After finding and keeping a job, most employees know that the next thing that should be done is to plan one’s finances and to keep spending at a controlled rate. However, living beyond one’s means can be unavoidable for some, as most people rely on credit, and no one knows how much has been spent on nonessentials after the damage has been done.
So would you know if you’re living beyond your means? Here are the signs to look out for.
There’s a huge balance on your credit card- If you find that there’s a huge balance on one or several credit cards, then that’s a sign that you’re living beyond your means. According to T. Michelle Jones, CFP, Vice President at Bryn Mawr Trust (via Yahoo! Finance), using a credit card is irresistible because some companies reward consumers with all kinds of incentives whenever the cards are used.
“It has become a way of life for many who no longer carry cash in their wallets,” said Jones. To correct this, double or triple the minimum payment due, and start carrying cash during shopping trips.
You can barely afford the monthly payment on your new car- According to an investment advisor and Registered Financial Consultant Carlos Dias Jr., investing in a pricey vehicle that one cannot afford to buy outright or finance is a financial red flag. This might be a good time for a vehicle downgrade, and by doing so, you can pay other bills or put away savings instead of putting all that cash towards car payments.
No savings in the bank account- According to All Womens Talk, this is one of the biggest signs that someone is living beyond one’s means. It is crucial to have some money saved in case of medical emergencies, a job loss, or other sudden expenses.
Find out if your bank has an automatic savings plan, which deducts a fixed amount from an ATM account at specified dates into a separate investment or savings account. Another good way to save money is to put a big jar on a table where you normally dump loose change, wallets or purses, and to put all that change into the jar.
You have never set a budget for anything- If you have yet to set a budget for expenses, miscellaneous, and bill payments, then you’ll never know where all your money goes at the end of the day. Spend a few minutes every two weeks writing down monthly expenses like rent, mortgage, utilities, car payments, grocery budget, and the like, and the allotted amount of each expense.
You always feel like you have to keep up- People who have friends, relatives, or neighbors who live a lavish lifestyle might be tempted to keep up for fear of missing out. Take a good, hard look at your motives for spending and see if it’s really necessary to get that brand new iPhone 7 to impress your friends. Remember that at the end of the day, not all of these people will understand or help you once you’re in dire financial straits, and that you are in charge of securing your finances for the future.
Find other ways to spend time with them that won’t cost an arm and a leg. For instance, you can invite them to a picnic at the park instead of throwing hundreds of dollars at the swanky bistro for the umpteenth time. Moreover, learn to appreciate the things that you have to avoid coming up with reasons why you need to buy new things in the first place.
For more tips, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on achieving work-life balance in 2017.
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