How to be financially fit

At the beginning of the year, I wrote a post about my plans for 2016. Whilst I didn’t talk specifically about money, a lot of the things I want to achieve wouldn’t be possible without making sure I was financially able, such as travelling to new places, and forever funding my book-buying habit (I can stop whenever I want, promise). To make sure I can afford to have the best 2016 possible, and still save some money for the future, here are some steps I’ll be following to stay ‘financially fit’:

Save first, spend second

It’s no good just hoping that you’ll have money left at the end of the month, especially if you know you like to spend. Take some time to work out how much you can afford to save each month, and put it into a savings account like an ISA as soon as you get paid. That way, your money is safe, and you won’t look at your account and think you have more disposable income than you really do.

 

Don’t forget your debts

Of course there’s no point in saving if you have debts that need to be paid off. Always make it a priority to make payments on your debts every month, and never miss a payment as this can come back to bite you later down the line when you want to do something big like get a loan or a mortgage. You can can get into trouble with credit cards because it’s so easy to spend away and forget about it until your bill comes. If possible, it’s good to pay more than the minimum payment every month, otherwise you could end up prolonging being debt-free.

 

Stop unnecessary subscriptions

Being so into blogging, it’s easy to get caught up with reading unboxing posts for subscription boxes, whether these are beauty or book related. It’s also easy to subscribe to these boxes to receive treats every month. Too easy, really. They all seem like a good deal per month, until you realise that you’re receiving three a month and it all adds up. I don’t need them all, especially when I can’t get through all the products I receive before the new ones comes, so I’ve cut them all out until I’ve finished everything, and if I do decide to subscribe to a box again, I will limit it to just one box per month.

 

Be savvy with your money

Everyone loves a bargain; why would you pay full price if you could have paid less? I’ve signed up to the email newsletters for all my favourite shops so I always know when they have promotions on (which seems to be all the time with some!). I genuinely cannot remember the last time I paid full price for something from ASOS because they’re so good at offering discounts, and their sales are amazing.

 

You don’t have to be rich to do what you want to do

If you’re creative enough, there’s always a way to fund the fun things you want to do in life. EasyJet have some ridiculously cheap flights to places in the UK and Europe, meaning you can travel to a different country for cheaper than a train ticket to somewhere in England. I’m hoping to go to Edinburgh at some point and I’ve seen a flight for less than £25! And then there are sites like Groupon, that not only offer great bargains, but also open your eyes to activities you might not have thought of but would definitely be fun.

 

What are your tips for being financially fit?

 

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