As we rush head-first into 2019, how are those New Years resolutions holding up? Now that the infamous ‘Janu-worry’ has come to an end, it’s a good time to re-evaluate your financial goals and set yourself up for financial success in 2019.
Having a detailed, clear set of goals against which to measure your progress can help you focus on saving and avoid falling back into old habits of unnecessary spending.
To help you along the way, here are 10 top tips for managing your money better in 2019:
- Create a new monthly budget
It’s important to re-assess your budget regularly to account for changes in your income and expenses. Use your transaction history to identify where you may be overspending, and try to ‘trim the fat’ where possible. If you have surplus money after minusing your expenses from your income, try to allocate a portion to saving rather than increasing your lifestyle spending.
- Use your budget!
Make a commitment to sticking to your budget allocations. Keep track of your income and expenses to make sure that you’re not over-spending.
- There’s an app for that…
These days, there are a number of apps that help you keep track of your expenditure. Some require manual inputs, but many link with your bank account and track and categorise your transactions for you.
- Pay back the money
As you create your monthly budget, allocate funds to paying back your debts (especially short-term debt) as soon as possible. This will reduce the amount of interest you end up paying, resulting in significant savings over time.
There are different ways of tackling your debt, so prioritise your payments according to your unique circumstances. If you feel overwhelmed by your debt, consider using the services of a debt counsellor.
- Price-check your short-term insurance products
Comparing insurance quotes or negotiating with your existing provider can help you save on your short-term insurance. There are a number of factors that could cause your insurance rates to drop, such as a no-claim period, a change of age or marital status, vehicle depreciation, amount of excess payable, loyalty to your provider and more.
You can also present your provider with a cheaper quote from a competitor to see if they are able to match up. If not, compare the options and consider switching providers to get a cheaper rate.
- Be SARS-savvy
When income tax season opens, remember to declare tax deductibles such as medical expenses not covered by your medical aid, donations and retirement annuity contributions. Consider using the services of a tax consultant to help you maximise your tax benefits.
- Change your credit card limit
When it comes to spending, going into credit on your credit card should be a last resort. Banks are very generous when it comes to setting credit limits, so consider setting yours at the lowest limit possible. If you need to, you can always increase the limit, but having to take this extra step can help lessen the temptation for unnecessary spending (sorry, the designer high heels will have to wait!).
- Save up for big purchases
Yes, we all enjoy a bit of instant gratification, but saving towards large purchases always feels more rewarding. And you get a ‘double-saving’ – instead of incurring interest on the money you’ve loaned for your big-ticket item, the money you’re saving is earning interest!
That dream holiday will feel even more relaxing when you know it’s paid in full… And you have extra spending money!
- Expect emergencies
No matter how well you budget, there are certain expenses that will be totally unexpected. Although you may not know what will spring up during the course of the year, you can plan ahead by having an emergency fund that ideally has at least three months’ worth of expenses. Life happens, so it’s best to be prepared.
- Be an educated shopper
Make the most of loyalty programmes contributions and from retailers. The School-Days Shopping Card is unlike any other in the market – you load it with money, then use it to pay for purchased at major retailer outlets (Pick n Pay, Checkers, Game, Edgars, Shoprite, Builders, Dis-Chem, Ackermans, Jet, Pep, and more). A portion of your spend is then added to your very own bursary account, at no extra cost to you. Your bursary grows over time, and can only be used to pay towards the fees at a registered school, college or university. It’s a great way to save towards your family’s education, just by shopping! Join School-Days and get your card: https://www.schooldays.co.za/#join-today
ABOUT SCHOOL-DAYS
School-Days gives you the opportunity to build a bursary for your family’s school, college and university fees, helping you provide for their education. The platform is simple, and building a bursary is easy.
Have more questions about School-Days?
- Visit www.schooldays.co.za.
- Get in touch with the member support team at [email protected].
- Give School-Days a call on 086 999 0105.
