Recent Posts
Recent Posts Tagged With 'money management'
Things Not to Cut
In response to the recent economic conditions, people are cutting back in many, many ways. For the most part, this is good; America desperately needed to examine our spending ways and trim the fat. Expenses that drain the bank without giving us ...
Should Parents Pay for College?
As is common knowledge to all, pursuing a higher education has become an extremely expensive endeavor. For all of the scholarships, grants, and financial aid available, there isn’t nearly enough to bring down the costs for everyone. Four-ye...
In The Moment vs. Delayed Gratification: Part III
In this post I’m going to focus on the actual money management techniques that we can use to simultaneously have a good time today and prepare for tomorrow. No matter how you go about budgeting your money, it needs to encompass three b...
Tracking My Expenses:
Within the past couple of weeks, I took up a new personal finance habit. For the indefinite future, I’m keeping track of every single expense I incur. Whether it’s a necessity like gas for the car, a monthly phone bill, or a pop at a ...
D’oh! Stupid Financial Mistake of the Week
I made quite a bonehead move with my finances recently. It all started with a checking account I had set up here in Indianola last year. I figured it would be handy to have an account with a bank here in town in addition to my main account back hom...
Summer 2008 Financial Wrap-up
Well I’m all moved in back at Simpson for my sophomore year, which among other things means that my already skimpy income becomes even more sparse with the end of my summer job. I figured I’d reflect back on and compose a little write-up...
My Miserly Summer Ways
With a huge tuition bill looming for my sophomore year at Simpson and high gas prices burning a much larger hole in my pocket than ever before, I’m being extremely frugal with my money this summer. I’m trying to stash away as much as I c...
Defining Your Savings Goals
In my mind, making an effort to save is only half the battle. An equally important skill is the ability to identify your saving objectives. Rather than having one lump-sum savings account, I believe we should keep our money in different places fo...
What Are You Doing With Your Economic Stimulus Check?
This last week, the first checks began hitting the mail as part of Dubya’s economic stimulus passage. Washington can’t wait for this money to hit our pockets so that we can spend like the consuming Americans we are and hopefully turn th...
A New Take on the Personal Budget: Reverse Budgeting
I came across the topic of reverse budgeting via www.fivecentnickel.com, and it is an interesting twist on the common way to manage income. The premise is simple: instead of allocating every dollar of our income to specific categories, we determine...
Easy and Painless Way to Boost Savings: Save Those Windfalls
With the recent announcement of the US economic stimulus plan, millions of Americans will receive a one-time rebate check from the government. While congress would love for us to spend every dime of it and pump some cash into the economy, that̵...
Auto Insurance: Full Coverage or Liability Only?
This post idea came to me from Kacie over at www.sensetosave.com. As most young people don’t have much in the way of income, we aren’t rolling around in brand-spankin’ new wheels. This brings us to an interesting choice when it co...
Piggy Banks Aren’t Just be for Kids
I have a bit of an obsession with my piggy bank. It’s one of those big ones that you see with the sports teams logos (Iowa State Cyclones for me). Right now it’s a little over half full, and weighs in at 34 pounds. I love getting change...
A Basic, Flexible Budget That Works
OK, so you’ve got some steady income coming in. That’s great, but what should you do with that money? How should you use it to your greatest advantage? You need to institute a budget that allows you to pay the bills, put so...
Online Banking
One of the first things you should do to gain some control of your financial situation is sign up for online banking if you have not already done so. It is extremely easy to do, and has so many benefits that I don’t know how I coul...
