It’s that time of year again; the flowers are blooming, the grass is turning green, and people all over the world are wanting to know how to have a debt free christmas. Wait, what? I realize that Spring is a weird time of year to be talking about the holiday season. But if you want to have a debt free Christmas, it’s time to start planning--and more importantly--start saving. If you’re like me, you’ve experienced the financial stress that seems to accompany the Christmas season. Whether it’s the holiday parties, gift giving, or travel expenses, there’s an opportunity to throw… [Continue Reading...]

Whether there’s a growing stack of bills on your kitchen counter, or you’re cutting expenses to save for a big purchase, living on a tight budget can be quite the endurance test. And, much like standing at the starting line of a marathon, the race ahead can seem daunting. It’s no secret that budgeting takes hard work and persistence. You can’t just sit on the sidelines and hope your finances straighten out. You have to be intentional with every dollar you earn, and fight for your financial future on a daily basis. Still, what if it isn’t as difficult as… [Continue Reading...]

If you have more than one piece of plastic in your wallet, I can almost guarantee you have asked yourself the question, “Credit card or debit card?” How did you make the decision? Did you choose a credit card for points and cash back, or did you go with your debit card, because you like the phrase “paid-in-full”? In the moment, it probably didn’t feel like a huge deal. But what if I told you that, hanging in the balance of this seemingly small choice, was your entire financial future? Would that sway your decision? As you might suspect, I… [Continue Reading...]

We all have habits when it comes to handling our money. But are they good money habits? In other words, are your financial habits moving you closer to your ultimate financial goals? If not, it’s probably time for you to change them. And today is the best day to start! Our Story A while back, my wife and I decided to be more intentional with our money, because we didn’t want to muddle through life, living paycheck-to-paycheck. But we knew if we continued to handle our money according to our natural tendencies, that’s exactly what would happen. It was a… [Continue Reading...]

What Is A Budget, Really? I hate when people refer to their budget as a spending plan. I understand why they call it that, but I think it is wildly inaccurate. A good budget is a SAVING plan, and the key to financial success. It doesn’t matter who you are, or how much you make. If you want to win with money, you need a budget, and you need it now. The Real Purpose of Budgeting Before we get started creating a budget, it’s important for you to understand the purpose of budgeting. And, contrary to to what you might… [Continue Reading...]

What is fun money? I think recess is one of the most brilliant concepts ever invented. Teachers know that giving kids a small, limited amount of time to run around, scream and play, greatly increases their capacity to learn throughout the school day. In budgeting, we need a little dose of recess too. It’s called fun money. And it is one of my all time favorite budgeting tips. Fun Money is a small, limited amount of money you allow yourself to spend on, you guessed it, fun. It’s a budgeting game changer. Why? Because like kids without recess, if you… [Continue Reading...]

Step 1: Your Compelling Reasons Why If you were to ask 2 people why they want to start budgeting, and their answers were as follows: Person 1: I want to save more money. Person 2: I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck, and I know that if I don’t stick to a budget and make better financial decisions, the only inheritance I’ll leave for my family is a mountain of debt. And that makes me sick. Also, my wife and I share a dream of paying cash for our first house, and good budgeting habits will allow us to do… [Continue Reading...]

If you’re like me, you’ve uttered the phrase “it’s not in the budget” a time or two in your life. But, where is this all-knowing budget you speak of? Have you actually taken the time to create one? Technically, is anything “in the budget,” if the budget doesn’t exist? I spent years trying and failing at budgeting, before I finally got it right. I tried everything from hand written budgets, to plug and play spreadsheets that did all the math for me. Yet, no matter how simple the process, I never stuck with it. Like most people, I considered budgeting… [Continue Reading...]