There are a number of guides available online that give you advice on a whole range of life hacks. Life hacks are essentially small steps you can take to make life easier for you. However, if you’re able to hack your personal finances, this will put you in a much stronger position as far as money is concerned.

There are several different hacks you can take advantage of, ranging from interest free credit purchases to comparing energy suppliers.

Here are some of our favourite finance hacks that can be especially effective.

Pay off your high interest debts first

If you have debts from multiple creditors such as personal loans, credit cards, store cards or overdrafts, it can be hard to prioritise what gets paid first. What you should be doing is targeting those debts that have the highest interest rates. By paying these first, you’ll now be paying less money towards interest fees and charges. This will help you rid yourself of bad debt, and become debt free as quickly as possible.

Rewards for regular spending

There are a number of credit card companies that give customers rewards for using them. This doesn’t mean you should start recklessly spending money on big ticket items, as this could cripple your finances.

What you should consider doing is, using these cards for everyday spending. For example, if you were going to buy groceries or petrol anyway, it makes sense to be rewarded for it. Each company will offer its own benefits. Lots of supermarkets will even have their own store cards that you can use to accumulate points which can give you big discounts on other products or services the store offers.

Do remember to pay off any credit card balances in full each month.

Understand financial jargon

The more you know the better. Equipping yourself with the knowledge of what different financial phrases mean will help you understand exactly what is going on. You’ll want to know what interest rate, outstanding balance, creditors and insolvency all mean. Knowing this will help you make better informed decisions and help you feel more confident in making the right choices.

Catch the headlines

Watching or reading the news is a great way to understand what is going on in the economy. Besides, how else would you know when it’s a good time to invest or save. After all, the last thing you want to do is buy a property at the market peak if you can avoid it. You don’t have to follow every story in depth, just a few key insights on how the market is trending can make a big difference.

Spend less where you’re able to

Many of us have signed up for multiple entertainment subscription services that we don’t really make use of. This could be for a magazine or an online streaming service such as Netflix or Disney+.

If you’re not really making use of that gym membership amongst other subscriptions, it may be time to cancel. This will allow you to stop paying out for things that you’re not making effective use of.

Automating the process

No one wants to make a late payment on credit cards or utility bills. This will make you incur additional charges, and could have a negative effect on your credit score. Fortunately, it’s easy and simple to automate this whole process.

One of the best ways to do this is to set up direct debit payments for these. This will mean that the money will be taken from your account without any action on your part. Many people will set the date for these payments to be taken a few days after they have been paid.

Use budgeting apps on your smartphone

There are a number of apps available on your smartphone to help you better manage your money. Many banks will even have this as a built-in feature within their own application.

These apps can help you closely monitor your spending, allowing you to easily see where your money is going. Once you can see where you’re overspending, you can start cutting back in these areas. Perhaps, you’re eating out too often or you’ve recently watched too many movies at your local cinema.

Save money

Saving money each month can quickly add up to a substantial sum. You can start small and in time you’ll have the necessary funds for a big purchase or an unexpected emergency. Many people have their own personal financial goals, such as saving for a house, car or holiday. Budgeting correctly and exercising self-control will help you succeed here.

We hope you’ve found these personal finance hacks useful. These are just some of the most popular ones out there, and if you’re able to take advantage of them, you’ll thank yourself in the years to come.