Tag Archives: Personal Peace

Saying No to Family and Friends

At some point almost everyone is going to be faced with the dilemma of how to say no to your family or friends when it comes to spending money. This may be especially difficult if you are just beginning to change your spending habits or trying to get out of debt. It is not easy to admit to people that you do not have enough money to go on that nice vacation or even out to dinner with them. It is important that you do address the situation and stick to your resolve. If you are embarrassed to admit that … Continue reading →

Budget Strategies: The Zero Dollar Budget

You may have heard of a zero dollar budget, but are not sure what that means. A zero dollar budget means that you spend every dollar on paper before the month begins. This way you have assigned an amount to each of your expenses. Once you have reached the limit you stop spending in that category. This budget works well with the envelope system. It is important to realize that you can adjust the amounts that you spend during the month. For example if your entire family ends up with strep throat you may overspend in the medical category. You … Continue reading →

My Financial Sacrifices Are Worth It!

Today my daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor in space. She wants to be the doctor to the astronauts. When I asked her why, she told me that it was so she could have lots of money. I thought this was a strange concept for a five-year-old to be talking about. I asked her what she meant. She told me that she wanted to have more money than I did. I asked her what she meant. She told me that sometimes she wanted to get treats at the grocery store, and I had told her we … Continue reading →

Are You Considering Cutting Health Insurance to Save Money?

When money is tight you may look at cutting down the amount withheld from your paycheck. This could include cutting your health insurance. You may be considering staying home with your children. This will change your benefits and how much you have to pay out of pocket. You may be wondering if you can afford not covering yourself and possibly your children. You may justify that you will remain healthy. Your feel great and have no reason to expect anything to happen. I know one person who ended up paying out of pocket for an emergency gall bladder surgery. It … Continue reading →

The Little Things Do Affect Your Budget

The little things add up. If you are looking for extra money in your budget, or if you are wondering where all of your extra money goes after you pay your bills, it is time to take a look at the little items that you and your family purchase on a regular basis. This may be something that you do not even consider large enough to budget for, or take the time to factor in the long-term effects of these little expenses. You may justify that you can spend the extra dollar or two for candy bar or snack when … Continue reading →

Are Your Budgeting Changes Worth the Sacrifice?

As you begin to make the changes you need to in your budget and spending habits, it is important to not become discouraged. It can be difficult to make the changes that are necessary to help you bring your finances under control. For some people it may take quite a few years to get themselves out of the hole that they have created. For others it may not take as long. It is important to realize that the no matter how long it takes, you are making changes for the better. If you are using the debt snowball, it begins … Continue reading →

Financial Pitfalls: Identifying Your Biggest Weakness

The biggest reason for budget failure is that you did not take the time to address your greatest financial weakness. You need to identify what that is, and then come up with strategies on how to deal with it. My greatest financial weakness is eating out. I am lazy and even though I stay at home, I still never feel like cooking. My husband’s biggest weakness is electronics. Fortunately he rotates on wanting big purchases about every six months. For some people it may be massages or beauty treatments. It may be a new wardrobe for every season for you … Continue reading →

What I’ve Learned About Money and How I Learned It

You can pick up knowledge in a lot of different places. You can learn about how and what to spend your money on from watching television, hanging out with your friends, and from watching your parents. I haven’t really shared how I’ve learned what I know about money. So I thought I would give you a quick rundown of my experiences of what I’ve learned, why and how. I learned the importance of thrift and the clearance sales from my mother. When I was young she was an excellent bargain hunter. In fact she still is. From her I learned … Continue reading →

Five Times You Need to Adjust Your Budget

If you have a set budget for every month, and have found that you can pretty much keep it every month. You may not give it much thought. If you are using the envelope system then you stop spending when you are out of money. If you have an emergency fund or sinking funds set up, then you use those to cover emergencies, and put your extra money into building those accounts back up. At this point, your budget is not going to be something you focus on all of the time. There are several events that will cause to … Continue reading →

Family Relationships and Money

Money is a topic that many people feel is very private. They often do not discuss it with family. It can be difficult if you have different views about money than your family members. It can also be difficult to meet certain expectations that are placed on you by family members because of how they perceive you are handling your money. If you have extended family that like to spend money, and may often spend more money than they have, you may eventually run into some difficulties. It is not uncommon for people who have managed their money well to … Continue reading →