Managing Your Money

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Managing Your Money, Part 3: Helpful ways to spend smarter

When thinking about money, there's a lot of focus on income. But the way you spend has a huge impact on your finances. Spending wisely isn't always easy, but here are some important strategies to keep in mind:

Understand your needs

Needs: Housing Utilities Groceries | Wants: Entertainment Clothing Takeout/delivery meals
When analyzing your spending, you'll have "needs" and "wants." It’s okay to spend on both, and you can even find savings in each. For instance, groceries are a need, but by using coupons, bulk buying, and other smart strategies, you can spend less. For wants, like entertainment or shopping for clothes, it may be a good idea to prioritize the important ones and hold off on others.

This article has great tips for getting a better handle on your expenses.

Eliminate unnecessary expenses

35% of U.S. adults say they have unwittingly signed up for a subscription or account that includes automatic, recurring payments. Sound familiar?
Some hidden expenses creep into budgets without our even noticing at first. Maybe you forgot to cancel that free trial and now you’ve got a monthly streaming service subscription you don’t use. Or you’ve been ordering more takeout lately and the delivery charges have started to add up. Overspending doesn’t happen all at once. Control Tower is a good resource to use to check your accounts closely, especially for recurring expenses you don’t need.

Learn more about eliminating unnecessary expenses.

Create an at-a-glance report

Sample 12-month spending summary - 20% Flexible, 30% Discretionary, 50% Fixed
As you look at where your money goes, you may notice your spending changes from month to month, like a higher grocery bill or lower transportation costs. My Spending Report is a tool that provides a convenient way to see your spending in one place. It automatically charts every dollar you spend using a Wells Fargo Credit or Debit Card, check, or Bill Pay to help you keep up with your expenses.

What's next:

In next week's email, look out for ideas about preparing
financially for an emergency.
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