How to Budget – Getting Started Budgeting with Your First Budget

Best Way to Budget with Irregular Income

Do you know how to budget? A lot of people hate the B word. I have to admit it myself that I do not enjoy budgeting. Many people try to fake it by simply calling it a “spending plan”. But, budgeting is a great way to make sure that you have enough money to pay the bills each month. It is also a way for you to save for different financial goals you may have in life like retiring early, finishing your bucket list, or sending your children to college. The hardest part of budgeting may be simply starting. So many people do not know where to start or how to get going. Keeping track of the money you spend … Read more

How to Turn Down Family Members Who Keep Asking for Money

How to Turn Down Family Members Who Keep Asking for Money

A wise person once said, “Most stress is caused by three things: family, money, and family with no money.” Family means the world to a lot of us, but when they start asking for money, that’s when things start to get complicated. A recent study found that over a third of respondents said that money was the primary cause of friction in their relationships, and stress in any relationship can be detrimental. Whether your spouse is bad with money, a family member was hit hard by unexpected financial setbacks, or a friend keeps asking you for money to get by (or possibly fund an addiction), there are a few things you should consider when a loved one seeks financial help from … Read more

How Long Will My Retirement Savings Last?

Note – The following post is the 2nd in a series of retirement education blog posts on Money Q&A and sponsored by USAA. Be sure to check out the 1st article, “Am I Saving Enough for Retirement?”. Like always, all opinions are my own. If you’re worried that you’re doomed when it comes to retirement, then you might be surprised by how many options there are for supplementing and stretching your retirement income. Now that you’ve put a great deal of thought and planning into your retirement investing, as you start to look at retirement as it comes closer, now is the time to consider how you are going to start withdrawing your money from your retirement plans. Your withdrawal strategy … Read more

Am I Saving Enough for Retirement? Here’s How to Find Out

401k Retirement Plans

Note – The following post is part of a series of retirement education blog posts on Money Q&A and sponsored by USAA. But, like always, all opinions are my own. There’s a lot of doom and gloom reporting these days about Baby Boomers not saving enough for retirement. The lack of savings is only expected to get worse for Millennials, who are saddled with comparatively more student loan debt and struggling with slower rates of wage growth compared to their parents and grandparents’ generations.  Whether you’re trying to save for retirement in your 20s or you’re in your late 40s or early 50s and on the verge of retiring within the next decade, the issue of saving enough money for retirement … Read more

Top 7 Lesser Known and Simple Tips for Saving Money Today

Let’s face it; you work hard for your cash. Unfortunately, it may not be working as hard as it could be for you. You need these tips for saving money. While most of us tell ourselves that we’re doing the best we can with the cash that we have, the truth is that there are plenty of lesser-known ways to save money that could end up placing more of your pennies back into your pocket. If you’ve tried all of the obvious tips for saving money, like tracking your expenses with an online app and making sure that you have a list when you go food shopping, give these ideas a try instead. 1. Make Comparison Sites your Best Friend These … Read more

How to Protect Elderly Family Members from Financial Scams

How to Protect Elderly Family Members

By some estimates, financial scams targeting seniors cost victims over $2.9 billion per year. In some instances, family members, friends or neighbors are the perpetrators of these scams – also referred to as elder financial abuse – while in other instances, it’s an anonymous cybercriminal casting a wide net to see how many seniors unwittingly take the bait and send money. Perhaps you’ve seen an elderly family member or neighbor fall victim to a financial scam before or you’re growing increasingly concerned about an older loved one’s ability to continue managing their finances. Of course, not all financial scams are alike; here are some common signs to watch out for: These are just some of the many different ways people … Read more