S uccessfully managing your money comes down to one thingcontrol. For all the things we talk about here at The Dough Roller from retirement to investing and taxes to credit cards, financial freedom and sound money management come down to whether you control your money. or whether it controls you. As Ive often said, the good news is that sound, wealth-building money management is simple. The reality check, however, is that managing your money, while simple, is not always so easy.

Two things make managing money difficult. The first is that for most of use, we always want more. We often see contentment not in who we are or what we do, but in what we have. The result is constant pressure we put on ourselves to have more. The second thing that makes controlling our money difficult are the endless issues and options when it comes to money. How much do we save for retirement and where do we invest it? How do we track our spending each month. Should we buy or rent a house? How much life insurance should we buy? The financial decisions we are called upon to make can feel overwhelming.

While no single article can cover every money management issue, in this Easy Guide to Money Management, well look at 10 simple and easy to follow tips and tricks to help us better manage our money.

Money Management Tips and Tricks

1. Track spending by using a debt or credit card. I hate keeping track of everything I spend. Ive tried in the past, with good intentions and a fancy spreadsheet or money management software. But I just dont keep up with it. So now I use a debit or credit card for virtually everything I buy. Everything. If I use a credit card, I pay it off in full every month (and earn travel rewards or other rebates along the way). And at the end of the month, I have a complete record of everything Ive spent.
2. Keep track of your net worth. Determining and tracking your net worth is one of the most important financial management steps you can take. Your net worth is simply the value of everything you own less the amount of all your debts. Its net worth, not income, that determines true wealth and financial freedom. And it is key to remember that a monthly budget is closely tied to net worth. What happens with your monthly budget, whether you spend more than you make or make more than you spend, is reflected in your net worth. Make more than you spend, and the extra income ends up in either increased savings or decreased debt. Spend more than you make, and your debt has to go up. Ive tracked my net worth on a simple spreadsheet for years, but you can use money management software such as Quicken or Microsoft Money if you want.
3. Start investing today. I started investing as soon as I graduated from college. I did not wait until my school loans or other debt was paid off. It was not a lot of money at first, but even a little adds up over time. And dont get twisted over where to invest your money. Picking sound mutual funds in a well diversified portfolio is a snap. Here are some articles to get you started:
4. How to pick your first mutual fund
5. How to Evaluate a Mutual Fund
6. How to Invest in Mutual Funds
7. Asset AllocationAn Easy Way to Invest
8. Prepare for periodic expenses. Car insurance, life insurance, Christmas and other gifts, car repairs and the like never come at a convenient time. So be prepared. I recall how free it felt when I set aside 1/6th of my semi-annual car insurance bill each month so that when it was due, I had the money to pay it. It takes discipline to manage your money this way, but it is definitely worth the peace of mind. And if you are looking for an a place to stash your cash at good interest rates on savings accounts, check out these online savings accounts .
9. Save for emergencies. Whether you save three months, six months, or even one month worth of living expenses, save for emergencies. Otherwise, youre living paycheck to paycheck, and there is nothing more liberating than realizing you can survive for some period of time without earned income.
10. Diversify your income. I dont care how much you make from your job, having a steady stream of additional income from another source is liberating. I get my multiple streams of income by making money blogging and real estate investing. There are many ways to earn a second income. Just pick one and get rolling.
11. Buy a home and live in it a long time. I know that with falling real estate prices, many now claim that renting is the way to go. But long term ownership of real estate can build substantial wealth; renting never will.
12. Take advantage of free money. In my research for The Dough Roller, Ive run across hundreds of ways to save money. And Im particularly fond of money saving tips that do not require me to sacrifice anything. I take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit card offers; I buy store gift cards at a discount ; I bought my last car on the Internet from a dealer 500 miles a way and had it delivered to my home; and I look for ways to lower my utility bills. Im not frugal; never have been. But I also dont pass up a good offer when I see one.
13. Give to a good cause. Whether it is your church or some other charity, give some of your money away. Whats the point of all this money management fuss if we do not do something meaningful with at least a small portion of our income.
14. Take advantage of the internet. The internet provides a wealth of tools to help manage your money. Ive already linked to online budget tools above. But think of all the things you can do via the Internet in relation to money management: access your checking account, view your investments, apply for a credit card. get a mortgage, check the value of your home. check the value of your bosss home, prepare and submit your income taxes, find money saving deals, comparison shop, and the list could go on forever.

So there is a list of 10 easy money management tips. Do you have other tips to help readers take control of their money? If so, share our ideas in the comments below.