Brad Chandler

Try not to get too much money from a student loan, unless you're able to repay it back. Being unsure of your college major and going to a pricey private school can make you get into permanent debt. You can sell an old laptop if you're trying to earn a little extra money this month. If it works, or can be fixed easily, it can be sold for a higher price than one that is broken. You may be able to trade a broken one for free gas for your car or something else. Control the flow of cash in your account. Monitor your income as well as your spending, and also analyze how your property performs from an investment standpoint each month. Also, create a budget, which will allow for you to allot funds to certain areas. Avoid fees by only using your own bank's ATMs. You are often charged a big fee for using ATMS from other banks. Be proactive in assembling any financial documents relevant to you filing your taxes. Keep all your receipts and other tax documents organized in the same place throughout the year, and you will be ready when tax time rolls around. Setting your bank account to automatically withdraw a set amount of funds into a high-interest savings account can be a good idea. At first, this may be uncomfortable, but after a few months, you'll treat it like another bill and your savings will grow to an impressive amount in no time. Save a bit day by day. Instead of taking a trip to the same place to purchase the same stuff, you should take advantage of ads from other places so that you can save a few dollars. Comparing prices will save you a lot of money because there are sales all the time you may not be aware of. Do not hesitate to take advantage of what is on sale. If you have the ability to improve your home on your own, avoid paying a professional. Consider taking some DIY classes or go online and read articles and watch videos that will show you exactly how to do certain home improvements. If you plan on sending your children to college, start putting money away from the day they are born. College costs a lot, and if you wait too long, you may not be able to send them. In order to buy small items, carry a little cash around with you. Many stores now use one of these credit "laws" to their advantage, which requires that anyone using a credit card make a minimum purchase. It can be an understandable policy at times, but it clearly needs more definition. If eligible, start paying into your Individual Retirement Account. This helps to you build a strong monetary foundation for the future. You can open an IRA at a bank, brokerage firm, credit union or even at a company that sells mutual funds. Contribute to this fund monthly and watch your retirement fund grow substantially. Your emergency savings should contain three months worth of income. A good way to set this up is to take 10% of your earnings and put them in an online savings account that pays 0.5 - 1% interest. Consider that a job that pays better somewhere else may pay better because the standard of living in its area is higher. Moving to be closer to such a job doesn't always pay off. Look into the cost of living when you are considering a job that will require a move to a new place.