The end of the year is in sight. A difficult year financially for many people. Everyone's purchasing power deteriorated. Inflation has hit hard. For some people it was very hard. People who can barely keep their heads above water. This really has to change in 2023. But how to create more financial space in times of inflation.
Get a better understanding of finances
Before working on more financial space, it is first important to gain more insight. There are plenty of people who actually have no idea what goes in and out each month. Therefore, start at the beginning. Take out the bank statements and write everything down neatly. What comes in monthly in salary, benefits or any allowances? And what do you spend on average each month?
Then it is very easy to discover where to save money. For example, do you spend just too much at the supermarket every week because of the little visits in between? Then try to get all your groceries at once. That way you are less likely to make impulse buys. Do you secretly order food very often? Then you can save a lot of money on this too.
These are all small things that can make a huge difference. However, you won't see where things go wrong until you actually write this down.
Borrowing money for extra financial space
A apply for a loan sounds a little crazy in this day and age. Still, it is a way to have extra financial space temporarily. However, this should not be a way to get through the month. A loan is meant to purchase a product or service that you do not have sufficient savings for at the time. In the long run, however, you could save this amount together. Only then is it possible and also responsible to borrow money.
Keep in mind that the rules regarding borrowing have been tightened considerably since last July. Necessary to protect people from themselves. As a result, people can now borrow a lot less. Important, after all, we don't know if we have already reached the peak of inflation. Purchasing power is declining, so is the amount we can spare monthly in repayments.
Do you already have some loans running? If so, it can't hurt to take a look at current interest rates. Could you possibly be cheaper elsewhere on a monthly basis? Switching your loan is a smart way to easily save some money. Just keep in mind that you may be able to borrow less due to today's strict terms and conditions.
Build a buffer
There will always be unforeseen expenses. According to Nibud, it is therefore important for every family to have a financial buffer. For a family with children, this should be around five thousand euros. This is only possible if enough can be put aside each month. Often small things can help. For example, going out for lunch less often, buying cheaper products, visiting a budget supermarket, but also going on other outings. These are all small changes that can make a big difference.
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