If you are carrying a heavy student loan debt or facing the urgent need to refinance student loans, then these financial management strategies will be very useful for you.

Personal finance is an essential part of life, but that doesn't mean you are naturally going to get the gist of things without the right training, education, and resources. If you are unprepared and unclear on the processes involved, you could make costly mistakes that you could have otherwise, avoided. Take these tips with you as you get into any type of personal finance projects that will require more understanding.

Buying certain items in bulk can save you money over time. Items that you know you will always need, such as toilet paper or toothpaste can be bought in bulk quantities at a reduced prices to save money.

Sell everything you can to generate more money to work your way out of debt. Do you have a non-essential vehicle that could be sold to eliminate the monthly payment on it or, if you own it free and clear, to generate money to pay other debts? How about jewelry or pricey electronics? Get debt free!

Sticking your head in the sand and pretending that your personal finance issues will just go away serves no one. You will cost yourself more money and more stress in the long run by not dealing with issues head on. Take a proactive approach and work with your creditors to set up payment plans.

Don't let "ghost power" run up your electricity bill. Many electronics consume electrical power when off, but plugged in, for no discernible reason. By unplugging these electronic devices when they are not in use, you can save a little bit (between 1% and 2%) on your electric bill.

By taking care to control your cash flow, you will naturally have a property that is well-controlled. Track your income and your expenditures and assess the performance of your property as an investment at the end of every month. Be sure you have a firm property budget established to refer to as a guideline.

Selling scrap metal can be a rewarding way to make some extra money. The metal can be found being thrown away on trash night or if you want to try to make a business out of it, you can offer a scrap removal service and advertise your service.

Keep track of your bank account and credit cards to watch for fraudulent activity. If you see any charges that are not from you, let your bank or other financial institution know immediately by calling them. They will be able to freeze your account and prevent further charges from occurring.

If you have more than one student loan, consider consolidating them. Consolidated loans can be locked in at a low interest rate, often lower than the interest rates on your original loans. You also have the option of extending your loan payoff period if need be. Contact the agency that holds your student loans to see if you qualify.

If you discover an error on your credit report, your first step is to write a letter explaining this error to that credit bureau. The second step would be to contact the creditor who made the error and ask them to fix it. If you attack the problem from both ends, you are more guaranteed to see a resolution.

Make sure that you're never purchasing an item you cannot afford, even if you do have a high credit limit. There is no reason that you cannot make do with a 32-inch TV instead of that 60-inch mega-screen. Why spend the extra $1,000 on luxury when you know you'll have to pay back $2,000-plus with interest?