One of the ways to find yourself in financial trouble is to waste your money. In order to get your finances back on track, you need to be able to identify money wasters in your budget, and then make an effort to stop spending money on those items.
Will you spend some time today to improve your financial picture? Here are some questions to ask yourself as you attempt to determine what constitutes a waste of money:
If you’re an American who lives outside of Manhattan… you probably drive. Driving is so common, many of us don’t even realize it’s actually not a mandatory part of life. We just do it. Day in. Day out.
Why am I challenging this idea?
Because driving is expensive! According to the latest numbers from AAA, driving a medium sedan costs 58.5 cents per mile to operate. For most people, that’s $8,780 per year! What could you do with that money if you weren’t driving?
I’ve been biking nearly everywhere in my city for three years. Not only does the habit save money but I actually really enjoy it. Come to think of it – I’ve never been happier, healthier or wealthier than I am now. Coincidence? I think not. This post explains how I got here (and how you can get here too).
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A financial fast can be a great way to kick-start your savings, figure out the holes in your budget, and find contentment with the things you own. While it may seem a little extreme to go on a financial fast — a period anywhere from one week to one month wherein you refrain from all spending other than necessities — it’s an excellent exercise in self-control with lessons that will last long after the fast is over. Here are four tips for making your financial fast go smoothly and enjoyably:
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There are a ton of things going on with my business, and people are often surprised to find that I’m still doing practically everything by myself. A question I often get asked is “How do you do it all?”
The secret is written on the wall—there is no secret. I get more done because I work longer hours than most people. Everyone sees me out and about during the week and people are always jealous, but they never realize the time I put in every single night when they are watching TV, and all the hours I put in during every single weekend when everyone else is doing anything but work.
Having said that, there are a few little things I learned along the way that makes me more efficient. After all, when I get more done with less time, I can choose to a) relax more or b) make more money by taking on more. Let me share them with you today.
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At this year’s Financial Blogger Conference, I attended Jeff Rose’s session on how to get traffic, even if Google dumps you. What struck me, however, wasn’t the idea of getting traffic without Google — it was the fact that Jeff Rose has seen so much success. Why?
In part, because he hustles.
In the last couple years, I’ve struggled with the idea of hard work and how it doesn’t always mean you get ahead.
My husband is a great example of this. He works harder than anyone I know, but he continues to be passed over for full-time university positions. He’s still an adjunct professor, and because he’s a great teacher who likes to help people, he spends many unpaid hours helping students (and sometimes tenured professors) understand research design and statistics.
It doesn’t matter how hard he works; he’s still not paid what he’s worth. [ continue reading… ]
It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out why so many couples are choosing to stop at just one child. Raising children is not only a very expensive proposition these days; it also takes a lot of time and energy. Many parents find that they’d rather focus all of their energy on one child.
That said, there are still many couples that dream of having a house full of kids. But is that a practical dream these days considering how much it costs to raise and educate each child? As a middle class mom of five boys, I can share some insights on the matter.
Note: Since this is a personal finance blog, I’ve chosen not to discuss the impact of larger families on the environment or how it effects child development and family dynamics. These are very important issues to think about when planning your family but outside the scope of this blog.
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