Category Archives: Budgeting

Preparation: Minimum Wage Challenge

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

Apparently I am already cheating on the minimum wage challenge even though I haven’t even started it. At least, this is the argument my sister has decided to make. I recently sent out a “Christmas wish list” to friends and … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Holidays, Minimum Wage Challenge, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged Christmas presents, financial preparation, gift request, Holidays, leveraging events, minimum wage, minimum wage challenge | 14 Comments

Car or Carless: Minimum Wage Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

The fact that I really dislike driving would seem to make the choice here rather easy. If I had my choice, I would not drive at all (and quite frankly, it’s ironic the amount that I do drive with this … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Cars, Insurance, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged car, car insurance, car payment, car travel, carless, gas costs, renting a car, repairs. maintenance | 15 Comments

The Significance of Income Level

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

When people start throwing around financial advice (and when you’re deciding which advice to take), one of the considerations that often gets ignored is the significance of income level. Advice gets thrown around about what to cut and how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance | Tagged Budgeting, Debt, debt level, high earners, higher income, income level, low earners, lower income, salary | 4 Comments

Preliminary Basic Budget Minimum Wage Challenge

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

I hate budgeting. I simply don’t like taking the time out of my day to run through the numbers when I could be doing so many more interesting things. One of the reasons that I think that I am relatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Frugal, Minimum Wage Challenge, Personal Finance | Tagged budget, budget help, Budgeting, Frugal, limited budget, minimum wage, preliminary budget | 6 Comments

Overcoming Financial Procrastination

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

Most people know that they need to actively manage their money. That means reconciling statements, reviewing investment choices, paying bills or making sure that auto-payments are happening, periodically checking for deals or better plan options on services, and learning about … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance | Tagged create habits, do it, fifteen minutes, fight procrastination, financial statements, money management, procrastination | 7 Comments

Don’t Chase The Cult Of The New

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

On one of the board gaming forums I frequent the term, “Cult of the new” is frequently tossed about by posters. What they’re referring to are all the new games that come out each year. They’re new, hot, and hyped … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Frugal, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged generation behind, latest toys, newest gadgets, newest generation, patience, premium price, upgrade | 1 Comment

Why Did You Shop Black Friday?

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

While it’s estimated that some 147 million people will participate in Black Friday, this is not the only choice that people had on how to celebrate. The day after Thanksgiving is also Buy Nothing Day, the biggest no spend day … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Entertainment, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged adbusters, Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, Entertainment, no spend day, Personal Finance, Shopping, spending habit, Thanksgiving | 3 Comments

When Your Needs Become Wants

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

One of the keys to financial success is learning how to separate wants from needs. It sounds easy. A refrigerator is a need. A car (in most cases) is a need. Housing is a need. Utility usage is a need. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged extra features, lifestyle inflation, needs, real needs, self honesty, wants, wants versus needs | Leave a comment

10 Reasons To Avoid Black Friday

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

With Black Friday just around the corner, you might be wondering if you should take a peak at the advertisements and possibly wade into the crowds to try to score a great deal. Don’t! Seriously, it isn’t worth it. You’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Credit Cards, Holidays, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged Black Friday, Black Friday deals, Black Friday strategy, crowds, day after Thanksgiving, great deals, Shopping, shopping strategies, waiting in line, wants vs needs | 6 Comments

Spend Money Where It Matters Most

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

One problem people have when it comes to money is prioritizing. They either don’t have the ability to sort out what matters most, or they simply can’t decide what’s most important. It’s a skill people need to master because achieving … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Shopping | Tagged financial success, financially savvy, flexible spending, prioritize, spending money, trade-offs, wants vs needs | 3 Comments

The Importance Of An Emergency Fund

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Jeffrey Strain

One of the most important assets that anyone can have when they are attempting to get their personal finances in order is an emergency fund. As any adult knows well, even the best laid plans rarely turn out exactly as … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance | Tagged emergency fund, emergency money, financial confidence, financial plan, financial worry, money worries, proactive finances, reactive finances, unexpected expenses | 38 Comments

You Should Have Always Been Spending As You Are In This Economy

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

For seemingly the millionth time in the last few years, I heard someone say, “Well, in this economy I’ve got to watch every penny.” I’ve heard so many variants on this thought these past few years. “In this economy, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged can't afford, cutting back, economic outlook, Economy, hard times, save money, watch every penny | 5 Comments

12 Ways To Save Money Getting A Haircut

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Danielle Warchol

I think that most people have either a love-hate or hate-hate relationship with their hair. It’s certainly one of personal hygiene habit that most people take extremely seriously (and there are a lot of hair myths that cost us all … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Frugal, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged barber, beauty salon, beauty schools, buzzcut, hair salon, hair stylist, hair trim, haircut, save money | 6 Comments

Subscribe and Save? Or Not

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

A lot of websites now offer “Subscribe and Save” programs. If you agree to have an item delivered on a set schedule (such as every week, month, every other month, etc.), you are given a slight discount over the single … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged brand lotal, product subscription, save money, save money program, subscribe, subscribe and save, subscription savings | 5 Comments

You Can’t Wing It

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

I have a relative who lives his entire life in “day to day” mode. Everything seems to happen to him by accident. His kids were unplanned (big oops since he can’t really afford them) and he has no career path … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged day to day, financial plan, long term plan, money fears, money success, planning ahead, winging it | 8 Comments

Things Worth Paying Someone Else To Do

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Dana O. Crandell

I’m a cheapskate at heart. I do my own mechanic work, maintain my own computer, do my own home repairs and will do just about anything I can manage on my own, to save money. So, it might seem strange … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Frugal, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged change oil, diy, Do-It-Yourself, pay or do, pay others, Saving Money, saving time, services worth paying, time is money | Leave a comment

Budget Categories Are Not Licenses to Spend

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

On one of the financial forums I frequent, a woman who was deep in debt posted looking for help. The main problem was that she couldn’t understand how their debt had ballooned because, “We have a budget.” When other posters … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Debt, Personal Finance | Tagged budget categories, budget plan, Budgeting, Debt, fun money, making a budget | 4 Comments

Taking Issue With The Balanced Money Formula

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

If you’ve read the book, “All Your Worth” by Elizabeth Warren, you’ve probably seen her “Balanced Money Formula.” You may have seen it even if you haven’t read the book because it has become the budget of choice for many … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Personal Finance, Saving Money | Tagged All Your Worth, balanced money formula, budget tool, Elizabeth Warren, needs, savings, wants | 8 Comments

10 Things To Avoid Buying At The Supermarket

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Danielle Warchol

When it comes to grocery store shopping, there are certain items that you probably want to avoid purchasing if you’re on a budget. In most cases, these are convenience items where there is a large mark-up simply so you don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Food / Groceries, Frugal, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged beauty products, cookware, diapers, grocery shopping, over priced, premade sandwiches, purchases to avoid, salad kits, supermarkets, too expensive, trail mix | 2 Comments

Monthly Money Challenge

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Jennifer Derrick

When I was first learning how to be frugal and save money, I used to do monthly financial challenges all the time. I’d pick a goal, like cut down or eliminate eating out, and pursue it with gusto for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting, Food / Groceries, Frugal, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Shopping | Tagged budget challenge, financial behaviors, financial challenge, Frugal, money challenge, money habits, monthly challenge, save money | 2 Comments