Here are some rules that can help you regulate your household expenses.
Keep them in mind if you need to stretch your budget from one month to the next.
Rule 1: Make a plan of all your expenses during the month, and stick to your income. Remember that there are three types of expenses: fixed, flexible and extraordinary. Fixed expenses are essential expenses, which always require the same amount (rent, telephone, insurance, payment of term purchases, etc.). The flexible ones are more or less large expenses, some essential and others not, for which a certain amount cannot be set (food, clothing and footwear, transportation, purchase of books, newspapers, entertainment, etc.). If savings are required, flexible expenses can be modified, which is not the case with fixed ones.
Extraordinary expenses are those that occur irregularly or unexpectedly (gifts, vacations, house arrangements, repairs of all kinds, unforeseen medical expenses, etc.). Try to always keep a separate amount, no matter how small, for extraordinary expenses that may arise.
Rule 2: Do not incur debt that is above your budget. If you are going to buy items in installments, make sure before you can pay the monthly payments. It is preferable that you finish paying for one item before buying another, than buying it all at the same time if you do not have enough money for the deadlines, or if you must deprive yourself of really necessary things to meet them.
Rule 3: Try to have an amount saved for unforeseen events, but do not touch it unless an emergency really occurs.
Rule 4: Open a checking account at the bank and make all your payments through it. In this way you will not have at home, at your fingertips, an amount of money and you will avoid the temptation to spend it on something else. There is also no danger of theft, and it is much more convenient to pay with a check than with cash with a money order. There is also an extra advantage: If you always pay by checks, you will have a written account of all your expenses.
Rule 5: Make a list of everything you want to buy. Then analyze it, and discard the inaccessible things for the moment. Give your immediate attention to the most important ones.
Rule 6: Try to buy items of the best possible quality so that they last longer and keep well. But keep in mind at all times that the most expensive is not always the best. Many times what you pay is not the item itself, but the name of the store and its location. Sometimes it is possible to get exactly the same merchandise at a lower price, in a small or little known store.
Rule 7: The above does not mean, however, that you should always avoid large department stores or higher-end establishments when shopping. Sometimes it is preferable to pay a little more and have a secure guarantee, onall when it comes to big ticket items. In addition, large stores sometimes have considerable discounts that should not be wasted in any way.
Rule 8: Sales are a way to spend less. But be careful. Take a good look at a sale item before you buy it. Think about your need for it. Sometimes things are bought just because they are cheap and not because they are actually needed.
Rule 9: Before making a purchase, compare prices between stores and others. You may find one that offers lower prices, higher quality, and better service than the one you usually shop for.
Rule 10: Do not forget to have a small account book, and get in the habit of writing down all your expenses for the day. In this way you will know exactly how you use your money, and it will be easier for you to save if necessary, and eliminate unnecessary expenses.
Rule 11: Even if you can't save a lot of money, try to set aside even a small amount whenever possible, until you have spent a month or two. Keep that money as a reserve.
Rule 12: Open a savings account at the bank, and deposit any excess money into it. There you will not only accumulate interest, but also avoid the danger of theft.
Will you think twice before taking it out to buy something you don't need?
