Budgeting

This is a fairly easy way to receive a 5% reward for my gasoline purchases but it does require that you have a family member who served in the military.

Once set up, the extra rewards may be worth the extra effort.

Imagine how much you could save if you could cut all your expenses in half!

Recently, I signed up for the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card offering a $200 online cash rewards bonus and 3% cash back in the category of your choice.

Automate your savings. Take manual control of your spending. This is the path to wealth.

There are many questions that first time moms ask their veteran friends. Among the top list is, what do you really need to care for a baby?

By decoupling your standard of living from the size of your income, you have taken the first step toward financial freedom.

No limp arms. Keep your hands up. Budget for emergencies.

Which account you should fund depends on your circumstances. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow to make your decision.

After trying Instacart again a handful of times, I finally decided that in-person shopping was cheaper and more effective for my family.

Which account you should fund depends on your circumstances. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow to make your decision.

I cannot throw away such a delightful box.

Choosing the right moments to buy convenience with your money brings value to your life.

We can gift our loved ones a powerful gift while maintaining a budget.

Who can remember every purchase you made? But remembering is how to keep your purchases reasonable.

The presumption that there is always more fun to be had has a two-fold positive effect on my life.

When I was really young, I did not realize that food had a season. What a privilege of our modern era!

It took me one hour to complete from start to finish. Hopefully, now that I have bumbled my way through it on my own and documented the steps, it takes you less time.

Any amount of difference in cost of living presents a valuable opportunity to reconsider the ways you spend money in order to increase the amount of money you can save.

Financial security is an amazing feeling, so why not live your life knowing you are prepared for life’s expenses and can plan ahead for all your future goals.

From such changes, the millionaire mindset is built and millions are gained.

The thrift of taking care of your things is a wealthy mindset that pays off every year you don’t need to buy a replacement.

The first lesson in learning how to spend is learning how to not.

A wishlist is a force of thrift both for you to defer your consumption and for your family and friends to ensure that all the value of their gift makes it to your heart.

When my desires can endure the distance of a week, I buy it.

No matter how small your savings, those small changes have large effects over time.

It is easy to find yourself browsing the store when you spot a t-shirt with a phrase that you can hear your friend saying. Avoid making a purchase by taking a picture.

Most of our regular use of items is habitual. Developing a mindset that uses less requires changing our habits.

With these moderate interest rates, the only clearly wrong decision in my view is buying a car on loan because you cannot afford it outright.

Although this is the least common financial shock studied, it is one of the most difficult because at its core it is a problem money cannot solve.

Here is a strategy that can both help you identify what you value and help you start your budget.

Financial shocks can come in all shapes and sizes. This strategy of budgeting should increase your chance for success over the long haul.

Anything which is not contributing toward your financial independence should be considered part of your lifestyle spending.

Whatever technique you use to smooth your income, providing for the possibility of having a sudden reduction in income can help your family self-ensure against this potential financial shock.

This is the financial shock of a trip to hospital. It is upsetting, expensive, and unexpected.

This is the financial shock of a major home repair. It is expensive and surprising.

This is the financial shock of a major car repair. It is the most common financial shock with 30% of households reporting such an event within the last 12 months.

It is possible to be prepared for financial emergencies by living 10% more frugally and saving for the inevitable eventuality.

Don’t be cynical. Get serious.

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is a suggestion that you should have the goal of achieving financial independence and retiring while you are young.

This isn’t the kind of article you think it is. My daughter wore disposable diapers.

On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, David John Marotta appeared on Radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show to discuss financial resolutions for the 2019 new year.

Regardless of your assumptions about future market returns, the impoverishment to families with credit card debt is massive.

It requires intentionality and creativity to avoid the hidden budget busters of gift wrap.

We have a limited amount of willpower. It is a waste to have to expend it to ignore advertising.

Even though tangible things that take up space tend to be bad gifts, there are many items that a minimalist can really appreciate receiving.

I would like to encourage those of you who like participating in this weekend shopping spree to do the small task of paying yourself first.

A little bit of work upfront can save a great deal of nuisance later.

In 2003, the Goldman Sachs Global Economics Department predicted the economic and geopolitical influence of Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRIC countries) would become increasingly visible in the developed world. We revisit those countries here.

Grocery stores know all the shoppers tricks, which means that when comparative price shopping you actually have to compare all the prices to get the best deal.