Murphy has your number. As soon as you put money away, thinking things are going well, Murphy comes knocking on your door to take it away, leaving you with a debt you may not be able to recover from. In order to counteract Murphy’s machinations, you need to consider creating and maintaining an Emergency Fund. What it is… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: budgeting
How To Simplify Your Finances
If you have been living independently for some time then you will have already realized that managing your finances can be a little trickier than you may have first imagined. Keeping your house in order is primarily aided by keeping your finances in order too. Therefore keeping on top of your finances is actually the easiest way to simplify them when you get down to it. Throughout this guide I hope to impart a few tips on how to simplify your finances and make sure that you are only spending what you can afford.… Continue Reading
Financial Planning for Newlyweds
It was just over three years ago that my wife and I got married. We were young, just out of college, and had bright futures ahead of us. Our families were supportive and gave some advice on what we should do next, but our big life decisions ultimately came down to us…and we knew that. As we discovered, getting married affects your finances. Find out how we dealt with it.… Continue Reading
Moving in Together? Plan to save more.
There are few rites of passage into adulthood as exciting (and equally nerve-racking) as moving in with a significant other. But before investing in ‘his’ and ‘hers’ bath towels and deciding what time to set the automatic coffee maker for, there are a few essential topics that you should discuss. Among the most important of these is finances — and saving.… Continue Reading
Summer Temptations
As summer approaches, my wife and I become increasingly more active. I have recently started biking to work and am loving being outdoors. The warm weather and many adventures to be had in the coming months seems to lift my spirits. The dark, gloomy winters always have a way at deflating your psyche. Yet, the weather isn’t the only reason for excitement. With it comes vacations, trips, and many more treats (or temptations) that require us to spend a lot more money. While I am careful to budget for it ahead of time, I have to be careful because the Summer season brings a lot of temptation to splurge and go into consumer debt.… Continue Reading
Purpose of Budgeting
Are you getting into budgeting for the first time? Have you been budgeting for a long time and feel like there is no purpose? If either of this conditions applies to you, you may be wondering what the purpose of a budget really is. It is a common question to ask and there’s no reason to feel bad about asking the question. Even though we have already talked about how to set up a budget and what it does for you, I thought I would take this chance to explain the three reasons why budgeting is important. Understanding the purpose behind budgeting is important because it is the only way that you will stay motivated enough to keep doing it.… Continue Reading
Household Budget – How to Set it Up
Starting a household budget doesn’t have to be a difficult thing to do. It may seem overwhelming at first, but in reality, it is what you make of it. You have to remember that it is intended to help you reach your goals – not make life miserable. When creating a household budget, make sure that it is something you want. If you need a refresher of what it can offer you, look at the first part of this series on what a household budget can offer you. But now, you are probably wondering how to go about it? What does it take to set up a household budget and what does it look like?… Continue Reading
Are Holiday Travels a Financial Burden?
The holiday season is usually a joyous season. It means time spent with family and friends and even some time off from the job. Yet, the obligations and demands to travel can put stress on your budget. I know that no one likes to admit this, but it’s true. Most likely, you have already spend… Continue Reading