Smart Ways to Make the Most of Your Finances
By Chris Burke
This article is published on: 10th February 2015
The year 2015 is picking up speed, and now is the perfect time to stop and re-evaluate our finances before we slip back into our old comfortable routines. A time to review the past year and determine those areas with potential for improvement, to make sure we are getting the most out of our investments and reaching all our financial goals.
Do you know where your money goes each month? Could you be making more if you invested elsewhere? Is your credit rating a true reflection of your financial situation, and are there things you could be doing to improve your standing?
Follow these smart ways to make the most of your finances and put you and your family on the right track for a wealthier future.
Study your Credit Report
Have you ever seen a copy of your credit report? Most people haven’t and it may surprise you to hear that they very often contain errors. Research online and get access to your report and make sure there aren’t any mistakes which could be having a negative impact on your rating. If you don’t, you could be at risk from undiscovered inaccuracies.
Study your Cash Flow
Set some time aside to study your cash flow. Go over all your statements from the past year and crunch those numbers to gain a true understanding of where your money goes each month. How much are you spending? Where is it all going? Where can you make cuts to your monthly outgoings?
Credit Cards & Banks
Check the Terms and Conditions of all your credit cards and compare terms, rates and fees with those of other cards. Are you getting the best deal or are you just renewing cards out of habit? Get rid of credit cards which don’t give anything back, and compare rewards and cash back with other offers. If your current bank is letting you down and not providing the service you need, change.
Understand Investments
Most of us don’t fully understand investments. Be the minority. Do your research and find out as much as you can about viable investment options. Use the Internet and its many free tools, and study the market to assess how to make the most of your finances.
Seek Professional Advice
Ultimately, the best advice is professional advice. The Spectrum IFA Group can assist you in reviewing your financial situation and advise you on smart ways to make the most of your finances. For more information or to contact one of our Financial Advisers please use the contact form below.