Financial advice, basics, a financial plan

©Copyright LillyGrillzit all rights reserved January 10, 2011 written for Hubs Grow On Trees at HubPages

A. Always leave your self some financial padding in your checking / debit account.

• Lilly cannot explain why, but within a short time and a lot of lost money to bank charges, she learned that when you have a checking or debit account, Always keep a $20.00 padding in your accounts. Pretend it is not there at all. This will save you a lot of money over the years.

B. Beware of offers for things that are not really wanted or needed.

• Because an item is on clearance , close-out or buy one get one , does not make it a good deal for your Budget or home. 
• Buy only what you need and really want . Advertisers and marketers spend billions to trick a consumer into buying products. High color and glossy ads, show a dream. If you do not have a place for it, or really need it . Put it back, or decline to purchase it at the checkout.
• Buy what you can pay for at the time. If it is necessary to put an item on a credit card, because the funds are not available at the time, stop to consider if you pay the minimum monthly payment on that thing, it will never be paid off , it will never be yours.

C. Clear out the old, clear a space for the new:

• Closets, cupboards and cartons can become full and running over, with items or stuff that has not been used or touched in months. That is finance, and money piled up in junk.
• Clean a new space for each new item. If you Must have that item, decide a specific place it will go. Make up your mind, what you will get rid of, or donate to charity as a trade for space.
• Credit is NOT EXTRA MONEY. Charge cards only benefit those who are able to pay them off each month. Not paying the balance off each billing period, causes the card user to pay someone else a very high percent, to use their own money.

There are basic principles to budgeting and finance. This is not a topic people often discuss in a relationship or family. It is often a trickier subject to discuss than Sex. Humans are very connected to their finances.

If an individual, couple or family hope to have success in finance, they must openly discuss money and finance. Infidelity, and money problems are the main causes of divorce. There are so many programs available, to people, there is every possibility to traverse this rocky road.

No one is perfect, and in setting a budget or financial plan for the individual, couple or family, it is important that the budget doesn't become a terrible task master. 

1. It is important to budget Fun and Enjoyment in every person's life. This does not have to be a vacation to Disney World, it can be as simple as a standard Date Night for Mom and Dad. Camping equipment, or movie night.
2. If the budget is not successful on the first try, it is like anything else; it takes time and practice. Do not be too hard on yourself for not making the budget, just learn from it, readjust and go on.
3. In North America, there are many Counties, States, Cities and Parrish's who offer financial counselling free of charge or for a few dollars. Some of these programs actually will help First Time Home buyer's get down-payment assistance.