Finance in your 20s – how you can be saving more
Like lots of 20 something year olds – you may be worried about your future lifestyle, ability to buy property and service a mortgage or increasing rents, and the steady increase of the cost of living. For some people, they would be anxious about their family’s well-being, like the added expenses of education, medical bills, and even food budget. These are all normal concerns but it’s also pretty normal to start addressing these concerns in the 20’s and start hitting some money milestones.
5 Top Tips for Finance in your 20’s
- Create spending priorities
By now, you should have a good solid understanding of the lifestyle you lead and what this entails. You may have tried some budgets. You may have bought things you simply didn’t need. The days of trial and error should be behind you now. It’s time to knuckle down and get saving. Take time to think about what you want to accomplish with your money. Following this, create a list of spending priorities that work for you. You should then work hard to spend according to those priorities. You should find that your spending will be more in line with your values and lifestyle and you’ll begin to feel more financially aware.
- Be money mindful
Sounds easy, right? But what does being mindful with money actually mean? Well it doesn’t have to mean an excel sheet the length of your arm. It can simply be as straightforward as having a 10 second rule when you purchase something – do I need this? Do I want this? You were less likely to do this in your earlier years because you may have been traveling or living a bit more freely – now it’s time to start to manage your money by being mindful.
- Budgeting is key
We talk about budgeting all the time here at Nimble, but the truth is there is no better way to secure financial fitness than by budgeting. Take the time to do it and do it well. 30 year old you will thank you for it – we promise.
Take control of your finances and make sure that you have savings strategies for every aspect of your financial life, and you will be most likely rewarded with a healthy bank balance and an absence of financial stress.
- Be realistic
While budgeting is the key to success, being realistic about your spending habits and lifestyle is an awakening you must inevitably face. Do you have the willpower to save, or are you easily convinced by a sale and succumb to shopping pressure? That new pair of jeans can provide a boost of short term pleasure, but might not be the best long term choice if you already have 5 good pairs already in the closet. So being realistic about what your next impulse purchase is and whether you have the willpower to give it a miss and save will ultimately define your own concept of realism.
- Forward planning
Yep, failure to plan, is planning to fail – everyday mundane tasks such as writing out a shopping list for your weekly grocery shop, as opposed to winging it down each aisle and throwing whatever you want in the trolley, forward planning your groceries and shopping list ahead of time, can do wonders for your budget. It’s just another form of planning by writing a succinct list of all the ingredients needed for the dishes you plan to cook at home, and it will of course ensure you don’t forget the milk? Forward planning isn;t just beneficial for the grocery lists, but for upcoming expenses such as bills, rent and weekend festivities and will ensure you have enough to cover the costs, so you know how much you can save.
If you feel like you need more control over your finances and budget, or to help with your forward planning, our Small or Personal Loans or AnyTime revolving line of credit product* could be the solution for you, so you can continue to save and hit your financial goals, and level out your finances when needed.
Disclaimer:
Please note this content is provided as general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situations or needs. For advice tailored to your financial situation, it is advised that you seek guidance from an accountant or financial advisor. Nimble does not endorse and is not affiliated or associated in any way whatsoever to the businesses named in this blog post. The information contained in this article is correct at the date of publication.
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