No matter how we may plan, stuff happens. Your glasses break. Your car needs work to pass its emissions test. The water heater goes out. Your employer announced layoffs – and you're one of the victims.Unexpected expenses seem to show up more often than windfalls. That's why you need to set aside … [Read more...] about How to build an emergency fund
Budgeting and Organization
How we got out of debt by coloring
This guest post is by Heidi Ifland NashOur story is not unique in how it begins. We were very “normal”.We were the typical American couple, no budget, consuming all of our income each month, and using credit cards to buy and pay for the things we didn’t save up for.We weren’t … [Read more...] about How we got out of debt by coloring
How to make a budget spreadsheet: Step-by-step guide for first-timers
Budgeting used to involve a paper, pen and hours of work hunched over receipts and bank statements, but those days are long gone. Thanks to modern spreadsheet programs, you can make a do-it-yourself budget in just a few minutes. Whether you are new to personal finance management or a long-time … [Read more...] about How to make a budget spreadsheet: Step-by-step guide for first-timers
What to do if you can’t pay your bills
There’s no doubt that for many people have suffered a big toll on their finances. Whether you’re down an income (or two) in your household, or waiting on unemployment or small business help, you might be stressing about what to do with the stack of bills that is piling up or on the way.On the … [Read more...] about What to do if you can’t pay your bills
How to teach your children to budget
We’ve all heard the horror stories: young people who graduate from college, move back home with their parents, make very little money and mishandle the cash they do earn.As many as 40 percent of millennials still receive financial help from their parents, according to 2015 statistics … [Read more...] about How to teach your children to budget
Free printable budget sheets to help you manage your money
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Looking for free printable budget sheets to get your finances into shape ASAP? We have a ton of worksheets to help you create a budget you'll actually stick to! You'll be able to instantly download our free printable budget sheets and create a budget binder of your own.In the next few minutes … [Read more...] about Free printable budget sheets to help you manage your money
11 essential documents for unmarried couples
For 32 years, Stieg Larsson and Eva Gabrielsson shared a life and a home. She says she even helped the celebrated Swedish author research his best-selling trilogy of novels that started with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." But because Larsson died in 2004 without a will, none of the profits … [Read more...] about 11 essential documents for unmarried couples
16 ways to cut expenses this year
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It's a new year, and that means it's time to get your financial house in order.No matter what mistakes you made last year, you get a do-over this year. The beginning of the year is a great time to make changes that will boost your bottom line going forward. But before you can make a plan to save … [Read more...] about 16 ways to cut expenses this year
Beware of automatic renewals
I once got a phone call offering me a six-month subscription to a publication. I took them up on the offer. When I got a renewal notice six months later, I ignored it because I didn’t want to continue the subscription.Tip No. 1: You can no longer afford to ignore subscription notices for print … [Read more...] about Beware of automatic renewals
Expert advice on teaching kids about money
Do you remember your dad asking: “Do you think money grows on trees?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” Well, yes, as a matter of fact, we kind of did. If anything, that attitude is multiplied many times by today’s kids.The time to teach our children about money is when they’re young, so when … [Read more...] about Expert advice on teaching kids about money
Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
When Miranda Marquit started writing about personal finance six years ago, she “was maxed out on my credit cards,” she admits. No more. And the publisher of Planting Money Seeds has a few words of hard-earned advice for anyone who has dug themselves into a debt hole so big they think they’ll never … [Read more...] about Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
Automate your digital life with IFTTT
IFTTT is a web and smartphone app that is all about automating small tasks to save you time in your day-to-day life. IFTTT stands for “If This Then That,” and works just like it sounds. By creating a trigger and a follow-up action with one of the 367 supported services, you can automate everything … [Read more...] about Automate your digital life with IFTTT
Quick and easy budgeting on paper
Happy New Year! If you've been thinking about preparing and living on a budget this year following is how to get started immediately. With a little tracking (that can lead to some self-awareness) you can be on your way to achieving your financial goals in no time.Pen and paper v. Software and … [Read more...] about Quick and easy budgeting on paper
Why and how to make an estate plan, even if you’re not rich
Estate planning is only for old, rich people. Estate planning is scary. Estate planning is so easy you can do it yourself. Wrong. Wrong. And, so wrong, unless you want your family duking it out in front of Judge Judy.Simply put: An estate plan is a set of legal documents that allows you to … [Read more...] about Why and how to make an estate plan, even if you’re not rich
How to find extra money to invest this year
For many, investing is scary. Memories of the financial crisis and stock market crash of 2008 and 2009 and the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s scare many consumers away. On top of that, the myth that you need a substantial amount of capital to start investing persists. With worries … [Read more...] about How to find extra money to invest this year
