Creating and sticking to a budget is the best way to set yourself up for financial success (and using BudgetSimple is a great way to get started). Sometimes financial decisions seem like a good idea in the here-and-now, but could impact you in a negative way later on. Avoid these 5 common mistakes people tend to make concerning their money and steer clear of future financial woes.
25 Ways to Skip on Spending
I remember being younger and always complaining to my mom that I had nothing to do. She always met my chorus of “I’m booorrrreedddd” with pretty unique ideas for things to do without much money, since I didn’t exactly have much of an income. Some of these things are still pretty relevant today (except now I complain to my husband instead of my mom). There are a ton of things to do without spending much, if any, money. Check out these 25 suggestions for free or nearly-free ways to entertain yourself! Some ideas are more fun than others, but all are easy on your budget.
Skills For Saving
So many of us lead busy, bustling lives nowadays, and it’s hard to find enough time in the day to finish all that we need to. Sometimes this can lead to extra “convenience” spending in order to have someone else take care of things that we could probably do on our own. Consider making more of an effort to try your hand at do-it-yourself projects.
Feature Friday – Savings Funds
One of the biggest questions that comes up with BudgetSimple, is how do you handle savings, especially for items that are periodic, such as your insurance bill or property taxes.
Switch to Save – Doing Away With Disposables
We don’t think twice about throwing a number of different things out in the trash, but you would never throw away money, would you? While it might seem convenient to use disposables, you’re essentially doing just that when you toss them in the garbage. There are a ton of other reusable options that will not only save you money, but in most cases, they’re saving the environment, too!
Summer Savings
Memorial Day weekend has always marked the start of summer for me. There are so many things to do and enjoy once the weather warms up outside! Sticking to your budget doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Here are some tips for saving this summer while still taking advantage of all it has to offer:
Talking to Your Kids About Finances
We all know now that it’s important to budget your finances to plan for the future and manage expenses, but some of us don’t learn that lesson until later in life. We also all want the best for our children, so wouldn’t it be a great idea to teach them this while they’re young? Too many parents don’t discuss finances and how to handle money with their kids, and they send them off into the world unprepared and a bit naive when it comes to saving and managing their money. Start (and maintain) a conversation with your kids to help them understand how important it is to be money-savvy.
Where Should I Put My Savings?
We stress over and over again how important it is to save money for a number of reasons, but where is the best place to stash your cash? There are different options to consider when saving money depending on what your goals are.
Wedding Bells and Budgets
Wedding season is upon us! We’re getting ready to attend our first one of the year in a few weeks. This year’s agenda is considerably smaller than last year’s – we only have two as of now, but last year we attended NINE (in addition to our own), a majority of which were out of town. I really love going to weddings… free food & drinks, dancing, and family & friends, what’s not to like?
Spending Less vs. Saving More
I decided to take a trip to our nearest factory outlet stores last weekend to pick up a few warmer weather items for my upcoming vacation (Goodbye, Pittsburgh. Hello, Los Angeles!). They’re typically known for having cheaper prices than you’d normally find in the stores at the mall, so this is usually the first place I think of going when my wardrobe needs a major overhaul every few years.
