Another year over, and another Christmas season upon us! Which means: It’s time to brainstorm the best, most creative, and thoughtful gifts for the men in our lives. Which is where things start to become a bit challenging… See, men aren’t always the easiest to shop for, especially when it comes to stocking stuffer ideas. I mean, what things will they appreciate and enjoy that’ll also fit in that tiny Christmas stocking on the mantelpiece?
You’ve just received your paycheck. Woot! You’re chanting to yourself: “Show me the money!” When suddenly… You see the smaller of two numbers and realize: THAT is what you’re actually taking home. So which is it: your gross pay or net pay? Understanding the difference between the two will either set you up for budgeting success…or failure.
We ALL want free stuff. And nowadays, the internet is inundated with money-saving deals and freebie offers that (in many cases) are simply too good to be true. So, you’re probably wondering: How do you get free products online without falling into a scammer’s trap? Not to fear! In this post, I’ll show how you can get legit freebies through something called Amazon direct shipping.
Open up your fridge. …Go on! Now, take one third of all that food you see before you…and dump it straight in the trash.…Okay, so don’t actually do this. But did you know that American households waste about one third of the food they purchase?! That’s an average of $1,866 per year that people are just throwing in the garbage.
NO spending. Sounds scary right? It’s almost like saying “no breathing” or even worse: “no Netflix”. But the truth is, a no-spend challenge is something everyone can do and should do every once in a while. Why? Because no-spend challenges can help you reach your financial goals and completely transform your relationship with money.
If money is tight, what’s the first category in your budget you seriously cut back on? Not rent. We gotta live somewhere. Not food. A girl’s gotta eat! Most likely, you cut expenses in that broad category labeled “entertainment”—essentially, your “fun” money.
You’ve just sent a payment towards your debt. You feel GREAT… Until you realize… you still have so far to go! Being in debt is debilitating. It feels like the end is nowhere in sight and you’re just constantly trying to stay afloat. But, what if I told you that sometimes WE are the ones who make our situation worse? We can blame the soulless corporate banks or the conniving student loan companies, but the truth is: we are ALSO keeping ourselves in debt, indefinitely.
It’s impossible to put into words what we’re all going through right now. The coronavirus is impacting each and every one of us—our loved ones, our relationships, our mental health, our jobs, and lastly our finances. I know it seems like just a small drop in an ocean of uncertainty, but one thing we can all look forward to is some relief from the federal government in the form of stimulus checks.
Rainy day fund, emergency fund—they’re all the same, right? In a word…no. Although we often use these terms interchangeably, rainy day funds and emergency funds are two completely different things. Don’t worry. I didn’t know the difference before either! On our paths to financial freedom, it’s important to understand what both of these funds are, what they’re used for, and how to start saving for them.
Budgeting doesn’t have to fill you with dread. I’m sure it’s a close second to dieting on the list of most hated things EVER… However, budgeting and learning how to manage your money are essential skills that we all must master. After all, creating a budget is key to achieving financial freedom.
