I spend a lot of time reading, writing, and thinking about personal finance.   There are all kinds of "do's" and don'ts" of personal finance, and they vary depending on the person giving out the advice. There are plenty of folks out there to tell you what you should always do with your money and what you should never do with your money.  And sometimes they give good advice.  For example, you should always accept responsibility for your financial situation and you should never do anything … [Read more...]

The mail comes and there's a bill you'd forgotten was coming.  How can this be?  You have a budget! But sometimes we spend so much time focusing on the day-to-day tracking of expenses when we budget that we forget to plan for the larger, irregular expenses that pop up. … [Read more...]

How much did you spend on groceries this month? How much did you spend on eating out? Can  you answer the question definitively?  Or are you just guessing? We talk about sticking to our budgets and about whether or not an expense is in our budget, but according to a 2013 Gallup Poll, only 32 percent of Americans actually have a written budget. Without that written budget, how do you really know if an expense is in your budget?  Just because you can see money in your bank account isn't … [Read more...]

So you're having a baby.  Congratulations!  Welcome to an exciting time in your life!  It can also be an expensive time as you shop for a crib, a carseat, a stroller, and all of those adorable little outfits for your baby. In the midst of all that prepping for baby, it can be easy to forget that you need to prepare financially for maternity leave.  The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave and still keep their jobs following the birth of … [Read more...]

I can remember a time when I would see something I liked and I would just buy it.  If I didn't have the money, I would put it on my credit card and figure out how to pay for it later. Those were the broke years.  Once I started using money rules to save, managing my finances got a whole lot easier. … [Read more...]

Around my house, every week is a week to save.   But for many people, saving money seems like a daunting task. According to a 2014 survey conducted by America Saves and American Savings Education Council, only 4 out of 10 people have a spending plan that allows for sufficient saving.   And only about 1/3 of those surveyed feel prepared for their long-term future. It's time to work on changing that.  It's America Saves Week. … [Read more...]