budgeting Archives - Empathic Finance

Do you have to track your spending forever?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on July 1, 2024 | Featured

Some people resist the idea that they should track their spending forever. But what else gives so much benefit for a small amount of work? … Read More

Tags: budget, budgeting, spending, tracking

Better financial habits are easier when you stop using credit cards

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on January 22, 2024 | Featured

The simple act of not using credit cards will naturally lead you into all sorts of other better financial habits too. … Read More

Tags: budgeting, credit card, credit cards, savings

Mint is shutting down: what are your alternatives?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on November 6, 2023 | Featured

With the announcement that Mint is going away, people are looking for alternatives. But the best option is to use no service at all. If you’re a user of Mint, the personal finance app, you have probably heard the news … Read More … Read More

Tags: budgeting, Intuit Mint, Mint, spending, tracking

Pouring the jug: How to handle when your income is irregular

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 21, 2023 | Featured

I propose an allegory and model for thinking about how to deal with irregular income in a way that will help you reduce risk and uncertainty. … Read More

Tags: budgeting, float, income, irregular, spending

What if you hate spreadsheets?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on May 15, 2023 | Featured

For those who want to track their spending but who hate spreadsheets, fear not, as you have multiple options. … Read More

Tags: budgeting, spreadsheets, tracking

3 reasons to ignore your bank’s spending categories

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on May 8, 2023 | Featured

You should decide your own categories based on your specific situation. Also, your bank will always be wrong. … Read More

Tags: banks, budgeting, categories, spending, tracking

What to do when you’re paid biweekly

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on January 2, 2023 | Featured

You’re not getting bonus checks, even if it feels like you are. But getting paid biweekly gives you an chance to ensure some serious savings. When people get paid a regular income, it can happen at various frequencies, but there … Read More … Read More

Tags: budgeting, paycheck, paychecks, savings

How to reduce money conflicts on vacation

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on May 30, 2022 | Featured

Vacation can be stressful, especially when not everyone has the same impulses when it comes to spending. But you can reduce money conflicts. Traveling can be stressful in lots of ways. In normal times, there’s the stress of getting from … Read More … Read More

Tags: budgeting, relationships, travel

How to start an emergency fund when money is tight

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on November 29, 2021 | Featured

When money is tight, an emergency fund is even more important. Here are some strategies to get you to put something, anything, away. You need an emergency fund. An emergency fund is not savings. You need that too, but that’s … Read More … Read More

Tags: budgeting, emergency fund, poverty

You cheat not only the game but yourself when you don’t track all your spending

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on November 8, 2021 | Featured

The meme “You cheated not only the game but yourself” applies equally well to when you hide certain purchases from your spending tracking. I don’t know how up you are on your Twitch streamers, but I quite enjoy watching certain … Read More … Read More

Tags: budgeting, CarlSagan42, planning, saving, spending

budgeting