Free E-Book “5 Steps to Winning with Money” when you subscribe below!
Category Archives: Budgets & Spending Plans
Strategic Planning for the Everyday Family
Taking the Next Step with your Finances For several years now, my wife and I have been doing well with our finances. I haven’t used a credit card since 2006 or so, and my wife only has a Kohls card … Continue reading
Putting Perspective on the Fiscal Cliff and the Idiots in Congress
A friend of mine sent me the following today. I’ve seen it before on Facebook and a few other places online but it’s worth sharing again. It breaks down this whole fiscal cliff nonsense into laymen’s terms so it’s easier … Continue reading
Budgeting for Dummies: A Beginner’s Guide
Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of different approaches to budgeting. Naturally I feel that my approach is the best. That’s mainly because it works well for me. I finally realized that the method isn’t entirely critical as … Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance, Relationships & Money
Tagged budget, doing a budget, spending plan
14 Comments
April Financial Literacy Month: April 20, 2012
5 rules OnTargetCoach and his wife follows when it’s time to work on the household budget: Rule #1: Invite your spouse – do it a few days ahead and in person (don’t text the invite!) Rule #2: Bring snacks (or … Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance
Tagged budget, financial literacy, spending plan
Leave a comment
April Financial Literacy Month: April 13, 2012
Today my friend Jackie Walters from TheBudgetWorks.com produced this humorous video created by her daughter to exemplify the importance for us to save for a vacation. Woven into the background of this drama skit are four important points to consider … Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance, Saving Money
Tagged financial literacy, Saving Money, vacation
Leave a comment
The Wow Factor: Getting the most bang for your buck
When you think about making a purchase, have you ever thought about rating it on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 barely moving the needle and 10 being a big, exciting WOW?
Back in the 1990’s I came across The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczn and the revolutionary idea-to me-of actually planning your spending, living a frugal life, and the proposal noted above of a Wow Factor scale. She recommended testing all spending with this simple rule. Basically, you just need to determine how much wow you are getting for the money you are spending. Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Frugal Tips
Tagged amy dacyczn, budget, opportunity cost, spending, wow factor
15 Comments
Winning With Money Part 4: Needs vs. Wants
This is the area that brings out the worst in us: the little three-year-old throwing a fit in the store because we want something, and we want it now! Think about this for a second. We lived for centuries without cable tv or smart phones. That means you won’t die if you give them up for a few months while you get out of debt. Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance, Saving Money
Tagged being content with what you have, brew your own coffee, buying used to save money, cancel cable to save money, car payments, don't buy more than you need, happiest people want what they have, needs vs. wants, paying cash for purchases
11 Comments
Winning With Money Part 2: Get Proactive with Your Money
Many of us handle our money by thinking in the present tense. We look at the bills we have today and the money we have in the bank today, then try to make decisions based on the current situation. The problem is, we make decisions in the now, but forget to think about the future: where the puck will be. Continue reading
Be Prepared When the Plan Goes Out the Window
No Financial Plan is Perfect It’s easy to make a plan. It’s easy to say, “this is how my life will happen.” It’s not so easy to stick to that plan, especially when life gets in the way. And let’s … Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance
Tagged emergencies, financial planning, goals, military
2 Comments
Think Long-term During Short-term Planning
Using Long-term Goals for Short-term Budgeting Creates a Solid Plan Many of us struggle to see farther than two weeks or a month ahead with our finances. When money is tight and you live paycheck to paycheck, it’s hard to … Continue reading
Posted in Budgets & Spending Plans, Personal finance
Tagged budgeting, emergency, irregular expenses
1 Comment