Personal Finance for Young Professionals
The holidays are coming up fast, which means extra expenses for food, decorations, and gifts. Obviously, planning ahead is the best way to make sure you have enough money for everything. Start your gift list in January and your holiday budget as … [Continue reading]
Did you know that having the winter blues is a real thing? It’s called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, and getting more sunshine can help. Although SAD doesn’t affect everyone, many people say they get the blahs when the thermometer dips … [Continue reading]
Not long ago, I took a girls trip with my good friends. One of them had a birthday, which was the main reason for the trip. We had a great time, but part of the time we were gone was during the week when I’m usually working. For some people, being … [Continue reading]
One of the common tactics of sticking to a tight budget is tracking your spending. It’s a great way to get a good look at what you’re actually spending. If you notice that your spending is getting out of whack, you can make changes to get back on … [Continue reading]
When you have debt, specifically credit card debt, you’re likely paying high interest. Obviously that’s not a secret because it’s how credit card companies make their money. If you’re trying to pay off debt, however, that’s some of the first debt … [Continue reading]
You may recall, from other posts I’ve written, that my daughter moved a little over a year ago. When I go to visit her, I usually end up working as well as helping her with home improvement projects. As I write this, I’m on a “girlfriends” trip to … [Continue reading]
Summer is pretty much over. Sadly, that means kids everywhere are either already back to school, or they’ll be going back soon. If you have kids, that may be good news to you in some respects. Your childcare expenses may decrease and you won’t … [Continue reading]
Just about everyone who budgets makes mistakes from time to time. If anyone disagrees, they’re either fibbing, or they simply haven’t made that first mistake yet. But I promise that eventually, it will happen. For example, when my husband and I … [Continue reading]
Lately I’ve been feeling the itch to work on some of my hobbies. One is painting and decorating either my own home or the homes of family and friends. Another one of my hobbies is sewing and quilting. I love to make little crafty things, like Kleenex … [Continue reading]
When your debt has taken over, no doubt you’re trying to eliminate as many extra expenses as possible. That usually entails cutting your budget to the bone and using every bit of extra money to pay down debt. Still, if you have sizable debt, it’s … [Continue reading]
In these modern times, DIY’s are all the rage. There are thousands of YouTube videos, Pinterest guides, and more to help you finish just about any household project. To be sure, lots of people DIY with great success, including myself from time to … [Continue reading]
Summer is a popular time of year for people to travel and take a break from their regular jobs and routines. Many people who want to take a summer vacation look for ways to save up for a vacation ahead of time. They may work overtime at their jobs … [Continue reading]
Selling your home and moving is an exhausting experience. I know because about this time last year, my husband, son, and I helped my daughter pack up everything and move. It wasn’t a close move, either. She sold her existing home and bought a … [Continue reading]
Recently, I read a Facebook post my Nephew’s wife shared. In the post were pictures of her daughter, happy and smiling, in cap and gown at her high school graduation ceremony. Obviously, she’s not the only one graduating at this time of year. … [Continue reading]
Not long ago I got the first of several high school graduation announcements in the mail. They came from distant family members as well as local friends. My guess is that several of these young people will be moving on to college in the fall. In … [Continue reading]
I don’t know about you, but when the weather outside goes from cold and dreary to sunny, it inspires me. It makes me want to spring clean my home inside and out (although I’m a bit behind on that right now, but don’t judge!). But when it comes to … [Continue reading]
Money shortages are common for many people these days. In fact, if you’re like me, your list of needs is bigger than your checkbook. Of course, the solution to that problem is often cutting back certain areas of your budget. While that can help, … [Continue reading]
Keeping a marriage together over the long haul is hard work. My husband and I can attest to that as we have been married for many years. In fact, I’ve been with him longer than I’ve been without him. Sure, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. … [Continue reading]
I have to admit it. I’m guilty. My family had a conversation about cell phones recently, and my husband asked if I take mine everywhere. I replied that, yes, I do take my smart phone with me nearly everywhere. His question stemmed from something … [Continue reading]
The first part of the year is always a great time to overhaul your budget. I must admit, my husband and I intended to go through ours together a month or two ago. We haven’t really had a chance to do it so far, but I’m sure we will soon. On a … [Continue reading]