Always check your bank account. Every day. No matter what. It's important to know how much you have and make sure no one has made any false charges.
Be confident in your decisions. Turning down vacations, nice dinners, and cute jeans on sale is hard, but financial freedom is worth it.
Create a list of goals. It's much easier to save when you know what you're saving for.
Don't spend more than you make. Short and sweet. It's the cardinal rule of getting out of debt and staying that way.
Eat In. Make some spaghetti. Grill some burgers. Throw together a taco. Eating in is cheap, and it will save you thousands of dollars a year.
Find a side-hustle. Pick up a paper route, mow the grass, or start a freelance career. Seriously,
Get organized. From one Type-A gal to the world, being organized is the best thing you can do not only for your finances but for your life as well.
Hire a CPA. This is especially integral if you own your own home or own a business.
Inquire about discounts. Don't be shy. You never know when you're going to get a good discount on that
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Justify each purchase. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" or "Can I afford this?"
Keep a record of your spending. Writing down what you spend every day actually makes you buy less! I should know;
Let go of errors and blips. No one is perfect.
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Make sure that you start saving for your retirement,
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Never sacrifice your morals when it comes to money. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
Over-prepare when it comes to budgeting. It's better to have some money left over than to come up short.
Pay your credit cards on time, every time. Set a reminder if you have to.
Quit receiving those e-mails from all those fabulous shopping sites. They'll just make you want to buy, buy, buy.
Reach for the stars. Anything is possible with enough planning and enough perseverance. Want to buy a vacation home? Go for it!
Start your own business. Seriously,
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Tell your children, your spouse, and your friends about your financial plan. The more accountability you have, the better.
Understand that not everyone will be like you. Having a budget and a desire to become self-sufficient is unfortunately rare these days.
Visualize the end. It's much easier to start a vacation fund when pictures of Hawaii are all over your office.
Wait patiently for the best sales. You don't have to pay full price for that bathing suit!
Xerox those receipts. (Why yes, I did just use an "x" verb!) But seriously, make copies of everything. Scanners work too.
Yell from the rooftops and tweet your finance friends when you reach your goals. It's so nice to get a pat on the back, even if it's virtual!
Zero in on that zen feeling, the one that comes when you are 100 percent self sufficient!
What are some financial A-Z's that you live by?
All photos from FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Post originally appeared on Budget Blonde.
