| Thrifty Spending |
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| Written by William Blake |
| Monday, 01 December 2008 13:32 |
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Living a frugal life is not just about saving. You also have to learn how to spend what you have in the best possible way. Now that you have mastered the savings side, what should you do with all that money? Here are some great ideas: Start out by making a list of the things that you need, want, and desire related to your money. Number the things you list in order of how important they are to you and try to estimate how much they would cost. Once you have your thoughts mapped out, you can go about making them a reality. Paying more than the minimum payment on your mortgage each month or even just making one additional payment each year could mean that your mortgage gets paid off in half the time that it would if you always paid the minimum. Doing so will also save you lots of money in interest. When you make such additional payments, make sure that the money is being deducted from you loan's principal. Once you have the mortgage paid off, you can use the money you were accustomed to spending on that on whatever else you want. Use your savings to tackle home projects that have been calling out for attention. They can be big projects (which could require hiring a professional), or small (but not necessarily simple) like purchasing and hanging the ceiling molding in the children's room. You can choose to use the money to enhance your home and complete projects that have been long overdue. Get a new pre-owned vehicle. If your existing car is still in good condition then pass on your blessings by donating it to a charity or church or giving it to someone you know needs it. Keep in mind that purchasing a new vehicle will mean an increase in insurance premiums, so be sure to figure that into your budget. Take that dream trip that you've always said you would take. By traveling during the shoulder or off season you will be able to stretch your money into even more of a vacation experience. Even though been frugal does mean saving money in case of unexpected costs, it also important to enjoy the benefits that come from working hard to save your money. Thrifty people should also save some money with the intention of using it to enjoy themselves in some special way. Using the money that you have saved to congratulate yourself will be a great boost to keep on saving and living frugally. About the Author: Wondering if you could be negotiating lower payments on your credit card? You'll find lots of helpful information on the Debtopedia website. Kindly provided by LJ-Marketing.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |