Get your personal finances in order with these quick and simple everyday steps.
Get organised!
Organisation is critical to getting your finances under control, but for so many, the process of getting buttoned up on the financial front seems overwhelming.
Day 1
Download a free budget tracker. Print it out and put it on your fridge, in your purse, or wherever you will actually use it this month to track your expenditures.
Day 2
Take the time to write down a financial goal you would like to achieve within the next 12 months.
Day 3
Set an egg timer for 10 minutes today to brainstorm all of the steps you could take to achieve your financial goals. No idea is a bad idea.
Day 4
Do you have an organised way to keep track of your receipts? Get a small accordion file and keep it in your handbag or briefcase.
Day 5
When was the last time you audited your finances? Try it now! Set a reminder in your calendar to do the same again in 30 days.
Day 6
Take a moment to reflect on the purchase decisions you have made today. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you have sent a message to the world through the things you paid for.
Day 7
Look back on your expenditures for the past week. Have you been diligent about tracking what you’re spending? If not, why not? What could you do to make it easier to track?
Day 9
Look back at the list you came up with on the third day. Pick the three things that you think will have the biggest impact on your ability to achieve your financial goal.
Day 10
If you have a private pension fund, are you aware of what contributions you have made to your account so far this year?
Day 11
Take stock of the credit cards in your purse. How many do you have? Do you really need them all? Evaluate what they are doing for you.
Day 12
Try refraining from buying anything today. Don’t pay for others to entertain you and don’t purchase any goods.
Day 13
Is your financial information organised? If you’re married, do you know where all of the financial accounts are held?
Day 15
What do you have lying around your house that you no longer use that could be transformed into cash? If you have more than 20 items, go to a car boot sale at the end of the month.
Day 16
Sign up for daily financial tips and advice from sites such as Money Saving Expert.
Day 17
Map out the birthdays of friends and relatives and anniversaries you have coming up in the next few months. Rather than spending a lot at the last minute, make a budget for them.
Day 18
Do you spend a lot of money dining out each week? Sit down today and map out meals for the next 20 days.
Day 19
Are you an emotional spender? Where are your weak spots when it comes to consuming?
Day 20
If you buy your coffee outside the home, calculate how much you spend each day. Multiply that by the number of days you’ll buy coffee for the rest of the year.
Day 21
Set up a Direct Debit from your current account to a savings account or ISA.
Day 22
If you’re a woman and it’s been awhile since your last raise – it’s time to ask for more.
Day 23
If you have over 20 different accounts (from utilities to credit cards), each account comes with its own set of bills, statements, notices, offers, due dates, emails, paper
Day 24
Do you currently subscribe to services that are automatically paid by a credit card on file each month?
Day 25
Get perspective. As important as this is, money is only one part of life and not even the most important. If you let it, money matters can consume your life.
Day 26
Do you have loose change lying about? Get some coin wrappers and tonight while you’re watching TV, wrap them up.
Deposit the coins on your way to work tomorrow.
Day 29
Go to the library and take out a great book about financial wisdom.
Day 30
At the end of the day, look back at your monthly expenditure worksheet. How did you spend your money?
