Читать книгу Retirement Planning For Dummies - Matthew Krantz - Страница 43

Few people enjoy saving money, but no one likes to waste money. And if you’ve followed my advice up to this point, you possess great insight into where your money is going.

But simply not wasting money is just the start to building a much better financial life for yourself. Over the years, I’ve seen the following easy ways that everyone can improve their financial situation:

 Save first. The easiest and least painful way to stop wasting money is to never see it in the first place. If you work for a company, sign up for a 401(k) immediately, and make sure you have enough taken out of your paycheck to qualify for any company match. The savings contributions will be taken out of your paycheck, and you won’t miss what you never thought you had.If you don’t work for a company and are self-employed, you have many options, too. I cover those in more detail in Chapter 6.

 Scrutinize subscriptions. Are you really using three music streaming services, or did you just forget that you’re paying for them? Also determine whether you're spending more to subscribe than you would if you bought or rented the object. For example, if you’re watching only one movie a month, you’re better off just renting than paying a monthly fee.

 Consider the total cost. This tip is related to subscriptions. Companies know big costs look smaller when you pay for them monthly.

 Know that few objects you buy will make you happy. Studies show that buying things rarely makes you happy. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett lives in a home in Omaha, Nebraska that he bought in 1958 for $31,000. Experiences and anticipation of good things in the future bring more lasting joy for most people than any material goods.

If you want to change the way you look at things, pick up a copy of Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Ten Speed Press). Kondo, a Japanese expert at helping people dig out of messy homes, urges you to pick up the things you own and think about the value they bring to your life. If objects don’t “spark joy,” you should donate, sell, or toss them. If you Kondo your home or apartment, you’ll be amazed at how many things go out the door and soon realize how spending money on things rarely makes you happier