It’s one thing to create a budget and a long-term financial plan, but what about shielding yourself from life’s unexpected curveballs? Setting up automatic minimum payments on your credit cards is one of the simplest ways to avoid inadvertently damaging your credit score. Missed payments are one of the most common reasons that credit scores … Read more
Are you a person who already uses spreadsheets but is curious about automated budgeting tools? Choosing between a spreadsheet-connected tool like Tiller or a zero-based budgeting app like YNAB or EveryDollar might seem like a simple choice at first. It’s not, and here’s why. Many people report that certain tools simply “clicked” for them, and … Read more
Those huge jars of pickles at the grocery store are hard to resist. It’s not clear they save any money; if anything, you probably snack on more pickles once the jar is in the house. But there’s something appealing about having enough pickles to last a long while, and after the purchase you don’t think … Read more
Managing subscriptions can be a hassle, but you don’t have to let it become a costly or stressful part of your life. With so many services tied to auto-renewal, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks. At the same time, subscriptions have given us more convenience, entertainment, and flexibility than ever before. The … Read more
In our fast-paced world, everyone is searching for a quick fix to their problems, and saving money is no exception. The internet is flooded with tips, tricks, and so-called savings hacks, each claiming to be the magic bullet that will make personal finance a breeze. Unfortunately, many of these hacks are little more than marketing … Read more
It’s easy to look at the past with rose-colored glasses and assume that everything was better. Or to think the opposite: that everything has improved, and there’s no value in old ways of living. Neither of those views is entirely accurate. While a fair number of things are genuinely better now, plenty of timeless wisdom … Read more
We all know the feeling. You look around your home and see stuff everywhere. It feels crowded and cluttered. Maybe you should upgrade to a bigger house? But here’s a different thought. What if the real solution is fewer things? Homes have gotten bigger over the decades, and yet self-storage keeps growing. It seems no … Read more
Budgeting on a fluctuating income can feel like trying to hit a moving target. You may not always know exactly when your next paycheck is coming or how much it will be. When you’re worried about day-to-day bills, long-term goals like paying off debt might seem impossible to prioritize. The key is to find calm … Read more
Frugality is a popular idea, especially among those who are looking to reduce debt or get their finances in order. To many people, being frugal means spending less on non-essentials, looking for deals, and saying no to big purchases. Common advice seems to suggest that frugality is a path to becoming rich, but that isn’t … Read more
Paying off debt can be a long, difficult road. During that period, it’s easy to feel like you’re not making progress and lose motivation. This is especially true if the only measure of success you’re tracking is whether you’re done yet. If you wait until the very end to be happy, you’ll suffer through the … Read more