It’s a sad truth that many young people today have not been taught how to handle money. Quite a few of them, in fact, are unable to count back change when they need to, such as at a job. But why are our youth not learning these fundamental life skills? For one thing, schools may […]
8 Financial Tips for College Freshmen
Summer is winding down and retail stores are beginning to stock their shelves with back to school items. Soon it will be time for last spring’s high school graduates to pack up their belongings and head away to college. Starting your freshmen year of college is an exciting rite of passage. It comes with lots […]
3 Things People Who Are Broke Are Tired of Hearing
Lately, it seems like there is a lot of sniping between and even among generations about who is playing the “game of life” better. If you’re a Baby Boomer, Millennials are lazy, overly-educated people who wish all their debts would disappear by magic. If you’re a Millennial, people born before you (especially Baby Boomers) got […]
5 Ways I’m Saving On Our Wedding
With only three days to go before the big day, there has come a point in wedding planning where I’m just saying “forget it.” Ring not cleaned right before the wedding? Forget it! Welcome bags for guests not quite complete? Hopefully no one will notice! One thing I’m not saying “forget it” to is our […]
Using the KonMari Method on Your Budget
By now, you’ve probably heard of Mari Kondo’s best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. In the book, author and professional organizer Mari Kondo describes how to declutter and simplify your life using her methods. The #1 bestseller on the New York Times list has developed a cult-like following, according to the Wall Street […]
5 Ways to Reduce Your Taxable Income This Year
It’s almost the end of the year, which means you might be a little curious about next year’s taxes. If you received a raise this year, had a change in marital or family status, or run your own side business, you may also be wondering how to reduce your taxable income to not owe as […]
Why You Need to Fight Lifestyle Inflation
After graduating from college, or moving out of your parents’ house and into your own place, it’s easy and sometimes necessary to increase your lifestyle. After all, eating ramen every single day is affordable, but not healthy. Upgrading your food budget to incorporate fruits and vegetables may be a little more expensive at first, but […]
Money Moves to Make in Your 30s
In today’s society, it’s easy to get complacent when it comes to your finances. Today, PF Pro contributor, Melissa Hoffman takes a look at five money moves you should make in your 30’s. Don’t put these off until it’s too late, take action now! While your twenties may have been a time of massive change […]
The Gamification of Investing
Turning events into games is one of those endearing hobbies that a lot of us like to indulge in. Whether it’s Fantasy Football or Fantasy Football, The Bachelor Edition (yes, that’s a thing), we all like to turn things we can’t control into a game. It turns out even investing isn’t immune to being turned […]
My Favorite Frugal Fall Activities
PFP: Living in SoCal has its benefits but it would be nice to see the leaves change color once in a while. Today, PF Pro contributor Kali Hawlk takes a look at all the best free activities out there to do during the fall. Personally, I think the best types of activities are the free […]
How Much Does It Cost To Go To FinCon? (And My Biggest Takeaway From The Conference)
One of the coolest parts about being a personal finance blogger is the community that I get to engage with on a daily basis. I started blogging three years ago as a way to really just jot down all my thoughts on personal finance. A lot of times when I can’t remember why I’m investing […]
How to Give In to Lifestyle Inflation the Right Way
My financial philosophy developed out of a desire to make the most of my meager wages. When I started my professional career after gradating college, I made $12 per hour. Thankfully, I didn’t have any debt — or paying all my bills and saving a little money each month would have been impossible. Still, it […]
Is Our Gift Giving Culture Out of Control?
Both my sister-in-law and nephew have birthdays at the end of July. My nephew had his first birthday last summer, and I could not believe the amount of crap presents he was given from friends and family members. I’m not trying to be a big old Scrooge. He’s a cute kid and obviously well-loved by many. […]
9 Unexpected Ways Your Budget Leaks Cash
We all know about the usual ways cash can leak out of our budgets: spending too much at the grocery store thanks to impulse purchases, going out and buying lunch at work instead of brown-bagging it, or saying “I deserve it!”and treating yourself one too many times. These extra purchases can leave us with a […]
8 Great Digital Tools for Personal Finance
With our love of technology and tools to help us constantly do more, it’s no surprise that there are countless personal finance applications out there — and they’re all vying for our attention. It can be difficult to know which to choose, or which will work best for your unique financial situation. And let’s face […]
Bad Money Habits and the Excuses We Make for Them
We all have them: our own personal finance vices, our bad money habits. No one can be perfect all the time, and we’re all subject to giving in and spending a little more when we know we shouldn’t, or getting a little lax with tracking our spending and budgeting down to the last cent. Some […]
Can You Distinguish Between Needs and Wants?
Innocent words have a tendency to take on a life of their own. This happens in many ways. One of the most common is when the more repeat something, the more we believe it – even if it’s not necessarily true. Take the example of needs versus wants. We’re typically so flippant about declaring things […]
Living on a Budget: The Difference Between Frugal and Cheap
If you’re living on a budget, you’re doing a great thing for your finances. Tracking your spending and cutting frivolous purchases or excessive expenses is the first step to building wealth. After all, you can’t manage your money properly to see your net worth grow if you have no idea what you’re actually doing with […]
Financial Checklist: 25 Things to Take Care of Before You Turn 25
It’s never too soon to start thinking about money, and more importantly, your own personal finances. But the financial world is huge, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To make it a little easier, we’ve compiled a checklist that every twenty-something should be able to use. There are some money matters […]
How We Live Well on Less
My husband and I live a frugal lifestyle, and we do so by choice. We don’t put much value into material possessions, and instead we focus on the more fulfilling things in life. I’m routinely amazed that more people don’t make the choice to live more simple, yet more satisfying lives by not worrying about […]