Smith Business and Finance

Let’s face it, coming up with smart and simple ways of saving money takes thinking that is a bit more creative.

Use some of these shortcuts to managing your finances. They are guaranteed to save you time and money.

Trick your mind into saving

Can’t always come up with where your money goes? There is a simple solution: Trick your own mind into spending less and saving more.

If you are up for a challenge, allocate yourself a weekly allowance. Put a set amount of allowance into an envelope and determine that this will be all you will be allowed to spend for any given week. Next, divide your allowance to take care of your expenses. When you get down to the last $20, that’s the amount you put into your emergency fund. When the money is gone, there will be no more until next week.

Each payday, allocate a percentage to go into a secret fund used only for emergencies. When it’s crunch time, you will know it’s there.

Establish one dresser drawer just to toss single dollar bills. This way when the pizza man arrives, you will have the singles handy and won’t need to break the larger dollar amounts. This discipline forces your mind to think larger amounts and to save larger amounts. You get into the habit of spending only the singles. This works!

To control your credit card debt, carry just one card and pay it off each month. If you are tempted to over spend, the credit card goes into the safe where you only stash your emergency fund. When crunch day comes you have a credit card you can use that will always be in good standing.

Jot down expenses in a notebook and tally them at the end of each week to see if you are over or under your budget estimates. Build in more than you need so that you will always have a cushion in case of a cash emergency. Tracking your spending takes some work but if you take careful notes, you will always be able to see one or two areas where you’re leaking cash. You can then come up with an extra $20 or more per week in savings. That’s $1,000 a year in real money for an emergency fund.

More tricks to add to your own savings routine: Have your paycheck automatically deposited directly to savings rather than to your checking account. You will transfer money to pay your bills, but you’ll think twice about withdrawing additional cash.

Make ONLY one ATM withdrawal each week. Subtract your credit card purchases immediately from your checking account so you’re not surprised once the bill arrives.

When you pay off a loan, add the amount to payments you’re already making to the next lender on your list. You can also send the money to a saving or investment account earmarked for a house, a vacation or a new car and this money will be made available in case of a money emergency.

When it comes to managing your finances, you can certainly do it yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, you can use the services of a financial analyst or a financial advisor. Choosing one is easy once you know what they can do for you.

A financial analyst and a personal financial advisor help to provide both an analysis and also guidance to businesses and individuals who seek help with their financial decisions. Each type of financial specialist gathers financial information, analyzes it, and makes a recommendation to his/her client. However, they do differ when it comes to the type of investment information that they can provide, and also the clients that they work for.

A financial analyst assesses the economic performance of companies and industries, as well and for firms and institutions that have money to invest. A personal financial advisor assesses the financial needs of people, able to offer them a wide range of options.

Also called securities analysts and investment analysts, a financial analyst works for banks, insurance companies, mutual and pension funds, securities firms, and also other businesses. He or she helps these companies and/or their clients make important investment decisions. A financial analyst read a company’s financial statements and also analyzes commodity prices, sales, costs, expenses, and also tax rates in order to determine the company’s value, as well as to project its future earnings.

The financial analyst meets with company officials in order to gain a better insight into the firm’s prospects and also to determine its managerial effectiveness. They also usually study an entire industry, assessing its current trends in business practices, products, and industry competition in order to keep abreast of new regulations and policies that may affect the industry. Monitoring the economy to determine its effect on earnings is also a duty.

A personal financial advisor, also known as a financial planner or a financial consultant, uses his/her knowledge of investments, tax laws, and also insurance in order to recommend financial options to individuals that fit with the client’s short-term and long-term goals. Financial planners deal with such issues as retirement and estate planning, funding for college, and also general investment options. Some financial advisors are able to advice on a wide array of topics, while others are specialized in certain areas.

Working with a financial advisor begins with a consultation, where he/she is able to obtain information on the client’s finances and financial goals A comprehensive financial plan is then developed that identifies problem areas, offers recommendations for improvement, and also selects appropriate investments that are compatible with what the client wants.

Clients usually meet with their financial advisor at least once a year to update them on potential investments, as well as determine if any changes have been made.

In addition, some advisors buy and sell financial products, including mutual funds or insurance, or are able to refer their clients to establishments who do.

Perhaps a financial advisor’s most important job is building a customer base, since referrals from satisfied clients help to generate new business. Other than being contacted by the client, financial advisors contact potential clients by offering seminars or lectures, or even meeting them through business and social contact.