Protect yourself from the unexpected.

With stocks going up and down and a very high unemployment rate which is at 9.1%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, and an unpredictable weather, it is very unlikely to know what is going to happen next. But, one thing for sure, is that you can make your money work harder for you like putting it in a high yield savings account or a high yield money market account. While you may not be able to predict what lies ahead for you, you will be able to protect yourself by being smart in protecting your finances.

There are 4 steps that are deemed very important if you want to protect yourself:

1. Know what to spend. It is very important that you keep track of what you are spending. It is ideal to do this each month. It is good to keep a record of your expenses like coffee and gas to rent, mortgage, utilities and more. By the end of the month, you will know exactly how much money is spent and where it is going. There are software programs that can help you with this.

2. Trim your expenses whenever you can. In other words, just live within your means. If you cannot afford, don’t buy. For example, you can rent movies and games at your local library and it’s free. One way of trimming expenses is by dropping a telephone landline and just use your mobile phone as your primary number. It is more convenient and very practical.

3. Minimize discretionary spending. Before going out for shopping, check what it is that you really need. Once in the shopping center, you will know what to grab and what to do away with. Ask yourself before grabbing that item, is this something that I really need? Or, is this just a want? If it’s a need, go for it, but be sure to shop around for the best value.

(more…)

Tags: high yield savings account, high yield savings accounts