Have a thrifty and fabulous New Year!
Summer
is in full swing and there's a lot of excitement about the festive
season and 2017 that is on our doorstep. The new year is welcomed with
open arms and 2016 is greeted with a sigh (in some cases a sigh of
relief). A new year brings the potential for renewal and growth. It is,
after all, why new year's resolutions are so popular. One
of the most common new year’s goals will definitely involve a financial
aspect – whether it includes saving more or spending less.
Have 2016’s financial responsibilities left a hole in your pocket? No need to worry – Zeeva shares a few handy financial tips that you can start applying this coming 2017:
BUDGET WORKS BEST
The best way to kick-start the new year is to have an easy and manageable budget in place. It
is important that a budget stays in balance - when expenses do not
exceed income. Keeping their budget in balance will enable women to get
their 2017 finances under control. Zeeva encourages women to keep
an eye on their budget on a regular basis. They should also ‘refine’
their budget by eliminating luxuries (restaurant dinners or expensive
clothes) and replacing it with essential payments (medical aid fees for
example) instead. These days many people make use of convenient mobile
apps (such as 22seven)
to have their budget in close-range. A budget should therefore not be a
burden to women; on the contrary, it is a great asset. Women must
ensure that their budget is visible and that they are proactively
involved in their finances to avoid unnecessary spending.
SAVING IS POSSIBLE
Nowadays,
women can educate themselves on money saving options by doing research
on financial websites or by asking their friends about their savings
techniques. Women must commit to a savings lifestyle by pinpointing
saving opportunities beforehand. They can save by keeping track of
available bargains and to also do their homework before they go shopping
at certain retailers. The most important aspect of saving is to take
the first step and to actually get started. By proactively focusing
their efforts on saving, women can prevent more debt and this will
translate into valuable long-term financial habits. These habits range
from a small amount of money that is put aside, up to formal savings
‘vehicles’ such as endowment policies or a savings account.
BE CREATIVE AND DO IT YOURSELF
Get creative and take on a few do-it-yourself
projects throughout 2017 and see how much money you can save. Remember
home repairs don't necessarily have to be done by a man and it will also
save you the hassle of finding the most reliable person for the job.
For example, your stove’s element isn’t working anymore. Are you going
to save by replacing the element yourself or are you going to pay R 500
(more or less) for a contractor’s callout fee and on top of that an
installation and parts fee? There are many local and international DIY websites that you can use, like: EasyDIY.co.za, Pinterest, The Family Handyman and The Home Handyman.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
It
is not a bad idea to talk about your financial situation and goals. Say
it as it is and reach out to your friends and loved ones - they might
have wonderful advice to give or could direct you in finding the best
financial expert to assist. Zeeva also
encourages you to get a financial planner’s advice before you kick-off
2017. If it so happens that you are being haunted by 2016’s
over-indebted bills and you need a trustworthy woman who speaks your language, contact the Zeeva team for more info about their successful debt review program.
The
new year should be a time of celebration. So get excited, put on your
high heels and grab 2017 by the horns. Make use of the above financial
tips to have yourself a thrifty and fabulous new year.
0 comments