7. Exercise.
Staying (healthy) is the best way to avoid costly medical bills later.
8. Use the envelope system.
It's the same idea as using cash for (spending), but in addition you use envelopes to split your spending cash into categories. My non-bills categories are groceries, (gas) and miscellaneous spending. Three envelopes, and when they're empty, I've (spent) my allotment.
9. Talk with your SO weekly.
It's important that you and your (significant) other be on the same page. You should have the same financial goals, and from there you should agree on a general spending plan and a policy for (impulse) buying that won't have either of you wanting to choke the other. Make sure you both know what bills have been paid, what your (balances) are, etc. A weekly meeting of just 20 minutes accomplishes that. Communication is key.
10. The spreadsheet tracker (hack).
There are expensive programs like MS Money, Quicken, and the like that will do amazing things with your financial (information). There are even free ones, on your desktop or online, that can do all kinds of things. Trouble is, I don't need all that. All I want is a way to track my money easily, with no other (bells) and whistles, and a way to access that online so that I can view it from anywhere. The best way I found to do that is through Google Docs and Spreadsheets. I (created) a simple spreadsheet to track my bank accounts, that does (everything) I used to do with MS Money. It has the date of each (transaction), the title and amount, a little field for memos, and a running balance. What more do I need? Keep it simple. Update: View a sample I put online here.
11. Pay savings and debt first.
When you sit down to (pay) your bills [I do them all online], make the first bills you pay be your savings transfer and your debt payments. If not, if you pay them last … you'll often (end) up shortchanging them. But if you pay them first, you'll make sure you still pay your (rent) or mortgage, utilities, groceries and gas … so you'll just cut (back) on other spending.
12. Exercise at home.
Some of you will (disagree) with me on this, which is OK — everyone should do what works for them. But I've saved a lot of money that I used to spend on gyms by just (running) at the local track or on the roads in my neighborhood, and buying some simple weights and a chin-up bar. I do a lot of body-weight (exercises) [pushups, Hindu squats, lunges, pullups, dips, etc.] and I don't need a gym for those things.
13. Cut out cable TV. I'm not saying I don't watch TV — I watch DVDs, so that I'm sure that what I'm watching is something great, (rather) than the useless stuff you find on TV most of the time. And there's a lot of it online for free if you look. Not a (huge) savings, but it adds up.
14. Declutter.
By getting rid of all the (excess) stuff in your home, you not only make your life much simpler and more peaceful, but you make it (harder) to buy stuff that will just clutter things up again. Once you've simplified your home, you won't want to go back.
15. Lend and borrow.
Give books and clothes and toys you don't need anymore to your friends and family. If you need something, send out an email asking if anyone (has) it. Chances are, they'll give it to you for free if they don't use it (anymore).
Question)
1. How important is personal financing?
2. What is your monthly expense situation ?
