6 Time-Tested Strategies to Manage Your Cash Flow

In the grand dance of personal finance, few facets are as vital and as underappreciated as the ebb and flow of cash – the monarch of your monetary kingdom. 

For many, financial fortitude is not about becoming an accounting aficionado but about learning how to navigate the currents of daily expenditure and income in a way that sustains and grows a healthy financial profile.

Cash flow management isn't just a buzzword among business moguls; it's a practice that can elevate anyone's financial well-being. 

This blog will unfurl six streamlined, real-world tactics that demystify the often complex and surprisingly personal world of cash flow management.

Harness the Power of the Digital Ledger

The journey to understanding and owning your cash flow begins with clarity. Invest in a user-friendly finance tracking app to monitor the minutiae of your monetary movements. 

These digital powerhouses transform the laborious task of manual tracking into a seamless, often automated process. 

Whether it's a high-end application that syncs with your bank accounts or a more rudimentary tool that demands your transaction inputs, the key is to develop a habit of reviewing your financial pulse regularly.

Cut Out Frivolous Spending with Daily Tracking

The subtle art of cutting down on unnecessary expenditures lies in tracking daily debit card purchases. This vigilant approach not only narrows down your spending habits but also starts shaping those habits. 

When you monitor the seemingly inconsequential purchases that collectively carve a significant slice out of your income, you become adept at recognizing what's essential and what's merely convenient. 

Some debit cards, like TAPT Debit Card, are also paired with tracking apps, making your tracking easier than ever!

Build a Contingency Plan for Unexpected Costs

Life's arc is often punctuated with unexpected expenses – a medical bill, a home appliance in dire need of repair, or a sudden surge in utility charges. 

Embrace these not as harbingers of financial doom but as challenges that a well-planned contingency fund can gracefully avert. Allocate a portion of your income to a high-yield savings account or an easily accessible cash reserve, and gradually amass a balanced buffer that would be the envy of any financial planner.

Negotiate Wiser Deals to Reel in Expenditure

Recurring monthly bills are more negotiable than you might think. From your smartphone contract to your car insurance, there's often room for negotiation. 

Carve out some time to research competitors and call your service providers who are knowledgeable about better deals elsewhere. 

This bold step not only potentially slashes your regular expenses but also sharpens your financial acumen, turning you into a more astute consumer.

Use Credit Cards Strategically

The credit card, often vilified but sometimes misunderstood, can be a double-edged financial ally. Aim to use it strategically, not as a loan but as a prompt, temporary line of credit that consolidates your purchasing power and offers valuable protections. 

Always pay off the balance in full whenever possible to avoid the shark-infested waters of interest rates. 

With a disciplined approach, your credit card can actually bolster your cash flow by providing cashback rewards or travel miles – perks that inject a bit of sweetness into the sometimes bitter act of expenditure.

Invest in Your Financial Literacy

Our final voyage in the sea of cash flow management brings us to an invaluable asset: knowledge. Educate yourself continually on personal finance, from reading blogs and books to taking courses or attending seminars. 

By deepening your understanding of financial principles and instruments, you empower yourself to make smarter, more informed decisions that not only manage your cash flow better but also set you on a trajectory toward long-term financial stability and growth.

Final Thoughts

Finances, like life, do not come with a manual, but they do come with the opportunity to learn and adapt. By implementing these wealth guidelines, you're not just a spectator of the economic tides but a seasoned captain, navigating with prudence, purpose, and the promise of prosperous shores.

A Guide To Managing Your Business' Finances In A Recession

Unfortunately, the economist’s projections for next year don’t look amazing for businesses worldwide. The Economy is predicted to be erratic, with high inflation. It has also been announced that we have gone into recession.

Despite this, there are many things that you can do to protect yourself and your business during these times. Many companies have survived recessions before and come out of them with a better perspective on managing their money. 

You mustn’t panic and start taking steps to ensure your business will be set for 2023.

Taking these steps proactively can ensure that you’re setting yourself up for success next year. When the Economy is uncertain, it’s best to look at every available angle that you can set up protections for your company in place. 

Making sure your staff are aware of any changes is also an excellent way to prepare the company for an unpredictable economic forecast.

Create a Cash Flow Forecast

Creating a cash flow forecast is one of the best ways to secure your finances going into an unpredictable economic year. You can take many steps to make a cash flow forecast, so you can plan. 

Make sure any bad debts are paid off, and your outgoings all sync up. Not being able to pay staff or suppliers can cause insolvency, so make sure you’re in a better position to start the year with. 

Analyzing your cash flow projections can make creating a cash flow forecast easier. Because sales tend to decrease during a recession, analyze cash flow projections based on multiple different scenarios for sales. 

A cash flow forecast can show the potential circumstances you could be working with and how you can manage around that to secure your business during a recession.

Use An Accountant

Although getting an accountant is more financial responsibility, it may work out better in the long run. An accountant can help with your projected and current cash flow by providing or advising on services such as bookkeeping and finance plans. 

They can also ensure that you’re paying the right amount of tax, which could cost you more in the long run if you find out you haven’t been. An accountant can also help find business funding and grants if you suddenly hit difficult times. 

It can be a great idea to help your business, and make sure you find an accountant for your field and region if you’re considering this.

Streamline Your Operations

You should look at your stock and find a way to streamline the business operations of the team you already have. This will help you in times of a recession and boost you in the long term. 

Look for ways you can free up your employees' time so they can better put their time into your business rather than things that can be done without. Streamlining your everyday operations could save you so much money in the long run.

Cut Down Your Expenses

If your cash flow isn’t looking good, there are ways in which you can cut down and re-negotiate your outgoings to free up a bit of money here. Auditing your spending can make a big difference to your cash flow forecast. 

Look at your outgoings and ask yourself- are all of these necessary? What are the things I can’t do without? Are there items that can be paused, and have you secured the best price or rate? Looking at your outgoings this way can free up cash that you might need. 

Ensuring your business isn’t carrying dead weight can make it much easier to survive a recession.

Don’t Cut Down On Things You Need

Some businesses go overboard with this step and make things worse for themselves in the long run. Make sure you have all the things you need in an emergency. 

For example, many businesses cut back on their cyber security services, which means they are at risk of a cyber attack. This can cost them thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands, as they don’t have a cyber incident response plan. 

Some businesses get rid of their insurance payouts, which means they are more out of pocket when an unforeseen tragedy happens. 

Don’t eliminate the things you need to protect your business- if you do, it could cost you more in the long run.

4 Financial Tips for Small Businesses

Financial management is a critical skill for any small business owner. Without a well-reasoned and executed plan, it can be easy to overspend and find yourself in debt. Here are four financial tips to help keep your small business on track:

Know Your Numbers

As a small business owner, it is important to have a strong handle on your finances. After all, your business' success depends on your ability to generate revenue and control expenses. 

One of the best ways to get a handle on your finances is to track your progress regularly.

Make sure to keep tabs on your income, expenses, and profits so that you can identify any potential problems early on. Additionally, try to create a budget so that you can better control your spending. 

By understanding your financial situation, you can make informed decisions that will help improve your bottom line.

Manage Your Cash Flow

Managing your cash flow is one of the most, if not the most, critical components to having a prosperous small business. This means having enough money to cover day-to-day expenses and unexpected costs that may arise from time to time. 

There are several ways to manage your cash flow, including finding a wealth management group, like Libertas Wealth Management Group, to help you invest your money wisely.

You should also keep tabs on your accounts receivable and accounts payable to avoid any potential issues. Also, maintain a healthy emergency fund to cover unexpected costs.

Get Insured

As a small business owner, it is important to have the proper insurance coverage in place. After all, accidents happen, and you don't want to be left holding the bag if something goes wrong. There are a few different types of insurance that you may want to consider, such as property or liability insurance.

Ensure to shop around and compare rates before making a decision. You should also work with an experienced agent who can help you find the right coverage for your needs. You can protect yourself and your business from potential financial ruin by getting insured.

Seek Out Funding

Like most small business owners, you probably need some financial assistance from time to time. Fortunately, there are some different funding sources available for small businesses. You can apply for loans from banks or credit unions or seek out venture capital firms or angel investors.

There are also government programs that offer grants or loans for small businesses. When seeking funding, it is important to put together a strong business plan so potential investors can see the potential for success. By securing funding, you can ensure that you have the resources necessary to grow and succeed.

Following these financial tips can help ensure that your small business is on the path to success. Keep track of your finances, get insured, seek funding, and manage your cash flow effectively to give your business the best chance for success.

Cash Flow: How to Select the Best Personal Loan for Your Circumstances

There comes a time in everyone's life when they need a large sum of money for a specified purpose. This purpose could range from paying down a mountain of debt to purchasing an expensive item. 

When it comes to obtaining the funds for handling such situations, many people turn to lending institutions in hopes that someone will offer them a personal loan that is right for their particular need. 

Since finding the right personal loan for their circumstances can sometimes seem like a daunting task, here are some suggestions to help with this endeavor.

Unsecured Personal Loans

An unsecured personal loan is a loan that does not require any collateral in order to obtain the money desired. 

Unsecured personal loans are considered high risk from the lender's perspective and generally have higher interest rates than secured loans. 

An unsecured loan would be best suited for those scenarios where the borrower does not have the assets required to put up for collateral.

Secured Personal Loans

Unlike the unsecured personal loans, secure personal loans require collateral to be put up as a means to secure the loan against default. 

This situation is more favorable to the lender and will often come with a low, competitive interest rate. 

Circumstances where this personal loan option appears best suited is with people who have assets to use for collateral and who are looking for lower interest rates to sweeten the deal.

Borrowing from a Credit Union

While there exist many lending institutions that specialize in personal loans, borrowing money from a credit union can be one of the best places to turn when you need a sizable personal loan amount. 

A credit union will likely be able to offer its clients a variety of secured and unsecured personal loan options. 

A credit union personal loan is best for people who are working on establishing better credit.

Family-Based Personal Loans

Just because someone needs money fast, this does not mean that a lending institution is in a position to accommodate any random person with the personal loan they need. 

According to Debt.org, a family-based personal loan may be the best option for some borrowers. Since this is a loan worked out between family members, it is possible to be far less strict about observing all the provisions of the personal loan in question. 

This type of personal loan option may, therefore, work best with people who have no functional credit to their name.

When attempting to acquire a large sum of money for personal reasons, a personal loan may provide a borrower with the monetary solution they seek. 

From lending institutions to family-based lending, the options for finding a decent personal loan are numerous. 

The type of personal loan that works best in a borrower’s circumstances will depend on a lot of factors ranging from credit history to a borrower's ability to make regular monthly payments.

How To Find The Money to Pay For Unexpected Expenses

Unexpected expenses are a fact of life. From medical bills to home repairs, the one thing you can anticipate is that bills will pop up. When that happens, creative ways to find money to pay for them can mean the difference between barely skating by and moving on with life.

Yard Sales

Yard sales may not seem like a sound way to make extra money, but if you have a large quantity of unused items, selling them will add up. Some people report earnings of several hundred dollars, simply by selling the clothes and small items they no longer use.

Selling Household Items Online

There is a brisk market for unwanted household items online. Sites like Craigslist exist primarily to help you do just that and recently, localized Facebook groups have seen surges in membership as people buy, sell and trade their items among others in their communities. 

Emergency Funds

If you have an emergency fund, consider the wisdom of using it for your current unexpected expenses. Emergency funds are an excellent way to hedge against the uncertainties of life, so if you have not done so already, consider this an opportunity to start by saving even five or ten dollars per month.

Find Out if You Really Owe

You may be able to negotiate your expense. Contact the company you owe and find out if they are willing to lower the price for a cash deal or haggle on some of the costs. This can be particularly true of service and medical bills.

Refocus Priorities

When funds are short, cutting the budget in areas with some leeway, such as entertainment, dining out or clothing expenses, can give you the money now to tackle that extra expense. Cutting those areas rarely causes long term issues but can give you immediate relief with bills.

Home Equity Loans

If the expense you need to cover is higher than the other methods can help with, consider a home equity loan. This allows you to capitalize on the equity you have in your home to create a cash flow, often at very affordable interest rates.

When you look around at your assets, you will find that there is almost always a way to find money to pay for unexpected expenses. With a little creativity, you can handle a bill you did not anticipate and enjoy the satisfaction of paying off a debt.

Informational credit to The Mortgage Centre.

Maintaining Positive Cash Flow in Your Business

If you do not have good cash flow, your business will suffer. As in your own life, the lack of cash flow can cause bad decisions to be made.

You may say my company makes lots of money. You pay all your bills and even have cash reserves for future projects. You don’t have cash flow projections, and you’re doing fine. 

The problem with good revenue flow is that all that cash could cover up bad business practices. The problem comes when the revenue falls.

Here are a few good tips for your cash flow management.

1. Always keep a percentage of cash as a reserve

When starting a business, you have an initial stake in cash. Many businesses make their first mistake by thinking everything will go well. In the first year of a new business, many things can go wrong. 

Business owners are great with business ideas but bad with the management of day to day operations. Keeping a percentage of cash in reserve will soften the bumps along the way of your new business.

Evaluating a company's financial statements helps you decide how to improve your business’s finances and plan long-term growth. Financing cash flow is a favorable option for businesses that generate revenue for sales but don’t have assets to offer as collateral.

Cash flow financing means borrowers use cash as collateral to secure a loan.

2. Accounts receivable collection times can be a nightmare

In the best scenario, you serve your client and expect prompt payment. But in reality, your client doesn’t see things the same way. Their business is on their minds, not paying you. 

Don’t let collections become a major part of your business day. You need to convey to your clients through invoices and communication that you want to be paid in a timely way.

3. Set up terms and discounts on your invoices

You’re not in the financing business. Offering credit to your clients is a courtesy, not a requirement. Do not let them abuse it. It’s OK to have terms on your invoices but don’t go overboard.

3. Don’t pay fees

Whether it’s late fees on your bills or NSF fees to the bank, it’s just unnecessary. Keeping track and being aware of what’s happening in your business is your job.

4. Discounts aren’t always necessary

It is not unreasonable to charge a reasonable price for your goods and services. Yet many companies fear losing business by not giving discounts. You will find when making business-to-business sales that your customers are not looking for unreasonable prices. 

They are counting on you, and they like your product or service. They want to buy from you and know you need to make a profit.

5. Don’t forget to pay yourself

There are two kinds of business owners, the ones that like to grow companies and are entrepreneurial and the others that look at the company as a cash machine. 

There are problems with both types. The business builder gets their satisfaction out of seeing a company flourish. The big spender looks for the company to furnish a high lifestyle. 

You need to find a happy medium between the two. The amount of pay an owner takes has to balance with the company's state. Finding the balance is the trick.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. How you manage it determines if your company prospers or fails.

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