There have been so many tools that I’ve grown to love, and some that I can’t live without when it comes to meal planning. Some of them I use all the time and others I rotate or have changed during different seasons of our life. I’m sharing all of these tools with you in hopes that you will find them helpful and useful in finding a meal planning routine that works for you.
Read MoreBudgeting is definitely not a set-it-and-forget-it kind of plan. You have to stay on top of things throughout the month, and sometimes before the month begins, to make sure you are sticking to this budget you created and therefore staying on track with your financial goals! You are not alone if you struggle with this, it’s an ongoing struggle for most families. But, if you want to get your money under control, you’ve got to get yourself under control. I’ve made a list of 6 tips for sticking to your budget, and these are tips our family uses all the time to fight against going over budget.
Read MoreI’m all about simplicity and efficiency. If there is a simpler or more efficient way to do something, sign me up! For that reason, it’s no surprise that when Dave Ramsey’s team released the EveryDollar app, it was love at first budget for me.
Read MoreBudgeting alone can be difficult, but combing two personalities into one budget takes the difficultly to another level. Often times opposites attract, so there’s a good chance you and your spouse have different ways of handling money. Realize that disagreements are normal and the sweet spot is finding a way for your differences to compliment each other.
Read MoreChristmas is a wonderful season of giving and wonder, but the truth is, the season can leave many people in financial trouble because they don’t know how to prepare for it and end up charging everything to credit cards that haunt them well into the next year. But with planning, budgeting, and committing to pay cash for everything, you can choose to have a stress-free Christmas this year (or at least, stress-free financially!).
Read MoreNo matter how big your mountain of debt is, and regardless what you level of income is, you can get out of debt. Paying off debt is more about behavior than it is about math. The debt free journey is going to look different for every person or household, but I want you to have confidence in knowing anyone can pay off debt. You can do this.
Read MoreBudgeting is actually a simple and easy process. The hardest part will be changing your spending habits as you learn to live with the budget you’ve created. Just remember to give yourself some grace and know that you won’t always be perfect. The thing is, we all have dreams and goals of where we want to go or where we want to be in the future and a budget is one of the best tools to help you get there.
Read MoreYou have to believe that budgeting will work for you. Budgeting is more about self discipline than anything else. Here are 7 of the most common excuses I hear and how you can allow the truth to help you push through.
Read MorePersonal finance is more about behavior than anything else, including math! You need to be creating habits with intention if you want to reach financial freedom. There are so many things you can do to turn your finances around and get control of your money (I recommend following Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps) and while I think all of those big goals are important, it’s also important to put in place the small, everyday habits that are going to help you change your behavior. You can stop living paycheck to paycheck and stop living with money stress, but you’re going to have to change the way you behave when it comes to your personal finances.
Read MoreSo many of us are living day to day feeling overwhelmed and stressed out about the state of our finances. When an emergency comes up and you’re not sure how you’re going to pay for it…stress. When you want to be saving for your future and retirement but your bank account never has anything extra at the end of the month…stress. Let’s talk about some actions steps you can start today to reduce your stress levels.
Read MoreThe first time you sit down to create a budget can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Many people procrastinate creating a budget simply because they don’t know where to start. Some people, myself included, avoid it because it seems like something that requires a lot of time and effort we don’t have. The truth is, budgeting is really easy once you get the hang of it and I’ve come up with a quick step-by-step process that will make the first budget quick and easy.
Read MoreImpulse purchases are a serious issue. We’ve all fallen subject to that tempting cold drink right before the checkout line, the email that says “free shipping,” or the dessert deal to go with our pizza. Impulse buying is a habit that causes us to spend money we don’t have by either busting the budget or going into debt. We have to stop giving into these temptations if we’re ever going to reach our financial goals. That means we must understand what an impulse purchase is, why we do it, and most of all the steps necessary to end it.
Read MoreWe’ve all made mistakes with money. We’ve all made the choices that put us in the current situation we’re in. So if you don’t like your current situation, it’s time to take the necessary steps to change.
Read MoreYou already know Why You Need a Budget, now let’s talk about the one and only Budget method you need to see change in your finances. Remember, a budget is simply a plan to tell your money where to go and the budgeting method that works best is the Zero Based Budget.
Read MoreTo create a budget is to create a plan. This is not something to be taken lightly, but something to be given much thought and prayer. Seek God’s guidance for making good decisions. Figure out what is important to you and your family. Make dreams, set goals, seek God. Whatever the vision is, you need a plan to get there.
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