We are shamefully attached to our smartphones. It can’t be denied. Knowing this, I have made a personal effort to limit my phone use to activities that are actually beneficial – activities like tracking my business and personal finances, checking email, and making a little extra spending money. Today, I’m going to share 3 money…
Read More
There are several circumstances in life that can result in not getting a paycheck, from job loss, to severe injuries, to the death of a spouse. For us, it was the transition to a new job that left us without a paycheck for two months. Just when I thought I knew something about finances, I…
Read More
I’m not a big fan of complex or complicated. I like things simple and easy to maintain. That’s why I created some simple monthly budget pages. An envelope system for your finances is great, but I find that also having a monthly plan can get you to think more strategically about your money. This is…
Read More
This is the first in a series of posts designed to help you help the teens in your life. We all need to have a foundational understanding of finances, but who more than those on the cusp of adulthood? This series will give them the financial groundwork they need to make wise decisions in the…
Read More
Money seems to be one of the biggest pain points in marriage. In other subjects, we are the epitomy of grace and cordiality, but when talking finances, we may fight like cats and dogs, or avoid the topic entirely. Neither approach gets things done. Today, I’d like to share with you a few tips for…
Read More
Even though we tend to have different interests and responsibilities, we all have at least one thing in common. We all have bills to pay and papers to keep track of. I’ve tried several methods of organizing bills and papers through the years. In the end, I realized that working with my current habits and…
Read More
It is fun to watch how children work with cash differently as they grow older. I was recently at the video game store with my 14-year-old son. He was certain he had enough to pay for his game and nerf gun without help. So, he flung, yes flung, his money on the counter. To his…
Read More
I recently ran into my older sister at the dollar store. We chatted while we went through the aisles, and I managed to go through checkout first. I looked back at her and bragged, “$35!” As we were loading our car, she came out of the store, and with her arms in the air in…
Read More
Do you have any empty shelves in your kitchen cabinets right now? The answer is a big – probably not! Do you know why? Because it’s human nature for us to fill containers up, and when we fill a container, we tend to get another container. That’s why we tend to fill our cabinets, our…
Read More
After almost 30 years of managing my finances, or the lack thereof, my absolute favorite way to handle my money is the envelope system. The reason is simple: it works! I can make sure I have enough money to pay my bills, save for the future, and maintain my recordkeeping system. If you need to…
Read More