When talking about savings, a lot of us just shy away from the issue or just walk away. This is because most of us are guilty of not saving money.
Sure, we can always go to our usual reasons on why we can’t save money. Some of us might say that keeping track of money is hard especially when you make a lot of small purchases. There are those that give a reason such as “My earnings and expenses are too volatile to track”. While there are other who simply say “It’s hard to do”.
Now, believe me when I say that saving is quite easy. As a matter of fact, you should only remember one simple line.
Spend less than what you earn.
Simple, right?
Sadly, not everybody understands the idea fully. While it looks simple in paper, the mantra is much harder to practice especially when you are surrounded by a carefree environment.
So to help you out, we will give you a list of simple and easy ways to keep track of your money. Before you run away, just remember that what we will give you are quite easy and can be done within a few minutes. So if you want to start saving, read on.
1. Know your income down to the last cent – Work backwards when talking about income. Instead of projecting income, why not just look at your income for the past year. After all, it’s easier to add payslips, bank statements, and tax returns than guessing, right?
2. Keep a budget and stick with it – Now you might be wondering why I sound like your mom but please stick with me. There are a lot of free budgeting tools out there on the Internet that will do 80% of the process for you. All you have to do is to input figures and voila! Instant budget. The hard part is sticking to it.
3. Embrace technology – As what I mentioned above, realizing that technology can help you is the first step in making things easier. Aside from the budgeting tools, take advantage of online banking and use any of the thousands of apps available for you that will keep you on track.
4. Ask a professional – Now, there’s no harm in asking for help. Especially in the case of money. You wouldn’t want to bleed money just because you were afraid to ask, right? Get in touch with a financial adviser or accountant who can help you find out, realize, and reach your goal.
This is just the start though. I always tell my friends that the hardest part in saving is embracing the fact that you will be setting aside a certain amount for God know what. What I tell them is that what you save now may be “lost” but it will be of great help for you in the future when you need it the most. People who have had emergencies or sudden opportunities know the hardship of not having a steady savings account. So start saving now. Start spending less.