We’ve been in the year 2022 for almost a month. Covid-19 sure has made time flies a lot faster than we could imagine. And because of it, people have struggled financially and mentally over the last two years. The worst case is that some people are still undecided about how to deal with them.
So for this article, I want to emphasize how you could manage your money better. Most of us have at least a basic idea of what we should be doing with our money like creating a budget, spending less than we earn, or saving for retirement.
But, there’s a difference between knowing and doing, even if we all know what we should be doing. According to the RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey, 21% of Malaysians say they’ve been living paycheck to paycheck since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those figures are alarming, but the bottom line is that most of us could be spending our money more wisely.
Starting to make changes with our money can be difficult, and maintaining those changes can be even more difficult. We don’t always need a large sum of money to help us get our act together; sometimes all we need is a little nudge in the right direction.
Here are money tips that will challenge you to be better with money:
Make the big things a priority
Housing, transportation, and food are likely to be your largest expenses. You should be fine if you keep these under control.
What does “under control” mean? The 50-30-20 budget is my personal favourite. Set aside 50% of your salary for necessities like rent, loans, bills, and groceries, 30% for wants like dining out, hobbies, and entertainment, and 20% for savings or investments.
Track your expenses
Tracking apps are essential nowadays. It became a necessity and a part of your daily routine. I’ve used MAE and Mint, and I think they’re both fantastic. It’s incredibly simple to sit down at the end of the month or year and figure out how much you spent and where you spent it.
A few months ago, I set a goal for myself for a month, I would track my spending by hand, in real-time. I carried a small notebook with me at all times, and I’d make notes of any purchases I made. Yes, it was tedious, but it was extremely eye-opening. I knew I ate my budget every month, but by keeping track of everything by hand and recognising when I was spending money, I was able to cut back on some of those pointless spendings.
Try it out for a week or two to see if you notice any spending habits you’d like to change.
Make it a month where you don't spend any money
A no-spend month is an excellent way to reset spending habits and quickly save money. The idea is that you don’t spend any money for a month, except for a few necessities like rent, transportation, and basic groceries.
If you really want to go big, keep track of every purchase you make during that month—you’ll be much more aware of your spending habits.
Before you start your no-spend month, make sure you don’t have any obligations that will prevent you from doing so. Then make a list of your exceptions—the things you will spend money on during the month. Rent, fixed expenses like your phone bill and internet, and very basic groceries are usually included. Finally, make a list of free activities you can do so you don’t have to feel like a loner for the next 30 days.
If this sounds simple, believe me when I say it isn’t. It’s difficult to maintain a social life while avoiding after-work hangouts in favour of free activity.
Follow the 72-hours rule
Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re one of the millions of people who has a frustrating relationship with spending. I used to have an unstoppable shopping problem, especially with one retailer: Shopee. They make it far too easy to spend money.
I was able to break this by using the 72-hour rule. If I’m thinking about buying something that isn’t a necessity, I have to wait 72 hours before I let myself press the buy button. I’ll put items in my cart, and if I still want them after 72 hours and can afford them, I’ll buy them. It’s straightforward, but not simple. The implementation of this rule has resulted in a significant change in what I buy and how much I bring into my home.
Pick one item from this list to challenge yourself with if you want to improve your money management skills. When it comes to money, small adjustments can have a big impact.
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We’ve been in the year 2022 for almost a month. Covid-19 sure has made time flies a lot faster than we could imagine. And because of it, people have struggled financially and mentally over the last two years. The worst case is that some people are still undecided about how to deal with them.
So for this article, I want to emphasize how you could manage your money better. Most of us have at least a basic idea of what we should be doing with our money like creating a budget, spending less than we earn, or saving for retirement.
But, there’s a difference between knowing and doing, even if we all know what we should be doing. According to the RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey, 21% of Malaysians say they’ve been living paycheck to paycheck since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those figures are alarming, but the bottom line is that most of us could be spending our money more wisely.
Starting to make changes with our money can be difficult, and maintaining those changes can be even more difficult. We don’t always need a large sum of money to help us get our act together; sometimes all we need is a little nudge in the right direction
Here are money tips that will challenge you to be better with money:
Make the big things a priority
Housing, transportation, and food are likely to be your largest expenses. You should be fine if you keep these under control.
What does “under control” mean? The 50-30-20 budget is my personal favourite. Set aside 50% of your salary for necessities like rent, loans, bills, and groceries, 30% for wants like dining out, hobbies, and entertainment, and 20% for savings or investments.
Track your expenses
Tracking apps are essential nowadays. It became a necessity and a part of your daily routine. I’ve used MAE and Mint, and I think they’re both fantastic. It’s incredibly simple to sit down at the end of the month or year and figure out how much you spent and where you spent it.
A few months ago, I set a goal for myself for a month, I would track my spending by hand, in real-time. I carried a small notebook with me at all times, and I’d make notes of any purchases I made. Yes, it was tedious, but it was extremely eye-opening. I knew I ate my budget every month, but by keeping track of everything by hand and recognising when I was spending money, I was able to cut back on some of those pointless spendings.
Try it out for a week or two to see if you notice any spending habits you’d like to change.
Make it a month where you don't spend any money
A no-spend month is an excellent way to reset spending habits and quickly save money. The idea is that you don’t spend any money for a month, except for a few necessities like rent, transportation, and basic groceries.
If you really want to go big, keep track of every purchase you make during that month—you’ll be much more aware of your spending habits.
Before you start your no-spend month, make sure you don’t have any obligations that will prevent you from doing so. Then make a list of your exceptions—the things you will spend money on during the month. Rent, fixed expenses like your phone bill and internet, and very basic groceries are usually included. Finally, make a list of free activities you can do so you don’t have to feel like a loner for the next 30 days.
If this sounds simple, believe me when I say it isn’t. It’s difficult to maintain a social life while avoiding after-work hangouts in favour of free activity.
Follow the 72-hours rule
Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re one of the millions of people who has a frustrating relationship with spending. I used to have an unstoppable shopping problem, especially with one retailer: Shopee. They make it far too easy to spend money.
I was able to break this by using the 72-hour rule. If I’m thinking about buying something that isn’t a necessity, I have to wait 72 hours before I let myself press the buy button. I’ll put items in my cart, and if I still want them after 72 hours and can afford them, I’ll buy them. It’s straightforward, but not simple. The implementation of this rule has resulted in a significant change in what I buy and how much I bring into my home.
Pick one item from this list to challenge yourself with if you want to improve your money management skills. When it comes to money, small adjustments can have a big impact.
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