Congratulations! You have just landed your first job after school and are eager to stop relying on handouts and live a good life. Even so, the unfortunate truth is that you might not be making as much as you want to spend. Moreover, once you pay your bills, there is barely enough to support your desired lifestyle. The good news is that with some spending management skills, you can still afford a good life irrespective of your salary.
Your first step is to get cheap student accommodation in London. While the word student might put you off thinking of crowded and noisy residential halls, this is far from the case. Hostels nowadays have different room options with varying levels of privacy and quiet. You can thus get a private, spacious room at the hostel at a fraction of the cost of renting an apartment. This also means minimal transportation expenses since you will be in the heart of the city and close to offices and entertainment spots. The following are other ways of managing your spending.
Stick To a Budget
There are several articles on how to make a budget and what to include and exclude. A budget is no doubt essential, but sticking to one is a common issue. While you might come up with the best possible budget, you will not do much if you cannot stick to it. You need a high discipline level to stick to your budget, but the gains you will actualise in the end are worth it.
Invest Only In the Necessary Insurance
Most people confuse insurance for investment. This is especially so when working with a marketer skilled in the art of persuasion and the allure of the tax deductions you stand to claim. Insurance is nonetheless only meant to cover some of the risks you will face daily. You should thus only buy insurance for only the threats that apply to your lifestyle.
Have Enough Cash Flow
Most financial gurus will advise you to maximise your retirement savings. It, however, makes little economic sense to put so much money into an event that is still years away and have so little now. Have a sufficient cash flow to cover your daily expenses. This way, you will minimise the need to borrow to meet your expenses as this comes with interest rates and obligations that will ruin your entire financial stability.
Settle For Inexpensive Entertainment Options
Most of the cash spent by young professionals goes into entertainment. Managing your finances nonetheless calls for ways of minimising spending. You need not shun entertainment altogether but instead opt for inexpensive methods of doing it. Rent a movie and enjoy it indoors with your friends rather than going to the cinema, for instance, and have potluck rather than expensive restaurant dinners.
Managing spending for young professionals sounds like an austerity measure they would rather not cope with. The above techniques nonetheless guarantee your salary lasts until your next paycheck, and you have money set aside for an emergency. This gives you sufficient peace of mind to enjoy your youth and the peace of mind to focus on scaling your career heights.
