Budgeting

Six Simple Ways to Improve Your Budget

When it comes to budgeting, I think a lot of people expect that they’ll sit down with a few weeks’ worth of receipts and a pad of paper, do a little math, and create a household budget so perfect and balanced and practical that it won’t need adjustments or changes — ever. And this is where so many folks run into trouble.  We tend to see budgets as things...

Five Smart Ways to Spend (and Save) Your Tax Return

According to the IRS, the 2010 tax refund for the average American was around $3,000.  That’s a pretty substantial chunk of money.  Chances are, you already know how much to expect back from Uncle Sam this year – and you probably have some idea of what you want to do with the money when it lands in your bank account.   It’s easy to get swept up in fantasies...

Five Simple Ways to Save Big

Here’s some good news for folks who want to trim their budgets this spring:  You don’t need a complete financial overhaul to start saving some serious cash.  In fact, by making a few (very) small changes in your lifestyle, you can save hundreds of dollars a year.  Small things like skipping your daily cup of fancy coffee or changing a light bulb can make a big difference.   If...

Contemplating a Purchase? This Flowchart Will Help.

Financial success and stability isn’t all about budgeting and saving – it’s also about knowing how (and when!) to spend wisely.  The thing that gets people in trouble is that we make purchases based on our emotions.  Instead of weighing the facts, considering the alternatives, and making a careful and informed decision, many of us simply break out our checkbooks (or debit cards, or even worse, our credit cards)...

Valentine’s Day for Under $100

I’m not a romance guru, and I’m not the first guy anybody would go to for dating advice.  But I am good at helping people save money and live within their means.  So, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without getting yourself into debt or spending way too much, here are a few things you can do. According to a study by the Better Business...

‘Tis the Season for Saving: Six Ways to Save Big on Holiday Gift Giving

The holidays are right around the corner, and if you’re like most people that means you’re probably looking for a way to get into the holiday spirit without getting yourself into a mountain of debt in the process. It’s always fun to give gifts, but shopping for friends, family, and the person on your office’s secret Santa list can get expensive – fast. No worries.  This year, I’m kicking...

Five Budget-Friendly or DIY Substitutes for Day-to-Day Expenses

When you’re trying to save money, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly torn between needs and wants — or in some cases, needs or other needs.  And I think it’s this feeling more than anything else that keeps some people from sticking to a budget. But frugal living isn’t just about going without.  It’s about getting creative and finding ways to live (comfortably) within your means.  It’s about...

Eating Well on a (Very) Tight Budget

Want to trim your family’s grocery bill?  A family of four can make it – really! – on $70 a week. The grocery store can be a dangerous place:  There are shelves stocked high with chips and cookies (placed at eye level, of course); family-sized frozen meals and kid-friendly boxed lunches; and aisles full of tempting and (supposedly) thrifty offers like that buy-one-get-one-free sale on heat-and-eat chicken tenders. If...