Look at your spending patterns and decide what you can afford for nonessential purchases (e.g., entertainment). Budget for a weekly allowance and withdraw it each Friday from your bank or ATM. Stick to your decision not to withdraw any more money until next Friday.
Don’t buy something simply because it’s on sale or because you have a coupon. It’s not a good deal if you don’t need it. Shop around for telephone, Internet, and TV services that offer what you need at the lowest price.
If you tend to buy things impulsively, stay out of stores unless you’re looking for a specific item.
Before you go to the grocery store, set a firm spending limit. Make a shopping list, bring it with you, and cross off items as you add them to your cart. Take along a pocket calculator (or use a phone app) and keep a running total. Buy necessities first (e.g., bread, milk, paper products).
Seek out free or low-cost entertainment. Many zoos and museums are free on certain days of the week. Go to movie matinees or rent DVDs from your local library. Have potluck dinners with friends instead of eating out.
Leave your credit card, debit card, and extra cash at home when possible. If you don’t have a way to spend money, you won’t spend it.
Sign Up for Online Banking
Online banking services are especially useful for people with LD. Choose a bank that offers free checking and free ATM transactions and talk with a staff member about their online money management tools.
Your online account shows you a list of all your deposits and payments, including ATM withdrawals. Your balance is automatically tracked, and you can check it any time. Your bank can also help you save money by setting up an automatic monthly transfer of funds from your checking account into a savings or money market account.
Paying Bills
Set up an area in your home where you’ll keep everything you need to pay bills and balance your checkbook. Have supplies (e.g., paper, pens and pencils, stamps, calculator) and an accordion file or hanging file with folders labeled for important papers, such as “bank statements” and “credit card bills.” Buy a budget book in which you can record all your expenditures, keep track of savings, and estimate future expenses. Keep a calendar to note when you receive monthly bills and when each is due.
Other Suggestions
Open each bill when it comes (or print out the electronic bill) and mark the due date on your calendar. Also note scheduled automatic payments on the calendar so you’ll know when those funds will be pulled from your bank account.
File each bill in a folder you’ve labeled with the date you’ll pay monthly bills, such as the 15th.
On that day, take out all bills from that folder, use a calculator to figure out the total, and check your balance (preferably online) to be sure you have enough money to pay each bill in full.
Finish each bill: write and record each check, enclose it in an envelope, seal and stamp the envelope, mail.
File payment stubs in another folder labeled either with the date (“Paid on February 15”) or the category (e.g., utilities).
Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees.
Online bill paying, including automatic payments for regular monthly bills, ends the problem of misplaced envelopes and late fees. Most banks will allow you to schedule payments to coincide with paydays.
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