household budget

Sometimes you just need to stop spending money for a few days. Maybe you are already over budget, or close to it, and the month isn’t over. Maybe you have savings goals with attached deadlines, and need to kick a little extra towards one of those goals before the deadline comes and goes. Or maybe [...]

I disagree with the common assumption that buying a house will be your biggest financial decision. I believe your choice of a marriage partner will be your single biggest financial decision.  Besides, who do you think is going to help you make the house decision? Therefore, make your spouse decision carefully.  The reasons go far, [...]

A computer these days is almost a necessity for everyone, and an expensive necessity at that. Whether for fun or for work, it is not uncommon to see multiple computers in a household. More and more people are even purchasing laptops for their size and convenience. Purchasing a computer can be tricky and intimidating with [...]

The other day I was helping a friend prepare for a personal finance presentation to a group. I suggested that she break up her presentation with a group activity so that the session is more interactive. I don’t know if she will use my suggestion or not. However, I want to share the idea with [...]

If I have heard one resounding theme over any others among friends and family it’s that the possibility of a vacation is out for this year. In some cases, people I know have not taken a vacation in years! The number one reason: they can’t afford it. Well, at least they think they can’t afford [...]

At an early age, it is difficult to teach children about money. Learning comes much more easily when it is fun. Game nights are a family tradition in many households and throwing in one of these board games can combine fun with a little financial education. The board games provide the basic concept for what [...]

Following up on my how to create a budget article, I want to share with you a budgeting method called the cash envelope budgeting system. The envelope system of budgeting has been around for long time (it’s believed to have started during the Great Depression). However, it became more popular when Dave Ramsey preached it [...]

I am down right bad when it comes to budgeting. I’ve gotten used to a save first and automatic payments lifestyle that budgeting has become a foreign language to me. However, a recent unfortunate event may put this lifestyle to an end and force us to take budgeting seriously. I have been refreshing myself on [...]

Here’s a good video podcast by Dave Ramsey. In just 5 minutes, you can improve your chance of financial success — how can you say no to that? In this video, you’ll learn what Dave Ramsey is all about and what he teaches. I thought the segment on Baby Steps and Debt Snowball was particularly [...]

Well, looks like we are having a rash of carnival crises here. Yesterday the host of the Festival of Frugality bailed and David at My Two Dollars bailed out the carnival with an emergency edition of the Festival of Frugality, and it’s our turn today! Here’s my quick and dirty bailout edition of the Money [...]