budget

Since passing my CFP® exam, more and more of my friends are coming to me for financial advice. Sometimes they have a specific question, sometimes they want to create a plan to get out of debt, and sometimes they just want some advice on how to manage their finances going forward. No matter what they [...]

The Associated Press reports a new finding by FICO, Inc. that 25.5 percent of consumers, or nearly 43.4 million people, currently have a credit score of 599 or less. With a quarter of the nation suffering from credit card debt and poor credit scores, it’s obvious that many are not aware of the number of [...]

Vacation is one of those luxuries that can easily cause you to go over budget. Even the best budgeter gets caught up in the spur of the moment. I know no one really wants to budget on vacation.  But, I promise you, there is one thing worse than budgeting on vacation — that is, being [...]

Santa Claus is one of our most recognizable holiday characters, known for his love of children, holiday spirit, and giving personality. Most people would agree that Santa is a good guy. He gives unselfishly and the only thing he asks for in return is good behavior. However, has anyone ever asked what this all costs [...]

Many people that create a budget have a difficult time sticking to it for one reason — incidental expenses. Although incidental expenses are only a small fraction of your expenses, they can have a really big effect on your budget. These tiny expenses often go unaccounted for and can destroy your carefully crafted plans. Here [...]

Like anything else in life, business ownership comes with ups and downs. But an entrepreneurial spirit can help you see ways around obstacles and reduce downsides of owning your own business. Entrepreneurs see opportunity where others see risk — often because they take steps to manage risk or because they define risk in different ways. [...]

As the closing of my home loan draws nearer, I have been diligent about making sure my personal finances have stayed in order. While it has been a long process, it has gone relatively smoothly. We are set to close in just two weeks. Unknowingly, we could have delayed our closing by doing a number of [...]

So how are you getting on with your New Year’s resolutions?  Yes that’s right, all those promises that you made to yourself back in January about doing more exercise, eating healthier food and cutting back on spending. We are now more than half-way through the year and for many, those good intentions are long forgotten [...]

Yesterday I received the news that so many others have heard, my job will be coming to an end. Luckily, my boss was very kind, and has alerted me three months in advance with the hopes that I will be able to find something else. At this moment I’m hoping it will give me the [...]

Before you make your next impulse buy, you might ask yourself, “Will this make me feel better or will it make me feel worse?” Anytime we overspend, we succumb to a desire in the same way addicts do to their fix of choice. Bold statement, but not if you think deeply about the way your [...]