Two questions have been rattling around in my brain lately. Both have an effect on how we spend and save our money. 1. How Do You Define Yourself? I guess I haven't thought about it too much until the other day when I overheard someone say that their house defines them. I thought that was odd, but perhaps others think that way. Is it a clear … [Read more...]
Don’t Budget! Make a Spending Plan!
Putting the Budget Puzzle Together Why do we shrink from the word "budget"? We just don't like being limited in any way. We want our cake and eat it too. We want all the candy in the candy store. We know this is unrealistic, but the fantasy of "having it all" continues to dominate our psyches. What can we do? We can adopt a mindset of … [Read more...]
How to Stay Motivated to Save Money Using a VIP List
How to Save More Money Here's a way to trick your brain into saving more money for your goals. It's somewhat painless. You think of ways of spending as either important or not. Give this simple plan a try. 1. Make a list of things that are important to you. Just put down everything and anything that comes to mind. Don't make any … [Read more...]
Organize Your Wallet to Save Money, Time, and Stress
Remember the Seinfeld episode where George's wallet was so full that he was getting chronic backache? He said it was his personal filing system. Don't be George. Get organized instead!There are some good ideas in this article at The Simple Dollar like keeping a photo of your money goal next to your credit cards. He also tells you how to combine … [Read more...]
10 Spending Warning Signs
Do you recognize yourself in any of these? The wallet stuffed with credit cards is a big clue that you are spending too much. Click title for link at DigeratiLife. Good list and true. … [Read more...]
Don’t Let Your Fiance’s Debt Ruin Your Credit
Your fiance has a terrible credit rating. What to do? Here are some steps you can take. I'm adding that this should be a red flag warning you that your fiance might not be so easy to be married to. Make sure (s)he gets their spending habits under control before you get married. And talk often about how you will manage your money after … [Read more...]
Infographic: Where Does the Money Go?
These stats are for the average household of 2.5 people with 1.3 wage earners. The pre-tax income is around 63,000. Obviously your situation will be different, but it's fun to see how we stack up to the "average." You might not spend anything on tobacco (yay!), and spend more on gas. You might not spend as much on entertainment, but more on books. … [Read more...]