As the UK warily glances over its shoulder at the financial doom and gloom characteristic of the past few years, recent official figures have found the economy is actually growing faster than previously estimated – which is good news if you want to prepare for a healthy financial future in the New Year.
In addition to these findings, household spending rose by 0.8 per cent at the end of 2013, which seems to suggest Britons are ready to loosen their purse strings and begin formulating a plan to ensure their economic prospects look markedly rosier in the next couple of years.
Pleasingly, it’s incredibly simple to knock your finances into shape, with the extra cash in your pocket going a long way to securing your own peace of mind knowing that, should the worst happen, whether it’s another financial meltdown or an unexpected death, your family are well provided for.
To start the New Year off with a bang, then, it’s unnecessary to rely on a lottery win or some other fortunate twist of fate – all you need to do is browse through our four surprising tips to enjoy an extremely healthy financial future…
Prepare financially for your death
Far from being morbid, preparing for your own death demonstrates a commitment to the emotional and financial wellbeing of your family, with the easiest way to get ready being to browse the web for the best funeral plans. Although it can be unsettling planning your own funeral, the arrangements you make now allow you to receive the farewell you deserve, and your loved ones are shielded from the monetary burden death can bring.
Conduct an audit of your finances
In order to enjoy a healthy financial future, you should conduct an audit of your current finances to determine the state of your income and expenditure, and recognise areas where you can perhaps tighten your belt. Inevitably, a thorough examination of your spending is likely to lead to a budget, which will help you avoid overspending and help to ensure the cash you save is squirreled away for a rainy day.
Obliterate your credit card debt
As anyone with credit card debt will attest, the exorbitant interest rates can make it a massive barrier to overcome when attempting to get rid of your balance. No matter how much cash we throw at, the figure never seems to come down by much. As a result, it’s wise to use your card sparingly and try to only purchase items when you have the hard currency burning a hole in your wallet or purse.
Organise your important documents
By arranging all of your vital financial documents – bank details, insurance policies etc. – into one folder, it allows you to retrieve them easily when carrying out important business related to your economic security. Importantly, you can add other documents to the folder as time goes on, and it offers your loved ones easy access to the files they need if you happen to fall ill or pass away suddenly.