To change your spending habits you have to change how you respond to the cues that typically tempt you to spend money. For example, you may typically see something in the store, want it, and then purchase it. But, there are some little mind tricks you can use to spend less money. Know how long you have to work to afford it. Divide the cost of the item by your hourly wage to figure out how...
Your budget is sure to have both fixed and variable expenses. For example, your mortgage (or rent) and car payment are fixed. They don’t change from month to month. Conversely, there are variable expenses that jump up and down on a monthly basis. Your goal is simple: to shave as much money as possible from these budget categories. By doing so, you will soon find yourself with the ability to save more. Where should you start?...
If you’re a big picture type of person, certain details of your finances can easily slip through the cracks. While it’s important to watch the bottom line, it’s equally important to pay attention to all the items that contribute to the bottom line, too. Here are some financial details you can’t afford to ignore. How much you spent this month. Continually monitoring your spending is key to ensuring you’re staying within your budget and not spending...
With October coming to a close, it won’t be long before the calendar is turning. At that point, you will look back at 2015 and ask yourself this one very important question: did you reach your financial goals? While some people have met their goals early, others are left with a couple months to make progress. Where do you fit in? Here are some of the most common financial goals, many of which may be on...
This topic comes up year in and year out, however, many people continue to make mistakes during the holiday shopping season. It’s not that they don’t have fun. Here is the problem: they neglect to take the right steps regarding their budget, shopping list, and overall approach. If you have run into issues in the past, if you want to avoid a similar fate this year, there are a few things you can do to get...
Go back in time a couple decades and nobody was paying their bills online. Instead, the only option was to send a check at the appropriate time of the month. While this is still a way of life for many, others are taking full advantage of technology. There are many benefits associated with paying bills online. If you have avoided this in the past, the following points may be enough to push you in this direction...
If you own a car, you know one thing to be true: you must stay on top of regularly scheduled maintenance if you want it to remain in good working condition. The problem with this is that vehicle maintenance is not always cheap. If you are looking for ways to save on this expense, there are three simple options to consider: 1. Do it yourself. Even if you don’t know much about vehicle maintenance, you may...
No matter how you look at it, a budget is extremely important. This keeps you on track, day in and day out, regardless of your income and expenses. While some people prefer the old fashion method of a “pencil and paper” budget, others have come to realize the benefits of creating a spreadsheet. It may take a little bit of time to setup a spreadsheet that suits your situation, but in the end it will bring...
You sense something’s wrong with your finances because you never seem to have enough money. Here are a few signs the problem is that you’re not making enough money. You already broke within a few days of getting paid. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, or worse ending up broke before payday rolls around again, you may not be making enough money. You have to dip into savings to make ends meet. That’s if you still...
Cooler weather may be a welcome change from the summer's heat, but it won't be long before you'll need to crank up your home's heating system. Now is the time to get prepared and check that everything is working properly so you'll be cozy at home when it turns cold outside. Maximize your heating system's efficiency. Vacuum your air vents, clean or replace your furnace filter every month, and clear debris such as leaves, dirt, and grass...
