Tag Archives: dining

Spending Money on Your Kids

When it comes to children and saving money, what do you do? What sacrifices are you willing to make for you children? And does the amount you spend on your children affect them? This is really a tricky area and the answers will be different for everyone. Here are a few areas that you may consider. 1) Daycare costs can be quite expensive. If both you and your spouse work, or if you are a single parent then this is a very real part of your budget. Daycare can be very expensive, depending on where you live and the quality … Continue reading →

The Case for Cash

Hardly any of us ever use cash anymore. But if you are frugal, the way you pay just might make a difference in how much you spend. I realized, the other day, how I never seem to pay with cash when I pulled out the credit card to pay for an item that cost less than $2. It seemed sort of silly to me, the fact that I didn’t have a single dollar bill in my…well, billfold. There is a strong case for using cash instead of credit or debit cards when you want to be frugal. Here are some … Continue reading →

Money is Power

Now certainly everyone has heard the saying, money is power. But what exactly does that mean for you? For many, the sensation of money is almost an addiction. Whether it is the thrill you get while shopping and spending or the excitement of that raise, it certainly creates a type of adrenaline rush. It is this rush that gives us the sense of power. Now, are we really more powerful when we have more money? In some circles maybe, but is that really what we all want? Do you want people to respect you and enjoy your company because you … Continue reading →

Are You Consistently Overspending in One Category?

What do you do if you consistently overspend in certain categories in your budget? Well the answer really depends on your situation and the categories that you are overspending on. If your money is tight and you do not have a lot of wiggle room you would take a different approach then someone who does not need to worry too much. You may want to consider raising the amount that you have allotted for that category. Of course to make that work you will need to take money from another category to even it out. If you are putting money … Continue reading →

Comparing the Value of Your Things to Your Time

How do you value things? This can be one way that can help you if you are constantly overspending in one area. It gives you an easy comparison of what something is worth to you. You can break it down into whatever form that you want to and then make the comparison to decide if the money you are spending is worth it. My husband measures everything in comparison to the value of a video game. He plays video games to relax. He purchases one about every two months, so it is not a common purchase. When we are spending … Continue reading →

Why Do You Spend or Save?

What motivates you when it comes to your finances? Are you a big spender? Or do you consider yourself a saver? Do you enjoy budgeting? Or do you hate it? Or do you even bother to budget? It is important to ask yourself these questions and to truly understand the feelings that you have towards money. These feelings will affect the decisions you make and the financial success you do or do not have. It is important to find a good balance between saving and spending. I have known several compulsive shoppers and spenders throughout my life. I understand the … Continue reading →

Budgeting Options for Variable Expenses

How do you budget for your variable bills? This includes things like electricity, gas for your house and your car, and medical expenses. You know that these bills come in every month, but they may change according to the weather, the price of the item or circumstances completely out of control. So how do you decided how much to budget each month? There are two schools of thought on this matter. The first is that you look at your records for the past year and add up the total. You divide that number by twelve. Then you budget the average … Continue reading →

Frugal Strategy: Delayed Spending

Here is a great strategy you can use in your family to be frugal and save hundreds (or even thousands) each year. It is called “delayed spending.” What is delayed spending? Well the short answer is that delayed spending is the practice of putting off any purchases that are not necessities. Necessities, of course, is defined as anything that will help keep you alive and in good health, such as your monthly food, shelter, health and heating expenses. Any other purchase, whether it is a toy or a big screen TV, is subject to the delayed spending strategy. How does … Continue reading →

Are You an Over Spender?

Are you an over spender? Do you have difficulty sticking to a budget? Or do you have a hard time knowing where you spend your money? Are you surprised at the balance in your account every time you go to an ATM? Do you frequently pay overdraft charges and wonder why you never have enough money? It may be that you make enough money that you feel like you shouldn’t have to worry about what you are spending, but if you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you have a spending problem. It is important that you … Continue reading →

Budget Strategies: 5 Tips to Help You Stick to Your Budget

You sat down wrote out your budget and you have your financial goals in front of you. Theoretically, you should be able to reach them by the end of the year, if you stick to your budget. But every time you are out, you are faced with the temptation to spend just a little bit more than you had planned on. It doesn’t seem like that ten dollars will hurt anything, right? It is only ten dollars. But do that several times and you’ve gone and blown the budget. Here are some tips to keep you motivated to stick to … Continue reading →