A beginner's guide to money and savings

Learning how to handle money effectively is one of the most essential skills that can determine your life's success. The principles of money and savings are important and should be mastered in order to avoid financial traps, such as huge debts and bankruptcies. Below is a short guide on money and savings.

Live below your means

Living below your means requires a great deal of discipline. In its simplest sense, living below your means refers to spending within your capacity to earn and pay. As much as possible, credit cards, even those that offer the best rates, should be avoided.

Pay yourself first

Paying yourself first means prioritising savings over other expenses. Funds for bank and business savings should be set aside in order to prepare for one's future or for unforeseeable and inevitable expenses. Most financial experts suggest saving at least ten percent of one's monthly pay-check into a bank.

Create and stick to a monthly budget

Creating a monthly budget is easy. Nevertheless, sticking to it is difficult. Creating and sticking to a budget requires not only accounting skills, but also extreme discipline and patience. When writing out a budget, it is necessary that you first determine your needs and wants or to label each expense item as urgent or not.

Find ways to earn alternative income

Generating income from just one source, no matter how large that income is, is equivalent to being in a "rat race." Needless to say, you should find ways to earn alternative income and diversify your earning options. There are many ways on how you can earn extra income. For starters, multi-level or network marketing is a good choice and can even cover your mortgage money. You can also try to make money online by endeavours like writing, starting an online business and doing paid surveys.

Use credit wisely

The improper use of credit can be disastrous for your finances. However, credit isn't entirely a bad thing. Credit, used in a productive way, offers countless opportunities. You can use credit effectively by starting a small business or by investing into your education.

Contribute to social security and private pension plans

Contributing to social security and private pension plans is a great way to prepare for your retirement. It is imperative that you regularly contribute to such funds, so that the principal and interest that you'll receive will accumulate faster.