| The fight for financial freedom isn't fair. No matter | | | | a month. Even things that you're not sure you might |
| what kind of spin you try to put on it, the path to | | | | need to buy. Don't add general spending money to |
| comfortable living seems either impossible or too long | | | | the list, be specific. Always add more to the totals if |
| to attempt. Many people these days are spending | | | | you're not sure as you can fine tune it later. Again, |
| copious amounts of money going to see professional | | | | subtract your total from the money left over from |
| financial planners for advice on how to get their | | | | your bills. Don't worry if you've gone into the |
| money situation under control. But let's be honest, | | | | negative figures here, we can fix it. |
| while a financial planner can show you how to | | | | Once you've got your expenses total in front of you, |
| prioritize your spending and how to go about | | | | obviously any money that is left over is your profit |
| consolidating your debt, surely there must be a way | | | | for the month. In the event that you have nothing |
| to plan your finances that doesn't cost you visits to | | | | left or have gone into the minus figures, the next |
| a professional? This article has been written to open | | | | step is to minimize your expenses. Pretty straight |
| some people's eyes to the fact that it is possible to | | | | forward, huh? Any incidental expenses that you |
| properly plan your finances from the comfort of your | | | | might not need, remove them. And any expenses |
| own home. | | | | you know you will have, like food and petrol for |
| The main aim when planning your finances is to make | | | | example, really get down to the lowest spend on |
| everything as simple as possible. There is nothing | | | | them. How much do you really need to spend on |
| worse than sinking so far into depression that you | | | | them? Your aim should be to save at least $50 per |
| can't see a way out. Whether you are in debt and | | | | month after spending money. All that extra builds up |
| looking to get out of it of if you are simply looking | | | | and gives you a nice petty cash at the end of a few |
| for a way to keep a little more spending money | | | | months! |
| aside each month, the simpler you make your | | | | If you are in a multiple-income situation, the same |
| planning the better the result you will get. From the | | | | process applies. You need to start building up that |
| beginning, you need to be realistic. I'll start with the | | | | petty cash tin. There will always be unexpected |
| example of a single income situation, firstly you need | | | | expenses, everyone knows that. In truth, the basis |
| to calculate what your net pay is per month. If | | | | of comfortable living is really the knowledge that you |
| you're self employed or not on a regular pay, always | | | | can afford to pay for something unexpected. |
| calculate the worst-case-scenario, what is the lowest | | | | To finish, all of this can be done on a piece of paper |
| you might get paid. Then go through your monthly | | | | if you want to invest a little time, or you can lay it all |
| bills and write down the ones that are a fixed | | | | out on an Excel spreadsheet. The way that saves |
| amount. Do the same for all other bills but use the | | | | the most time is to use a Financial Planning software |
| worst-case-scenario again, what is your estimation of | | | | program, you enter the numbers and the program |
| the most that those bills might be. Add everything up | | | | gives you an automatic monthly planner. Whatever |
| and subtract it from your net income total. | | | | way you choose to go, always remember to keep it |
| Next onto the incidental expenses you might run into | | | | as simple as possible. When you're following a plan, |
| on a monthly basis. These might include petrol, car | | | | the pressure on you will decrease. What more could |
| upkeep, public transport fares, food etc. make a list | | | | there be to comfortable living? |
| of all the little expenses you might need money for in | | | | |