Spending money is such a hot topic right now. In fact, from the moment you got your first job, whether that be a part time job in a fast food restaurant, or whether you skipped that stage and went straight to a full time job, you will have started to talk about money.
Money makes our world go round, and the more you have of it, the more comfortable you’re going to be able to live in life. But life just takes everyone down different paths. There are some people who are born into a family who are well off. They don’t necessarily have to be super rich, but a family who gets by with more than the average generally gets to live a fabulous life.
So that’s all you need to try and do, get by with doing better than the average. Sometimes it’s not necessarily about the money that you have coming in, it’s about how you’re spending your money. A lot of people are living on really good wages, but feeling like they’re hard done by because they don’t have money after the first week of the month. It’s a spending habit causing it more often than not. So, we’re going to show you some of the things that are worthwhile when spending your money, so you’re not just throwing it away every month!
Donating To Charity
We wanted to start with this one because when it comes to money, we as a society can become a little bit selfish. Some people refuse to donate to charity because they feel like the charity takes a large cut at the money. Whilst you can never be too sure what’s going to go where with your money unless you were to dig really deep and find out, you have to trust that your money is going to good use.
When you look at the work that charities are doing all over the world, it can’t be denied that money somewhere along the lines is being put to good use. Just recently, the whole world is pulling together to help with the bushfires in Australia. Right now, millions of acres of land is burning, with millions of animals inside of it. It can’t be stopped, it can barely be controlled. Due to the intense summer that Australia is having, the rural areas are just catching fire through no one’s fault. It’s simply that hot.
Your money can help to build a country that’s losing so much, without people truly realising the devastation that’s going on. Homes ruined, land destroyed, and animals being wiped out. It’s those three areas that your money can help to restore when they are eventually under control. That’s just one area of the world that needs help right now. If you Google a list of charities, you will find thousands. Some local to you which are trying to improve your community, and some like Oxfam, well known and already receiving millions a year. We’d recommend going for a lesser-known charity, they’re the ones that need your support the most.
High Interest Savings AccountsÂ
Everyone should have a savings account, but those who do are not always going to be the best at using it. A savings account is great because it gives you the chance to put your money to one side, and hopefully gain a little bit of interest on it. But the average savings account is not the best, and for the average person, it’s probably going to be empty. We usually open a savings account with the banking society that we’re already with. Everyone has online banking now, so all you have to do is a quick transfer and you can see your money in the other account.
But that’s just the problem. You can see it sitting there and waiting to be spent, maybe on something like a stamp collection.
For anyone who doesn’t have any self-control in the slightest, it’s most likely going to be back in the normal everyday ISA before the end of the second week of the month. The temptation is just too real. And, when you look at the interest rates and the amount of money that you’re going to make back of it, it really isn’t that much.
So, what you need to do is open up a savings ISA that’s separate to the normal bank you use, and sign up for a locked savings isa. These usually have a much higher interest rate, the only problem being that you can’t get into them for a certain amount of time, or only a few times a year. The amount of money you could have saved is great, and because you haven’t touched it for a large portion of the year, you probably won’t be bothered about spending it when it comes to being allowed to. It’s a great way to build on your money! You just need to make sure that you’re only putting away what you definitely can afford to.
Home Renovations
Home renovations are definitely something that you want to be spending your money on. You’re literally investing your money into a property that’s yours, and one day you could potentially sell it to make more money. Not everyone reading this is going to be in a new build home with a new bathroom and modern kitchen. Some of you will have been wishing to have the rooms renovated for years, you just haven’t managed to find the money to do so. But with a good savings plan, and some hard work, you could have the money for at least one room renovation by the end of the year. Not only does it make living in the home so much more enjoyable, it adds value to it in the long run.
The new generation of home buyers is eager to secure a home with modern features. Even those who are looking for a bit of a rustic charm are looking for modern features with the kitchen and bathroom. See if you can get a few quotes for having each of the main rooms renovated, see which one you’d like to get done first, and work out a savings plan. Even if you can’t afford it until the middle of next year, saving for it and finally having it done is going to be such a nice reward.
A Nice New Car
Depending on what car you’re driving at the minute, it might be time for you to get a nice new car. Not everyone is going to have the luxury of getting a brand new car for their first or second car. Often you don’t want a brand new car in fear that it’s going to get scratched and dented with the mistakes you make when you’re new on the road. But there comes a time in life where you have to treat yourself, and you have to say goodbye to the older secondhand cars that you’ve been used to, and move on to something a little more flashy. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, but it would be nice if you could treat yourself to a new, or nearly new car that has all of the bells and whistles.
Try and go for models that aren’t going to be too expensive to run and maintain. For example, a used Ford Focus for sale might not cost you much at all considering its used, but to you it won’t feel used. If all you have been used to is a really old secondhand car, then a nearly new used one is going to feel like heaven to you. Or, if you do want one that’s completely brand new, dealerships often offer really good finance deals on them!
Health & Fitness
Health and fitness is probably last on the list of things that you want to invest your time and money into. Unless you’re a health nut, you probably won’t give a thought to it. But if you’re not a health nut, then you might be the type of person who is fatigued and sluggish all the time. So, why not spend your money on some new gym gear, a membership, and some supplements. These three investments will set you down the path to a new lifestyle, allowing you to feel healthy and human again.
The best time to go to the gym is in the morning, before work when you have a ton of motivation. There won’t be as many people there either, so you can really focus on your routine. There are apps to follow that will give you a guided plan. We’d recommend getting into weightlifting this year. It’s so much more fun than cardio, it burns a ton of fat, and turns you into toned goddess.
Admittedly, it is hard to get into than running on the treadmill. But the physical reward is so much higher and the gains become addictive. The supplements with help to support your body and give you energy, they’re not set to turn you into a muscle machine.
