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 …
Learn Income and Expenses
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 …
Talking finances with your spouse
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 …
Portable office ideas
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 …
Teaching children about cash
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 …
Dollar store survival skills
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 …
The Container Principle
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 …
Envelope system quickstart guide
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 …
Credit cards for newbies
My teenagers see me use a credit card all the time, but when I asked, they don’t really know how they work. So, we are going to square one and exploring how credit cards work. If you already understand credit cards, and can use them responsibly, great! But, perhaps you are struggling a bit with …
Need or want?
My mother-in-law, Marcia, was raised after World War II, and when she was married, she was fully responsible for using their money wisely. She had a set amount of money to use for groceries, and learned how to purchase enough food for five people. Her top piece of financial advice is to question every purchase …