Author: Tom Xavier

When it comes to personal finances, the key to success resides in spending reasonably, saving, and knowing your options. Personal finance advice exists, but do those advisors truly understand what it’s like working at an unlivable wage with the cost of rent and basic living expenses. Does $15.00 an hour cover rent, utilities, food, and transportation?

In the major metropolitan areas of the United States the cost of living forces individuals into poor and desperate financial situations.

So for the well-off individuals earning a decent wage or salary and those scraping by, take these basic tips into consideration when looking to manage your personal finances better.
1. Create a Monthly Budget and Stick To It!

Sadly enough, most individuals or families earn money and spend recklessly. Something as simple as a monthly budget could drastically decrease monthly spending. Even a basic outline with detailed estimates of spending could do wonders in becoming more financially aware of weekly, monthly, and annual spending. See how you spend on groceries, eating out at restaurants, transportation costs, toiletries, haircuts, utilities, rent, and other reoccurring expenses.

Examine where room exists to cut down costs and make changes slowly. Every penny saved goes a long way handling personal finances more responsibly.
2. Spend Less Than You Earn

Any practical person would say to spend less than you earn, but people go crazy with credit cards and large limits. Don’t force yourself into high credit card bills where interest accumulates, and strangles you into a financial crisis. Simply estimate the amount earned on a monthly basis and don’t spend more than 50% of your monthly income. Between bills, rent, and food, you need to watch spending.
3. Know and Invest in Borrowing Options

To attain a little financial flexibility or assistance in case of a financial crisis, always know your short term borrowing options. Utilize personal loans from friends, credit cards, or other short term loans such as signature loans. You can learn more about short term borrowing options by examining a company such as instaloan.com. Credit cards and other borrowing options provide the right assistance for monthly spending or other expenses. Whether you have the time to wait or a credit card application to process or need cash immediately, there are always options available.
4. Conserve Utilities

Conserve electricity, gas, and water at your apartment or home. Unplugging laptop power adapters, phone chargers, and even turning off lights saves money on the electric bill. Depending on if your heat uses gas or oil, watch that thermostat and maybe wear a sweater during the winter. Instead of taking a 45 minute shower, create a 5-10 minute shower rule. Limit water while washing dishes. There are lots of ways to conserve energy and save money on utility bills.
5. Accumulate Savings

Whatever your income, it’s a good idea to save a percentage of that amount on a monthly basis. Even five dollars saved adds up.
6. Create an Emergency Fund

In addition to a savings account or fund, create an emergency fund. You never know when you’ll need quick cash for a car problem, medical bill, or unforeseen expense. A small monthly amount saved could contribute to this fund.
7. Reevaluate Living Arrangements

If you have a two bedroom apartment or home, perhaps there is room available for a tenant. To save money on utilities, the mortgage payment, or other living expenses, it’s a fantastic idea to bring in a tenant.
8. Forget About Cable/Internet

With the reliance on smartphones, there’s no need for home internet or cable. If you really could benefit from the subtraction of the cable and internet bill, then make that sacrifice. This move saves money and might force you to spend more time outdoors or finishing home projects.
9. Eliminate Processed Foods and Eat Healthy

Medical bills often drive up monthly or yearly costs or individuals or families. Make healthy living a key focus of your life. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Eliminate or reduce processed foods. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. A healthier person saves money by spending less time at the doctor’s office and hospital.
10. Maintain a Healthy Credit Score

Pay your minimum monthly bills, credit card payments, and loans on time. This reduces the amount of interest accruing and keeps your credit score healthy. Even without much money, a healthy credit score helps individuals qualify for additional lending options and apartments.

If you are interested in making money, then it is a good idea to get sound advice. A Calgary Chartered Accountant can provide you with the insight you need to improve your financial position. Of course, there are many guides and instructions available on the market, but few of them provide an in depth explanation of how money works. When trying to navigate your way through money matters, it is a good idea to have a professional guide. This can be of great service to you when you are trying to plan your financial future.

A Calgary chartered accountant functions as a medium through which you can access the best practices of money management and financial assessment and transparency. If you are someone who is heavily invested in the stock market, for example, then you need a good set of outside eyes that can thoroughly and realistically assess your net worth. For if you don’t know how much you are worth then you have no hope of making the right moves to preserve and extend your capital.

When building a financial portfolio it is important for you to not get carried away with the hype of any one investment. It is also important for you to have a clear picture on how your finances stand. Some software programs can help you do this. However, it is better to get information from someone who can give you the exact methods and means of how they arrive at their numbers. Hiring a chartered accountant who is clear, simple, and direct can help you think through what you’re doing and understand your overall financial position, which is vital in taking the right kinds of action.

There is no need to go to fancy and elaborate schemes in order to do well financially. Simple, concrete ways of accounting can put you in a favorable position. Indeed, it is not too much to say that any accounting formula or practice that is not readily understandable is not worth considering, because in order to know if you’re doing well you have to predict outcomes and accurately assess the outcomes of such predictions. Working with a chartered accountant who is thoughtful and well explained can help you in this regard. You can be confident in the actions you take by feeling the assurance of knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

Fortunately, it is not that difficult to find the kind of chartered accountant who you need to preserve your wealth. The place to begin your search is the worldwide web. The web will allow you to bring the various accountant to your computer screen, where you can review and evaluate the content, quality, and value of what they are offering. Using the web will also enable you to find out the reputation of the advisor you’re thinking of working with. The best predictor of future performance is past performance. The advisor who has a proven record of delivering high levels of customer satisfaction is the one most likely to meet your needs and expectations.

A Calgary Chartered Accountant can give you the assistance that you need to improve your financial position. You will get the expertise you need to meet your long-term business goals.