How to Negotiate in Finance

Monthly expenses and recurrent debts – mortgage, car loan, student loans, credit cards, medical bills, among others – can get so out of control that you live paycheck to paycheck without any extra money at the end of the month. In fact, your service provider may be ‘kind’ enough to keep your services turned on even if you are unable to pay. You know the effect? Accumulated debts!

Your debt may be as a result of a job loss, unexpected expenses, dwindling business income, or even overspending. Debt, when not properly managed, can affect not only your financial life but also your overall health. Think of being in debt as navigating a mud-filled field with rain boots on. Can you relate?

Have you ever thought of the possibility of being relieved of your debt burden? In case you don’t know, you can negotiate reduced payments with your creditors. This blog intends to expose you to tips on lowering your monthly expenses and eliminating debts by negotiating interest rates, financial obligations, consolidation loans, among others. 

How easy is it to negotiate a debt settlement? 

Negotiating a debt settlement is not an easy task, especially when you have to consider the best strategy to adopt. Since you are not financially buoyant to settle your bills, it might also be counterintuitive to attempt hiring a debt settlement company. By negotiating directly with your creditors, you not only save time but also money

You need to prove to your creditors that you cannot afford the current payments. They will seek to see your household budget, which should show your monthly income and essential running costs. Through this, they would be able to know how much of your monthly income you can afford to use in settling your debt.

Mistakes Some Individuals Make

Some individuals, probably out of shame or fear, avoid calls and late notices from their debt collectors. This is a great mistake and clearly suggests gross financial irresponsibility. Rather than avoid your collectors, it is important that you reach out to them early, intimating them on the reasons why you are finding it difficult to keep up with your payments. It will surprise you to know how some collectors are lenient and understanding. Remember, they are also humans and have feelings. 

Phases of Negotiation 

Negotiation is a dialogue process between a minimum of two parties, often with the intention of resolving a conflict, in this case, a financial one. The process involves four phases, namely discussion, clarification, negotiating an outcome, and agreement. Prior to the process, you should be able to clarify what you intend to see out of it. 

The first phase, discussion, involves communicating what you seek in the dialogue. At this stage, it is important that you maintain active listening and ask questions where necessary. However, avoid divulging too much information. 

At the clarification phase, you and the other party establish a common ground on which to start the negotiation process. 

The negotiation process is where you seek a win-win outcome. At this stage, alternatives should be provided and considered by both parties. There is the possibility of having to compromise, especially when the process is getting longer than usual. 

It is expected that both parties would have arrived at a mutual ground. The agreement and its terms should, therefore, be devoid of ambiguity. 

What You Need, to Negotiate Your Debts

Negotiating your debts requires that you exhibit certain traits. They include strong communication skills, flexibility, creativity, honesty, self-awareness and awareness of others.

Of all the communication styles, assertive style should be adopted. This is because being assertive makes you appear both confident and thoughtful, thereby decreasing your chances of giving in to demands easily as well as increasing your chances of having a successful outcome.

Forms of Negotiation

In negotiating with your creditors, you can adopt the debt settlement strategy, which involves asking your creditors to accept a one-time or lump-sum payment that is lower than the full balance to fulfill your debt obligations in full. The only downside is the negative impact it may have on your credit score in the future. 

Alternatively, you can speak to your creditor, requesting for a lower interest rate. When you take loans with excessively high interest rates, you are kept in debt for an extended period. This is because, rather than paying the actual balance alone, you’re also paying monthly interest charges. 

The good news is that there is the possibility of negotiating interest rates, especially when you have good payment histories. You can, for instance, talk your credit card issuers into lowering your interest rate. They are more likely to have a negotiating process with you, which may result in reduced rates. 

There is also the place of seeking out promotions. It has been revealed that using a balance transfer to get a lower rate requires that you clear off your debt before the expiration of the promotional period to avoid your balance being subjected to higher interest rates.

Do’s and Don’ts of Negotiation

Do’s
  • State your position and what you seek clearly
  • Understand the other party’s position too
  • Be calm and professional in your approach 
  • Be reasonable with the position of the other party. There may be a need to compromise. It is not always a sign of weakness. 
  • Whatever your position is, be confident and consistent. Don’t shift position; it shows you are not coordinated. 
  • Seek ways through which you can leverage over the other party 
  • When both parties have reached a compromise, get the terms of the settlement in writing. It is a way of holding both parties accountable. 
Don’ts
  • Avoid being confrontational throughout the negotiation process. Remember it is not a heated debate. 
  • Avoid being emotional. Of course, the other party also wants an outcome that will favor them. 
  • Avoid prolonging the negotiation process. Know when to keep making your position known or compromise your position and walk away.
  • Don’t accept an offer of paying over 50% of your outstanding account balance. If this happens, consider settling with a different creditor. 

Other Helpful Tips

  • In the negotiation process, always maintain silence after asking for a lower rate, as advised by experts. Based on their experience, waiting for the representative to speak next tends to get the seeking party a better offer.
  • Never accept the first offer. Rather, ask for more – incentives and deals that can lower your bill. 
  • Create the impression that you run multiple credit cards and are willing to settle one of your accounts before you divert the money for other purposes. This tends to get you a competitive offer. 

Key Takeaway

To avoid a vicious debt cycle, avoid taking new loans and build an emergency fund to rescue you from emergency situations that can lead you into taking loans while also helping you in clearing your debt. Remember, building a solid financial foundation is critical to attaining your debt payoff goal.

Seek ways to increase your monthly income. Through the process, you get extra money for debt settlement. For instance, think of items of value you own but do not use. You can earn extra money by selling them off. If you are unable to get a side job, ask for a pay raise or negotiate extra working hours for more cash. 

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

How to Save for a Goal in 30 Days

For many people, saving money is a great challenge. However, others might be quick to spend whatever money comes their way without a second thought. With that, you could easily get off track in your saving process as soon as the unexpected happens. Don’t worry!  You are not alone.

How do you start saving money? Have you heard about the 30-day saving challenge? It is simply a process of saving that involves setting aside a certain portion of your income for 30 days. The implication of this is that there is no room for making impulse purchases – that is, making purchases based on emotions rather than sticking to a budget. You simply set a goal, get committed to the goal for 30 days, and then make the purchase.

With this saving challenge, you’ll be able to keep your spending under control. Apart from helping you to overcome impulse spending, it also boosts your saving attitude over time. 

The following steps are critical in helping you achieve the goal of money saving for 30 days. 

Step 1: Make a budget 

Creating a budget is the first step towards controlling your income and expenses as well as creating a space for savings. You will not have an idea on the amount that could be put into your savings account when you don’t know how much you spend. By creating your budget, you are able to track your spending.

Not only that but you are also able to know what extra money could be added to your savings account. It is recommended that you automate the process. There are spreadsheet apps that allow you to monitor your finances on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Ideally, your monthly spending should be less than your income while still offering you an opportunity to save at the very least 10% of your income. If unrealistic for you, consider saving less. This, however, depends on your monthly income and financial goals. 

Step 2: Set a realistic goal

With the 30-day saving challenge, you are setting a short-term goal. Decide your saving goal. For instance, this may be $500. Beyond having a target amount, it is important that you create a purpose for the money. In the absence of a purpose, you tend to get distracted, thus lacking the motivation you require to keep going. 

Are you planning to go on a short vacation or a family trip? Do you want to get a new car? What about rewarding yourself with a special treat at a nearby restaurant? Irrespective of the goal, there should be a clarity of purpose. A detailed plan for a family trip, for instance, would look like this:

$150 for travel expenses

$300 for lodging

$150 for food

Remember, your initial goal doesn’t have to be so big that it becomes unrealistic – you may not be able to gain enough motivation to meet your target. Rather, start small. However, be sure that you are consistent and control your money spending habits

Step 3: Cut down on expenses 

With the expenses you incur on a daily basis, you may be inhibited from having enough savings that could help you meet your financial goal. By carefully observing your spending life, you might have developed certain bad spending habits. Identify and get rid of the habits

Can you do without the coffee you often grab every morning as you drive to work? What about the trips you take to the movies every Friday night? How much does dinner-out with friends take away from your income? What if you decide to forgo any of or all these expenses for a period of 30 days, how much will you save to add up to your savings account? 

Notwithstanding, enjoying all these doesn’t amount to careless spending. You may only have to enjoy them less to be able to save more. 

Apart from this, you can also consider trimming down high bills. Think of it, do you utilize all subscriptions you make for phone, internet, and cable? Is it possible to negotiate with your service providers for lower rates and discounts? Of course, you wouldn’t know until you make attempts to reach out to them. Remember, there is no harm in trying. 

Make a list of the bills you pay every month (as stated in your budget), and cancel unnecessary ones or the ones you could no longer sustain. You may be surprised that you can cope without checking in to your Netflix, for instance, for a month. 

Step 4: Start saving 

With knowledge of the financial goal, you have an idea of how much to throw into your savings account each day. For instance, a financial goal of $500 for a 30-day period would amount to saving an average of $17 each day. Remember this is a challenge. The implication is that it is not going to be easy. 

One great mistake you may make is to save into your checking account. You may be tempted to spend it. Rather, invest your money in a high-yield savings account. Through this means, you would be making your money work for you.

Step 5: Earn more to save more

Check your home for items that are lying around – clothing, old bicycles, books, toys, unused appliances, etc. Your kids might have outgrown some clothing items or gifts. You might have received certain gifts that you never used. You don’t have to keep all these. Otherwise, your house becomes cluttered or the items have their values depreciated over time. 

Take stock of the items that could be sold and you might be surprised how much you actually make. This gives you additional cash money. You may want to check out Craigslist or Facebook marketplace to sell your kid stuff. To sell clothes, use ThredUp. It is an online consignment shop. 

Step : Have an accountability partner 

In achieving life goals, there is the need to be accountable for your actions and steps. Otherwise, you may lose motivation along the way. Before going ahead with your saving goal, meet with your accountability partner to share your goal with them. 

Such an accountability partner may be a family member, co-worker, spouse, or even a friend. Usually, they should be people who are committed to helping you accomplish your goal. To sustain their interest, you may also offer to incentivize them.

For instance, if your accountability partner is your wife. You may promise her a night out at her favorite restaurant if she helps you reach your goal within the specified time.

Final thoughts

Saving remains a great challenge that could be overcome. It is possible that you will fail. For instance, you may still go ahead to make impulse purchases despite your decision to avoid it completely. If this happens, don’t have to be hard on yourself. Failure comes with greater lessons than success. With past failures, identify the problem and try as much as possible to avoid it in the future.

Setting goals and achieving them requires great discipline, commitment, and time. The steps provided here will not only help you achieve your short-term goals but will also establish great financial foundational knowledge to prepare you for a better and more secure future.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

How to Be Smart When Starting a Business

The world of business is characterized by a varying degree of highs and lows. Even if you have gathered enough pieces of advice from successful entrepreneurs, carried out in-depth research about your market or industry, or even visited some websites for a checklist of what you require to start a business, your chances of success aren’t guaranteed.

Though it is important that you arm yourself with adequate knowledge before hitting the ground running, it is more important that you get acquainted with tips that can help your business succeed. Remember that you will be investing your energy, time, and money. I have gathered the following tips to help you succeed in your business-starting goal, irrespective of the business type.

Do Your Research Well

It is important that you carry out adequate research before deciding to start a business. One of the most important aspects is market research. It involves identifying your target customer base, that is, those that will be buying your product or service as well as understanding their needs, preferences, and behaviors. In fact, you should already have a brand as well as followers that are ready to patronize you when you eventually start your business.

The research also extends to conducting a competitive analysis. With this, you are able to understand opportunities and limitations that exist within your industry and market while also differentiating your products or services from the competition.

After the market research, you can then consider naming your business. You should also know all relevant rules and regulations to ascertain your responsibilities, which may include getting your business registered, joining related industry or professional associations to get new information within the market, procedures in getting VAT or Professional Indemnity Insurance, if necessary, among others.

8 tips for how to work from home, from NPR’s Life Kit.

Start Your Business While You Are Still Working

One of the most essential resources you need before starting a business is startup capital. Do you plan to borrow some money or do you have other means of getting the required funds? It is common for people to resign from their current nine-to-five job to enable them to focus on their business. This isn’t a good idea. Usually, businesses struggle to make tons of money, especially at the early stage of operation.

This is because the starting stage often gulps a huge amount of money. For example, the cost of setting up a physical shop (or building an online store), getting your business registered, acquisition of necessary legal documents, hiring an accountant or financial advisor, to name a few startup fees. Besides, there could be a time when you will have to invest more money in your business and if you already resigned your job, you may not have the required financial backup for your business while also keeping up with your monthly expenses. You may also not qualify for a loan if you choose to go in that direction.

The best approach to this is to build your business gradually. Once you have built a decent number of clients that are consistent in paying you enough money for your survival and that of your business, you can transition from being an employee to a self-employed individual.

Be Passionate About the Business

It might be difficult to sustain one’s interest on a long term basis, especially if one engages in an activity that one doesn’t love or enjoy doing. The same thing applies to business. If you don’t love the business you are doing, how can you be motivated to continuously commit your entire money, time, and energy into it? Always ask yourself if you feel excited anytime you think of the business. Is it worth every sacrifice you make? If your answer is “no,” then it isn’t the right business for you.

If you identify a need or gap and your product or service successfully fills it, it is expected that it will produce good results, serving as good motivation. Of course, you don’t have to love every aspect of your business as you can always get some of it done by someone else. The goal is to get every necessary work done and keep the business moving. While passion keeps you focused, financial knowledge and good decisions keep your business on track.

Keep Your Idea Simple

Successful entrepreneurs often keep their business idea simple to avoid ending up with an elaborate end-product that prospective consumers may not be able to afford. As a new business starter, narrow your focus by creating a simple good or service without compromising its quality.

What are your customers’ needs and expectations? How can you fulfill the needs and exceed their expectations? If you are able to offer a product or service that does justice to the questions, your business tends to succeed. Get rid of features that cost you money and can make your product or service expensive. You are a small business and not yet a large corporation. You have a better chance to grow as long as your offerings appeal to the masses.

Adopt a Support System

It is almost impossible for businesses to succeed without a support system. You may want to run a business solo to prevent your idea from being stolen. Some may not even try to consider the idea of seeking help at all. When starting a business, you will need the support of a friend or family member, for instance, to help fine-tune your business idea. Their pieces of advice may go a long way in helping you attain speedy growth.

Another support system to consider is an experienced mentor within your industry. Such an individual is usually experienced and has a wealth of wisdom to share. They would know about possible challenges you may face and how to overcome them. They can also provide you with more effective marketing strategies as well as open your eyes to growth opportunities.

Also, professional help from lawyers, financial planners, and accountants could help your business attain long-term success. For instance, you may need to write up a contract and you are not a lawyer. You may also lack the expertise to perform accounting or bookkeeping tasks. If you try to do things and you lack the required expertise, you may end up wasting more time and even money in the long term. By employing their services, you save on time, thus enabling you to concentrate on other significant aspects of your business.

Key Takeaway

According to various research results, including those from the US Bureau of Statistics, an average of 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years of operation. While 25% fail within the first 10 years, only 25% make it to a period of 15 years and above. To fall within the range of those that make it far in business, it is important that you prepare your mind with the helpful tips provided here.

It should be noted that there is no rule of thumb about the right way to start a business; however, there are some tips that can put you on the track to success. These include, among others, conducting adequate (market) research, starting your business while you are still employed, being passionate about your business, keeping your business idea as simple as possible, and adopting a support system.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

COVID Questions on Finances

To many people, the strike of the COVID-19 pandemic made them feel like their world was coming to an end. The pandemic came so suddenly and unexpectedly that the world got thrown into a state of panic. We tend to be uncertain about the coming months. Thus, the present moment, when the world is yet to recover from the pandemic, became a difficult time to make certain financial decisions.

It is normal to have some financial questions. However, I’ve come with the most frequently asked financial questions that are related to the period where social distancing, the use of face masks/shields, among others constitute the new order. Check them out!

1. COVID-19 made me unemployed. How do I survive?

The economic impact of the global pandemic forced many organizations into relieving some of the workers of their duties and responsibilities. This is to save costs and other expenses. If you are a victim of this ugly situation, you may have to check your eligibility for unemployment insurance for your state. This is one of the measures put in place by the government to cushion the effect of the global pandemic. However, due to the fact that many people were affected by the pandemic, unemployment applications tend to be on the high at the moment.

The implication of this is that you may have to exercise great patience, especially in waiting for your application to be granted. Check your unemployment application and portal regularly. If there is any provision for you to make calls, do that to push your application along. While you await the confirmation of your application, you may also have to check how you can cut down your expenses. Get rid of unnecessary expenses from your budget. Call creditors or service providers to see if they can lower your credit card’s interest rates. You may also check out job applications for which you are eligible.

2. I am financially stable but how can I safeguard my future?

To secure your financial future, it is important that you develop a good financial plan. This is because a good financial plan will keep you stable during market or economic downturns. It is important to note that your financial position is susceptible to external forces that are usually out of your control. However, with a comprehensive financial plan, you can plan for both contingencies and overvalued markets, thus putting your mind at ease. In other words, you already have clues on what you can do to overcome market volatility and future crises; likewise, you have a good plan to support the upturn of the market.

You may also consider having an investment policy statement. It serves as a roadmap to help you manage your assets. It also states your investment goals, target asset allocation, and asset location. With the help of a wealth manager, you can develop a disciplined approach to help keep your investment goals in check, irrespective of any volatility in the market. Investing is also a great choice for you if you have a steady stream of monthly income, have paid most of your consumer debt, and have an emergency fund that is fully funded.

3. Is it the right time to buy a home?

Buying a home is a long-term goal for many people. They may have to save for it for years before getting enough money to acquire it. Besides, home buying is a very big investment and financial decision. Before you decide to buy a home, it is expected that your emergency fund is in good shape. Now might be a good time to consider buying a home if you have planned well for it. This is because the hit on the economy might force some people into distressed selling of their real estate properties. You might just be lucky to get a good offer.

Alternatively, you may also take out a mortgage. During crises like this, interest rates are always low and lenders tend to show great flexibility. However, it may be a financially wrong decision to buy a home simply because interest rates are low if you never intended to buy a home prior to the strike of the pandemic. Remember that beyond buying a home, you will be looking forward to some unexpected expenses, such as home repairs, etc. and you will want to make sure you have extra funds to cater for that.

4. When will the financial market get back to normal?

It is very difficult to predict when the financial market will become stable. It is natural to panic during times of market volatility. Notwithstanding, looking back to the old times makes it possible for the globe to ride out of the waves. While nobody seems to have an edge in terms of a better model in getting out of the pandemic, there are a few indices that can help determine the proximity of an end to the bear market.

The first index revolves around the management of the virus. We may be looking towards new dawn if the curve flattens and normalcy is restored to life. Also, the market will react positively to the creation of a vaccine, even though it will take time. The disbursement of stimulus funds also creates a ray of hope and optimism. This can help the market to recover. When an effective cure is discovered, everyone returns to work and employment improves.

On the flip side, there has been a form of rebound, especially among technology and consumer companies while other companies, such as airlines and oil producers, continue to suffer. If the government fails to come up with an effective vaccine, another spike in the pandemic will further shrink the economy, thus making people lose confidence in the government and equity markets creates great disappointment.

5. How can I start saving?

business, finance, saving, banking and people concept – close up of woman hands putting us dollar money into glass mason jar; Shutterstock ID 476500849

This is undoubtedly a good time to start saving for the future. Before you start saving, take an inventory of your income and expenses every month. Identify the expenses without which you cannot live. These may include rent/mortgage, utilities, and daycare/child care. Deduct these expenses from your monthly income and decide the amount that can be automatically put into a saving account. It is after this that you can spend on other things. Ideally, the amount you should aim to save may range between 10%-20% of your gross income.

If you start with as low as $2 per day, for instance, it might seem insignificant. However, the power of compounded savings will leave you surprised at how much you would have after about three months.  

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the crisis the globe is currently experience constitutes a part of the tough times many nations will always face. However, with the knowledge of how nations have survived global recession, we are left with enough confidence that financial recoveries are certain. Even with this hope, it is important for us to avoid making wrong financial decisions that we tend to regret in a few years’ time.

Even if you may have to get yourself a financial coach to help you make financial decisions that align with your goals, you shouldn’t hesitate to do that. We sincerely hope that some of the questions that you may be seeking answer to have been answered here.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Abundance vs Scarcity

How can Spring help you with abundance?

When we think about Spring it brings to mind life, growth, abundance, rebirth! We can take this fertile time of rebirth to set intentions for our life, business, and money. I want you to take a moment, and think about what you love about Spring. What about it excites you? When you give thought to it, I bet you begin to think of all of the activities you can do again, creating the yard and home you love again by planting, clearing and cleaning. What does it make you want to do?

With money, it is said that the day you plant the seed is not the day you will eat the fruit. We must be able to see what we want to create. When we plant a seed for a flower we have a pretty good idea what that flower will look like, we water it and attend to it because we intentionally planted that seed and are nurturing the outcome. Setting intentions in our money and business are much the same. 

Right now, I want you to visualize all of the rich colors of spring and I want you to take out a piece of paper, your journal or your phone. Then, I want you to write down 3 intentions that you have for your business or life in general. What are 3 things that you want to grow this year?

Then, I want you to write down 3 income goals that you have for yourself. First, the number you are averaging now plus 10%, the number that you want to be making, and then finally the outrageous number that would make you want to jump up in the air with excitement! What steps can you take to begin making these numbers come to life?

After that, I want you to imagine what it would feel like to have the success of your dreams, the money in your outrageous goal, and the lifestyle that it would provide you. Write it down. Visualize it. Love it. Do it.

“Abundant life” refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body. “Abundant life” signifies a contrast to feelings of lack, emptiness, and dissatisfaction, and such feelings may motivate a person to seek for the meaning of life and a change in their life. But how do you really achieve abundance? Start with gratitude. Be thankful for what you already have and see the miracles that come from this one simple act. 

Stop making excuses.

Realize your worth and potential. You are worthy of abundance. Your decisions lead to your destiny. Do you believe that? You should. It’s true. Sooner or later, what you do—and who you really are—determines what you ultimately achieve. Think for a moment about the people you respect. Why do you admire them? You are probably drawn to them because they are full of realized potential. When we see people exerting this kind of energy, it compels us to draw ourselves closer to them and become a part of what they are doing.

Commit to living your dreams.

It is all about commitment. Once you commit to living your dreams, the lids blinding your eyes will be lifted. A completely new world will be opened to your view. You will notice opportunities that have been in your reach all along, ones your conscious mind simply didn’t pay attention to. The fundamental change taking place is your self-identity. This is the point of no return. Once this shift has happened, your whole world changes.

Stay Consistent.

Consistency is especially important in business. Restaurants, for example, must be consistent, because customers come in expecting the same good food all the time. If they slip up even one day, they lose customers. Consistency establishes reputations. Being consistent in your work and life even if you are not a business owner is also very important. Your boss will more than likely respect consistency over anything else. 

Some of us may be stuck with an unconsciousness limiting belief about money, wealth, and prosperity that life’s conditioning dropped in our laps. But we are not without the ability to change direction; we are not just left hanging out to dry. You are the author of your life; you are the creator of your world; you are the master of your destiny. We live in an abundant universe, with limitless resources. No one is ever deprived, except by their beliefs and available resources. In order to be wealthy and create your ideal life, it is necessary to think and feel wealthy – act as if.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Finances & Relationships

It’s a good thing to be in a relationship, especially a healthy one. Everyone wants to be happy, and when one finds such happiness in a relationship, then one should grab the opportunity. Every relationship is marked by certain moments of challenges. In some cases, it could be as a result of infidelity; at other times, it could be as a result of subjugation. One of the partners may even be suffering from delusions of grandeur.

Nevertheless, one of the major causes of problems in relationships is money. As an individual, it’s possible that you have picked some fights with your partner over how or why they spent certain money. It could be the case that they want to purchase a house or car worth $500,000 when the family yearly income is just a little above $60,000. One of you may be hiding your spending from the other.

Don’t panic, you are not the only one facing the ugly situation. Even those that are single often face a similar situation, maybe not with a partner but with a parent or sibling. Despite the fact that you and your partners share certain common qualities, especially intimacy, you may not share the same money habits, goals, and values. Although, you may share debts and other financial challenges. 

The following tips will help you handle your finances and relationships more effectively…

1. Discuss financial goals and values with your partner

Remember when you were single? You probably always loved to eat outside, purchase the newest electronic gadget, or buy the most expensive outfit. This isn’t bad. However, your status has changed now and you need to make some little adjustments. Part of it is to talk about finances with your partner. As the team that you are, you need to talk about your future – your financial goals and how you can collaborate to achieve them.

To start with, each of you can talk about aspects of your family life that will require money. Some of them may include buying a house, taking care of your kids’ education, buying a car, going on a vacation, funds for emergency situations (such as accident, sickness, etc.), acquiring smart home appliances, clothes, among others. Definitely, both of you will want different things. However, the goal is to reach a compromise.

After creating the list, you should then arrange them in order of importance. Whatever you consider the most important, you must give a good reason to support your conclusion. This tells your partner that you show great concern towards their desires. Always seek a win-win solution. Otherwise, you can compromise in such a way that happiness is gotten by the two parties.

2. Learn about your partner’s money habits

Money habits are usually a reflection of one’s upbringing. It is important that you glean information on your partner’s way of handling money and the current state of finances. This also includes their debt profile, savings goals, and retirement plans. Some financial planners recommend that you consider having a look at your partner’s credit report. Through this, you get a clue about their outstanding debts, loans, and credit card accounts. 

Upon confirmation, you may be put off by the revelation. It could be the case that your partner has a huge debt profile and it scared the hell out of you. You shouldn’t panic at this stage. Beyond having some debts, your greatest concern should be what your partner is doing to pay off the debts and fix other financial issues. 

3. Be open and honest about money

In many relationships, trust issues are common, especially when money is involved. When your partner lies about money, it becomes financial infidelity. This can result in more financial problems, stress, unhappiness, and, consequently, your life gets impacted negatively. When this gets to a stage where your partner can no longer cope with it, they may file for divorce, and this brings an end to the relationship.

There is a possibility that your partner is being dishonest with you in terms of their financial state. Here are some indicators to look out for: credit cards are being declined; you no longer notice any bills in the mail; your partner is now afraid to talk about money; among other things. As the team that you are, rather than blame your partner, you can always bear each other’s burden, help out where and when necessary, as well as encourage each other. The goal is to be happy together.

Nevertheless, you have to position yourself in such a way that your partner feels comfortable in telling you about their struggles with money. 

4. Set spending limits for each other

Spending limits are not limitations. Rather, they help you to stay on track in regards to your budget. Depending on your financial state, you can set your limit as you and your partner find it comfortable. The limits could be on a weekly or monthly basis. For instance, you and your partner can agree that neither of you will spend more than $200 every week. The moment you reach your spending limit before the week runs out, you know that all you have left to spend is your time.

Discuss this with your partner during your financial meetings. Remember communication is an important aspect of every relationship, including marriage. 

5. Learn ways through which you can improve your financial situation

How comfortable are you with your present financial state? If you are not, then you need to put on your learning cap. There are different ways through which you and your partner can empower yourselves to improve your financial situation. You can read financial blogs and books; listen to podcasts on finance, budget, and saving; attend workshops, either physically or virtually, among others things.

Through these means, you get exposed to different pieces of financial advice that can help your current financial situation. You also get to know about people who passed through the same situation and how they were able to break through the challenges. 

6. Periodically review your financial plan and goals

Financial meetings do not end with the first meeting where you initiated certain plans and goals. They should be held at regular intervals, which may be weekly or monthly, for necessary appraisal. The reality is this, the fact that you now both share the same financial value and goal does not rule out the possibility of one of you falling short in their financial responsibilities. 

To avoid missing out on payments, have a weekly meeting where you review your accounts along with your spending plan. They also help you to discover the new items that will be included in your budget or the ones you have to expunge, aspects where you are having some challenges, the level of progress you have made on your debts, among other things. Avoid overlooking this important aspect.

 Conclusion

Managing both finances and relationships is not usually fun and can be challenging. However, it is crucial to maintaining a healthy, long-lasting relationship. This means that love is not the only factor that determines a healthy and lasting relationship – money also does. Money doesn’t have to be the basis for the end of your relationship. The earlier you are able to pay attention to money, the better and healthier for your relationship.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Wealthy Habits

Becoming wealthy is very easy, especially with motivational speakers sharing their sugar-laced experiences. But have you ever wondered why only about one percent of the world’s population remains wealthy despite the number of books on financial success and wealth creation? You might have even taken some finance classes and still wander in the darkroom of confusion.

It is common to think that certain people became wealthy by providence or sheer luck. This is not completely true, though a little luck helps sometimes. Apart from those who inherited family wealth, wealth is made with a great deal of commitment, hard work, and consistency. Beyond these qualities, there are certain sets of habits that are specific to wealthy people, especially those that built their wealth from scratch. These habits work like a magic wand in generating wealth. 

Early Risers

You may be wondering how waking up early can contribute to success. Well, you may have to examine the lives of Larry Schultz, Tim Cook, and Richard Branson, for instance. There is a difference between waking up early to rush out for work and waking up at least three hours before work to have enough time for reflection. 

Wealthy people wake up early to meditate or write in a journal, read educational content, or get a head start on an important project. Some get good exercise or have a healthy breakfast. The goal is the same: to be proactive in setting the tone for the day. Note that wealthy people do not make email checking their top priority in the morning. They rather leave it for later in the day.

Specific Goals

Wealthy people are goal-driven. Rather than make a wish, wealthy people only set goals for themselves. In fact, poor people set the goal to become wealthy but the major challenge – unknown to them – is the “how.” Wealthy people set specific goals and know what they need to do to achieve them. 

Such goals might include accumulating a certain monetary worth within a certain number of years, partnering with a particular company, or even selling their company for a specified amount. Whatever goal they set helps to guide their actions, prioritize their activities, as well as streamline their decisions. A clear vision of one’s goal is enough motivator that can drive one to success.

Daily To-Do List

It becomes almost impossible to become wealthy if you do not know what needs to be done and be committed to doing them. According to Thomas Corley, a goal is a broader term and needs to be broken down into a list of tasks that can be completed daily. This is a common habit among wealthy people. 

Research indicates that a significant percentage of wealthy people write a detailed to-do list as well as follow it through. Irrespective of the cost involved, they don’t procrastinate. In fact, they continue to mutter “Do it now!” in their minds, especially when the thought of putting off sets in. They don’t stop until the task gets done or completed. Notwithstanding, they may be unable to complete all their to-do lists every day. Nevertheless, they complete a minimum of 70% of their daily tasks.

Daily Exercise

The most common excuse by the common people is that they have no time to work out. This is not the same with wealthy people. Despite the fact that they have the least amount of free time, they understand the importance of staying healthy and fit. Even with a whole lot of wealth, they are aware that their health has no price tag. To them, daily exercise is a regular habit. With that, they get the vitality to handle whatever challenges life throws at them. According to a study report by Author Thomas Corley, 76% of wealthy folks do aerobic exercise on a minimum of four days every week.

Healthy Diet

Feeding your moneymaking brain with fad diets and Twinkies will only leave it in low gear. It is common knowledge that a large portion of less-affluent people are less concerned about their diet and overall health. This may be a result of income and geography. Notwithstanding, the cost of having a healthy diet is not as expensive as portrayed. 

Wealthy people treat food like the fuel it is – they consume the right foods, avoid junk food and snacks as much as possible, and spend more on healthy foods. Their meals are structured so that they take a count of their calorie intake. They eat a healthy diet to live longer, thus giving them more opportunities to earn more.

Read Daily for Self-Improvement

A popular quote by Joseph Addison states thus: “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Just like exercise, poor people do not take book reading seriously. The great number of books in the world today leaves a wealth of knowledge untapped, if unread. Wealthy people understand this and are willing to nourish their minds with enough information that can help them improve their skills and knowledge. Even if on transit and cannot read, they do not hesitate to listen to audiobooks.

Value Time

Generally, wealthy people regard time as money and time misspent as money lost. In other words, wealthy people see time as highly valuable and wouldn’t waste a bit of it, especially on unproductive activities, such as reading celebrities’ posts on social media or watching TV. Yeah, you saw that – watching TV! Wealthy people do not get relief in shutting off their brains in front of the TV. 

Elon Musk, for instance, spends a whopping 80-100 hours every week on productive activities such as exercising, reading, or learning something new. Rather than waste their time on nonproductive activities, they rather engage in things about which they are passionate, such as hobbies. Asking yourself how much money you would lose by engaging in activities that don’t produce money will help redirect your focus on productive tasks.

Build Relationships

Wealthy people understand the value of building relationships, especially the ones that revolve around their businesses. That is one of the reasons wealthy people will always be friends with one another. They build relationships with those who share similar minds or ideas with them. It is commonsensical that the relationship they build will impact their success-achievement goal. This kind of relationship can be built in many ways – at a conference, online webinar, or just over coffee. They may not necessarily be wealthy; however, they should possess the potential and drive to become wealthy. 

One other reason why wealthy people build relationships is to help them overcome the fear of speaking in public – a common fear among humans, irrespective of their social or financial status. They thus meet and engage someone new every day to build the confidence they need to address larger groups.

They Have Mentors

Many wealthy people have attributed their success to their mentors. It is not the case that their mentors have a direct impact on their wealth accumulation story. Rather, mentors keep them accountable and help them accelerate their speed of success achievement. Usually, mentors are people that have accumulated enough insights and experiences that can help their mentees cut learning time in half.

Key Takeaways

It is common to think that certain people became wealthy by providence or sheer luck. This is not completely true, though a little luck helps sometimes. There are many things that go into creating that ideal lifestyle and becoming wealthy. Incorporating growth tactics and throwing out the unproductive habits that currently keep you shackled to your not-so-ideal lifestyle will be a game changer for sure.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Money Mindset Mentality

Change the way you handle your money.

Do you often feel you don’t have enough money to support all of your needs? Or do you feel inadequate in your finances so you get too scared to spend or rather spend everything conversely? Despite your resistance to spending, do you still have enough? Usually, the relationship that exists between an individual who is successful with money and another who gives up easily on their financial goals revolves around their attitude towards money. 

Personal finance books, articles, or podcasts will teach you money goals, such as spending less than you earn, saving or investing for the future, and avoiding buying things you don’t need. Well, while these may be critical to achieving financial freedom, it is often difficult to implement those rules.

It is not impossible to have a financial breakthrough from a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. The problem lies in your beliefs and attitudes about money or finances, otherwise regarded as a money mindset. There are two types of money mindset: scarcity and abundance. While the former believes there is never enough, the latter believes in always having enough even if the prevailing circumstances negate the belief.

As much as money is a veritable tool to solve problems and live comfortably, it can also serve as a source of worry, concern, and limitation. Your thoughts toward it drive your financial decision-making processes, such as spending, saving, investing, and handling of money. With a positive money mindset, you tend to make better financial decisions that can help you overcome challenges associated with money paucity.

Formation of Money Mindset

As the name implies, our attitudes toward money are formed by different factors, usually psychological. Your experiences with money surely have a role to play in how you perceive it. Someone who has always lived on the generosity of their loved ones will perceive money differently from someone who had to take up a part-time job in school to make ends meet. One enjoyed free income while the other had to work to earn.

Regarding our family background, kids who had their parents openly talk about or fight over money while they are growing up will end up having a deeper understanding of money than those kids whose parents never created an open discussion about money probably for fears of igniting certain emotions. 

It is common to have heard the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” from our parents. Such a saying affects our perception of money. It tends to make us spend within our limits, avoid buying unnecessary things, withdraw from giving financial aids, etc., thus limiting what we can do and achieve with money. However, this can never make us richer or wealthier.

The lessons we learn about money – from our parents, friends, and community at large – are mostly indirect. You may not be taught how checkbooks or paychecks work. However, when you watch your mom or dad switch off every light, don’t you think there is a certain lesson embedded in the action? Do they pay tax willingly? 

The reality is that you don’t need more money to live well or stay happy. In fact, there is a virtue in living with fewer things. The reality is that money is never enough. As long as people live, they will continue to chase more money than they need.

What You Gain by Understanding Your Money Mindset

There is a strong connection between what you believe and what comes out of the belief. Your relationship with money and attitude towards money determine what you will make of your money mindset. Research conducted by Thomas Corley of Rich Habits discovered that 53 percent of self-made millionaires were obsessed with becoming rich before they were rich. 

In another study conducted by Ramsey Solutions, of the over 10,000 millionaires studied, a whopping 97% of millionaires believed that they have the keys to become millionaires within their control. And that mindset was the reason behind their success.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.” This is true to a large extent. By understanding your money mindset, you get a mindset shift. In other words, you are able to get on the path of a positive money mindset, which is the right attitude to succeed.

Changing Your Money Mindset 

If you still believe that only lucky people have money, then you are still trapped in the mindset of scarcity. It is time to extricate yourself from the long-standing myth that you need a big-income family to become wealthy, and it starts with your awareness of this self-limiting belief. Your belief, in turn, shapes your behavior. 

The following tips will help you change your money mindset from scarcity to abundance.

1. Make positive money affirmations

The problem with a negative money mindset starts with limiting beliefs that impact the way you perceive and handle your money. These have to be written off if you want to develop an abundance mindset. You need to create a new reality for yourself. For instance, affirm yourself as a successful money manager who has what it takes to transform the age-old family pattern of money scarcity. State that you invest your money responsibly and support others financially, no matter the situation. When you understand the “why” of your money, it gives you the motivation and commitment to set positive and healthy financial goals that will transform you completely.

2. Be grateful for what you have

Oprah once said, “Be thankful for what you have. You’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.” 

This is the reality of the world in which we live. Wealth is not distributed equally. Notwithstanding, there are lots of things to be grateful for, and spending more time to be grateful for those things rather than worrying over what we don’t have makes us feel abundant. Be grateful for having a roof over your head, good health, food to eat, access to clean water, and clothes to wear.

When you are grateful for what you have, you tend to be content and less tempted to spend on less important things, creating more room to spend or invest in more reasonable things. 

3. Expand your knowledge base

The books we read are instrumental to the changes and progresses we make. Leadership speaker Charles Jones once said, “You’ll be the same person in a year as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Learning about money management and money psychology will go a long way in setting you up for success, not considering the amount of money you spend.

It is through books that you can learn how to move out of debt so you can live your ideal life, understand the need to have an emergency fund, and design a game plan for your financial future. You can try out the following books: Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms by Amanda Steinberg, MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins, Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by Harv T Eker, among others.

Key Takeaway

A mindset shift will give you freedom from overspending, paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle, and debt. It also helps you to develop a good savings attitude and set yourself up for success. All of these tips are critical to the ultimate goal of achieving complete financial freedom. When you are grateful for what you have, you tend to be content and less tempted to spend on less important things, creating more room to spend or invest in more reasonable things. Remember that.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Stability is Everything

Real Goals: Being financially, mentally, academically, physically, spiritually, and emotionally stable.

Stability is everything.

Being it emotional or physical. You need a solid ground to build anything on. I tell my clients all the time that they need a solid foundation to build on and in financial terms that would be your budget. Your budget is that solid map that tells you what direction to go in. I fully believe that I am more stable in all areas of my life because I am so stable in my finances. Money connects to everything whether we like it or not. It is on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly into our own selves.

There are so many emotions around money that turn into blocks. Sometimes people don’t even realize that they are subconsciously blocking themselves from wealth. It is a mindset for sure. Diving into those blocks and negative feelings around money will only help you break through those barriers and into your new life. Stability in finances requires Balance, Consistency and Discipline which I say ALL THE TIME. When stability becomes a habit, maturity and clarity follow. Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. The struggle is real when you are trying to stay disciplined and stick with your budget. I get it.

Stability is necessary for your future economic success. Finances are not stable by any means but you have the upper hand when you are in control of your finances. You want to make your money work for you. Investing is a great tool but way less stable than your average 9-5pm job. Investing is about trends and sadly politics/media but once you figure that out its so easy. I used to think there were major calculations that I had to do in order to figure out my best investing opportunity. WRONG. You just have to know the trends and current events plus be less attached to your money. Investing requires some gambling and you have to be OKAY with that.

Stability Within Your Finances 

It is almost year-end and you tend to reflect on how much you have been able to achieve in regards to your previously-set financial goals. Are you satisfied with the current state of your finances? 

Imagine a world where you don’t have to worry about money to live the kind of life you have always craved for. You have enough to enjoy that vacation, buy a new home, pay your bills consistently and on time, and live comfortably at retirement. Of course, these are possible, however, only with financial stability.

Financial stability is not only possible when you are stupendously rich. In fact, it is not measured by the amount of money you have. Rather, it is all about being confident that your everyday finances are enough to help you reach your financial goals involving zero-debt, savings, and insurance. Only individuals with stability within their finances can cover their basic needs as well as enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Achieving stability with your finances is, of course, possible, even in this ever-changing world. It isn’t rocket science. However, it is not as easy as being portrayed. You need to develop good financial habits including planning, organizing, commitment, discipline, and resilience. Financial stability leads to peace of mind, happiness, and long-term satisfaction.

How Do You Achieve Financial Stability?

Man meditating on abstract flying dollar banknote in sky

On the path to financial stability, accepting the addictions that often cause financial instability is a good way to start. These addictions include overspending or impulse spending, gambling, materialism, and paying bills late. With these taken care of, you are on track to making a good headway with your finances. 

It is important to note that there are no shortcuts to achieving financial stability. The steps involved require time, effort, and consistency. The following actions will help you achieve stability within your finances.

1. Create a Financial Plan

Every decision, especially involving finances, should be hinged on a plan. Otherwise, you tend to make the wrong financial decisions. A financial plan helps you gain control over your spending. Usually, a financial plan considers your income, spending, savings, debt, and insurance. In other words, a financial plan gives you an idea about what you earn as against what you owe, thus serving as a blueprint to help you develop a financial budget. 

2. Create a Financial Budget

Once you have good knowledge about your self-worth, then you need a personal budget to help you have absolute control over your spending. The way you spend has a great impact on other financial decisions you make. A budget is organized based on cash inflow (income) and cash outflow (expenses). You may also want to break down your expenses into needs and wants

Definitely, there are some basic expenses or fixed expenses you cannot avoid every month. Some of them include food, rent, and water or electricity bills. Others, such as cable subscriptions, can come under not-too-important bills or variable expenses, especially if your income cannot conveniently cater for it.

A financial budget, when you stick to it, helps you to prioritize spending and saving, reduce or eliminate expenses, spend wisely, and make wise financial decisions that can help you achieve financial stability. Nevertheless, a budget must be flexible to allow for modifications in case of unforeseen circumstances.

3. Control Your Impulse Spending

This is apparently a major problem that is common with almost everyone. Money has a way of controlling us so much that we get easily carried away when we have some funds in our wallet. We always want to show we can afford certain things. Impulse spending, especially on such activities as eating out and extensive shopping, drains our finances, thus resulting in financial instability. To avoid this, it is important to control and monitor our impulse spending. Have a second thought before deciding to make any purchase.

4. Spend and Live Frugally

One wrong financial decision is to live above one’s income. The result is often disastrous. Before making the decision to make any purchase or initiate any spending, you may have to ask yourself this question: How easy can I get back each dollar I spend? If you are able to think deeply about this, then you will be careful with your spending.

Do you need a new home or car now? Is that vacation important now or you can still have it some other time? Living or spending frugally doesn’t imply that you don’t want to enjoy the comfort life has got to offer. However, it helps you to be disciplined as well as identify spending areas that are not necessary, at least, at the moment.

5. Pay Off Your Debt On Time

If you have some debts to settle, it might be necessary for you to develop a debt payment plan. List out your debts (personal loans, credit cards, etc.) and organize them in either ascending or descending order. In your budget, make allocations for debt settlement, even if you have to deny yourself of certain benefits. Remember, late payment of debts can lead to increased interests, and this means more debts.

Once this process continues, you will be surprised at how “easy” it is to get out of debt. If you have credit card debt, you may have to consider using cash to make purchases. This prevents you from spending more than you have. Debt elimination process often takes a long time. However, it is a rewarding process. When you are out of debt, you will be able to make other financial decisions.

6. Create an Emergency Fund

Who ever thought they would get sick at a time they are down financially? Or get involved in an accident that will necessitate treatment? The reality is that life comes with unexpected occurrences that will require your attention. How do you factor this in your budget when you barely have enough money after your expenses?

Your best bet is to create an emergency fund. Emergencies could involve a major car repair or having to take an unplanned trip. An emergency fund not only serves as a backup plan, but it also helps you to navigate through a tough time with little or no financial stress.

7. Make Plans for Retirement

You are 25 and you feel you still have a whopping 35 years before you attain retirement. You will be surprised at how fast time flies. Remember that your salary will stop someday, as a salary earner. There is no better time to start saving or investing for your retirement than now. Otherwise, you may be jeopardizing your future with uncontrolled spending in the present. Little money snowballs into a large amount in no time.

Check if your company has a 401(k) plan for its employees. The plan becomes more necessary if your employer will match some of or all your contributions to your company retirement plan. You can also consider a Roth IRA.

Key Takeaway

The actions discussed above are the right steps towards achieving stability within your finances. You should have started yesterday. However, another opportunity is NOW. Remember, you shouldn’t get too focused on saving and investing that you forget to enjoy life. Sure, it costs money too. However, it also contributes to a healthy and happy life. You may only have to consider cheap options, such as going for a show, having a massage once in a while, or inviting a few friends for a game night.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.

Debt: 7 Habits to Break

Habits That Put you in Debt

If people had the opportunity to change something about their lives, a lot of them would be swift to correct mistakes that denied them financial freedom, especially debt. Unless you’ve ever been in debt, you wouldn’t be able to relate with the stress and emotional trauma that often accompany it. Being in debt requires you to model your life around it. You may even have to give up some financial goals to keep up with your monthly (re)payments. 

Debt doesn’t just happen; it is often a result of certain spending habits and making poor money choices that have accumulated over some months or even years. Though some people get into debt with no fault traceable to them, a vast majority of those in debt dug their own debt hole. Most of these debt-leading habits often come in the guise of serving as smart financial moves, and a lot of people fall prey to it.

The following habits are capable of putting you in debt if you keep on with them:

Lack of Financial Budget

A budget gives you control over your spending in relation to your income. It helps you to set spending limits while also working within the plan. Without a financial budget, you tend to get into impulse spending – that is, spending uncontrollably, especially when you are excited, angry, or bored. When this happens, you will overspend and may end up knee-deep in debt. 

To break this habit, create a budget that shows your monthly income as well as fixed monthly expenses. When you subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income, you know what you have left to spend on food, transportation, entertainment, and other expenses.

Paying Your Bills Late

Though it can happen to anyone, late payment of bills isn’t a good habit. When you pay your bills late, it leads to increased interest charges, thus hitting your credit score hard. Make it a habit to pay your bills on time.

If you are the type of person that procrastinates with this kind of task – or even forgets it – you may have to consider enrolling in auto-pay. At least, it will help you stay organized while also saving you the need for late fees and high-interest charges. Your finances should be organized in a way that prevents you from missing your bills.

Eating Out All The Time

Yes, you may run out of time to cook sometimes, and picking up food from or eating at a restaurant becomes the next option, especially after a hectic workday. That’s acceptable! However, if you are fond of visiting the restaurant and grocery stores, it may take a tole on your pocketbook. The situation becomes worse if you place the restaurant meal on a credit card. 

Dining out for lunch, especially with friends or coworkers, is a sociable event. However, doing this all the time can cause you to live beyond your means. Remember you will also have to spend additional money on tips if you order in a sit-down restaurant.

Lack of Emergency Fund

Life is full of unexpected occurrences which usually come at various costs. A number of surveys indicate that a significant number of Americans live paycheck to paycheck each month. With that being said, when unplanned expenses arise, most people will have to borrow money to meet the obligation. Emergency situations that may warrant unplanned expenses include health or medical issues, accidents, etc. The inability to meet up with these expenses portends the beginning of a vicious cycle of debts.

To avoid this, set up an emergency account which you fund with a certain amount (Whatever you can or makes sense within your budget) from your paychecks every month. You will be surprised at how fast little money adds up. This will help to cushion any financial pressure that may arise as a result of emergencies. You may also have to resist every urge to dip your hands into this fund unless it is of huge necessity.

Spending Based on Speculation

Some people often spend money based on the expectation of finding a way to get more money in the future, probably in the form of a promised financial gift. This is a recipe for financial disaster. There is no need to increase your budget or spending based on optimism if your income this month will not increase the next month.  Never factor an expected increase into your budget until it appears in your checking account. A lot of students with this habit graduate with massive student loan debt.

Let your budget be based on reality rather than hope. With this, you may have to continue saving for any item you want to purchase until you can afford it rather than buying it now with the hope of getting “imaginary” money to pay it back in the future.

Using Credit Card Rather Than Cash

How you use credit cards determine the benefits you will get from them. Rather than use credit cards for ordinary purchases, such as groceries, gas, or clothes, you should embrace the use of cash at hand or the one you have in your checking account. If you are unable to pay your credit card bills in full every month, it is an unwise spending habit to continue using it instead of cash. 

When you have credit cards in your wallet, you tend to fall into the temptation of using them at will, thus making you spend uncontrollably. At least, you wouldn’t be paying it back immediately. To avoid plunging yourself into debt, you may have to determine the amount of credit card you need to prevent you from exceeding your limit financially. Also, you may want to maximize your reward earnings through reward programs that allow you to earn cash by charging more on your credit card. In this case, only charge what you would have purchased with cash, and be sure to pay off the purchase immediately.

Trying to Keep Up With Others

We are in a society where people are under pressure to purchase material items they can’t afford just to impress those around them. Such people wouldn’t want to miss out on the latest fashion item or technological gadgets. They are always aiming for things they can’t afford. They take pricey trips or visit restaurants that have highly-priced foot items.

While attempting to maintain a certain lifestyle of luxury can cause you stress and anxiety, it further plunges you into debt and more debts. This habit is a bad one. If you find yourself in a circle where you are judged based on what you earn or the kind of luxurious lifestyle you are living, it might be time to break away from the circle. Do only what makes you feel happy. Don’t live your life to impress others.

Key Takeaway

The habits discussed above are capable of taking you off the path of financial freedom. Remember the goal is to live a life that is free of debts and to have good financial habits, such as creating and sticking with a financial budget, spending based on your earnings, minimizing your visits to restaurants, using cash more than you use credit cards to pay for regular purchases, paying your bills early, and avoiding the urge to live your life to impress others, can help you avoid debt. We want to BE rich, not LOOK rich.

Free Gift

Check out the FREE video series on my 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Financial Freedom! This video series touches on Budgets, Tackling Debt, and Ways to Increase Income TODAY! I created this series for those of you who have been hit hard by COVID-19. I want you to know there is nothing you can’t accomplish and creating a plan of action is always a great starting point.