budgeting

How to Start: A beginner’s guide to managing your money

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An overview of the first steps on the path to financial wellness, aimed at those who are just getting started. Recently, I was asked about what to do if you’re just getting started thinking about working on your finances. This … Read More … Read More

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You need a budget, but do you need You Need A Budget?

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I review You Need a Budget (YNAB) after having tried it for the very first time, and offer my thoughts on the service. “What money apps do you recommend I use?” is a question I get a fair amount. It’s … Read More … Read More

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You can’t pay off your debt until you do this first

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If you’re trying to pay off debt without making sure that you’ve done all the necessary work first, you’ll never make any progress. Debt looms large in our financial thoughts. For example, in a list of 50 hashtags in the … Read More … Read More

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The ritual of the end-of-the-month budget freeze

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When your budget has you run low on money at the end of the month, the upside is that it feels all the better when the new month begins. Wow, this last month was tight. I pretty much spent all … Read More … Read More

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Real numbers: Budgeting for a weekend away

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Repeat after me: track or you will fail. It doesn’t matter if it’s money, or fitness, or watering your plants, if there is something you want to accomplish and it takes more than a single step to get there, you … Read More … Read More

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If you won’t keep a budget, here are other things you can do

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I believe that keeping a daily log of your purchases is the single most effective action you can take today to change your financial situation. Just knowing what it is that you are currently doing can help you be more … Read More … Read More

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Why I want you to live paycheck to paycheck

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“I couldn’t make ends meet. I was living paycheck to paycheck.” “78 percent of U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck.” “Stop living paycheck to paycheck and sign up for our credit counseling service.” The phrase “paycheck to paycheck” is a … Read More … Read More

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Why is the budget monthly?

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Our system of budgeting is pretty arbitrary. I recommend that everyone make a spending plan based on the calendar month. Twelve months a year: twelve plans a year. Could we do things another way? And are any of them better? … Read More

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The arbitrary nature of a month, or does it really matter when you spend?

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Last month was a little challenging for me, money-wise. While every month I separate my allotted spending money into categories ($300 for Groceries, $60 for Transportation, etc.), it’s really just a best guess. The month had a number of expenses … Read More … Read More

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What to do when your account balance is different than expected

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Balancing your household budget might be difficult to do, but it’s not complex. You just make sure that the money you have going out is the same amount that is coming in. (In this way, Charles Dickens’ Micawber was only half-right, … Read More … Read More

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