Here’s a step-by-step guide that will ensure you always pay your rent on time.
Budget
The first step to paying your rent on time is making a budget. Nobody likes making a budget, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy.
Write all your payments for the month on a calendar, on their due date, then write all money entries, on the day you receive them.
Every payday, pay all bills that are due between now and your next payday.
For larger amounts like rent, figure out how much you need to put aside from each paycheck to be able to make the payment in due time. Switch that amount right away in a savings account.
What’s left of your paycheck is for groceries, gas, and personal expenses.
Categorize
Split your expenses into two big categories: “needs” and “wants.” Your “needs” are all essentials like rent, groceries, gas, electricity, and any loan you need to pay off. Your “wants” are non-essential expenses like restaurants, gym memberships and nights out.
Make an average of how much you spend each week on variable “needs” like groceries and gas and put that money aside. Use cash for non-essential expenses. Write your “wants” categories on envelopes and put the amount you want to spend on this in each envelope. Seeing the money coming out of the envelope is often enough motivation to cut down on expenses.
Learn to Be Frugal
Write each amount you spend and a detailed description of what you spend it on. For example, split your groceries into categories like meat, vegetables, junk food and so on. Write every cup of coffee you grab at the coffee shop on your way to work.
After a month or two, add up how much you spent on each category or item, and determine on which non-essential expenses you can cut. Do you eat out every week? Can you cut one restaurant next month? When doing your groceries, can you cut down on the junk food? Do you need such a big phone plan or could you do with a smaller one? Would it be cheaper to invest in a coffee machine instead of stopping at the coffee shop every morning? These are all examples of questions you should ask yourself. Every person is different, so it’s up to you to determine where you should cut.
Start Saving
Take the money you’re saving by cutting on expenses and put it in an emergency fund. Next time you have unexpected expenses, you won’t have to resort to credit.
Be Gradual
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize it’s not that hard to live more frugally, pay your rent on time, and save money. Don’t try to change everything at once. Do it gradually. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can save up money.