Cheap Living Tips

Financial Freedom – How to Develop the Art of Bill-Killing
By Benedict Yossarian

Just about everybody wants to be financially free but isn’t doing anything about it. Building wealth is the key that unlocks financial freedom. One path to take in order to build wealth is to nuke all unnecessary bills so you can save up cash.

Habits

This first item is going to hurt the most. Get rid of any vice you have right now. Almost all vices require money and since it is a habit, it can be bad for your health any way you see it. Smoking, alcohol, junk foods, soft drinks, sweets, movies and all things in excess.

You won’t believe how much money you can save by just quitting one or two of these bad habits. Quitting on them will not only save your money, your health and your life; it will also build self-discipline and character to help you mature financially.

Eating out

Let’s use the cheapest and below average reference. Suppose you eat out only once a week, at a low $25 per meal, you are already paying out $100 monthly. And if you spend on drive-through carry-outs three times a week at a minimum of $5 per meal, this converts to $60 in a month. Remember that these examples are in the lowest settings, but nevertheless, $160 a month can be used to pay off some debt.

Cook at home instead and pack your lunch to work. It costs less, tastes better than the greasy fast food stuff and should be healthier. If you can’t totally control the impulse, then at least cut it in half at first.

Grocery list

Without a shopping list, you can just walk down every aisle in the grocery store and get just about everything that pleases your eyes and taste buds. A grocery list can save you up to 50%, additional cash to pay for pesky loans and curbs impulse buying.

This list saves you money that you can see immediately and allows you to prepare daily meal plans in advance so you’ll know exactly what needs to be purchased and roughly the amount of cash required.

Clear out your junk

You probably have a lot of useless stuff hidden somewhere and just getting old. You can possibly pay one or two utility bills with that body-building set (which you’ve never used) stashed somewhere in your closet. You may be surprised that some stuff you’re no longer interested can sell big time in an auction. This can pay off that doctor’s bill that’s been bugging you for months.

Nuke your plastic

Use only cash for all your purchase. Credit cards stay with you after every shopping. Dollar bills disappear when you spend it and you instantly feel the effect once you get short of them.

If you purchase something with cash, you don’t get into debt because you don’t owe anybody anything. You might also think twice about a purchase while you’re holding on to that hard-earned $100 bill.

Putting these various bill-killing techniques and ideas into action will start to slash huge chunks off your existing debts. This will slowly heal your badly damaged credit report and start you on the road to financial freedom.

If you are in financial difficulties Benedict recommends Real Claims for PPI Claims and Wilson Field for Pre Pack Administrations

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benedict_Yossarian
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What is Holding You Back From Being Financially Free?
By Jeff Earlywine

For many people, growing your net worth and becoming financially free is a desperate sought after desire. However, something seems to get in the way. It is almost as if when things begin going really good, something bad happens. In other word, you take one step forward, but slide back two. For instance, you are beginning to save on a regular basis and then the car breaks down draining all that savings. Sound familiar?

Below are few reasons why many people get held back financially.

Not PLANNING for the storms to come

We also know it will rain again some someday, both in the natural and in our financial life too. Even in ancient Bible writing we see this – the story of Joseph. The story goes something like this. Joseph was in prison, but was requested to attend a meeting with the ruler of the land. The ruler asked him to interpret a dream – a very odd request. Joseph told the ruler that for next several years things would be great, but after that famine would hit the land hard. He must have been convincing, because the ruler took him out of prison, made him second in command, and followed Joseph’s plan – a plan to save all they could for the next seven years.

In our lives we need to follow this same advice. You do this be having a plan to live by when things are good, preparing for when things take a turn for the worse. To do this you develop:

1) A savings plan

2) A spending plan

3) A sharing plan – allowing you to give more when you have it

You also must live within your means (not your neighbor’s).

Not PREPARING to take advantage of every opportunity

Being able to take advantage of sale prices can help the family’s budget tremendously. When should you take advantage of the ½ price sale? Great question – when you have the extra money, and would need to buy the item anyway. When shouldn’t you by that sale item? Another great question. When you don’t have the extra money, and it is a true “want” not a need for you and/or your family.

PAYING too much of… the list could go on and on, but here a few.

1) Interest – We all know that debt is too easy to get. Credit cards often charge over 20% interest, and the “Buying now, and paying later philosophy” is common in our culture

2) Taxes – The average family pays 25-50% of what they bring home in taxes. Something that can help you reduce this is to start a small home-based business.

3) Depreciation – especially on automobiles. Example… You buy a nice, new care for $25,000, you drive it for 2-3 years and decide to trade it in on another nice, new car. You really negotiate with the car salesman to get the best price possible – and you feel so good about it, then you mention your trade in. The salesman happily agrees to have your car looked at. He comes back to tell you that they will give you $12,000 for your car [he would word this that they will take another $12k off the sales price of your new car]. You invested $25,000 2-3 years ago, and now your investment is worth $12,000.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Earlywine
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Holding-You-Back-From-Being-Financially-Free?&id=2012750