Budgeting

Bill Payment Strategies for Procrastinators

From car notes to credit cards, monthly bills can be pretty overwhelming – and unfortunately, curling up in a fetal position and hoping our bills disappear doesn’t work too well. It can be a daunting task to sort out your monthly bills… and even more terrifying to pay them. This is likely why so many of us put off paying them until the 11th hour. But because creditors report...

Advice for Organizing Your Finances

Do you feel like you have no idea how much money you’re spending each month? Are your credit card statements always a surprise? In short, is your financial life disorganized? It can be extremely stressful to face the unknown every time you balance your checkbook. Lost bills, missed payment deadlines, and overdrawing your checking account leads to penalties and fees. Forgetting to pay a bill (or two… or three…)...

4 Ways to Stop Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck

Have you ever considered what would happen if you didn’t receive your next paycheck? Would this jeopardize your home, or make it difficult to buy essentials? This can be a terrifying thought – especially if you’re among the 78% of American households living paycheck-to-paycheck. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to break this vicious paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. We get it: Changing your financial habits can be tricky – but...

5 Simple Cuts to Curb Your Spending

Living paycheck-to-paycheck is all too common. In fact, recent data indicate that almost three-fourths of American workers with salaries of $50,000 or less rely on each paycheck to make ends meet. If you’re part of this (very large) group, chances are good that you’re also struggling with debt. To make a dent in your debt balance – or even pay it off for good – your best bet is...

10 Frugal Ideas Made Simple

What’s the best way to wipe out debt? Don’t spend more than you make. It’s a simple concept, but in today’s consumeristic society, it can take a lot of strategizing. Try some of these frugal living tips to make the most of the cash you have and avoid – or eliminate – debt. Tip 1. Buy in Bulk. Take stock of the nonperishable household items you buy frequently –...

Top 3 Benefits to Frugality

Okay, it’s time to get real: Statistics show that most of us are WAY overspending. We’re either not saving enough to maintain a sufficient emergency fund or – even worse – spending more than we earn. In fact, the average American household spends 90% of its income.  At the same time, wages across most sectors are pretty stagnant. Pay fell during the Great Recession of 2008, and most of...

4 Quick Tips to Build Up Your Emergency Fund

How’s your emergency fund? If you answered, “Very robust,” good for you. You likely have a secure financial footing, so continue what you’re doing. But if the words “your emergency fund” give you a deer-in-the-headlights pause, take heed! Financial experts agree that you should have enough savings set aside to cover several months’ worth of regular living expenses. This cushion will prove invaluable if you encounter the unexpected road...

How the 50/30/20 Rule Can Keep You on Budget

Ever heard of the “50/30/20 rule?”  This type of spending plan has been around a while, although maybe you’re not familiar with it. But if you find most financial management plans too complex to be helpful, the simple budgeting strategy within the 50/30/20 could be the key that finally unlocks your ability to get on top – and stay on top – of your financial goals. What Is the...

Cheapest Ways to Do Online Grocery Shopping

According to a Gallup Poll from August 2019, only 2 out of 10 American adults reported regularly doing their weekly grocery shopping online. Since then, due to necessity, many more of us are looking for alternative ways to access food and other basic needs by utilizing these services – but likely suffering the sticker shock of marked-up prices and extra fees that go along with the convenience. If you...

Eight Most Commonly Overlooked Budget Categories

Have you put the time and effort into creating a written monthly budget, and yet still find yourself constantly going over? Do you often find yourself pulling money from one budget item to cover unexpected expenses in another area? A well thought-out budget is a basic tool everyone should have in their financial toolbox, but if you’ve neglected to include some of the most often overlooked categories, you could...