In the midst of the increasing needs of life, mastering the knowledge of financial management is very necessary. The reason is that if finances are not planned properly, of course expenses can swell. Then later it will be affected by taking debt to cover these needs.
Whether large or small, debt should not be taken lightly. Because often in the process of repaying, debt will collide with daily needs. So that in the future it will be a burden for your financial health in the future. But what if we are already in debt?
If you are already in debt, of course you have to prioritize what steps to take to get out of the trap. Here are 3 ways to deal with debt in an unpredictable economy.
1. Manage Expenses and Income
Finances are declared in a stable condition if they meet several requirements. Among them are the existence of sufficient income, expenses that are not too large and the availability of funds that can be saved as savings.
To achieve this stability, you need to manage your income and expenses properly. Among them are as follows:
• Separate Budget From The Beginning
When you get a salary, you should have prepared a list of the necessary budgets. For example, a budget for daily needs, a budget for paying installments and dependents, a budget for savings, emergency funds and so on.
By preparing a separate budget, it will be easier for you to manage expenses so that the occurrence of a minus budget can be avoided.
• Monthly Shopping in Bulk
Basic necessities that are needed daily, such as basic necessities, soap, and so on, should be purchased in large quantities. So you should buy basic necessities that are roughly enough for one month at a time. Why is that?
Shopping in bulk is considered more efficient, because it can minimize unnecessary expenses. Make it a habit to also bring a note regarding the list of items needed.
That way, you can focus more on shopping and can avoid the urge to buy things that are less important.
• Avoid Consumptive Lifestyle
In addition, you also need to avoid a consumptive lifestyle. Consumptive lifestyle will have a bad impact on finances. To avoid this, you should be able to separate between needs and wants. So, between expenditures that are a priority and those that are not, really need to be looked at. So that funds spent on less useful needs can be prevented.
• Avoid Using Credit Cards
Avoiding the use of credit cards is very important. Because when shopping with a credit card, people will tend to be 'crazy' and then forget the calculation.
Therefore, for financial stability, you should avoid using credit cards and purchasing various items in the form of installments.
2. Setting Priority Scale For Paying Debt
If you are already in debt, of course, it is important to prioritize paying the debt. Make sure to make debt payments at the beginning of the month. Because if not, then the budget can be used for other needs. Check out some more tips below:
• First of all, write down all the list of debts along with interest rates.
• Next determine the priority scale. In a sense, which debt will be repaid first and which will be paid later.
• Prioritize paying off large debts first. After that, you can focus on other debts that have a smaller nominal value.
• If the amount of debt exceeds the ratio of 30%, consider selling the assets held. The goal, of course, is to pay off debt faster.
• Make sure not to cover debt by going into debt again. Because this will not solve the problem. But it will make financial inequality protracted.
• Consider not going back into debt. It is better to adopt a frugal lifestyle than to be trapped in debt.
3. Adding Sources of Income
The amount of salary that is not large certainly makes people often feel confused about how to divide it so that they are financially stable until the end of the month. Especially in the midst of rising prices and needs.
This can be circumvented by increasing income. Where to add a source of income beyond the basic salary can be done in various ways. Among them are doing side jobs after work, selling handicrafts, becoming freelance workers and so on.
By increasing your source of income, your income will automatically increase, making it easier for you to manage your finances.
Here are some tips on how to deal with debt in an unexpected economy. With good financial arrangements, it will prevent us from debt. Then financial health becomes more stable.
That's all i can possibly say this time. If you need advice from a professional, please try to contact the finance expert we recommend.