One of the most common misconceptions about budgeting is that is takes a l-o-n-g time. Most people who do not learn how to make a budget do so because they believe they don’t have the time to budget. But, if your budget is doing its job you should be able to budget without a major … Read moreHow to Budget in Less than 20 Minutes a Week
The way your money moves through your personal economy is known as cash flow. Your cash flow includes the money coming into your possession, and the way money moves out of your possession. You can track your cash flow by following your income and your spending. It’s important to pay attention to your cash flow … Read moreHow to Manage Your Cash Flow
With the higher than normal unemployment rate, and even higher underemployment rate, many people find themselves in a situation where they can’t pay their bills. If you are one of those people, here are a few strategies that might help you. Prioritize Your Bills Think about what is important for your survival. You need a … Read moreWhat to Do When You Can’t Pay Your Bills
Life has a way of changing long-held opinions. I used to vehemently state that I would not want to stay home with my children (who did not exist at the time) because I needed adult interaction and the feeling of financial independence. Years later, after the birth of my son, I found myself feeling just … Read moreCan You Afford to Be a Single Income Family
Many people that create a budget have a difficult time sticking to it for one reason — incidental expenses. Although incidental expenses are only a small fraction of your expenses, they can have a really big effect on your budget. These tiny expenses often go unaccounted for and can destroy your carefully crafted plans. Here … Read more5 Things That are Killing Your Budget
I have been a big fan of You Need a Budget for years. I began using it on the advice of a reader about 4 years ago, back in the days of YNAB Pro. When YNAB 3 was released, I jumped on board. And now YNAB 4 is out. I was offered a free upgrade … Read moreYNAB 4: “You Need A Budget” Personal Budgeting Software Review
Until two years ago, I’d never heard the term “zero-based budget.” I have learned to dread it. In fact, I hate zero based budgeting. But we use it at our house, because it works. It works brilliantly. Zero-based budget is basically this: Project what you have coming in for the month, and match your budgeted … Read moreThe Zero-Based Budget, A Critical Key for Saving Cash
January is a good time for a budget makeover. After all, you’re likely setting your financial goals for the year, and it’s a good time to make note of lifestyle changes. Certain areas of your budget especially deserve your attention. These are things you should consider, as you begin a new financial year. Big Life … Read moreRevamping Your Budget for the New Year
It’s a new year and for a lot of you, it means a new try at keeping a budget. I know I slacked on keeping a budget toward the end of last year, and I’m ready to get back on track! My favorite tool for planning my budget has always been YNAB Pro. I started … Read moreYNAB 3 Personal Budget Planning Software Review
My first goal in my quest to pay off my student loan debt is to track every penny I spend in the month of January. It’s tedious. It’s sometimes hard to remember. And it’s hard to wait a whole month before really setting up the budget. But tracking expenses is important, when it comes to … Read moreWhy Keeping Track of Expenses Is Important