How to Get Your Spouse to Budget
So, about 10 years ago I read the book that changed my life, Dave Ramseys Total Money Makeover and I knew it was time to start looking at our finances differently. I approached this thought to my husband and he didn’t understand. He felt like we didn’t over spend (which is mostly true), he told me that we are already saving each month (which we did), and making a budget just felt like a lot of extra work (which it is). It took me a few months of talking to him about it before I finally asked, “Can we just try it? Let’s just try it for one month and…
7 Easy Ways to Save For Christmas
Christmas comes every 12 months. We know that every 52 weeks Christmas will come again. It’s never a surprise, and is a fact of life. I absolutely love the Christmas season. I love the traditions, the lights, the love shown to others. What I don’t love is the cost (anyone with me on this??). When you include holiday parties, gifts, travel, etc. the expenses add up fast. One of the best things I have learned is to plan for this holiday well in advanced (like a year in advance). Today I want to share with you 7 Ways to Save for Christmas so that you can enjoy a stress free…
3 Steps to a Long Term Savings Goal
Did you know that half of all Americans do not have any money saved for retirement? I read this statistic the other day and it made me so sad. Long term savings is so important, but also one of those things that is easy to put off until “next year.” The future often looks so far away, it’s hard to remember to plan for it immediately. The truth is though, that the earlier you you begin to save for the long term, the more money you will have and the less stress you will feel. If this is something you haven’t been making a priority yet, I encourage you to…
8 Ways to Save Money on Utilities This Winter
It’s time to prepare for the cold winter months (I’m seriously not excited about this!). This is a time when sadly many households see a rise in utility costs. Fortunately, There are ways to save money on utilities during these harsh winter months. I live in a cold cold place and it is common for the temperature to dip below zero and the highs during winter are rarely over 30. It’s cold and it’s cold for a long time! I am determined to not allow these freezing temperatures to put a strain on our finances. 1. Wear Layers Stay comfortable in a cooler home by bundling up and wearing layers. …
When Not to Feel Guilty About Spending Money…
When it comes to spending money I usually have the motto, “Just don’t buy it.” This motto has served me well. It has helped our family survive a crushing job loss, save for retirement and our kids college funds, build up sinking funds, and allow me to continue my favorite job as stay at home mom. However, when you live very frugally and are tight with money, it’s fairly common to develop some spending guilt. Have you ever experienced this???? Spending guilt is actually a very good thing, even necessary in some cases. It can give us the extra kick we need to stop overspending and to start working towards…
The 2019 Master Your Money Super Bundle Might Be For You If….
I am an affiliate with Ultimate Bundles. I will receive compensation from purchases made through links in this post. All opinions are my own. I purchased the Master Your Money Super Bundle back in April and have been so happy that I did. This bundle has taught me a lot about saving money, living frugally, and budgeting, and I already knew a lot, so that is saying something. The Master Your Money Super Bundle is a collaboration of a few favorite frugal/budgeting bloggers. Each of these bloggers submitted their highly sought after eCourses, workbooks, printables, and more into ONE LARGE bundle. And because these products are all being bundled together…
10 Quick Ways to Lower your Grocery Bill
I am a member of online affiliate programs. I may be compensated by purchases made through links in this post. All opinions are my own. Groceries is one of the biggest monthly expenses. And, unfortunately food prices continue to rise every day. The good news is that you CAN use a few tricks to lower these costs, and still eat well. 10 Quick Ways To Lower Your Grocery Bill 1. Meal Plan Make a meal plan for all of your weekly meals and snacks. Browse through pinterest boards, and recipe books to give you fresh ideas of what to cook each week. As you meal plan, make a list of groceries…
How to Budget With Sinking Funds: Your Complete Guide to the Most Asked Questions
A few months ago my husband and I were able to go on a trip to New York City. It was a trip of a lifetime and we had the time of our lives! I am frequently asked how we save for travel and other large expenses. My secret?? Sinking Funds! Do you use sinking funds in your budget?? If you don’t use them yet, I strongly suggest beginning immediately! They have enabled me to save up for the things we want, and the things we need; and they allow me to enjoy spending GUILT FREE. I’ve realized recently that a lot of people don’t even know what a sinking…
How to Cut Your Budget; When There is Nothing Left to Cut
I am a member of online affiliate programs. I may receive compensation for purchases made through links in this post. All opinions are my own. I get a lot of comments and messages on Instagram; and a few of them just break my little heart! These messages are from those that feel they have done every single thing they can think of to find extra money in their budget, but there is just nothing left to find. These people have cut ALL unnecessary spending, only paying the bare minimum to live and they STILL can’t find any extra money in the budget. If you can relate to this in any…
Budget for Beginners: FAQ
Disclosure: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” I receive so many messages on a daily basis from people wanting to start managing their money and living frugally, but they don’t know how to take that first step. It is always so amazing to me when I see others who wans to improve on their life and financial situation, it can be scary trying to make such a big change into the unknown. There can be a lot…
