9 Great Gifts to Give Without Blowing Up Your Budget
Times are tough, money is tight, and the holidays are fast approaching. Many shoppers need to keep a tight rein on their spending, but don’t want to feel like the Grinch when it comes to giving budget gifts to friends and family. How can you save money while giving thoughtful gifts on a budget? Believe it or not, it can be done with budgeting help! Here are 9 affordable – and in most cases, free... Continue reading
Easy Ways to Trim a Household Budget
Grow your own vegetables, fruits or herbs
Nutritionists recommend eating several servings of fruits and vegetables a day, but buying produce at the store can be expensive. Many people are also concerned about pesticides and genetic modification in mass-produced foods. “Growing your own produce can save a significant amount of money,” advises Holland, “and you’ll have control over what goes on... Continue reading
5 Good Reasons to Curb Your Spending
I keep feeling I've already cut as much as spending as I can. Does everyone feel that way?
But look, I moved from NYC to a farm. There are no stores here so I have to go to eBay at 2am for something to qualify as an impulse buy. There are no avenues for splurging on spoiled children beyond buying an extra dog or donkey. But still I find avenues to extravagances that I hate giving up.
It's hard to... Continue reading
Finances 101: Opening Your First Checking Account
Finances 101: Opening Your First Checking Account
Opening your first checking account, no matter how old you are, is a sign of financial independence. In fact, it's almost a necessity to function financially. Before you open your first account, make sure you shop around to find the account that offers the best benefits. There's no one perfect account for everyone, so knowing which features are... Continue reading
6 Surprising Things That Hurt Your Credit Score
Your credit score might only be three digits, but it can have a substantial impact on your financial life because lenders use it to decide whether you get a loan and how much interest you pay. Nobody wants to lower their credit score, but if you don't know what to avoid, you could unintentionally shoot your financial self in the foot and lower your credit score. “If you’re close to a hard cutoff... Continue reading
4 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctors Visits
Health care is an unavoidable aspect of being human, and even with stellar medical coverage, it deserves a line item in your budget. According to the latest News and Numbers report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the average visit to a doctor’s office costs $199–but you’ll shell out $1,275, on average, for an outpatient hospital visit.
While you can’t control all forms of... Continue reading
7 Ideas for Personal Budget Tracking
At the end of the month, if you find yourself digging for coins at the bottom of your purse or saying to your spouse, "Where did all the money in our checking account go?" it might be the perfect time to start tracking your personal spending. Whether you're saving for a down payment on a home or you just want to know how much you're spending on what, tracking your personal spending will put you... Continue reading
Wedding Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Planning a wedding can be a whirlwind experience. Many couples who are planning this event for the first time can easily get caught up in the rapture of creating a fairytale event. Creating, evaluating and managing a wedding budget is the cornerstone to a successful big day. Even when couples have the best intentions of sticking to their budgets, there are times when things go off-track. Knowing... Continue reading
13 Simple Budgeting Tips For Summer Savings
13 Simple Budgeting Tips For Summer Savings
Summer’s halfway over, and with the kids out of school and family vacations still waiting on the docket, it’s easy to let your spending spiral out of control if you don’t know how to budget and save money. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can easily cut down on your expenses and pinch a few pennies without being so cheap you draw the ire of... Continue reading
What Qualifies as Disposable Income?
Knowing where you stand with your disposable personal income, your needs vs. wants, and your discretionary funds can help you maintain a balanced budget. Continue reading
