Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
As tuition costs continue to rise, you as a parent will need to make tough decisions about whether or not you’re willing or able to pay for your child’s college education.
While paying for their college tuition may be a dream of yours – and one that can definitely benefit their future and set them on the right foot to being debt free – you want to make sure you’re not compromising your own financial life in order to fund their education.
If you’re thinking of funding your child’s college education, here are three important questions to ask. [ continue reading… ]
I’ve been staring at the dirt circle in my backyard where our trampoline used to be for a couple of years now. I’ve been diligently killing anything that grew in the circle the entire time as the plan was to build a circular fire pit in that location.
Finally, my wife and I decided this spring to put our plan into action, so we went to a local big box hardware store to get some information on our DIY fire pit project. We thought it would be a great project to work on together, with a finished product that we could enjoy for years to come.
During the process we learned five important tips everyone should know before taking on a complicated DIY project. Let me share those with you. [ continue reading… ]
I’ve always been out of the loop on townhouses because, until now, I haven’t lived in an area where they were common. Now that I’ve moved to the greater Seattle area, I see them everywhere. To me, townhouses have always seemed like the ‘glorified apartments’ of urban areas. Along with condos, they represent limited home ownership within the realm of community living. So what exactly are the differences between apartments, condos, townhouses, and homes? Are townhouses worth your consideration? [ continue reading… ]
Every year, the USDA updates the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18. The latest figure is in line with recent years that you are likely to spend close to a quarter million dollars raising a child.
Breaking down the latest average and the figure is actually $23,000 per year. Luckily, I don’t spend $23,000 a year on my 14-year old son. How do I do it?
Can You Get Away with Spending Less?
In most cases, it’s probably possible to get away with spending less on your children than the government estimates.
Some of the ways you can spend less focus on food and clothing costs. You can also save money on housing, depending on your situation and where you live. [ continue reading… ]
My friend started a conversation on her high monthly grocery bill and told me to guess how much she spends. I quickly said, “$1,800” – mind you she is raising three growing preteen boys, and lives with her husband, mother, and stepfather, so basically seven adults. She seemed a little surprised that I was so close. As we continued talking about it, I told her there is no reason to even feel guilty about spending around $1,800 a month on food. Here’s why.
My friend basically spends $8.50 a day to feed each person if you work out the math. Isn’t that incredibly good? I don’t know the exact dimension of her budget, but I do know that even if they eat out 2-3 times a week, they are still eating most of their meals at home or from home. While many of us are not spending $1,800 a month, I know there are many of us who feel guilty about how much money we spend at the grocery store. If you cook 85% or more of your meals from home, have very little food waste, and are giving yourself and your family the nutrients needed, then there really should be no guilt. [ continue reading… ]
Your credit card getting in the wrong hands can spell big trouble. When your card is stolen, a complete stranger essentially has the power to put you in financial ruin with a few swipes of the card. It’s a very scary situation to be in but one that is all too common.
I was the victim of a stolen credit card once. I had picked up food at a small restaurant in my neighborhood and left my card there without noticing. I didn’t realize my card was missing until a couple days later while I was at a store trying to buy something else. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I would just report it lost and request a new card. To my dismay, I was already too late. Someone had stolen my card and gone on a shopping spree. They even filled up at a gas station.
I was angry and upset, as anyone would be when something personal is stolen from them. If you find yourself in a similar situation, what you do next is critical to your financial health going forward. You might not be able to get your card back but you can help protect your credit and finances. Here are five steps you should take if your credit card is stolen: [ continue reading… ]
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