SURVIVAL: MONEY - How To Help YOURSELF Repair Your Own Finances

by M Jvlian Simmons

Have things just gotten a bit out of control with the finances?

Has your credit turned into your overbearing boss?

Are you stuck on "broke"?

Cashflow okay, but still leaks in your budget?

Its more common than not, and best believe that its the same deal, no matter how much money you end up making, just multiply the current result.

Like Biggie said, "mo' money; mo' problems".






The following are some ways to get a grip on your funds.


And if you've done some damage to your credit history, then we'll show you how to "raise THAT Lazarus back from the dead" too!










CUT-BACKS - How many bills per month are you currently paying?

Can you do without any of it or consolidate/bundle some?





If so, then do, because these would be considered to be small holes and fissures in your boat, causing you to drag and even sink.

GET OFF MAJOR CREDIT - How many times do credit card companies bombard young adults with new opportunities to get them?

Why?






They do that, as to get you using it, before you know just HOW to use them.












Before you know it, you've maxed-out all of them, can't make the payments, and are now indebted to these companies for up to 30c on every dollar borrowed.




Yes, its kind of easy to get credit cards, but refrain, after two or three, and make them count.


A mere $33.33 per card means $100 to YOU to owe, total.

So keep it manageable, your investments focused, and pay them off by the passing of every fiscal season (every three months).






CASH ONLY - Instead, deal in cash, if not for the simple principle of "if its not in your wallet, its also not on the menu (yet)".








BUDGETING -Take everything you do by habit and list it on paper.

Then take all these habits and total their costs by calculator, per week and then multiplied per month.







Knock off things that needlessly cost you money, and add the necessary costs together to find what's called your monthly "overhead".







Work to maintain your overhead, including habits or "bills" for not only rent, and utilities, but also for entertainment, food, and even one for savings.








MAKE MONEY BY SAVING MONEY - You can make money just by more wisely/mindfully fulfilling your own needs.


Need a dependable car, but you're thinking that you need about 20K?

They DO sell "gently used"/"previously owned" dependable transpo nowadays, and for as low as what you'd down-pay on a brand new model.





Couponing is also a good way to save lots of money.

Not even as "extreme couponing", but the more basic clipping is helpful.











Dinners, products and all kinds of services that you need anyway, often come with savings and discounts for those that are mindful enough to search for them (even online).








Print, clip and redeem them proudly; they are as good as cash, when you have, nearly none. lol









CAREFUL CREDIT REBOOTING - A detached pre-paid debit card can allow you the freedom from banks and their often outrageous fees, but at the same time, give you a secure way to do cashless transactions, and e-commerce (to shop and to pay bills online).


Here are some card options to consider.

Skrill Prepaid MasterCard

The new Skrill reloadable Prepaid Card - accepted anywhere MasterCard is accepted, is an easy to use, secure, and convenient tool to manage your budget and stay on track with your spending.

Green Dot Card

Green Dot prepaid debit cards help to control finances without overdraft or penalty fees.

In this commercial, a woman says she uses her card to shop and online and pay bills.

No credit check is required with Green Dot.

Of course, you have to watch out for scam artists who capitalize on bogus cards and information thievery, so only purchase these cards from reputable (and "sueable") dealerships.

CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT - Always going out to see the latest movies?

Gotta have the XL popcorn, Raisinetts AND the jumbo soda at retail too?









Out clubbing every weekend, with the menacing bartab?

Need that new game system just now, plus its top 5 games, because you play through them so fast?

Gotta catch the concert/festival in the next state this weekend or bust?






I know, you have to do something to keep yourself entertained, but remember to enjoy more fully, the simpler things that cost less, and can be just as fun (walks, hikes, picnics, at-home cinema, small house party with friends, etc.).

Many times, a swanky night-in with friends can be more fulfilling than a night-out amongst strangers, where everything costs from $5-20/perk.






Maybe a public cinema once a month and private home screenings weekly costs less than the theater every week or two, with all the trimmings.

Keep your entertainment budget tightly trimmed.









STAY OFF THE STREETS - The hunger to be where the action is could inadvertently land you in the poor-house if you aren't careful.









  


Cover/admission costs, food/drinking tabs, incidental costs (pullovers, tickets, boots, accidents, etc.) accumulate fast.







Of course you have to get to work everyday, and run errands and whatnot, but I'm referring more to unnecessary outings, or just driving for driving-sake, like we often do as young adults.










Be smart and be where you intend to stay after "decent" hours have passed.

When are YOUR local decent hours?

Perhaps in your town, no one is out after midnight shift workers get home (for any lawful purpose).

Or maybe even living in a more modest part of town that "rolls-up their streets when the streetlamps come on".

The best times to travel is by the same hours as the earliest and latest worker demographic in your /that town.




REPAY YOUR OUTSTANDING DEBTS - Yes its been years, maybe even a decade since you've heard from that bill collector, but things do have a way of hanging around and waiting for you to finally address them.

Sometimes, enough time can pass by, where you could repay the debt if you "had more time/when my money comes in".

If you can, then do it.

Paying off a delinquent bill here, and a much appreciated I.O.U. there, every one-to-three months or so is a good way to eventually dig oneself out of debt WITHOUT the use of debt consolidators nor bankruptcy declaration.




Face the problem head-on with a simple but confident phone call.

This puts you in control, and also let's them know that you're interested in keeping good business/credit practices.






Even if you have only a partial payment, companies do appreciate and cater to "open lines of communication".


Things never get weird until AFTER one stops communicating, so keep calling with check-ins and progress reports, as if they are on YOUR team.








PAY BILLS ON TIME - Paying late can damage your credit score.

Paying them more consistently actually helps to repair it.










CAREFUL CREDIT CHECKS - I'm sure you've come across credit check sites that require credit card numbers, and memberships.

   Avoid them, as there are alternative sites that can get you the checkup you need, without doing more damage than good.






Also, know that lots of necessary processes like credit checks for rentals will also "ping" creditors, making it look like you're applying for a line of credit just THEN.

Knowing this, choose carefully when allowing your credit to even be checked at times.

 

Hopefully, with a little patience and discipline, you'll be able to climb out of "the red" and "into the black". 

And if you're just making ends meet, then you'll be able to close the gap, and possibly get ahead before too long.

Good luck, STARSH!Ppers!

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