Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Financial New Year's Resolutionsto Think About

By Lauralynn Schueckler

With the New Year fresh on our minds it seems that everyone is thinking about self-improvement. Though many people are thinking about things like going back to school or losing weight, one area that is often neglected is our finances. Whether you want to repair your credit rating or you simply want to save more money this year, consider these finance-savvy resolutions.

Switch to a Credit Union
Banks can be incredibly varied on the rules that they follow, and the fees that they impose. If you want things to be a lot simpler think about joining a credit union. While a credit union typically requires you to meet some kind of specification, it?s worth finding one that suits you for the lower rates on loans and the higher interest rates on your savings account.

Use Your Credit Cards Wisely
If you?re someone who is thinking about repairing your credit it is actually worth your while to take out a credit card and start using it to make some purchases. This does not mean that you should spend it without a plan. The problem is that an unused credit card in your pocket does not do anything. Instead, use it to pay for regular items like your grocery bill, or your gas and simply pay it off immediately. Don?t leave any balance leftover for next month. Pay it in full and on-time each and every month. This is an excellent first step in repairing your credit.

Get Organized
Even when the year is just getting started it?s important to remember that you have tax season coming up in April. Too many people put off doing their taxes and get swamped at the last minute, and this means that you are not thinking about the deductions that you could be taking. Get organized for taxes early this year, and while you are at it, start thinking about getting your receipts and your paperwork in order for 2013 as well.

Have a Plan
It?s very easy to ?resolve? to settle your debts in 2013, but you are not going anywhere fast without a game plan. Meet with a financial counselor or nonprofit credit counselor who can help you lay out a plan for getting out of debt and improving your finances in the year to come. This is something that can help you out immensely, especially if you simply do not know what to do about the debt that you are currently dealing with. The phone call to a nonprofit credit counseling agency is free and completely confidential. You literally have nothing to lose by making the call, and speaking to a certified credit counselor.

If you are looking forward to making sure that you get your money issues resolved this year there are a number of options for you to consider. A Debt Management Plan could be just the thing you are looking for. A credit counseling agency can help you make the right decision for your lifestyle and finances.

Lauralynn Schueckler is the Online Marketing Specialist at Advantage Credit Counseling Service. She is the author for Advantage CCS?s Blog called Dollars & Sense. Advantage Credit Counseling Service is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Contact Advantage Credit Counseling at 866.699.2227, or visit them online at www.advantageccs.org.

Views expressed are the personal views of the author, and do not represent the views of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, its employees, its members, or its clients.


Source: http://financialeducation.nfcc.org/2013/01/14/financial-new-years-resolutionsto-think-about/

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