4 Tips To Help You Take Control Of Your Finances

Here are 4 tips to help you take control of your finances provided by Chrissy Gladstone. A lot of us struggle with our finances and it’s always great to find out how to take control.

4 tips to improve your finances

 

A research has found that some Britons have no long-term financial plan for savings and investment goals. According to a study conducted by the Bank of England, 27% of citizens in the U.K. have no form of emergency savings. In fact, another survey claims that less than half of working-age residents have £100 in their current savings.

Taking the time to manage your monthly income can help you pay off current debts and prepare for the unexpected emergencies that can happen at any moment. Not to mention, you can give yourself an early start towards your pension or save for your dream vacation. So how do you get started?

Here are 4 tips to help you take control of your finances.

Set the Budget Straight

One of the best ways to build financial wealth is to create a budget calendar. Understand your total interest rates, calculate your monthly and annual income, and monitor your net worth. It will take a little bit of effort, but it is a great way to understand how much money you have coming in and how much you spend going out.

When setting up a budget, you will be:

  • Less likely to build debt
  • Less likely to spend on unplanned expenses
  • More likely to improve your credit rating
  • More likely to get approved for a loan or mortgage
  • Able to make better savings in the future

Starting your plan with a clear budget will give you a better picture to see the major expenses and a better opportunity to save money. In addition, it will also help you see whether you are living within your means.

Get Technical With Your Budget

Most of us use our gadgets for everything – staying in touch, playing games, watching videos, and even searching for the next family recipe. So, why not use your smartphone to stay in control of your budget? Using tech apps can help improve your finances and reduce the stress of financial planning. There are some great budgeting apps available online. Just be sure to follow the appropriate security measures when giving out personal details online.

Pay Off Credit Cards and Loans

Credit cards are a great way to build credit and make large purchases instantly – that is until you acquire debt. While this step may take years to finish, you will be able to pay off your credit card and loans for good. From there, can you start saving for future goals as well as feel less stressed when your bills are due.

Invest

Once you have finally established a hefty saving, now’s the time to figure out what to do with it. One of the most common mistakes many of us make is to leave it as it is without much profit in return. Make a plan to put your savings to good use. You might want to invest in stocks, real estate property, or shares in a growing startup.

The hardest part of paying off your debt is taking the initial step. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed once you realize how much you are spending every month and tempted to ignore the growing demands for payments. However, once you start taking control of your finances, you will slowly begin to pay off what you owe and work out what you need to accomplish next.

What do you think of these 4 tips? Have you done any of the above before or considering them?

Improve Finances And Reduce Stress Using Technology

Want to improve finances and reduce stress using technology? I love technology and always welcome anything that reduces stress and helps improve finances due to my own mental health. Here is some advice* to improve finances and reduce stress levels using technology.

Improve Finances Using Technology

 

Use Technology To Reduce Stress And Improve Finances

A recent study has revealed that 14 million people worry about their finances every day. A shocking statistic which rings true for many. Mental health concerns affect many Brits. Whilst you shouldn’t pin everything on how much money you have or haven’t got, it’s difficult not to get stressed about money when the cost of living continues to rise. However, there is good news for the millions of stressed Brits worried about their finances. The key to taking control of your money is to reduce your stress levels. Technology is a great tool to help alleviate stress and there are such great mental health apps available to help you achieve just that.

Utilising technology

Wherever you turn, you’ll find yourself surrounded by some form of technology. Your home is probably full of gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, voice-activated home assistants and game consoles. Whilst over-use and over-exposure to technology has been linked to stress, there are ways in which you can effectively use technology to boost your mental health and reduce your stress levels to allow you to make smart financial decisions.

When stressed, individuals often make poor financial choices, such as purchasing high priced goods to make themselves feel better, only to instantly regret it when the item arrives, thus increasing stress. However, technology can be utilised in these times. If you’re staring at your online bank account and are worried about the balance, ask your voice-activated home assistant to play some calming music, such as whale music which is known to reduce stress levels.

Reading technology

Reading has been proven to reduce stress levels. Before you make any spur of the moment purchases, grab your electronic reading device and lower your stress levels. You can reduce your stress levels by as much as 68% by taking time out and enjoying a couple of chapters of a good book. Just six minutes of reading can make you feel calmer and more relaxed. Be sure to carry reading material with you wherever you go.

Debt and technology

Gadgets allow individuals to check their bank balance wherever they are and at any time of the day. This can be both a blessing and a curse. Students are often knee deep in debt which can cause them much stress. If you’re a student looking to consolidate your student loan, be sure to use organisational software first to get everything in order. That way you can review your finances with a clear, stress-free head.

Stress is a factor which people across the UK and around the world contend with every day. We face a lot of stress especially when it comes to sorting out finances. However, technology is a great tool to use to stay calm, reduce stress levels and stay on top of your finances.

Do you think you could Improve Finances And Reduce Stress Using Technology to?

*In collaboration with Chrissy Gladstone.