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Financial woes can adversely affect the quality of life for yourself and your family. Don't let your finances overwhelm you and leave you stressed. Whatever situation you are in can always get better when you take the time to learn about simple solutions that show you how to save and make your finances better. Read on to learn what to do to salvage your financial situation.

Are you married? Let your spouse apply for loans if he or she has a better credit score than you. If your credit is poor, take time to start building it up with a card that is regularly paid off. After your credit is improved, it will be possible to apply for joint credit.

Evaluate the contents of your investment portfolio once a year. Re-balancing can help get investments realigned with your risk tolerance and goals. Rebalancing also gives an opportunity to exercise the discipline of selling high and buying low.

Don't drink bottled water. Tap water is free and will save you lots of money. If you hate the taste of water, you can put a filter on the faucet, or add flavored powder. Both of the aforementioned will greatly benefit the taste and enjoyability of your water while keeping your wallet happier.

Opening a savings account can be very helpful in case of an emergency. Another incentive of saving money is that you can put away for a special gift for yourself, like a trip.

Avoid investment opportunities that have high fees attached. Brokers do collect a fee for their services, of course. Your total return can be affected by the fees they will charge you. It's important to research brokers before you use them. Find out what their fees are as well as any other costs associated with working with them.

Be sure that you set a day aside each month to pay the bills. This will allow you to reduce the stress as you will feel that you will not have to procrastinate. Mark it on your calendar and do it religiously. If you forget, this can cause a lot of future problems.

Select cheaper and less popular brands. A lot of the big national brands cost a lot because they pay excessive amounts to advertise their products. You can't go wrong with cheap generics, so stock up on those instead. There is rarely a difference in how the product tastes or its quality.

It's often a good idea to build up your credit score before making a major purchase such as a house or a car. You can either take a small loan and pay it back quickly or get one or two credit cards and always pay them on time. Always try to make a payment that is more than the required minimum on bills.

Put together a budget, and follow it if you want to take control of your money. It doesn't matter if you prefer software, or the old fashioned pen-and-paper method, keeping a budget highlights spending trends that are adjustable. This also allows you manage your spending habits more effectively.

Switch to a checking account that doesn't charge as many fees. Most people stay with an account they have had for a long time, even if that bank is applying expensive fees. Look for other offers and compare different financial products. Open new accounts with different banks.

Armed with these tips, you may have a little more confidence that your issues are within your control. You will be able to use this information to start improving your financial situation. With a new sense of hope, share this material with a friend who may be in need.