Why You Should Ditch “No Money Down”
We’ve all seen them – those commercials that promise new furniture, car, or home with no money down. What a good deal! Right? Well, think again. On the surface, no money down looks like a great deal but lurking underneath, there is trouble. 4 Drawbacks to no-money-down offers: No-money-down offers make you an OWE-ER, not…
Read MoreThe 6 Budgeting Challenges Most People Face, And How to Handle Them
When it comes to money, it’s more common to have challenges saving and budgeting than not. If you’ve found yourself caught between a rock and a hard place, there’s no need to worry or beat yourself up. These are common problems we all face, and with a few tips and tricks, you can work around…
Read MoreCan Corporate Bottom-Up Budgeting Principles Apply to Your Personal Finances?
While there are certainly many differences between your personal spending needs and corporate spending, understanding a business-based approach to budgeting may help you see spending and saving in a different light. For instance, businesses have different techniques for budgeting. The two most common types are top-down budgeting and bottom-up budgeting. These different approaches to budgeting…
Read More6 Easy Rules for Budgeting with Irregular Income
Having a plan for our money keeps us on track and lets us work towards our savings and investing goals. But how do you make a plan when your income varies? Whether you’re an employee whose hours vary or an entrepreneur starting your own business, having irregular income can often seem like a hurdle to…
Read MoreIncremental Budgeting vs. Zero-Based Budgeting: Which Works Better For Your Household?
With the consumer price index higher than ever before, you’ve likely considered how you can benefit from a budget. When you first start budgeting, it can be confusing and ambiguous. There’s many resources out there, but they usually say the same thing: plan your paychecks, reduce your spending, save your money for the future. Once…
Read MoreHow to Build Your Own DIY Budgeting Notebook
Budgeting gets a bad reputation because some people think it’s boring, only about making sacrifices, or—worst of all—doing math! But budgeting is all about you and your goals, and you can make the experience your own by creating your very own budgeting notebook. Like a hero crafting their own sword for battle, you can create…
Read MoreForget resolutions – it’s time for a financial New Year’s revolution!
It’s New Year’s resolution season! Even though many resolutions don’t make it until the end of winter, it can still be a helpful exercise for many people. Many years ago, I decided to begin each year with a financial revolution! Check out how Merriam Webster defines revolution: the action by a celestial body of going round…
Read MoreBudgeting Tips for Young Adults: A Parent’s Guide
A big part of adolescence is the excitement of becoming more independent than ever before, from going out with friends alone to learning how to drive. This is especially true for financial independence. Having money and financial independence is a new frontier for young adults, so learning how to build their saving habits early is…
Read MoreBudgeting for an Apartment? Here are 3 Things You Need to Know
Looking for an apartment can be a stressful process, especially if it’s your first time finding a place of your own. People will have lots of questions, and you may be overwhelmed looking for answers. What is your rental budget? How many applications can you afford? How does your credit score look to realtors? All…
Read MoreNeed to Track Your Regular Expenses? Build a Budgeting Calendar
If saving is something you worry about, you’re not alone. More than half of Americans have less than three months of expenses saved in their emergency fund, and a quarter of Americans don’t have any savings. While that may seem overwhelming, you should know that anyone can save, starting by building a plan for spending.…
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