This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase through the links.

The best tips on money management to improve your personal finance.

Money management should never be taken for granted. Earning money is awesome but being good with money is even better.

Sometimes money, if we are not careful, can have control over us.

So today, you will learn tips on money management that you can apply in your financial life.

A healthy financial future is not based on how much we make but it depends on how good we manage and plan.

So it is imperative that if we are good at managing our money then we will have a headache-free and successful financial future.

What is Money Management?

Money management is pretty much how you control your money, where you want them to go and what you want them to do. This includes earning, spending, saving and investing.

Better money management involves careful planning of these things. Creating a budget, saving for an emergency fund and tackling debts are all part of better money management.

Some people may think that better money management only consists of saving a fixed amount every month or paying bills on time.

They are not wrong, however, it does not stop there. It is about everything you do with your hard-earned money.

Best Tips On Money Management

Keep Track of All Income and Expenses

The first thing you want to do is figure out how much your household is making. The total will include earnings from your full-time job and other side hustles.

The total will also include your husband’s income and side income.

Knowing how much your household make will give you a sense of how much you should be spending.

Sometimes we spend lavishly thinking that we are earning enough to cover whatever we are spending on. To help you jumpstart your journey, here are some good reads.

Create a Monthly Budget

Now that you know how much money is coming in, it’s time to see where your money is going. You will need to figure out your expenses in the last 30 days.

In order to do this, you will have to print out bank statements, credit card statements, and PayPal statements if you use one. Next, you will then categorize each expense. It can be food, utilities, mortgage, car, loans, etc.

Check out the Best Guide to a Monthly Budget to know more about how to set up a monthly budget.

Now that you know your total income and your total expenses, subtract total expenses from the total income and the difference should be the left-over of your monthly income.

You should always aim for a zero difference, but a positive difference is even better.

Pay your Bills on Time

Paying bills on time not only saves you from those hefty late payment fees but it will also help build you a better credit score. One way to pay bills on time is through automatic payment, either through your bank or through the billing company site.

I used to be against automatic payment and was doing it on my own but when I tried it, I wished I’d started sooner.

Save for Emergency Fund

Emergency Fund is simply an amount of money saved to take care of unexpected emergency expenses. These expenses include home repairs, car repairs, medical expenses, loss of job and etc. It is always recommended to have at least $1000 in the emergency fund.

For an expense to be qualified as an emergency, it should be necessary, urgent and UNEXPECTED.

Tackle your Debts

It is always best practice to tackle your debts when you have extra money. You can put some extra payments on credit cards, student loans, personal loans, etc. The faster you get out of debt, the earlier you can start building your wealth.

For example, when you get that annual bonus or that tax refund, put it straight to debt payment. You’ll be glad you did.

Bonus Tips On Money Management

Positive Mindset

Having a positive mindset will help you reach your goals faster. Changing your ways of managing money will not be easy, there will be bumps along the way for sure.

However, you should not be discouraged, instead, take each mistake as a lesson and focus on the goal.

Discipline

The success of learning to manage money better depends on your discipline. Better money management is not hard at all, it is the ability to stick with that makes it hard.

The first few months won’t be perfect but you will get the hang of it.

Live Within Your Means

Part of having the discipline is to learn how to live within your means. You already know how much money is coming and how much is going out.

Use this as a guide to be able to identify if you can afford an item, a restaurant dinner, a Broadway show, a new car, etc.

FAQ About Better Money Management

• How much emergency fund should I save?
  • It is recommended to have at least $1000 in the emergency fund.
• Can I save and pay debts at the same time?
  • It is recommended to pay all debts except mortgage first before saving.
• When should I start budgeting?
  • The right time to start budgeting is NOW.
• Is using a credit card still part of better money management?
  • Yes if you practice discipline to not carry a balance on the credit card every month.
• What are some reliable budgeting apps?
  • Everydollar and Mint are some good ones.
• When should I start saving?
  • Best to start saving once all debts except mortgage are paid

The Last Thing You Need to Know about Better Money Management

As I have said, the first few months won’t be perfect but you will get the hang of it. In fact, I myself still is not a master of money management but it’s ok at least we are in control of our money, not the other way around.

To learn more about managing your money, check out this book.

How about you, how are you managing your money? How are you sticking with your plan?

Related Money Management Articles:

• Best Debt Management Strategies That You Can Start Today
• How To Create A Monthly Budget
• Dave Ramsey Zero-Based Budgeting
• How To Make Money Without Paying Anything
• Cash Envelope System For Budgeting(What You Need To Know)

Best Tips On Money Management