Pointers for Spending Your Money Wisely
Let us imagine you graduated from a top university and started working at a great company. After a few years, you meet the person of your dreams and get married. You then research a reputable residential real estate developer, get a mortgage, and buy a nice condominium in a central location. Following this, you have a few kids.
It seems like you have accomplished a lot in a very short time, doesn’t it? So what now?
Well, now is where the real challenge begins. As many star athletes and entrepreneurs will tell you, one thing is getting to the top, and quite another is staying there.
In life, this couldn’t be more true, especially as it pertains to your money. Having money now doesn’t guarantee that you will have it in the future. Not having it at present doesn’t represent you will be poor for the rest of your days.
As such, you must make the best financial decisions every single day if you and the other members of your family are to remain economically stable. In essence, you have to spend the money you have with as much wisdom as you can.
Here are a few great tips on how to do it.
There Is Always Tomorrow
When going shopping, unless your life or the life of someone you love depends on it, or you find yourself in a foreign country thousands of miles from home, you can always come back tomorrow or next week. There is no immediate need to buy what your heart desires today.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to household items such as fruits, vegetables, rice, and toilet paper. Furthermore, time is money, and if you are at the right place and have the resources, you might as well purchase what you want.
Still, there is a difference between wanting something and needing it. When you are inside a shopping mall, there are so many beautiful things to look at that it is easy to become a victim of the moment and confuse the two. When this happens, try to remember that you didn’t go out to buy a new high definition TV, a sofa, or a computer. You went out to spend quality time with your family. And you can always do that without having to buy something expensive.
Only for Emergencies
Some people have one credit card. Others have two, three, or four. Whatever the case may be, if you want to save money for the future, it is never a good idea to build up debt. This isn’t a recent life-changing discovery. Everybody with even the smallest amount of economic knowledge knows this.
Yet, for one reason or another, many don’t follow it. Perhaps they want to surprise their loved ones with a wonderful present on a special day. Or maybe they’ve had a terrible time at the office and need something to relieve stress or keep them motivated. In some cases, it is about buying a plane ticket, making a hotel reservation, and getting away for a while.
These are all valid reasons to spend the money you don’t have. But that doesn’t mean they are the right choices to make.
Naturally, if you have the money to do something, you should do it, either for yourself or others. And every once in a while, it is acceptable to use your credit card if it will bring you happiness, albeit temporarily.
Still, you should have a set plan on when to use credit and when to be a bit patient and wait.
Thinking Long-term
Regardless of what it is, if you use it often, it brings you happiness, or you can make use of it for a long time, it is worth buying. Examples of something you often use are a microwave, a shaver, or a new pair of glasses. Something that brings you happiness is a vacation with your family or a subscription to a movie streaming service. As for longevity, it could be a car, a brand bag, or a smartphone.
If you want to get the most bang out of your buck, always think long-term. And don’t base your decisions on current trends. After all, they come and go at the drop of a hat, and what you thought was great today might become obsolete less than a year into the future. If you don’t believe it, all you need to do is talk to one of the many who bought a Laserdisc, a Minidisc, or a Betamax video player.
There are three key points to consider when making purchasing decisions. The first is taking the time to analyze whether you need something. The second is using your credit cards wisely. Finally, it’s about choosing the things you buy based on a long-term perspective.
These are things we can all do to improve our finances and achieve economic stability.
