Budget
In addition to the standard ‘write and stick to budget’ there are a number of further ways to help you stay out of debt. One of the most effective ways is to carefully think about whether you actually need to make a purchase – don’t just buy something because it’s on sale, on offer or because you’ve fallen madly in love with it at first sight. If after a lot of careful deliberation you realise that you do need it – then if you don’t have the money, save up for it. Remember that by paying for anything with borrowed money, you’ll end up paying a lot more than the price tag once you add on all that interest.
Another great way to stop impulse purchases causing debt is to freeze your credit cards – Seal them carefully in a freezer bag, and then put this bag into some water to freeze. Your cards will still be there when you need them – but the time taken for them to thaw out gives you thinking time about whether you really need to use them.
If you can afford it put a small amount of money away each week or each month. No matter how small, eventually this will mount up to a nice little pot to help cover any rainy day emergencies. Make sure that this money is put in a high interest savings account – and put the first £3000 in a cash ISA to avoid paying tax on your savings.
Leave a Comment April 5, 2008
