Managing money isnt taught in school. Its just assumed that everyone will figure out the best way to save, spend, and invest once they start earning a real income. But its not easy, especially as bills and obligations pile up.The good news is there are plenty of ways to make your finances less complicated. By taking advantage of some basic money tools and tactics, you can ease the burden.So if you find that managing your income and expenses takes up too much time, here are five quick and easy steps to simplify your financial life today.Cut up that phone contractOne of the longest financial commitments that young adults make is a wireless-phone contract. The trouble is, when job circumstances change or you lose your phone, you get stuck in an expensive contract when you can least afford it.A smarter way to manage communication costs is to opt for a no-contract wireless plan. For example, SIMPLE Mobile offers 30-day service plans with no contracts starting at $25 a month, plus taxes and fees.That means more speed, more data, and more flexibility for less money.Automate your budgetTechnology can be a huge help when it comes to managing your finances, and one of the most popular things to do is to automate your bill payments and budgeting.For recurring bills, such as rent, gas, and electricity, arrange for providers to charge a credit card or deduct the money from a bank account. This will help avoid any late-payment charges and save time logging in to settle accounts each month.Then, use a budgeting app like Mint or Wally to automatically download those bill payments and other transactions from your bank accounts. These apps make it easy to access to your budget on the go and ensure its always up to date.Simplify your money goalsWhether you want to pay off your student loans, buy a sports car, or travel the world, focusing on one single goal can help you get there faster.Having a firm target will help you feel more in control of your money and resist the temptation to overindulge when the opportunity arises. Plus, youll already be doing better than most peoplejust 34% of Americans set specific financial goals in 2017.So instead of spreading your money thin chasing several financial goals this year, consider setting one goal to focus your efforts.Cut back to one credit cardOne of the fastest ways to simplify your finances is getting your wallet down to just one credit card.This makes it much easier to review each statement. If you have two or three cards, youre much less likely to go through each and every charge to check for errors. One statement makes that an easier process, saving time and money.A single credit card also means a single debt balance, which can help focus repayment efforts and get you back in the black sooner.Start a rainy-day fundFinancial experts recommend that everyone have a rainy-day fund for when life throws a financial curveball. But so few people actually do it.A simple way to start saving some money to cover unexpected expenses is to automate your savings. Open a savings account separate from your everyday account, and arrange for a fixed amount to be automatically transferred into it each month.This will help ensure that you have something to fall back on if you ever need it.Find out more about how SIMPLE Mobile can help you make the right financial decisions.Disclaimer: Please always refer to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at SimpleMobile.com. A month equals 30 days. Please note, if you switch to SIMPLE MOBILE, you may be subject to fees from your current provider. This post is sponsored by SIMPLE Mobile.Join the conversation about this story
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