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...]
It's hard to think about Christmas shopping during the "off season," but you really should. The average household spends $800 on Christmas shopping each year, and if you're not ready for that expense, it can easily plunge you into debt. Put that $800 on a credit card at 19 percent interest, and it could take you more than 5 years to pay for it. There are ways to have a less expensive Christmas. But you have to start thinking about it now. … [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...]
Memory doesn't always serve me well when it comes to getting things done. Even when I have the best intentions to do something that will help me save money, sometimes the details slip by me. Has that ever happened to you? You got hit with a late payment fee because you forgot to pay a bill? You meant to save money, but then you got to the end of the month and you hadn't saved a dime? You're not alone. And there's one way to make sure you remember: Automate your finances. … [Read more...]