I am sure you know the problem, every month counting the days to pay day, worrying about your finances. I think that just about everyone at some point in their life has experienced this.
Unfortunately, many people hear the adverts from the loan companies talking about debt consolidation and other options and get suckered in without knowing enough to be able to decide if debt consolidation is right for them. The loan companies claim that they want to help you but actually they just want to sell you a debt consolidation package or a loan with a ridiculously high interest rate. Remember, those companies only make money when we are in debt. If you and I sort out our finances, they go out of business.
Whether you have debts or just feel that your finances are controlling you and not the other way around, it is time to fight back!
Your finances are only controlling you because you let them. It is a bit like feeling nervous when speaking to someone who is an expert in their field, you may feel you are unable to talk on the same level and feel intimidated. However, when you are relaxed chatting to your mates about your favourite football team etc you can hold your own and are comfortable. The only difference between those two scenarios is your knowledge. When you have the knowledge and understanding, you can take on the world!
So how do you get knowledgeable about managing your finances?
I will try to share some tips with you. However, a short article like this could never go into enough detail, I will just try to explain the concepts to need to grasp. If you do want more information, visit my website www.moneyinmypocket.co.uk where you will find additional information and my detailed Debt Reduction manual which explains in detail everything that is covered here and much much more.
So what are the core concepts?
1) Know your finances intimately
2) Decrease you expenditure
3) Increase your income
4) Play the interest rate game
Know your finances intimately
The very first thing you need to do is now exactly what money you have and where it goes. So workout your monthly income and detail the sources. Does the income come from an employer, state benefit, interest etc? Then detail out all your expenses.
Decrease you expenditure
You need to cut costs. There is always a way you can do this. By knowing all your expenses you can go through each expense and work out how to reduce it. My manual spends a lot of time on this subject and shares all the tips and tricks that I have learnt, it can show you how you can save thousands of pounds each year and gives examples of people who have done exactly that. Also, don’t forget to check out the web site as there is lots of free advice available.
Increase your income
On top of reducing your outgoings you want to maximise your income. Think of ways you can receive more money each year. Again, check out the website and manual for more information. In the manual there are 9 ways of increasing your income. They include getting a job, getting extra work, your own business (this is not as difficult as you may think), getting all the allowances you are entitled to and reducing your tax
Nearly finished…
The basic concepts of improving your finances are simple:
Spend less
Earn more
I think just about everyone can understand that. The difficulty is how to do it. That is were the website and manual come in, they (especially the manual) step through your options slowly with examples at every step so that everyone can understand. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand this manual
As obvious as spending less, earn more may be, many people are blinded by the magic solutions such as debt consolidation. Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti debt consolidation and sometimes it can be the right solution but often it is not. Let’s think about it. With debt consolidation you are swapping lots of different debts for one big one. It seems good because your monthly payments are reduced. However, the reason the payments are reduced is because they are secured against your house and the fact you are going to spend the next 25 years paying them off.
With debt consolidation you are address the effects not the problem. The problem is that you are spending more than you earn, that is normally the reason why you are in debt. So after getting debt consolidation you are still going to be spending more as you have not reduced your spending or increased your income. So eventually you will probably need to do more debt consolidation and in extreme cases you will keep going until you cannot get anymore loans and end up bankrupt.
The Money In My Pocket manual addresses the problem as well as the effects for long term financial strength. The manual provides the information the Loan companies do not want you to know!!
Over the years I have assisted many people who have been troubled by debt to overcome it and become financially stronger. Every time, I have given exactly the same advice, or if you like, formulae to beat debt and better manage their finances. It is that formulae that I am sharing with you in the manual.
Whatever your next step in controlling your finances is, I wish you well.
To learn more about this topic, go to www.moneyinmypocket.co.uk
Paul Darvell the Author of this article is the creator of Money In My Pocket - Debt Free Advice (http://www.moneyinmypocket.co.uk). His simple formulae for becoming debt free and taking control of your finances has been used by many people
