budget

Budgeting for Change: How to Handle More (or Less) Money

If you read this blog regularly, you already know that I’m a big believer in budgeting. And you also probably know that there are lots of great budgeting ideas out there, from the traditional to the creative.   But when it comes to budgeting, it really doesn’t matter what kind of budget you choose. What does matter is that you choose something that you’ll stick to – and that...

Five Must-Know Personal Finance Basics

You probably have distinct memories of learning to drive a car. Maybe you learned from your parents or an older sibling. Or maybe you took a driver’s ed class at your high school or community center. However you learned, chances are pretty good that someone showed you the ropes and made you practice – a lot – before handing you the keys to the family automobile.   This isn’t...

“Real-World” Money Tips for New Grads

Graduation is an exhilarating time – and a frightening one.  So much lies ahead after graduation, and it can be a little overwhelming to think about all of the choices ahead of you. Some of the most important decisions you’ll be making as a new graduate involve your personal finances. What you do — and what you don’t do — in this area can affect your quality of life...

Want to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck? Seven Ways to Break the Cycle

Living paycheck to paycheck is the opposite of secure.  You never know when an unexpected expense will tap into the money you intended to use for rent, groceries, or bills.   You want to save, but no matter how hard you try, there’s never any extra money to save for emergencies, debt repayment, or even that family vacation you’d like to take.  Even positive events, like anniversaries or birthday celebrations,...

Frugal Living: New Ways to Save

Ever get the feeling that there aren’t any new ideas out there when it comes to frugal living and budgeting?  Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy reading and writing about just about everything finance-related – but sometimes I feel like I’ve heard every tip out there.  Every savings and frugal living blog (mine included!) will tell you that things like shopping with a grocery list can help you...

Creating a Budget? Avoid These Common Mistakes

For the first few days, budgeting can be sort of fun:  You make a plan and sort your day-to-day expenses into neat little categories.  You review your fixed expenses, and you decide how much you’ll spend on things like groceries and the occasional nice dinner.  You happily imagine how much extra cash you’ll be able to sock away in savings or how quickly you’ll be able to knock down...

Three Creative Budget Ideas: Waterfalls, Envelopes, and Nicknamed Checking Accounts

Budgeting isn’t for everyone.  Yes, you read that right.  But let me explain.  What I really mean is, the standard budget – as in, the fussy, spreadsheet-style, track-every-penny type of budget – doesn’t work for everyone.  Fortunately, there are several budget options out there, and I try to make a point to keep up with the latest money-management and debt-repayment strategies.  Whether your money management plan is focused on...