Budgeting

The truth about budgeting and how you can save

Mckenna Bailey — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:19:00 -0800

Strict budgets are one of those things that sound great in theory, but are impossible in real life — like skipping dessert or turning off a reality show. We all want to stick to the budget we lay out at the beginning of every month, but then life happens and it all falls apart. If this sounds like you, don’t fret — you’re not alone. In fact, this is happening to the majority of women in the US.

Our favorite online money management programs

Jessica Watson — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:17:00 -0800

It's a brand new year, and you're ready to create a spending plan to keep you motivated to save each month. Try one of these online management programs to help you track where your money is going.

Holiday savings: 5 Simple strategies for saving money

Jean Chatzky — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:13:00 -0800

The holidays and all those opportunities to spend money are officially upon us. Yes, they come earlier every year. But that longer season gives us consumers an opportunity to budget wisely and save some cash, if we're savvy. Here are five quick tricks that will help you stick to a spending plan and have some fun this year.

10 Easy, everyday ways to save money

SheKnows Living Editors — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

People with modest incomes sometimes save more than others who earn considerably more, says Carol Young, Kansas State University Research and Extension family financial management specialist. How do they manage to do it?

Working Mom 3.0: Boost your income

Stephanie Taylor Christensen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:46:00 -0700

Whether you breathe a sigh of relief when the first day of school arrives or find yourself wondering what to do with spare time, there are plenty of ways you can boost your income while your kids are in school — and still be at home when the bus drops them off. In this issue of Working Mom 3.0, writer and work-at-home mom Stephanie Taylor Christensen explores how.

Best apps for the iPhone: Personal finance apps

Kori Ellis — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:03:00 -0700

Whether you are looking to pay off your credit cards, start saving for retirement or just need to get a handle on everyday money matters, these personal finance apps can help.

5 Common budget missteps for families

Elaina Verhoff — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:48:00 -0700

We know budgeting can be a drag, but a smart family budget is essential to help you realize your personal and financial goals. The key is to get it right up front. Here are five common missteps to avoid when creating your household budget.

Secrets of successful home budgets

Kat Hobza — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:47:00 -0700

Budgets are difficult because they seem like a recipe for failure. You go into them with the best intentions and then life throws an unanticipated expense your way, rendering your budget null and void. Still, successful budgets do exist. Here are the secrets that set them apart.

Financial records: What to save and what to toss

Elaina Verhoff — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:42:00 -0700

Are old receipts and bank statements taking over your life? Without an understanding of which financial records to keep and which to toss, you run the risk of becoming a document hoarder -- or worse -- coming up empty-handed when you've scrapped important records. Unearth your jumbled heap of papers and get ready to organize! Here's the lowdown on what to save and what to shred.

How to plan a home budget

Kat Hobza — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:35:00 -0700

The prospect of planning a home budget seems daunting. Many dread the notion of evaluating and potentially having to re-evaluate where their money is spent. In these economic times, setting a budget is more important than ever. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Letting kids shop for Christmas presents

Maria Mora — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:30:00 -0800

Christmas is the perfect time to teach kids about budgeting. Whether you’re shopping with a preschooler or a teen, make gift buying a chance to learn about money management.

A course in household budgeting for your teen

Jen Klein — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 -0700

If you have a teenager at home, he or she is closer to going out on his or her own than you might like to admit. You’ve worked hard all these years to teach the big lessons and prepare your child emotionally for this huge step. But have you taught the smaller lessons? The practical lessons? For example, does your child know how to set a household budget?

Teaching kids about grocery shopping

Jen Klein — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:28:00 -0700

You’ve gone to the grocery store with your child hundreds -- if not thousands -- of times by now. He watches you, he knows where your favorite salad dressing is and maybe even why you don’t buy the sugary cereal. But have you ever really explained what your doing? Have your ever talked about your grocery shopping strategies and budgeting?

5 Ways to teach your children to save

Suzi Milovanovic — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:18:00 -0700

Anytime is the right time to teach kids the value of money. Older kids, especially, are subjected to constant media and peer pressure to keep up with the latest trends which results in most children learning to associate money with spending rather than saving. Children are watching money magically be ejected out of machines and transactions made via the internet, making it difficult to grasp the concept of where money comes from, how much you can afford to spend and how to save.

Why you need pet medical insurance

Michele Borboa, MS — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:30:00 -0800

The American Pet Products Association estimates that pet spending for 2010 will reach an all-time high of $47.7 billion. With all that we buy for our furry friends, shouldn’t pet insurance be part of our budget? If you’ve ever had a sick pet – or you simply factor in vet costs for pet check-ups – you know how quickly pet-related bills can stack up, but pet insurance alone can be pricey. We talked with Betsy Banks Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com and proud pet parent, about how pet insurance can save our pets’ lives and how to determine if pet insurance makes financial sense.

4 Money-saving grocery shopping apps

Lauren Fairbanks — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:30:00 -0800

We live in a tech-driven world that has an app for everything, including grocery shopping. These four grocery shopping apps will help you organize your food shopping and save you money with shopper comparison features and high-tech coupon clipping.

How to discuss your wedding budget

OneWed.com — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 09:16:00 -0800

Let's face it: Talking about money just isn't fun. Once the blush of getting engaged has faded a little, you and your groom, and possibly your parents, need to have some serious discussions about money, your wedding budget, and your priorities.

How to avoid money arguments

Kori Ellis — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:32:00 -0800

Married couples often fight about money -- who's earning it and who's spending it. With economic turmoil and more bankruptcies and foreclosures than ever, everyone needs to get a handle on their finances. If you are asking "Where did the money go?" or constantly arguing with your spouse about money concerns, the following tips may help.

3 Financial tips to manage money in the New Year

Laura Carson Miller — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:57:00 -0800

With a brand-new year staring us in the face, it’s likely you’ve had a few resolutions cross your mind. You know, things you want to improve, or maybe even something you might want to change completely. Along with exercise and volunteering, one of the top resolutions involves better management of our own personal finances. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions to help you manage your money.

Money issues: Finding common ground in your relationship

Kori Ellis — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:00:00 -0800

Are you and your spouse or partner often arguing about money? When one partner is a spender and the other is a saver, the two need to work together to find common ground. We talked to HerWay.com's dating and relationship expert, DeAnna Lorraine for her expert advice on how to meet in the middle on money issues.

4 Lies that hurt your finances

Teressa Moore Griffin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:55:00 -0700

In today’s economy, millions of people are struggling to adjust to a shift in their financial lifestyle. Often the problem goes much deeper than developing a budget and spending sensibly. There is a great deal of emotional and psychological baggage that needs to be worked through before the practical work can take place and a sustainable plan can be put into action. When we allow our financial struggles and related behaviors to keep us in denial, we create more lies that cover the truth of our reality.