The Saving Habit

Make Saving a Habit

If there is one financial habit which will get you ahead it is this one…

Saving!

Why you must develop the savings habit

It is not how big your pay packet is, what counts is what you do with the money. Irrespective of your financial situation, it makes economic sense to save a portion of your income regularly. the mains reasons for saving are;

1-For unexpected emergencies such as car expenses, the washing machine breaking down, or dental bills.

2-To put aside money for your retirement.

3-Holidays or wedding expenses.

4-study expenses

5-Home repairs.

6-To save for a deposit for a home.

7-Saving for a car

8-Saving for a business

Consequences of not having any savings

If you do not have any savings of your own then if an unexpected emergency crops up such as the car breaking down then you may have to borrow the money to pay for repairs and every time you borrow money, the interest you pay means that you are always paying a higher price for goods and services bought with borrowed money than someone who always pays in cash.

Saving money requires you to live within your means and to live modestly. Good savers will not purchase items brand new when they can find the same item in a charity shop at a fraction of the price. 

Your choices will make or break you

Every time you make a choice there will be consequences, good or bad. The key is to make enough good choices to succeed and to minimize your bad choices. It is important to keep your eyes and ears open to what is happening around you and listen to wise people who have succeeded in their chosen field. Having said that, you must row your own boat and discover your own calling in life.

Joining your country’s retirement scheme.

Many countries around the world have their own retirement savings scheme where a portion of your gross income is invested in that country’s retirement fund and your money cannot be withdrawn until you reach retirement age which varies between different countries. (In New Zealand it is currently 65)

Accumulate investments.

It is a good idea to not only have a retirement fund but invest in various areas to increase your financial knowledge. The share market, managed trusts, and fixed term investments are all well worth getting into.

Don’t place all your eggs in one basket

Don’t under any circumstances place all of your eggs in one basket. There is no guarantee that a particular company will not go under irrespective of how solid it appears. After all, if a company is in trouble, its directors are hardly going to shout it out from the rooftops are they? During the economic downturn around 2008, many people lost a lot of money in failed finance companies and the tragedy was that many of these folk invested their entire life savings into the one company. In other words they placed all of their eggs into one basket. The number one rule is to spread your risk. Divide your money among several different companies. That way you stand a far better chance of protecting your financial assets.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. This article is of the writer’s own experience and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances.

Www.robertastewart.com

The Benefits of Saving

The advantages of saving

Written by R. A. Stewart

Having savings will make life easier later on down the road. Just think about these benefits of saving money that people who are shopaholics cannot take advantage of.

  1. You are able to invest the money and grow your wealth. There are ample opportunities to invest your money and make it grow and if you are able to save your money, you can take advantage of these.
  2. When you save up for something instead of using your credit card then you save on interest repayments. People who buy stuff on credit are paying more than if they have paid in cash. During a person’s lifetime, this interest adds up to a fortune.
  3. Having savings behind you gives you more options. If you spend everything you make then when the time comes that you may lose your job, you are inhibited by your lack of resources. People with savings behind them are able to move to another city in order to find work.
  4. When an emergency arises such as dental repairs, car break down, family occasion such as a wedding or funeral, you are in a better position to deal with it if finance is not a problem.

Saving money requires self-discipline and responsibility for your own finances and with a bit of planning and organization you can make life easier for yourself to cope with the financial hits that will occur from time to time.

Having a plan for your money instead of just saving for the sake of it will give you motivation to keep saving. There are several things you could save for; here are some ideas.

* An emergency fund

*To build a share portfolio

*Save for a car

*Save for a wedding

*Save for a house deposit

*Save for an education fund for your kids

*Dentist and medical bills

Money which is used for saving is disposable income; it is money left over after paying your fixed costs. Think about what you spend your money on that is a want rather than a need. That is money which can be saved and used elsewhere. Money which is spent on wants is considered as consumer spending; it is money which is consumed. Disposable income or discretionary spending money as it is also referred to can be used to protect yourself against future financial shocks. It is the responsible thing to do to make choices which benefit you and your family. 

Irresponsible people just fritter away their disposable income without any thought to the future. What you spend your money on will make a difference to future financial outcomes. It all boils down to planning which will in turn help you to make better choices. No one ever reached the retirement age and regretted that they joined a retirement scheme. 

Always strive to save when you are in a position to do so because life does not always follow a straight path; there will be setbacks along the way as those people affected by natural disasters will tell you.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your ebook, website, or blog. 

www.robertastewart.com

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The savings habit should be developed from a young age.