According to a recent survey,  one in ten people only check their bank balance once every six months. If you fall into this category (or dread opening up your account after a night out with the girls), you aren’t alone – but it is important that you become more financially aware. 

After all, being aware of your spending habits will help you to make changes that improve your financial situation. This will put you in the best possible position moving forward, whether you want to open your own business or buy a house. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to plan for a complete lifestyle overhaul, as small changes often go a long way.

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With that in mind, here are some small changes you can make to improve your financial situation.

• Work on your credit. One of the easiest ways in which you can improve your financial situation is by learning about the various ways in which you can Build Better Credit. This is because a bad credit score can impact your life in more ways than one and may act as a barrier between buying your home or obtaining a business loan. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can achieve this goal – such as by taking out an interest-free personal loan. 
• Set yourself savings goals. There is a clear difference between intending to save money and actually doing it. As a result, you need to hold yourself accountable when it comes to savings – and the easiest way to do that is by setting yourself savings goals. For example, you could aim to set aside $10 or $20 dollars a week so that you can use savings goals to build a strong financial foundation. Ideally, you should ensure that your savings are sent to a separate bank account so that you do not dip into them unintentionally. 
• Consider investing. Many young people count themselves out of the investment market as they fear it is too complex for them to understand, or they view it as something to get involved in later in life. However, investing can actually be a great way to boost your annual income with minimal effort on your behalf. While every investment comes with an element of risk, there are also plenty of tips for new investors to get you started on the right path. 
• Remember your budget. Budgeting is a straightforward way to reign in negative spending habits, grow your savings and improve your financial situation – however, this only works if you actually stick to your weekly or monthly budget. Treat your spend limit as precisely that – a limit – not a guideline so that you are less inclined to go over it (unless a genuine emergency presents itself). While this does require some accountability on your behalf, you can make it easier by using budgeting apps or writing down your budget and displaying it clearly within your home. The more you see it, the more likely you are to remember (and therefore stick to) it.