How much do you spend each month on average? How much do you have to pay each year in taxes? Do you have money saved for retirement? These are just a few examples of questions you need to be able to answer from memory. If you do not have your finances in order you will have a lot of trouble in life, therefore, it is strongly recommended that you plan your finances in advance and reevaluate your plans frequently. Earning a salary is usually referred to as making a living. This is no mistake, for your salary is in many ways what’s keeping you alive. Some people say the best things in life are free, and to many people that is true, but earning a steady wage is very important. Therefore, a very important aspect of finances is saving money when possible.
Savings can be anywhere from a few cents to thousands of dollars. One example on the smaller side of the scale is grocery shopping. Plan your purchases before you even go to the store. There are a great many ways to do shop more intelligently. Be aware of sales and customer-loyalty programs. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables only when they are in season and/or buy frozen fruit and vegetables instead of fresh. Buy generic brands rather than name brands. Price match between stores and compare prices by weight.
For larger scale purchases, look at buying a vehicle. Before you make the purchase, figure out your price range. Decide how you will be using your vehicle and the size of vehicle required. Consider how much driving you can foresee in the near future and what conditions you’ll be driving in. Do some research on similar types of vehicles and compare their suggested retail prices.
As the old expression says, “time is money.” Time may be important, but money is equally important and saving money will be well worth your time.
