There's no thrill quite like buying a new car. However, there are some things you need to consider before you can complete that mission. First, you need to budget accordingly and then you'll need some expert tips to help you get the best deal and make the process smoother. Consider these top tips to help prepare you for a new car purchase and make the process easier and more rewarding.
Category Archives for Saving Money & Frugal Living
Prepare for These 4 Unforeseen Real-World Expenses
The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
Personal finance is something that we all have to manage. You can micromanage your budget and consider every expense that you incur in your normal life, like food, housing, and transportation. Even if you manage these costs down to the last penny, life has a way of getting involved in your perfectly managed budget.
How to Cope With Financial Anxiety
Financial anxiety is something a lot of Americans report experiencing. With prices on the rise, life without a monthly budget is a guaranteed way to run into financial trouble. Once we start to associate negative feelings like avoidance and stress with managing our finances, it turns into full-blown money anxiety.
When it comes to a budget, the word itself can leave a bad taste in the mouths of those who don't find budgeting necessary. Yet, all hope is not lost! You can not only overcome your financial anxiety and eliminate financial troubles, but you can start to live life on your own terms.
By the end of this post, you’ll learn what is financial anxiety and 10 ways to manage your financial stress (without counting every penny).
Budget-Friendly Ways To Enjoy Summer 2021
The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
Memorial Day just passed, which means summer is just around the corner. Last year at this time, the coronavirus pandemic was at an all-time high, resulting in the cancelation of most activities, events, and establishments. So, it’s only natural that you want to get out of the house and reacquaint yourself with the people and things you love. The only problem is, with a down economy, inflation has skyrocketed, making it more expensive to cover necessities, let alone have a good time.
If you’re like most of the population, the pandemic put a damper on your finances. Now that things are gradually returning to “normal,” you’re trying to get things back on track. Though you’d like to have fun this summer, you simply don’t see how you can with such high prices and a tight budget. Fortunately, there are things you can do to enjoy the season without breaking the bank. Continue reading for suggestions.
How to Quit Stressing About Money
The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
If you feel frustrated with your life because things are not working out for you, one reason for your frustration could very well be your lack of abundance. This scarcity may have less to do with the economy and more to do with spending more than you earn.
Once you take control of your finances, many of your problems will disappear. When you have more than enough money coming in, most of your stress will fall away. You’ll be able to afford many of the things and experiences that enhance the quality of life.
With that in mind, here are some strategies to protect your finances, grow your income, and tame your spending:
Minimize Spending by Preventing Compulsive and Impulsive Shopping
Saving money by sticking to a budget can be hard. It gets even tougher if you have compulsive or impulsive spending habits.
If you tend to overspend on shopping, there may be a psychological reason why. Get to the root of your spending habits by better understanding how and why you buy things. With this knowledge, you will be able to better manage your budget and minimize excess spending.
Two types of spending can hurt your budget and can be avoidable with some help: impulsive and compulsive spending.
5 Tips for Managing Your Finances During Uncertain Times
Financial management is one of the single most important things people do in life. Good financial management can make a difference. One of the hardest challenges any person has to do in life is managing financial matters when times are in flux. During times of transition, it can be hard to know what to do. However, there are steps you can take to help stay on track and avoid problems with your personal cash flow.
Continue reading5 Ways a Clean Kitchen Saves You Money
The following is a guest post by Carley Clark. Carley is a personal finance content writer from Michigan. She is also the owner of The Magic Finance, a blog that aims to educate readers on personal finance topics in a fun, energetic manner.
Maybe you know the feeling: it’s dinnertime—your stomach’s rumbling.
You eye the kitchen and cringe; trash litters the countertops, dishes are stacked to the ceiling, the stove’s covered with old, dried-up spills.
You’re not alone; many people have a hard time keeping their kitchen clean. After working all day, cleaning is probably the last thing you want to do. It’s no big deal if you just leave it for tomorrow, right?
You may not realize that cleaning your kitchen does more than make your home look tidy.
Here are five ways a clean kitchen can actually save you money:
“Save Money” Isn’t A Wise Goal. Here’s What Is.
The following is a guest post by Corey Fradin. Corey Fradin is the Founder of QuickBooost - a blog that helps you attain goal success; a process for setting and achieving goals that result in a fulfilling, meaningful life. Corey's passion for goal success has led to him helping countless individuals finally achieve their goals.
The clouds move across the sky as you stare out the window. Down below, some two or three stories, you can see daffodils starting to bloom.
Ugh... you sigh to yourself.
The daffodils are beautiful, but today they disgust you. Well, disgust is a bit strong. More like taunt. Yes, taunt. That's more like it. Their yellow petals, slowly opening, mock you as the wind ruffles through their stems.
You've always wanted your own patch of daffodils - but you've wanted them in a very specific way. In a way that you're afraid you may never get to experience.
As a homeowner.
Here Are 3 Things You Really Can Live Without, and One Thing You Can’t
The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
We are constantly measuring ourselves against a standard that is unreal and ill-defined. We are told that the good life is a house with a white, picket fence, and 1.7 kids. What a crock! That completely leaves apartment dwellers out of the good life. What if you only have a chain-link fence in the backyard? Does that count? Are you disqualified if you cannot or choose not to have kids?
It is hard to tell what is to blame. We could blame TV and movies. But those stories are written by people who already had those views. Still, we have to shake the persistent cultural narrative that we are somehow incomplete if our skin isn’t smooth enough, or our hair not full enough, or our vacation isn’t exotic enough, or our car isn’t new enough, or our clothes aren’t designer enough. We are made to feel like bad parents if our kids aren’t rocking the latest fashions and highest tech.
Sometimes, we just have to be reminded that this is all garbage. We can live the good life without the vast majority of things we believe are necessary because the vast majority of happy people around the world don’t have those things. It might be time for a recalibration. Let’s start with the one thing you absolutely need, then review a few things you can, and probably should live without:
A College Education
Somewhere along the way, we, in the U.S. decided that a high-school education was all that was required. As a result of that decision, about 2/3 of Americans 25 and older do not have a bachelor’s degree. That is startling considering the percentage of people with a college degree has never been higher. Just look at the person to your left, then, to the right. If you have a degree, chances are that neither of them do. If you don’t have a degree, you are in good company with at least one of them.
A dramatically lower percentage has gone on to get a graduate degree. That means that if you are interested in architecture, a masters in architecture puts you at a distinct advantage over the vast majority of the population. You automatically land in the upper echelon by just putting in two more years of university. Even if you only get a two year degree, you cannot compete for the best opportunities without it.
A Second Car
The two-car garage suggests that your single car is insufficient. It is not. A couple really can live without a second car. There is no shame in your kids walking to the school right there in the neighborhood, or biking to school, or (heaven forfend) taking the school bus. They do not have to be chauffeured in the latest Beemer. You can get to work taking public transportation. All too often, the second car is more status symbol than actual need.
A $7 Coffee
You don’t need a $7 coffee every morning, or ever. That $35 every work week is more than your power bill. What would happen if you poured that money into your child’s college fund. They would have a lot more than a caffeine buzz and sugar high at the end of graduation. They would have a real shot at that graduate degree that would set them apart in the world.
A New Smartphone Every Year
Did you know that Apple provides major updates to the iPhone for at least four, and sometimes five years? That means your iPhone 12 will still likely be running the latest operating system when the iPhone 17 comes out. Perhaps you would be better off keeping all of your tech on the five-year plan instead of the installment plan that has you making monthly payments on tech for the rest of your life.
You already know these things. This is just a reminder that the good life is love, health, and wholeness, and nothing to do with multiple cars, $7 coffees, and the latest tech.