Abbi Rouse asked:


The effects of the credit crunch are still having an effect on people’s personal finances and the country’s economy has not yet returned to its normal state, it has been claimed. Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research Charles Davies said that both consumers and businesses are being affected by the credit crunch, with growth continuing to slow.

And not only is the credit crunch biting people’s finances, continuing inflationary pressures are also having an effect, Mr Davis suggested. Indeed the British Chambers of Commerce recently reported in its Quarterly Economic Survey that there is now a serious risk of recession across the country.

“The situation has still not really completely normalised and what you have seen is the effects of it start to seep through to all different sectors of the economy. Clearly, the financial system is fundamental to the functioning of the market economy and as funds drying up have had an impact on firms, there has also been a very great impact on consumers,” said Mr Davis.

He added that this has had an ongoing effect on the housing market and that banks are still reporting weaker results than in the past few years. Indeed there is still a level of uncertainty about banks recapitalising, he added.

But people who are perhaps feeling the effects of the credit crunch may now wish to consider the benefits that a secured loan can bring to payments, as all debts can be consolidated so that monthly outgoings can be paid off in one. Such a move may prove to help minimise the effects of the credit crunch, as outgoings can be kept under control.

Mr Davis noted that the inflationary pressures on the economy are proving to be a “dual hit” on the country’s purse strings and are making things “very difficult” for people. A recent study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with TNS, found that consumers are now less confident than they were about the overall state of the economy, borrowing and loans on the whole.

The research, published in the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index, found that overall consumer confidence is now down 18 per cent on the level it was at last year. Spending has also fallen, to stand at 54 points in July this year, down from 65 points the same time a year before.

Indeed some 61 per cent of people do in fact believe the current economic situation is bad and some 85 per cent are of the opinion that the situation will get worse over the coming half-year. And opting to take out a loan to help cover any outgoings may be one way to cover costs such as mortgage or debt repayments.

Last month, research from mortgage advisory group mform found that people looking for new mortgage deals are now seeking out longer-term deals. Indeed the organisation found that some 11.5 per cent of people wanted to sign mortgage deals for the duration of their borrowing period and some 13.5 per cent of people wanted deals of longer than five years.



Is The Law of Attraction All Hype?

Quang Van asked:


Personal financial literacy isn’t something taught in school. We often develop personal financial habits from our parents.

This could be a very good thing or very bad thing, depending on how well your parents managed their personal finances.

Money however is a very sensitive topic for most people and most culture. The fact that the subject of money isn’t openly discussed means that it is vital for people understand how to better manage their personal finances.

I hope one day money will be discusses in schools just is how sex education is discussed. Their should be a “Safe Spending” class in school.

Millions of young people are in debt because of lack of financial education. Here are some tips on how to keep your personal finances in order:

1) Get a checking account. First off, if you don’t have a checking account, get one. Your checking account will be the hub of your personal financial management system.

Your checking account is the place where most of your money comes in, and goes out. You use it to deposit your work checks, and to pay your bills.

The benefits of having a checking account far outweighs the drawbacks of potential fees if you don’t manage it right.

2) Balance your checking account. Once you have a checking account, you should always know how much you have in there. That way you know what you can spend, and not have to pay banks over-draft fees which could be anywhere between $10 – $50 dollars.

Make sure you know what’s in there and keep it up to date. With the online financial tools available for you today, that shouldn’t be a problem.

You might even think about keeping a buffer. Like a $50 or $100 buffer, so you don’t go over your limit. You do not want to be squatting $0.00 because you are just one mess up from happening to get hit with banking over-draft fees.

3) Start saving for a rainy day. Do not spend more then you have certainly, but don’t spend more then you make as well. Save up for a rainy day. You should have an emergency savings account, totally at least 3 months of your monthly expenses.

4) Get a credit card. Yes, get a credit card, to build your credit. Make sure the credit card has no membership fees, but if it’s your first card you might have to put up with the fees. If you are a student you can get a lot of student credit cards.

The key with credit cards is to get it, use it for a little, but do not use it habitually. Keep a $0 or a really low balance. If you are using more then 40% of the credit balance you are in trouble. Pay down the balance and stop using it.



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Andrew Bicknell asked:


Being disciplined when it comes to personal finance budgeting is a key component for anyone seeking financial freedom. Taking control of your finances is the first step to starting down the road to building the life you always wanted and the quickest and easiest way to do this is with a budget. The most critical part of the personal budgeting journey is the emotional and mental side of the equation. Why?

Our behavior with money is the reason most of us get into financial problems in the first place. Our own wants over ride our common sense and before we know it we have a house full of stuff that we end up paying for twice over. Many financial experts say that personal finance is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent math.

This is where the household budget comes into play. In this day and age the great majority of people have no idea how much money they make each month let alone where the money goes once they cash their pay check. Before long this behavior catches up with everyone and they are in perpetual catch up mode when it comes to paying bills and meeting their financial needs. A budget, if done honestly, allows you to see exactly how much money is coming in and not only how much is being spent but also what it is being spent on.

Once you see what you have been spending money on you can come to grips with the bad behavior that has gotten you, and so many others, into a financial mess. Eating out two or three nights a week, going out to lunch everyday, that morning visit to the coffee shop, they all add up and chances are once you look over your written budget you will find many areas where expenditures are a little to high and are breaking the budget.

Here are four personal finance budgeting secrets to help keep a new budget on track.

1. Probably the hardest part of keeping a budget is keeping track of daily expenditures. One way to do this is to keep a small log book or ledger where you can keep track of your daily expenses.

2. Before going grocery shopping it is a good idea to make a list of the things you need. Check the fridge, the cupboards, and the pantry to make sure you aren\’t buying stuff you already have. Stick to the list once at the store and do not buy things not on the list.

3. Going to the store just to do some shopping is one of the easiest ways to suffer from an impulse purchase. Nothing will destroy a well thought out budget quite like an impulse purchase.

4. For large purchases over $300 or more it is a good idea to step back and wait a day or two before committing. Once given the chance to think it over chances are you will realize you don\’t really need it.

Personal finance budgeting is about taking responsibility for your money and hunting down and killing those behaviors that are costing you money. The beauty of the budget is it shows you exactly how your behavior with your money is affecting your financial situation.



Is The Law of Attraction All Hype?

Clint Jhonson asked:


If you want to get wealthy, your first priority is not always how to land a job that will pay you big time. What you should concentrate on instead is coming to terms with personal finance. This is actually more important, because personal finance will determine how far your money will go for you, and how good you are at making something – even a small amount of cash – a whole lot more significant.

There are many things you can do right now in order to get wealthy, and the very first step that you should take when it comes to personal finance is to live beneath your means. Simple living is the first step to personal finance. Just have what you need and learn to want what you already have. If you adopt this mindset, you will discover that at the end of the month you will be able to set aside more money from your payroll for you to invest in a variety of ways.

Most people think that in order to get wealthy they need to keep saving and keep stashing their money in the bank account. While personal finance dictates that having a significant amount of money in the bank (for emergency purposes), the truth is that this really is not a good get-rich move. The reason for this is because banks only give a small percentage of interest per annum – so you are better off investing your money elsewhere!  Ideally, you should keep your money just a little below the maximum insurance the bank is guaranteeing each depositor, and no more than this should you put in one account.

With your extra fund, you can do a variety of things to get wealthy. Part of your personal finance portfolio is to put some of your money into mutual funds. If you want to get rich, mutual funds are a way to go. Diversify your personal finance portfolio by choosing two different kinds of funds – a low risk fund where you put a good sum if you are just a first timer and a medium risk fund if you have enough money to spare and would like a little bit more excitement in terms of highs and lows in gains. Having two different funds will mean you have the safety and excitement of investment working for you.

Another great method to get wealthy is to invest in real estate. Well recommended by real estate investors, this “get rich” strategy can’t fail especially at this moment in time. Investing in real estate today, when prices and interest rates are so low, will position you for great wealth not only through the rental income and future sale of the properties, but also from the many tax strategies available to investment property owners. Your personal finance situation will change considerably with such a smart move. Buying a property now when real estate prices are lower than usual due to economical factors, is a wise decision. As the owner of a real estate property you can rent it obtaining a constant income. When prices rise, you can sell the property making a profit and successfully completing a real estate investment to get wealthy.

Let us say that you really wanted to get rich and be in control of your personal finance, investing safely but want to up your efforts as well. What could probably work for you at this point is to put your money in stocks. Ideally, consulting with a financial planner is the best step to do before you embark on this particular journey of personal finance. A financial planner will be able to tell you which particular company you should try to put your stocks in and can save you a lot of funds if it is time to move out such funds and put them elsewhere.



Work From Home Jobs

LizaMathers asked:


If you want to achieve your financial goal, don’t fall for get-rich-quick scams. Instead look at the possibilities offered by sound financial planning that can help you achieve your goal. If you deem this tedious and hard to follow, this is understandable especially if you are not taking home a fat paycheck. As they say, quitters never win; in this game plan, all you need is a steeled resolve to stick to your plans to achieve your dream of financial security.

Have Goal Will Plan

Achieving your financial goals is best started with a financial plan. Your personal finance goals should be clearly spelled out. Devising a safety net for the unpredictable future, demands you lay down all your financial cards, in the hope that someday the plan will pay dividends when you most need it.

Ask yourself what you need to have a secure future and your questions will determine the way your goals will be achieved. Achieving your goals may seem highly improbable because you fail to see the numerous possibilities and options where to put your money.

Sound financial advice can bring you nearer to your aspirations. Depending on your purpose, your financial plan will be adjusted accordingly. Whether you are simply hoping to pay your insurance faithfully to the last dollar or to see your investments working, things will depend on your determine to succeed

Plan for Financial Stability

Once the plan is finalized, it is your turn to make it work. Stay focused on the plan. Financially successful people say it is a difficult task to adhere strictly to the plan but they plodded on looking forward and the financial gains waiting for them at the end.

To stay focused towards your dream of security and gains, ask yourself the following questions:

-What do you wish to achieve?

-How much money do you need to invest?

-How long will it take to realize your financial gains?

-Can you fit in the additional drain in your budget?

With a financial planner to monitor your accomplishments, you can always be on guard to do what you are supposed to do–follow the plan to the letter to achieve your financial security and eventually reap your financial gains.

With a financial planner to monitor your accomplishments, you can always be on guard to do what you are supposed to do–follow the plan to the letter to achieve your financial security and eventually reap your financial gains.

Stay Determined

Want to do the plan without an expert’s help? Take paper and pen and list your financial goals Separate your short-term goals from long-term goals. Estimate the cost for each goal and how long do you need to achieve it–6 months? A year?

Divide the cost of the amount in weeks and that’s how much you are going to put into it weekly. Once you’ve determined your target date, settle for it and start saving. Whatever you have outlined in your personal finance plan, follow it.



Make Six Figures Per Year

Esteri Maina asked:


Personal finance concentrate on the methods used by individuals to access, budget, spend and save financial resources over a given period of time, considering varying economic risks now and in the future.

All this is very crucial but not when it is done manually. Many will start enthusiastically but end up abandoning the good funds control progress in no time because of using these poor methods.

It is very difficult to record all aspects of personal finance in your books, and this is why using software, is much easier, convenient and enduring.

About the software product

It is basically indoor accounting software that enables users to track down their expenses at any given period of time they may wish and this ensures a good comparison in terms of how well they stuck to their usual or new budgeted incomes.

This personal finance software product has got unlimited number of accounts, categories, subcategories and currencies.

The feature of varied currency is very important for the users whose transactions comprise of different currencies as the source of their monies.

It contains summary view, graphs and reports, printing, export and import data. So, it is clear that those doing business across their country borders can still use it to control their finances.

Users got an opportunity to manipulate data in any way they would please by sorting by any field, searching, classifying transactions by names and so on.

This user-friendly product is rated high by the fact that it has a password protection for those family members using it and above all comes in different versions.

Why do you need personal finance software?

This great software enables one manage the personal finances in that, they can understand when cash flows out and where to, locate extreme disbursement and do away with the ones not compulsory.

The software’s usage is fit for both beginners and those acquainted with it because, apart from offering many settings and functions, it is effortless to trail personal finances.

See, it is not all of us who are financial geeks and so it becomes difficult to structure records quickly, in a manner that shows professionalism in knowledge of bookkeeping.

The incredible brains behind this automated method of managing money at personal level has included unique and varied features that one may not create in manual cashbooks.

They demonstrate simplicity and clarity in the way a person’s money has been budgeted and spent in total sums and percentages, balances left on various accounts and in full amount.

Manually, records are not easily deleted when unneeded, edited when errors are pinpointed or even easily copied to the next page.

With personal finances software, there is a feature that enables users to automatically carry out any of the above.

Also when using books and pens to keep records, you have to write dates each time a new transaction has come up.

The software enables you to create brand new transactions by design, without having to specify the date over and over again.

For instance, if a transaction name used earlier need to be repeated again, users can use the auto fill feature to have it done directly without having to fill in the name again.



Forex Trading Robot

DonaldRenal asked:


The world of finance has changed dramatically over the course of recent decades. It wasn’t all that long ago that all that a young person really needed was an active savings account and some common sense and they were pretty much OK. Times have really changed though and now each day a persons mailbox is stuffed with glossy come-ons from predatory lenders that only point up the fact that banks are no longer the “friend” of the consumer.

Teaching Personal Finance is Important Today

So if it seems that every lending institution is determined to strip their clients bare, where does that leave todays young people who have to face an even more stark future in the world of personal finance? What this all points up to is that the first priority of every parent should be teaching personal finance to their kids no matter how young they are.

Shark Infested Waters

Where to start though? Have you taken a recent look at todays average credit card contract? Its three pages of fine print that detail every method that they are going to screw you out of every dime that they can get. The problem though, is that it is written in todays “financial language” which is incomprehensible to the average consumer.

Its Each Parents Responsibility

The good news is that there are now places to procure comprehensive teaching material such as videos and courses online. This teaching material is custom crafted for the eyes and ears of young people and it comes in beginner, all the way up to advanced levels. Teaching personal finance to your children is the best gift that that you can give them right now and it is something that they will thank you for when they get older and out on their own.

Learn the Easy Way or the Hard Way

Remember, that there are two ways to learn things in life. The first way is the easy way and the second way is the hard way. If you fail to teach personal finance to your kids the easy way when they are young then others will teach them the hard why when they are out in the world on their own.



Get Out of Debt

Carl Chesal asked:


Why would you not consider yourself a business of ONE person? Or your family as a business of 3 or more people? Well that is exactly what you are – “Me Incorporated”, “I Inc”, “We Incorporated”. You truly must consider yourself a small family business. Like any business you have ongoing expenses (mortgage, rent, utilities, groceries), revenue (salary and other income) and major capital expenditures (house, vehicle, vacations, renovations).

Like any good ‘household business’, you need to do some planning. Set out a budget for the year, track your expenditures and retained earnings (savings). Yes, all of this looks, feels and is exactly like a well run business. On My Gosh! Don’t rush out and buy an accounting package to run your household. And no need to take a crash course on accounting or bookkeeping. You can accomplish all your financial tracking and planning requirements with some paper or by using a simple template with your favorite spreadsheet package – Microsoft Excel or even with Open Office.

Just like a well run business, your household budget and tracking your spending is best served using a visible record of events; namely, financial records, bank or check register. It is just like tracking your road trip progress using a map. If you know where you are now, then you will have some idea when you will arrive at your destination. In life, money or finances allows you to get to your personal destinations or dreams. A visible financial roadmap of your ‘Me Incorporated’ finances, mapping your progress, seems logical.

Running your ‘Household Business’, like corporate business, requires a few processes to keep track of your finances:

1) Establish a yearly and monthly household budget. Consider all your expenses – weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly outlays of money. You will be surprised at the length of this list and all the places you spend your money.

2) Track monthly your actually spending and income against the budget you established in step 1. This will help you see the ‘peaks and valleys’ of spending or seasonality aspect of your expenses. Over time, you will come to know these expense ‘peaks and valleys’ and this will help you maintain a positive cash flow. Bottom line: have money in the bank to pay all your expenses and still have some left over (retained earnings). Your single biggest challenge in running any household (or business) is always having enough money in the bank to pay the bills; especially, the unexpected ones. Having a buffer of savings will help with these ‘peaks’ in expenses.

3) Track all your bank account activity. Track and enter in your Bank or Check Register every deposit, every electronic (ATM, web, PayPal, debit machine) transaction and every analog (check, money order) withdrawal. And reconcile your bank statement every month. Know exactly how much money you have available in your bank account(s).

4) Especially track your spending through credit cards and lines of credit. These are potentially the ‘run away’ expenses. Remember only once a month do you see the visible record of your credit card spending. Compound that with the fact that most people have more than one credit card. This can easily result in multiple ’spending surprises’ each month. Be diligent in tracking your use of credit card transactions. Breakdown the credit card expenses into their respective budget items – gas, groceries, clothing, entertainment, etc. This will help you separate normal household expenditures from other shopping incidentals. You will come to see your spending patterns and can now make adjustments. Just like your bank account, reconcile your credit card statement every month.

All this personal bookkeeping every month can be done with pen and paper or set up a personal finance and budgeting template using your favorite spreadsheet software. Using an electronic spreadsheet allows for all of the mundane calculations to be processed automatically, reducing monthly reconciliations to a simple 5-10 minute endeavour. Whether you choose an analog or digital approach to your personal finance bookkeeping, these visible records are the most effective way to plan and control your personal finances and reduce one of the major stress points in your life – Your Financial Health.



Make Six Figures Per Year

Steve Gillman asked:


You have probably read enough tips on personal finances, and maybe you are still in debt and without a plan for the future. Well, here is simple six-step plan to get you going in the right direction. Of course, like the other tips you have heard, it will only help if you actually use it.

1. Record Your Expenses

For a month or two, write down what you spend every penny on. This process may enlighten you as to where large chunks of your income goes, or show you how little things add up. You might even find that you are spending less by the end of the month, just because you are so aware of the money going out when you track it like this. After the month is over, categorize your expenses and see how much is going to various areas, like “eating out,” “renting movies,” “electric bills,” etc.

2. Find Ways To Spend Less

Using the information you have gathered in step one, start finding every way you can to cut those expenditures. This can mean giving up a few things which are less important to you than your future financial security. On the other hand , it may just mean finding better ways to do things, without sacrificing anything. Turning the heat down while at work doesn’t hurt, after all. Look for cheaper insurance, foods that cost less, better restaurants with lower prices, and on and on.

3. Apply The Money Saved To Debt

Now that you are spending less, you should have some money left over from those paychecks. Start applying it to any debts which you have. Always start with those that are at the highest interest rate, and use all “extra” money towards paying those off first. If you have done this right, you are living just as well, but spending less to live that way, and getting out of debt.

4. Find New Sources Of Income

While you are working on step three, start looking for new ways to make some extra income. This could mean an extra shift at work each week or two, or asking for a raise, or even looking for a better job. It also could mean starting a small business on the weekends. Look at the skills, connections, knowledge and things you have. Renting out an extra room in your house could provide an extra $4,000 per year, for example.

5. Start Paying Cash

Everything is cheaper when you pay cash. Not only is it easier to negotiate a better price initially when paying cash, but you also don’t pay the interest charges. This means that though you may have to wait and save for some things (like the next car), you live cheaper, or get to buy even more things you want (your choice). If you do use a credit card, pay it off each month.

6. Invest Regularly For The Future

Once you are controlling those expenses, generating new income, and staying out of debt, you should have a fair amount more coming in than going out. Start investing this money for the future. If you are uncomfortable with conventional investments like mutual funds or stocks, at least find the highest-interest bank account you can, and save to start a business.

Most of these ideas are probably not new to you, but if you actually follow a simple plan like this with your person finances, you’ll almost certainly be more financially secure and more relaxed in a short time.



Work From Home Jobs

Mark Stevenson asked:


In this age of information, keeping track of your finances does not mean an archaic jumble of ledgers, calculators, and papers filled with calculations in chicken scratch. Now everything can be taken care of on your computer through personal finance software.

Personal Finance Software: Organize Your Finances :

Your finances are complicated. You have money coming in and money going out. You have bills and investments as well as multiple bank accounts. Personal finance software will keep everything organized for you. Depending on the software you use, it may be able to separate portions of your finances into various categories for you. For example, Quicken 2005 separates your checking accounts from your savings accounts and allows you to track your investments all at the same time.

Organization saves time. Taking a few minutes to input your purchases and paychecks eliminates those hassles associated with staying on top of your finances. Rather than rifling though bank statements and bills for hours, everything is right here in the program. As long as you put each purchase and paycheck into the software, your checkbook will automatically be balanced. Some programs also feature functions that will create a budget for you; yet another time saver.

Personal Finance Software Knows Where Your Money Is :

In order to keep more of the money you make, you must know where it is. Personal finance software gives you the power to know where each penny is at a glance. Some will even create reports for you that detail where your money goes each month. This feature will help you locate the leaks in your budget and reduce your expenses every month.

The overview personal finance software gives you is one of its main benefits. It allows you to take off the blinders and truly assess your financial situation. With this new-found view of your finances, you will be able to effect changes like never before. The old adage applies; you have to know where you are before you can get to where you want to be.



Get Out of Debt