving
No matter your income, there’s room for at least a little bit of savings. Even $2 every paycheck can go a long way over time. One of the most common financial mistakes is not saving money. You may be thinking “I don’t make enough money to save,” but you do. Although you should, you don’t have to save a percentage of your income, but put at least a little money to the side.
Think of it this way. Even if you can save one dollar a day from your server job, in one year you’ll have over $300 saved. In 10 years, we will have over $3,000 saved. Set a small goal and get started saving. As your savings grow, you’ll be motivated to save even more.
5. Frivolous Spending
This mistake ties into the first mistake listed here. If you don’t have a budget or a plan in place, you are likely to spend money frivolously because you aren’t tracking your spending. The little things that you spend money on can really add up. For example, a daily coffee on the way to work at $5 a pop adds up to $25 a week, $100 a month, and $1,200 a year.
Get your financial health in order. Don’t make the mistakes that are listed here and you’ll be rewarded with fewer worries about money and having more of it.
