24 Quick Actions You Can Do Today That Can Change Your Financial Life Forever. Note: This is a post from Adam Baker, founder of Man Vs. Debt. Last week, while I was talking about our new You Vs. Debt class, we touched on the “status quo” of our Upside-Down Nation. We talked about our obsession with the debt-fueled life path and how it’s keeping millions trapped.
But talk is cheap. I’m much more interested in action. And this week, I want to do my part to shatter any excuses or justifications you may have. I took the time to provide 24 different options. Sure, there’s little chance all will be viable for your situation. I’m asking for one. Do it. Action #1: Pull Your Credit Report (10-20 minutes) Simple steps: Visit Annual Credit Report – Visit annualcreditreport.com. How this can change your life: When we first pulled Courtney’s credit report, we were saddened to find she was a victim of identity theft.
We had better luck with my credit report, however I did discover a $200 collections account I didn’t even know existed! Action #3: Get 1 paying client (15-35 minutes) 7 Rules of Wealth Building Part 2. Wealth Building Rule 5: Do Something You Love and Get Paid for It I remember going into college and being surrounded with people who wanted to be artists, scientists, and businessmen, but instead did what their parents or grandparents told them to do. There is no honor in being a doctor or a lawyer if you wake up every morning and hate your job. Pick a profession you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. Wealth Building Rule 6: Understand the Money Myth Money is nothing more than a piece of paper with the image of a long-dead person on it. When you understand that any power it has over you is derived from your relationship with it, you suddenly become free from the constant pressures and stress of thinking about it. Wealth Building Rule 7: Your New Commodity is Not Your Labor, It's Your Ideas With the advent of the Internet and other technological advances, you are no longer limited to supporting yourself or making a living by your physical labor.
More Information. The Flow of Money. Take Control of Your Budget. Your credit score and report could make a difference of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in your life time. If you follow a few simple financial management rules that give you good credit, you will likely see a big discount on many of your future purchases big and small, like cars, a home or even a couch. You also likely won't be denied the opportunity to own your own home, buy a car, or even rent an apartment or get that new job. Why is that? Well, when you go to borrow a large sum of money for a mortgage or a car loan, potential lenders will want to see your credit report and your credit score. Together, they show potential lenders how risky it is for them to loan money to you, how much they should lend, and at what rate. Your Credit Score There are actually many versions of your credit score. To get your credit score, companies put the information in your report through a complex mathematical formula, and boom, out comes your credit score.
Your Credit Report WHY IT matters. Find the Power in Tracking Your Expenses. One of the reasons budgets fail is because a crucial first (and ongoing) step is missed in the budgeting process: tracking your expenses. If you don't know what your starting point is, then there's little chance that you'll be able to harness your cash flow to your benefit. Here are a few tips to help you track your expenses effectively, then transform your current cash flow into a well-oiled budgeting machine. Step One: Don't Budget As funny as it sounds, your first task in creating a budget is not to budget. Exorbitant to begin with).
This gives you a realistic starting point, and a benchmark upon which to build and track your budget going forward. Use a Spreadsheet (or Equivalent) Each time I whip out my wallet, I record the money I spend in a notebook that I keep in my purse. So create a spreadsheet that allows you to analyze your data, past and present. You can create a separate spreadsheet tab for each month, or you can record all the data on one sheet, using running totals. Be Honest. Canon EOS REBEL T3i | Decide.com: when to buy electronics. Building a Household Budget: Where to trim the “fat” "A necessary evil" is a quote from one article I read about setting up a household budget. I agree. Making a budget is not a fun job, but it really helps control household expenses. Every business has a budget; a household should be treated the same way. Making one puts you in better control of your money and also makes it easier for you to find places to save throughout the year.
Some items don't change much (rent or mortgage payment, insurance, taxes), but some line items can vary from month to month. My husband and I are working to set up our annual budget and to find places to save more money this year. Here are some tips for setting up a household budget and where to save money: Use budgeting tools. My new motto is "More Fun, Less Stuff. " Related Links: Budget Billing is Right for You Using Coupons; How Much Can You Save? Simplify to Save - Chores, Car Repairs & Shopping Money Mom's Top New Years Resolutions Lori O'Donnell Lori is a contributing writer for the A Straight Talk on Debt blog.