Quit Giving Your Finances a Hard Time

It’s easy to blame the state of your finances on your job not paying you enough or prices going up at restaurants and stores. However, they may not be completely to blame for your financial difficulties. The problem might be looking back at you in the mirror. But the good thing is, when learning from your money mistakes, you will take better control of your finances.

Turn Your Bad Habits Into Good Ones

You work hard for your money, so you should be able to reward yourself every now and then for a job well done. Rewards for some people include a cup of Joe at their favorite coffee house, a weekend away, or dinner and a movie with friends. But if your “rewards” are becoming habits, then you may have a financial problem on your hands.

For instance, are you going to the movies every weekend? Trips to the theater can really start to add up, especially when you include drinks, candy and popcorn. This “reward” can easily add up to $100 a month, which could be used more wisely for your retirement fund or emergency savings account. The next time you think of going to the movies, consider Netflix instead.

Another common example is eating out. When you’ve worked a long day and have been running the kids around and tackling errands, the last thing you feel like doing is cooking dinner. However, the costs of eating out can add up fast. Not to mention that eating fast food too frequently can lead to health problems, including high cholesterol, obesity and high blood sugar. Therefore, it’s important to try and cook at home most days a week. If you know a day is going to be rough, utilize a slow cooker, which can act as your own personal chef!

We want to help you be a better friend to your finances. Contact us to learn more about our checking and savings account options that can help you stay on track with your finances.