Flisterers Info Center

Staying out of debt is very important to me, so I take pride in managing my finances and keeping on top of every financial commitment I have.

Unfortunately, debt can rear its ugly head at any time – and even celebrities can fall into debt. For example, a well-known celebrity recently fell into a lot of debt and had to get IVA advice (Individual Voluntary Arrangement).

So, I’m writing this to offer advice to anyone out there who is worried about their finances. I have never been in debt, and my financial situation is looking very healthy – and this is how I do it:

1. I don’t buy things I don’t need. This is obvious, yet it is the downfall of many people. When out shopping, if I see something I like, I ask myself – ‘do I really need this?’ – and the answer I almost always say is no! Unless it is something I actually need, then I don’t buy it. I do, on odd occasions, buy things I don’t need – but I always make sure I can comfortably afford it before hand. After all, you’ve got to treat yourself every now and again!
2. Clear all credit card debts on time and in full. Again, this is an obvious one – but it is so easy to fall behind with payments to your credit cards. If you find it difficult to meet your payments, then it probably means you are spending too much on your card. If this is the case, you may want to consider spending less on the card or even chopping it up.
3. Buy sale/budget items. Basically, when you go shopping, swap all your branded items for the unbranded equivalents and see how much you save. You will be surprised to see how much gets knocked off your bill! In addition, you should try and buy what you need from the sale items. However, this isn’t always possible as they may not have your desired item.
4. Pay for things with cash. This is a favourite of mine. If you pay for everything using your card, then you can lose track of where your money is going and how much you are spending. However, if you carry just cash around with you, you will know exactly how much money you have spent, and how much money you have left to spend.
5. Shop online. I sometimes do my shopping online to save myself money. You could do your grocery shopping online and have it delivered to your door. What’s more, you won’t be walking round the store picking things up you don’t actually need – so that should help you spend less and avoid debt!