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