3 Steps to Get on Top of Your Personal Finances (And Stay in Control)

Written by Lizzie Learn On 24th Apr 2017

oney management is a huge issue that affects us all. Everyone’s got money. Not everyone can manage it, and most certainly not everyone knows how to spend it smartly.

However, the focus here is just to get you started with the most important aspect of money management above everything else.

The budget

Have you ever applied for a loan or a mortgage? If so, you will know the questions you were asked about where your money goes. Have a think about where your money goes… can you account for every penny?

Most people can’t and that’s because money flows into the bank and then right back out again. Worry about the money later.

You are going to feel a whole lot better when you can look at a budget sheet and know there is money there, and with a simple calculation find out what is coming in and what is due to go out. Not that you should squander what you do have, but you will at least know the exact amount of disposable income you have at any given time.

It is the simplest way to keep your bank balance out of the red and maintain a positive cash flow. This may sound business-like, but it’s not meant to be. It just means you have money of your own to spend as you wish.

How to create a reliable household budget

Start with your income

Make a note of every dependable source of income you have every month or week. You could even use a calendar for this and mark the dates with the amount you’re expecting to be paid into your bank.

If your wages are based on an hourly wage and inconsistent due to overtime, work with the average amount you usually get. Don’t include too much overtime payments if it’s not a reliable amount.

You can always alter your budget when you do have extra.

List your debits by due date

Nobody likes being hit by late payments. Mainly because they’re avoidable. If you have broadband, you will have to pay it by a set date. This is the same with any store card debts, your gas and electricity and any subscriptions you have active.

If you do your banking online, log into your account and find the link that lists all your active direct debits and standing orders. They may be listed separately. Take a note of the companies and the amounts. For debits that are being paid towards a creditor such as a store card, credit card, loan, or perhaps even a line of credit from your vet or dentist, find out what your remaining balance is on the account.

The reason you want to do this is because it lets you know when an account will be clear and, therefore, the monthly payments will no longer apply. You can track this so you know when it will be cleared. If you’re using a spreadsheet, you can include the dates and amounts.

Better yet, you can use the auto-calculate feature of Microsoft Excel.

Take care of savings when you know what’s left

If you do have money left over, then all that is left is to spend that smartly. This means putting money aside either for emergencies, or for the big expenses you know you will be hit with, such as Christmas, holidays, TV licence, MOT and possible vehicle repairs, etc.

If you’re using online banking, you could take advantage of the standing order feature by linking it to a savings account. That way your savings can just be listed as any other debit, yet since it’s a savings account, you will still have access to it if you do need it. That is provided you get one with instant access.

To Conclude

The above steps are only to give you the how-to on creating a budget. How you spend your disposable income is entirely your choice. If you want to invest some, save some, gift-aid some, there is plenty of advice available online and locally from advisors, too.

The start of money management is knowing what you have coming in and the amount you have going out. Knowing this, you can keep your finances out of the red, and therefore the interest payments to a minimum or eliminate them completely. The more you have in your bank, the better shape you will be in.

The budgeting steps above to create your planner can be used to put you in the know, and keep you in the know, with every payment that comes in and leaves your bank account. And this is something that can go a long way to reduce the stress levels caused by money worries.