Budgeting

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.

There is no such thing as saving money buying something. You can go broke “saving money” this way.

I began my DIY journey learning about science, so it feels best to start you there as well.

Each spouse has different spending habits and values different things in life. This can easily lead to bitterness, or at the least, long discussions when the budget is reconciled.

If you budget well according to your values, a one-pocket theory of money enriches your life, prioritizing your financial dreams above your impulses.

We don’t write a lot about how to spend money, but an international study published this year claims to have found the route from wealth to well-being through spending money.

The Dave Ramsey website has a list of upcoming classes in the Charlottesville area with start dates varying from September 13 through October 11.

Financial planning is simply doing what it takes to give you the means to do what you want. The poorer you are the more you need financial planning. You don’t have any margin for mistakes.

Saving money is not enough. You need to save and invest.

“Develop spending discipline. People too often forget that the real enemy of investment is consumption.”

If you want to be really minimalist about your budgeting, here’s what we suggest: the 65-25-10 rule.

Endowment spending rates can prove a catalyst for fulfilling or killing the life of the organization itself.

Many feel helpless to direct their own success, but nothing could be further from the truth.

There are at least five reasons to hold cash. Without a good reason to hold cash, you may be holding too much.

With a little preparation, you can save and invest over your lifetime to meet your financial goals and dreams.

Having a budget as a boundary for your spending gives you the freedom to work within that boundary, and keeps you on track to save for your goals.