Keeping track of your budget during the holidays can be difficult, but there are definitely a few essential things you can do to ensure that you’ll still be in control when January rolls around.
Most importantly, set a budget and stick to it.  It’s essential that you are responsible and realistic when you set your holiday [...]

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Do you have an emergency fund?  Having an emergency fund is of the utmost importance if you are looking to achieve financial security.  Need to get started?  Here are some tips.
First of all, make sure that you know what the appropriate size of your emergency fund should be.  Most finance experts recommend 3-6 months of [...]

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Paying down debt is often a major financial goal for families, however, it can often be difficult to determine a good starting point.  In upcoming articles, I’ll be discussing different types of debt, and how to go about eliminating of reducing debt.
How many of you remember being in college and seeing those enticing displays from [...]

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One of the reasons why some people abandon their budget is because it seems too rigid, too forced for them to follow.  A good alternative is the concept of flexible budgeting, where you are able to still develop guidelines for spending without specific categories.
For instance, some women want to budget haircuts and colors, but may [...]

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One area of budgeting that always seems to be difficult to plan for is moderate purchases.  Not quite large enough to be considered a major purchase, a moderate purchase may be a new computer, television, gym membership, camera, or any other item in that price range.  It isn’t appropriate for your emergency fund, and is [...]

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A few months ago, in my first Fix My Budget column, I referenced the importance of financial goals.  Given the latest events in the U.S. economy and stock market, it’s more important than ever to revisit your financial motivation and goals.
This is an exercise that is best completed as a conversation between both you and [...]

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While many families know about the benefits of going green, they often assume that it’s a costly initiative.  While some green and organic products are more costly than conventional items, going green can also help you become more frugal.  Being mindful of your consumption, of everything from books and magazines to fuel and gasoline, can [...]

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Some people, when putting together their budget, may have noticed that expenses are higher than revenues.  In the past articles, I’ve assumed that revenues were higher than expenses, but there are definitely many cases where the opposite is true.
The most important thing to do is to determine whether or not the situation is long-term or [...]

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In the past, we talked about starting to pull together information so that you can understand where you are spending money.  With a few week’s worth of information available to you, it’s a good time to begin to analyze your spending.
First, look at your food expenditures.  Do you find that you are spending pocket cash [...]

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Are you having a difficult time sticking to your budget?  If so, it may be helpful for you to try out a cash diet for a month.  It’s a great way to discipline yourself to only spend the month that you have.
So, what is a cash diet?  Essentially, it involves using only cash to make [...]

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