Tag Archives: Money Management

Free or Cheap Online Money Management

I have used Quicken forever. The first version I used was on a DOS platform. I have Quicken online at Intuit’s website; although I haven’t used it to the extent I’ve used my Quicken Desktop. Honestly, I haven’t even explored what the online version is really capable of because I’ve been using Quicken for so long that I’m a creature of habit. I have the Quicken app for iPhone, but it looks like I never set it up to use it. Quicken Online is now Mint.com. There is also an app for that. I love it. It really does track … Continue reading →

iPhone for Money Management

When Apple first introduced the iPhone I thought people were absolutely silly for waiting in line for a phone. Years later people again waited in line and preordered the iPhone 4, so I guess I’m still amazed. As much as I wanted an iPhone, I didn’t want one that badly. I wasn’t willing to pay the cost of the phone to begin with and certainly not until I was eligible for an upgrade. I got my opportunity this past February. I asked Santa for an iPhone for Christmas and then waited impatiently for an upgrade to become available. I had … Continue reading →

Rite of Passage: My Son Opened His Own Savings Account

My son has been vigilantly saving most of his weekly allowance. When he announced that he wanted to open a savings account once he reached $100.00 I was pleased. So this morning we got up bright and early and headed to Chase (after a stop for breakfast at IHOP) with a whopping $123.00 as his initial deposit. You have to know Tyler to understand why saving more than five bucks is worthy of the highest accolade. In the past, as soon as he received any amount of money he wanted to spend it. And I let him. But I realized … Continue reading →

Money Week in Review October 21 – 27

In Money Discussions, Debbie mentions the importance of having both regular weekly conversations and a more serious semi-annual meeting about money. These quick discussions help keep you on task, but the formal meetings ensure you are taking time to adequately plan for long term goals. Debbie reminds us all how much fun and educational the game of Monopoly is for a family. For kids four and older, the game can be an entertaining way to teach some valuable financial lessons that go beyond just saving and spending. Remember it is important to not only teach our kids how to manage … Continue reading →

Money Discussions

Discussing money as a couple is a complicated matter, but it is something you should find the time to do regularly and often. In addition to a habitual weekly money meeting, you should also consider a semi-annual money “retreat.” These weekly meetings can be at home amongst the hustle and bustle. They don’t have to be long or lengthy, just an opportunity to touch base on what bills are due and where the money is coming and going. It can be a good time to briefly discuss your monthly budget progress. These meetings can take 10 or 15 minutes. The … Continue reading →

Why Isn’t My Budget Working?

There are so many people that sit down at the beginning of each month and write out a budget. Then they go on about their lives and wonder why they run out of money mid-month. This can be very frustrating for many people. They think that because they have written everything down that it should work. The problem is that they haven’t committed to living the budget. Here are the five things you can do to commit to living the budget. 1) When you finish the budget you should sign it. This may seem silly, but it symbolizes your commit … Continue reading →

Avoid the Dollar Syndrome

When planning for a big purchase or the future, do you often get bogged down with how much things cost? This can even happen even with smaller purchases in reverse. You see something marked down at 75% and have to have it, simply because it is a good deal. The problem with finances is money. Yes, this sounds odd, but in reality the actual money part should be the least focus. When looking at your financial situation, stop thinking about the actual dollars and start thinking about what you want or need. The question shouldn’t be “how much will this … Continue reading →

Frugal Thinking

Have you read the Frugal Blog on Families recently? Well, even if the word frugal drives fear down your spine… I recommend reviewing the mindset. Living frugally is more than just saving money, it is almost a religion. While not everyone has the discipline to truly live a frugal lifestyle, if you want to be good with money – it is important to grasp some of its teachings. A common criticism is that frugal choices are mostly about the little things, like saving pennies by washing plastic bags. Although this can be true, little things can add up to big … Continue reading →

Monthly Budget and Biweekly Paychecks

It can be difficult to make a monthly budget when you are paid on a weekly or biweekly basis. You may find that you have difficulty paying all your bills that are due at the beginning of the month or that you do not have money for food the week that rent is due. Here are a few ways to deal with this dilemma. 1) First you should divide all your bills by four and then set aside that amount each week. The envelope system or envelope system software works really well for this. If you are on a cash … Continue reading →

Your Money Personality

Each of us is different. The jobs we have chosen, where we live, who we are friends with, all say something about our personality. These character traits also define how we approach money. Managing money is easier for some than others. As a necessity though, we all do need to learn to best manage our money to be financially successful and plan for a stable future. Luckily, there are many different approaches to money and hopefully you can find one that works best for you. The key component to a successful money management system is to find a process that … Continue reading →