With so much to think about from a budgeting perspective, it’s easy for some monthly expenses to slip through the cracks. For many people, this means utilities.It’s easy to take utilities for granted, as you assume that you’ll always have access to what you need. However, even if this is the case, it doesn’t mean you can ignore the impact on your budget.There’s nothing more frustrating than watching the cost of your utilities rise. If this...
In today’s environment with rising education expenses, some are asking the question of if a college education is still worth the investment. Every parent wants to do the most that they can to set their child up for success, but many are beginning to ask the questions. Below I have outlined some benefits and why people are asking the question to give you a better perspective of deciding if a college education is worth it. Benefits...
One of the hardest parts of creating a budget is figuring out how much money you should spend on all your expenses. What's the right amount to spend on housing? Or transportation? Or entertainment? Having a guide to building a budget helps keep your spending in line. That's one of the benefits of the 50/30/20 budgeting method. Your spending on certain categories is kept within a certain percentage of your monthly income, so you can figure...
The more complicated your finances are, the harder it is to keep up with everything. You'll spend more time and effort trying to manage complicated finances and the stress of dealing with your finances may cause you to procrastinate. Overly complicated finances could lead to more expensive mistakes like missing a payment or overdrafting your bank account. If you've been feeling like your finances are all over the place, there are a few things you can...
Many people choose credit cards and loans based on the features, benefits, or the monthly payment, but there's a more important factor to consider - the APR. This number tells you how much you're actually paying to borrow money. The higher the APR, or annual percentage rate, the more you're paying when you borrow money. Finding the APR Looking at the APR gives you a better way to compare loan of the same type to each...
Coming up with a solid budget is tough even when you have a regular income from a job or business. Budgeting a fluctuating income can be even more difficult because you can't be sure how much money you're bringing in. In these situations, having a plan for to manage an unpredictable income becomes even more important to ensure all your monthly expenses are met without getting into debt or overdrafting your accounts. When you're self-employed, working...
If you are young and healthy, you probably are not that concerned about medical coverage. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t have an unexpected medical emergency and get you stuck with a huge medical bill. Some medical expenses can be so high they reach over 5 figures. Below are a few helpful tips and ideas. Please feel free to write any questions in the comments section below. Understand what happens when bills go unpaid: After a...
Do you typically receive at least one bonus check from your employer every year? Do you often struggle when deciding how to use the money? It’s not always easy to decide how to use a bonus check, but this is a good problem to have. If you need a push in the right direction, here are five ideas to consider: • Add to your retirement savings: No matter how you do so, you can’t go wrong....
With summer vacation season in full swing, you may find yourself scouring car rental websites in search of the best deal. There are several key steps you can take to save money, thus leaving more cash in your budget for more exciting purchases. • Book alongside other travel: For example, if you’re also booking a hotel and flight online, consider adding a rental car to the package. By booking everything at once, you’re in best position...
Do you remember the days when every cell phone carrier was clamoring for your business? From a free phone to a variety of monthly perks, they were willing to do whatever it took to make you happy. However, as cell phones became more popular, this all fell by the wayside. Soon enough, carriers were locking customers into long-term contracts. If you’re interested in getting out of a cell phone contract, here are a few things to...
