Tag Archives: cost of living

According to a New Report, Household Debt is Increasing

Maybe it is because basic things required for living costs more these days. Food, healthcare, utilities and clothing have all seen a rise in prices. Maybe it is because we simply haven’t learned from the last economic crash. While home prices are slowly rising, so are sales of the latest electronic gadgets that sell out hours or days after being released. At the same time, U.S. income has fallen overall by 1.5 percent. Whatever it is, a need study has confirmed what may be surprising to some: household debt has seen the largest rise since 2008. How much household debt … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Week in Review: September 8th Through September 14th

Now that we are settled in the school routine, we can sit back and take a look at how we are doing in terms of managing our money with all of the little expenses that will come up throughout the rest of the year. There are the school fundraisers, Halloween, the cold weather and of course the holidays. Check back every day to see what is new as we cover these topics and more. Now, here is what came up last week. September 8th When You Are Tempted to Eat Out 2 Would you like to save between $1,400 and … Continue reading →

Going Broke?

Are you slowly but surely going broke? Does it seem that each month your paycheck doesn’t seem to stretch quite as far as it used to? In reality prices have risen over the last few years drastically and your paycheck may not be covering everything that it used to. You may need to consider making lifestyle changes, so that you can continue to work towards your financial goals. Here are five areas to consider making changes in. 1) Gasoline prices have risen quite a bit over the past few years. You may want to look at ways you can reduce … Continue reading →

Have You Considered Downsizing?

Have you considered downsizing in order for you to live comfortably and plan for retirement? Many people are considering doing this. It does mean several quite drastic changes in your lifestyle, but you may be surprised at how pleasant your life is as well. I live in an area where many families are moving because of the relatively low cost of living here. Here are some things to consider before you move. 1) One thing that will likely change is your job. You may have to take a small pay decrease because the median salary is lower in a lower … Continue reading →

Five Tips to Help You Stop Using the Credit Cards

Have you told yourself that you need to stop using the credit cards, but find yourself pulling them out anyway? Each month you promise yourself that you are going to start paying back the cards, but then find your balance steadily increasing? Here are five tips to help you stop using those cards. 1) The best way to stop yourself is to stop carrying the cards with you. If you do not feel safe without a credit card (to pay a tow truck or to handle a similar emergency) then carry one with a very small limit, so you will … Continue reading →

Can Cost of Living Affect Your Budget?

Have you ever compared your budget to someone else’s? Or were you surprised at how much your expenses decreased or increased the last time you moved? The cost of living in your area will directly affect how much you spend each month. The price of a gallon on milk varies widely from location to location, not to mention housing, gas prices and taxes. When you are taking a new job or accepting a promotion with a move it is important to take the cost of living considerations along with the new salary. If you are really struggling to make ends … Continue reading →

The Cost of Having a Baby

So you want to have a baby or perhaps you’ve already had your baby. The following statistics are per the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are based on what the costs will be to the average middle-income, two-parent family will spend over $153,000 to raise one child between birth and the age of 18. Please take a moment to catch your breath on that figure before we continue. Now, remember – we are still just talking about one child. The child that will cost you over $153,000 to raise will eat about $55,000 worth of food and outgrow, destroy or … Continue reading →