Use Credit Wisely
Any small purchases made with credit should always be paid in full each month. Larger purchases on credit should be budgeted to be paid within 3 to 6 months. Set a goal to payoff car loans, and other big ticket items, in less time than they are financed.
Using credit wisely means using proper money management techniques. Your credit is, after all, money, so it needs to be managed too.
Make Short & Long-term Goals
If you set reasonable short and long-term goals, you give yourself an automatic incentive to manage your finances wisely. Goals keep your motivation intact, give you a tremendous feeling of accomplishment as well as provide for your short and long-term financial security.
Budget Always
While budgeting has gotten a really bad rap … it’s tedious, it’s boring, etc…. it doesn’t have to be that way. If you think of your budget as the primary tool to achieve your goals, and not a chore to endure, you will be much more successful.
Budgeting is the primary tool for successful money management. Create a Money Management Plan which would include budgeting, tracking your spending, and comparing your budgeted amounts to actual income and expenses. Believe me, if you do this, you will find you control your personal finances, they don’t control you!
Give First, Then Receive
Giving first, giving back, paying forward, are all terms we have heard to manage your life successfully. The feelings of well-being, helping others, interacting, and community spirit provide a sound basis for loving yourself, and loving life.
Loving yourself is essential to your self-esteem and worthiness in the eyes of others. People will naturally and enthusiastically respond to your open spirit and giving nature, which leads to your receiving back.
This follows for financial matters as well as life itself. It doesn’t mean giving so much it hurts you, or your family. Don’t give to take care of someone … give to teach … give to lead them into their own successful life.
Giving of yourself … whether it is time, money, knowledge, or a helping hand … will reap you personal rewards for the rest of your life. That’s what living debt free means to me …
Making Living Debt Free Work For You … Continued from Debt Free Living …