The cost-of-living crisis has hit the nation, and it has been the source of stress and anxiety for many who are worried about how they are going to tackle their energy bills this winter. Taking a proactive approach to financial planning can help to ensure that you have enough funds free to pay for these bills and perhaps even put some away for a rainy day. Unfortunately, financial planning can be nerve-wracking for a lot of people who struggle to make their wages last the month as is. This is why we have put together the following tips. Read on to learn more.
Be Stricter with Your Budget
One of the first things that you should do when it comes to looking for ways to free up some cash is to take another look at your budget. It isn’t always possible, but there may be ways for you to streamline your budget and cut costs. This could be cancelling an old subscription that you rarely use anymore or trying to eat the food that you already have at home in the cupboards and freezer instead of buying groceries or takeaways. There are lots of different ways for you to trim the fat in your budget to save some money. Although, truthfully, depending on the size of the bills, this method might not cover them. However, doing an annual review of your budget is recommended regardless to ensure that you aren’t wasting money on frivolities or overspending.
Don’t be Afraid to Make a Claim on Your Insurance
Obviously, this is heavily dependent on the bill and the insurance policies that you hold; however, if the situation calls for it, you should make a claim on your insurance. A lot of people are afraid of making claims on their insurance because they think that their premiums will go through the roof and the claim will have a knock-on effect which follows them for the next few years. Truthfully, this can be the case which is why you should avoid making a claim for smaller issues that you can afford to pay for yourself. However, for the bigger bills, you should definitely use your insurance. In doing so, it is somewhat like a loan that you have already begun paying back through your premiums, and they don’t tend to rise too much, so it shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Take Out a Loan
If you are hit out of nowhere by a big bill that you simply cannot afford to pay, it might be worth taking out a loan. There are several different forms of loans depending on how much you need to borrow, the repayment terms and a myriad of personal factors. You should take into account what you can afford when it comes to taking out a loan because the repayment term and interest rates can be unmanageable if you aren’t careful. Unfortunately, not everyone will qualify for a traditional loan from a national bank, but luckily there are other options to explore, like payday loans from businesses like Sunny. Loans may be your best bet on occasion; it is important that you factor in the repayments when budgeting.
If you are reluctant or uncomfortable taking out a loan from a bank or other legitimate provider, then you can always go to your friends and family for a loan. Some people are fortunate enough to have friends or family that are in a position to offer loans, but again this is not the case for everyone. Being indebted to friends or family can add a strain on the relationship, but it often is a little less rigid than borrowing from a bank. If you are going to borrow from a friend or family, it is worth setting out the terms in a handwritten contract and having them sign so that you do have a paper trail should you need it.
Sell Your Clutter
Accumulating clutter is a byproduct of living your life – unless, of course, you are a minimalist. This clutter is often rendered useless and annoying not long after purchasing. This means that, for the most part, the clutter I still in pretty good condition, so you can sell it on. Selling your clutter is easy enough; you can pack it up and head over to a car boot sale, or you can take pictures and list it on the internet using digital marketplaces. It would be unrealistic to think that you are going to make mega money doing this unless you have some pretty rare items or antiques, but you can make some money and free up some space in your home too.
In Conclusion
Bills are steadily increasing, and this has placed a strain on a lot of people, and unfortunately, there isn’t very much that can be done about these rising costs. However, you can prepare and get a handle on your reaction to them. Ideally, your measures will be preventative as opposed to reactionary. Try to have these techniques in place to boost your disposable income instead of scrambling to pay the bill after the fact.
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