4 Habits of Highly Frugal People (Guest Blog by Barney Whistance)

Thank you, Barney, for contributing to the Growing Forward Services blog this week! GFS friends, heed Barney’s tips on your journey to financial freedom!

Frugality is a trait that financially independent people possess and believe in to escape the clutches of spiraling debt. Conscious effort is made on their part to succeed in their endeavors and establish habits that will ensure that their goals are met. They know smart ways to spend their money and are definitely not the type of people who are waiting for you to pay for their food and drink. They are just wiser with their money. Accept it! Adopt these certain frugal tips to be more financially responsible and live a respectful life.

1. Boost the rate at which you save

Yes! Yes! I know you have heard it a thousand times over that savings are a must. Whether or not you are in debt, saving is always a wise option. However, when specifically under a lot of debt the best way is to rely on your savings. Whether you are a college student struggling to pay for your educational expenses or a recent graduate striving to capture a good job to make ends meet, savings can save the day anytime. The more financially stable you are the easier it will be for you to tackle debt and its grave repercussions. Save, save, save until you feel that your bank account is full enough to support you in times of distress. There’s no harm in saving but spending recklessly can certainly take a toll on you.

2. Take control of the situation before it controls you

Just like there is positive stress that motivates you to achieve your goal similarly you need to be in control of your finances and not let it control you. They adopt a proactive approach to spending and saving money by precisely budgeting the cash inflows and outflows. Not only do they consciously cut down on their expenses but also maximize income and find ways of passively earning more and more income. The derived income is then directed towards investments that help them reap benefits in the long run.

3. Assigning due importance to investment options

People who religiously follow frugality know the importance of money being in continuous motion as it is a vicious circle. Trying out investment options and having your money safely locked in some viable investment options will secure your future, even if that means scarcity of funds to pay for bills. If you call yourself a truly frugal person you are sure to know ways to cut down your bills in no time. They take care of the priority of investing first and then catering to other financial responsibilities.

4. Keep the long-term goal in mind

Just because you are a frugal person does not mean you do not have any wishes or desires to spend. It’s just that you have the right amount of self-control to make the best of the present situation to secure a bright future. Saving in the moment may require a lot of determination and will power on your part but you are sure to reap the benefits in the long run. With the final destination in mind, to be as financially independent as possible, frugal people work accordingly. They firmly believe that the sacrifices they make now will shape their future.

Barney Whistance is an enthusiastic Finance and Economics blogger who is most interested in global economic climate. Apart from doing majors in Finance, he is also a Chartered Accountancy Student and planning to complete his Ph.D. in Finance before he turns 30. For more updates follow him on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Gmail