Tag Archives for " investment "

7 Deadly Mistakes That Make You Lose Money Fast

May 17, 2021
/ By frank andres

Avoid These 7 Deadly Mistakes If You Don’t Want To Lose Your Money

The 7 mistakes and habits below have the wicked potential to make you broke fast! If you are not careful, you will always find yourself in the negative when it comes to your finances. Look out for these mistakes and always be mindful when it comes to your budget and your spending.

#1 No Budget

The sad truth is, many people live from paycheck to paycheck. Most of our money is gone in the first few days right after receiving our wages. If we don’t set a budget for ourselves we’ll most likely just spend it impulsively, pushed by our temporal financial freedom of getting paid. Most people will manage to do the bare minimum of meeting their monthly bills but then spend the rest quickly on a bunch of useless things. It is hard to keep track of the money when we just spend recklessly. So, sit down each month and work out your budget. Know what to prioritize and deal with all the important things first. This will leave you in a better financial position.

#2 Living a Life You Cannot Afford (Keeping Up With The Joneses)

It’s easy to want what others have. After all, who doesn’t want the finer things in life? However, when we focus too much on our creature comforts and less on our finances, we will end up spending a lot more than we can afford to. This is a dangerous trap that leads to debt and worst yet, bankruptcy. Most people end up accumulating a lot of useless things in life, just to live the semblance of a good life, trying to portray a certain lifestyle in order to impress their neighbors and friends.

#3 Chasing After Fashion and Trends

There is no shortage of bright shiny objects. There always seems to be something new that comes along that grabs our attention. For example, the latest gadget being released, a new shoe, or some fancy outfit. Many young people today lose their money this way. The materialistic view has pretty much gripped people today, seeking instant gratification. We are being programmed to always chase that new design. This means that each month, people are spending thousands on things that they do not need and it’s easy to get sucked into this insatiable vacuum that swallows all of our money. Be careful not to buy into this kind of lifestyle.

#4 Having Expensive Friends

They say birds of a feather flock together. If we hang around people who love to spend too much, chances are you’ll do the same. These are the so-called “friends” who’ll pretty much compel you to toss it all and use it all, you will find yourself using more than you can afford to. Instead, try to surround yourself with people who will encourage you to invest and save, people who encourage you to do something constructive and not just to spend every dime to have a good time. Our friends and companions can pretty much drag us into bankruptcy if we allow it and that’s because most people will do anything to please our friends or to be part of a group. Try to find friends who do not engage in mindless spending sprees, but ones that’ll actually encourage you to build wealth instead.

#5 Credit Cards and Debts

What better way to get instant gratification than to spend the money that you do not have? Many of us fall into this trap where we unwittingly spend large sums of money we have not earned yet. You must get out of the habit of relying too much on credit cards or some may call virtual cash. This is money that you have not yet earned and in most cases will have to pay back with interest. If you get too carried away, you will always live a lifetime of debt, up to retirement, and notice that you have no savings at all and no way to pay the debts. Credit card debts are very easy to accrue and very hard to pay off because of the accrued interests. And for those of you who don’t have a budget in place, it’ll be a constant uphill battle. So, sit down and work your finances out thoroughly before you put it on the charge card.

#6 Not Investing Or Making Bad Investments

Investing is a great way to build your wealth. In fact, investing is one of the best ways to boost your finances. However, one needs to be very careful when investing. Always be vigilant when you are about to invest in something. Research and learn more about it, read and ask for a professional opinion. This will help you know when and how much to invest. Never invest in things you have no knowledge of because the scammers are always preying on the ignorant. The world today is rampant with many Ponzi schemes and lucrative pyramid schemes that will rob you of your hard-earned cash faster than you can say “Get Rich Quick”!

#7 Not Saving Any Money

The tragic truth about money is that it is very easy to spend and a lot harder to save. Many of us, especially in our younger and more productive days, spend or lose money recklessly and never get to fully invest in anything worthwhile. We never learn, it seems. It is so much harder to save, especially when all you want is to live a good life. But having some savings is a good way to invest in your future. Those who do not set aside savings will constantly live from one paycheck to another until they find themselves at the age of retirement with nothing much to show for. Start saving today, try to set aside some funds each month. Life is very unpredictable and you should have some kind of investment and savings plan. Acorns help you grow your money.

5 Ways To Improve Your Finances

May 13, 2021
/ By frank andres

We are living in such times where economic crisis is a thing of the day and this makes life a bit tough and complicated for many people. Access to quality healthcare and basic life commodities requires one to have some stable finances. Improving one’s finances does not necessarily imply getting rich and flashy. It means maintaining a balanced financial status in life, enough for you to ease through life without stress or debt. Let us quickly take a look at some of how you can improve your finances today, no matter where you are and what you do in life.

Have a monthly budget

No one wants to live an austere life, we pretty much want to wine, party, and dine like royalty all the time. It is necessary to sit down and work out your budget before you go on a spending spree. Do not leave your finances to chance and squander all your earnings haphazardly. Each time take some moment to crunch the numbers. Take note of what you have and what you want to achieve. Prioritize things, from bills to debts then sundry expenses. This will help you stay equilibrated when it comes to unnecessary spending. It is such a pity that most people go on a spending spree and only get to sit down when their earnings have dwindled. This will force them to be forever in debt and to lose a lot of money unwittingly. So, each month, make it your aim to sit down and work the math. This will leave you in a better financial position than most. finances

Be mindful – differentiate between needs and wants

Most of us want to live a life we cannot afford; they are obsessed with status. Unless you are sitting on a pile of unlimited treasure, you need to live mindfully. Know your needs from your wants. Needs are those things that are necessary for daily livelihood. You need food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, clothing, etc. On the other hand, wants are just accessories, things that you can live without. So, whenever you are planning on spending, first determine whether that thing you are spending on is really necessary for your life. This does not mean that you have to be frugal or be a Scrooge, you deserve to treat yourself once in a while. However, you have to know when how much strain you will be putting on your finances. We all want the finest things in life after all.

Get rid of debt

To fully get financial freedom and relieve stress, you must get rid of all the accrued debts. This means you will actually be free to spend your money on something more constructive instead of backtracking on stuff. Do not get used to the habit of spending money you have not earned yet. Debts create that void that keeps sucking your earnings, and you will always live with a negative balance, it a virtual prison where you keep on working for past spending. You can never have savings if you are always in debt.

Invest in something

One can earn money either by working or by investing. One advantage of investing is that sometimes the wealth just accumulates on its own over time without you doing anything. Whether it is real estate, the stock market, or other investment plans, the returns usually are worth the investment. Of course, this is a pretty scary venture for most, and you need to be well-advised and careful when it comes to where and how much you want to invest. So, read about financial markets and other ventures. Ask advice from those who know best and make calculated investments. This will help you in the long run.

Start saving

Most people enjoy spending too much and think that saving up starts in the twilight age. This is misguided. You need to start saving now. Life is pretty much unpredictable and things can change overnight. So, prepare for the rainy day. You can set aside funds for emergencies and also start your retirement savings today. Also, be insured. Set aside some money each month or each week, depending on your income. This requires a lot of discipline since sometimes we all get impulsive.

Of course, it is never that easy to be this disciplined when it comes to your finances, but you need to be vigilant. Sometimes you might have to find alternative sources of income other than your main job. You might also decide to open up a savings account, one that slowly builds up over time. Cut back on things that are unnecessary in life and always try to find ways to boost up your earnings. Remember, it is never too early to start saving up.