1. Avoid credit cards, embrace debit
As a person with no stable source of income it is advisable to spend only what you have. Credit cards are the opposite of this since they let you spend what you do not have. Paying credit card bills at the end of the month means you have spent you pay even before you earn it! You must also take into consideration that banks will use your credit history to inform future financial decisions. Your credit card history is like your reputation; once it’s gone you can’t get it back.
2. Save, save and save
There is a misinformed notion among most young people that only the old should save for their retirement. However if you don’t want to end up retired yet you have no substantial wealth to show for it then you should start saving as early as possible. It is never too early to start saving and preparing for your retirement. One should also consider that various reasons may force you to retire early e.g. retrenchment, sickness and emergencies. Pray it doesnt get to you before you have saved enough!
3. Work with a budget
This is probably the most fundamental tip and relates to planning out your short term and long term financial goals and sticking to them through thick and thin. As far as money is concerned the most important thing one should do is to plan ahead of time such that situations don’t get the better of you. When you budget your money you also avoid impulse buying which often destabilizes your finances.
4. Separate wants from needs
Usually this is done after you have stayed and experienced difficult life for a while. After a while you would have known how life works and therefore in a position to separate your needs from you wants and give priority to your needs. Your wants should only be met when you have surplus money after saving of course.
Psst: The financially sensible people Save before they spend!
5. Have an emergency fund
It is a well known fact that at times events that have not been planned for otherwise known as emergencies may occur. Such events should not drain your savings and instead you should have a separate fund for these types of occurrences. This emergency fund should probably be kept in an interest making savings account so that your money keeps working for you.
6. Look for opportunities to earn, not loans
You should only take loans as a last resort after all other avenues of financing have not worked out. Most of us are not aware that there are a multitude of income opportunities out there for us. Open your ryes for such
7. Be prompt with payments
You must aim to discipline yourself to meet all your financial obligations on time; be it loan payments, fees payment, rent payment they should all be paid on time. This is because late payment usually results in the surcharging of the account holder which you don’t want since you are already tight on cash as it is.
8. Take advantage of student accounts
There are certain companies and institutions that have special rates to specific categoriesof people. Take advantage of these to cut your costs down and save more money. E.g. most banks offer student accounts that usually have fewer charges levied on them in comparison to regular accounts.
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