Many people think that if they are managing to pay their bills on time and have a little leftover in the bank account each month, they are doing well, but that is not necessarily the case. Many of them are not using their excess income in the best way they possibly could, instead of spending frivolously or investing imperfectly. Could you be one of them? If you spot one of the following signs, yes, you could be spending your money wrong, even if it doesn’t feel that way to you…
You're Always in the Red
If you earn enough money to cover your expenses, but you still end up in the red at the end of the month, living paycheck to paycheck with little or no security, then chances are you are spending too much of your money on non-essentials like takeouts or little treats to pamper yourself throughout the month. There is, of course, nothing wrong with treating yourself, but you should never do so to the point where you are left with nothing at the end of the month. It’s far better to cut back and ensure you have at least a little emergency money left over to see you through to your next paycheck, and it’s even better to keep some of that money aside to invest in savings.
You Aren't Sure Where Your Money Goes
If you regularly spend money but you don’t really ever have much to show for it in terms of assets or savings, then you are probably spending your money wrong. Any financial advisor will tell you that, if you want to be financially stable in the future, you need to spend your money smarter, and that means either investing it or spending it on assets like real estate that are likely to appreciate over time instead of depreciating and certainly not on meaningless things might make you happy in the moment, but which won’t give you any lasting pleasure or security.
You Aren't Getting Close to Your Financial Goals
Whether you want to buy a house, get rid of your debts, or invest into a sizeable pension plan, if you aren’t making much headway towards your goals, despite earning a decent enough salary to do so in theory, chances are you are making some poor financial decisions somewhere along the way. A good financial advisor or bank manager, for example, will be able to help you pinpoint where you are going wrong so you can redirect your spending in a more fruitful direction.
You Don't Have a Budget
If you don’t have a monthly budget, then chances are you are overspending or spending on the wrong things precisely because you are not accurately tracking where your money is going or giving yourself sensible limits on how much you can spend. These days, there are so many great budgeting apps that there is really no excuse not to have your own budget and use it regularly.
Spot any of these 4 signs? It could be time to review your spending!
