31 Simple Money Management Tips Successful People Always Follow
melaniedj • Nov 03, 2020
At the end of the year, we start to think about our habits, including our money management habits. If you're reading this and thinking next year you need to start doing things better, I'd challenge you to keep reading and start today .
I'm not one for New Years resolutions because I believe when things matter to us we take immediate action.
In other words, if you don't have a good enough reason to motivate yourself to start today, you won't in January either.
As we approach the end of the year, now is a good time to reflect, evaluate, and make change.
MONEY MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR THIS YEAR
These are some of the top money management tips I think everyone should know!
BUDGETING
1) Get a grip on where your money is going.
First things first, to manage your money better you must know where it is going.
If you do not currently track your spending, this will require a little bit of work. Here is how to evaluate your spending:
- Download & print your last 3-6 months of bank statements.
- Create general expense categories, such as utilities, mortgage, groceries, dining out, entertainment, daycare, fuel, etc.
- Assign every single dollar spent in the last 3-6 months to a category (do each month separately).
- Compute the average amount spent on each category.
- Evaluate.
Are you surprised by your spending? What categories can you trim down?
2) Income- Expenses must be positive. You cannot run your home at a deficit.
Is your total spending in any of the months you evaluated more than your total monthly income? If so, you need to make some changes. You cannot live spending more than you make. It will lead to financial ruin.
3) Plan your spending using a budget to avoid money stress.
A budget is your best defense against overspending. When we plan everything on paper before the month begins, we can spend with confidence, knowing we've done our due diligence.
4) Your budget should be a zero-dollar budget.
After subtracting budgeted income from budgeted expenses, your bottom line should total zero. Every single dollar you plan to receive should be assigned before the month begins.
5) If married, your spouse needs to agree on the budget.
If you are married, it is crucial that you and your spouse agree on how your money should be spent.
Money problems are the number one cause of divorce. If you have a reluctant spouse, change your approach. When we first started getting our finances together, I did not approach my spouse the right way. Your approach matters.
Once you get on the same page, it is important that you:
- Budget together
- Talk about money often
- Establish goals together
- Work towards your goals together
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6) Try to get one month ahead on all your bills.
Imagine being one month ahead on all your bills! This doesn’t mean you pay them early. Rather, this means you always have one months' worth of expenses cushion in your checking account. You always pay your current months bills with last month's income.
7) Budget from your priorities.
Create your budget based on your priorities. This will look different for everyone. Your unique budget will not look the same as anyone else's, because you have different priorities. Budgeting this way takes away the guilt of spending because every dollar is not only planned, but it’s ordered based on what is most important to you.
For example, let’s say you have $800 until you get paid next. Your financial obligations until then include daycare ($250), groceries ($50), utilities ($200), car insurance ($100), and your credit card bill ($325). You also need new tires soon ($500). You know that you won’t be able to cover all these obligations with $800. So, what do you do?
You plan your spending based on the cash you have today in a way that reflects your priorities.
Here is how it might look:
- Priority #1: Groceries for $50. Your family needs to eat. This is the top priority. If you’re frugal, you can feed them for a week or a little more on $50.
- Priority #2: Utilities for $200. The lights need to stay on. You need running water. While you don’t need this to survive, it’s the next priority.
- Priority #3: Daycare for $250. For you and your spouse to provide, your kids need to be safely cared for. This is the next priority.
- Priority #4: Car insurance for $100. Though your insurance company might still cover your vehicle if you’re behind a month or two, it’s a good idea to stay current. If you hit someone without insurance, you’re in legal & financial trouble.
- Priority #5: Pay $200 on your credit card bill. Though you won’t cover the whole bill, food, shelter, transportation, and childcare take priority over debt payments.
This is how you would distribute your money based on your priorities. When people realize they don’t have enough cash to cover their financial obligations, they panic. Instead, plan based on your priorities.
Do this until you get current on everything, and then create a new plan for your new cashflow, goals, and priorities.
8) Have a miscellaneous budget category, but do not abuse it.
Inevitably, there will be expenses every month you don’t plan for. Am I the only one who constantly forgets about weddings, birthdays, and baby showers ? While budgeting will hopefully mitigate many of these surprises, a miscellaneous category should be in the budget to cover unplanned expenses.
9) Make sure there is a “fun money” category.
Whether your debt free or in debt up to your eyeballs, you need to have a fun money budget category. The amount you budget will differ depending on which situation you’re in, but there is a need for it in both situations.
When we deprive ourselves, we often end up binge spending and blowing the budget! Then we feel intense guilt and buyer's remorse and are tempted to throw the towel in on the whole budget thing.
Plan against this temptation, have a fun money or blow money budget category. Use this category to spend money on whatever you’d like without guilt.
The fun money budget category is especially important if you’re married. Have a separate fun money category for each of you that can be spent on whatever you’d like.
One rule- you are not allowed to criticize your spouse for what they use their money for. If they stay within the agreed upon amount, let them do as they please. This will prevent A LOT of money fights.
10) Make a budget & bill schedule using the budget by paycheck method.
Often people get hung up on how to align their budget with reality. They make their monthly budget, but when the money comes in and bills come due, they aren’t sure how to reconcile that in their budget.
For example, let’s say a husband and wife are making their budget. Together, they take home $6,000 per month. The wife is paid weekly, on average taking home $500 per week. The husband is paid on the 20 th every month, earning a salary of $4,000.
When they create their budget, they plan spending totaling $6,000. However, since they are cash strapped the first half of the month, they aren’t sure how to decide what budget categories to “fill” first.
There are a few ways to handle this. First, download my free budget by paycheck template to get started.
HOW TO ALLOCATE YOUR SPENDING & INCOME
The first way is to get one month ahead on their bills. This will take some time. To achieve this, anytime the wife earns more than expected (budgeted), or they are under on a budget category, they should apply that money to their “get one month ahead” fund.
Once they save one month's worth of expenses, they should always keep that in their checking account as a buffer.
This way, they are always living on the prior month's income, and it takes the “cash strapped ” feeling away.
The key is to not spend your buffer amount on things that aren’t in the budget. Leave it in your checking account as a true buffer between the first half and second half of the month cash flows.
The second way is to create a bill pay schedule. Let's say a few of the larger expenses aren’t due until the last day of the month or first week of the next month (utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance, etc.). Though the bill might come earlier, it isn't’ due often until a few weeks later.
The couple could decide to pay the larger bills that aren’t due until the first week of the following month with his income on the 20 th . With her income, they completely “fill” the fun money, date night, groceries, etc. budget categories.
In other words, they create a bill pay schedule alongside their budget.
11) Use cash for budget categories you tend to overspend on.
Research shows that when consumers use cash instead of a debit or credit card, they spend less. For budget categories you struggle to stick to, use cash envelopes! Categories that are great for cash envelopes include groceries, fun money, gifts, haircare, etc.
Download and print my free cash envelope templates to get started!
12) Use an excel budget to save time budgeting.
If you’re an excel user, an excel budget is a fantastic way to save time budgeting. Additionally, the formulas make creating a bill pay schedule with a paycheck-by-paycheck budget super quick! I keep our paycheck budget in excel, you can use my exact template too!
13) Download & use Every Dollar app for mobile budgeting.
Dave Ramey’s Every Dollar app is a free budgeting tool you can use to track your spending. Upgrade to Ramsey Plus to connect the app to your bank account. Personally, I create a paycheck budget in excel, and then I use the free app to track my spending.
14) Cut up your credit cards.
Cutting up your credit cards means no more minimum payments to add to the budget! It’s no secret I don’t have warm feelings towards credit cards! In fact, we do not have any credit cards! We’ve found that living a 100% cash-flowed lifestyle keeps things simple and keeps us away from temptation.
SAVING
15) Set aside 3-6 months' worth of expenses in an Emergency fund.
A fully funded emergency fund for financial hardships gives you security. Of course, we know our security and comfort should not be in money. Rather, it should be in God alone. We trust that He will provide, but it is our job to steward wisely what he has given us, including planning for the future.
An emergency fund is 3-6 months of household expenses set aside for emergencies such as a job layoff, major household repair, etc.
The riskier your life is, the closer to 6 months of expenses you should have saved.
16) Save year-round for expenses that catch you off guard.
Do certain expenses always seem to sneak up on you? Christmas? School registration fees? Semi-annual insurance premiums?
When you aren’t prepared, these gotcha expenses always seem to hit at the worst possible time.
Before we were budgeting consistently, it seemed like these expenses came up right after the car broke down, the heater needed to be fixed, and our yearly insurance premium was due.
Here’s how you can start saving for irregular expenses year-round by using sinking funds!
HOW TO USE SINKING FUNDS
- List every irregular/seasonal expense you can think of. Include expenses like school dues, medical needs, annual/semi-annual insurance premiums, home repairs, car repairs, etc.
- Review prior years bank statements to help.
- Determine how much you’ll need & when you’ll need it.
- Calculate how much you need to budget every month.
- Add it to your monthly budget and track your sinking fund balances!
17) Save up and pay cash for large purchases.
Similarly, use sinking funds to save up for large purchases over time. Set realistic, specific, attainable goals. If your vehicle is old and has lots of miles on it, start saving for a new one now. It could take 3-5 years, and that’s okay! The point is to avoid using debt to fund your purchases and cash-flow them instead.
18) Keep savings funds separate from your regular checking.
At a minimum, keep your sinking funds and savings in one separate account from your checking account. This way, you’re not tempted to use the funds for something else. Alternatively, you can set up separate savings accounts for each sinking fund.
19) Pay extra on your mortgage when you can.
Can you imagine what life would be like without a mortgage payment? After your consumer debt is paid off and you’re consistently investing, use any extra cash to pay down your mortgage. You can take years off your mortgage by simply paying a little extra every month. Small amounts add up over time. So, whether it’s $100 or $500 extra per month, make it a habit!
20) Only use your emergency fund on actual emergencies.
When you really want something bad enough you can make anything an emergency .
The toddler spilled juice on the sofa again, so we need a new one.
We have had the same TV since we first got married, we need a bigger one.
While these are inconveniences, they are not emergencies. New furniture or a new TV should be cash-flowed by saving up over time, not using the emergency fund.
An emergency fund is for true emergencies, such as job loss, a large car or house repair needed, and things of that nature.
21) Keep a savings tracker in your planner.
I have a case of major mom-brain, and thus I consult my planner ALL DAY LONG.
I like to keep ALL my personal, financial, and business documents in one place. Every month, I simply print my new budget documents, hole-punch, and stick in my planner.
To keep track of your savings balances and sinking fund balances, get a planner template!
22) If you are going to pay for kids' college, start saving now.
If you plan to put your kids through college, it is a great idea to start saving now! Personally, we will not be paying for our kids' college, for a variety of reasons. However, many parents DO plan to pay for their kids' college, which is an awesome gift to your children! If you are wondering if it is time to start saving, it is. From the second you find out your expecting, it is time to start saving! College is a HUGE expense, I highly recommend consulting a financial advisor to see what college savings plans are available in your state.
INVESTING
23) Invest at least 15% of your gross (before-tax) household income.
To live close to the same lifestyle you do now in retirement, you should be saving at least 15% of your gross (pre-tax) income. To achieve the same lifestyle, you should estimate living off 80% of what you do right now. While this is a good goal, most people want to achieve a higher quality of life in retirement than what they have now. Because of this, investing 15% instead of the widely recommended 10% of income will help you achieve that goal!
24) Automate your investing contributions.
The best way to ensure you hit your retirement savings goals every month is to automate your contributions. By automating your contributions, you hold yourself accountable.
25) Open an IRA in addition to your 401(k).
An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) often has more investing options than an employer-sponsored retirement account, otherwise known as a 401(k). We follow Dave Ramsey’s recommendation to invest up to the employer match in our 401(k), and then invest the remaining amount to get you to 15% in an IRA.
26) Invest in mutual funds instead of single stocks.
Investing in single stocks is playing Russian roulette with your money. A better financial plan is to invest your money into historically high performing mutual funds. By doing this, you’ll see steady, consistent growth over time. Investing in mutual funds allows you to diversify your risk by investing in groups of stocks rather than single stocks.
27) Pay off all your debt BEFORE investing.
When we focus on one thing at a time, we are more effective . Before getting knee deep in investing, pay off all your consumer debt. Making the monthly contribution to your investment account will be a lot easier without any monthly payments draining your income.
We used the debt snowball method to pay off over $20k of student loan debt in 12 months! If you are currently in debt, start your debt snowball and pave the road to financial freedom.
28) Save for large purchases AFTER investing.
Don’t sacrifice your future for what you want today. In other words, learn to delay your gratification. Make sacrifices now, so that you can enjoy your life (and money) later. This means saving up for wants and needs happens with money that is left over after investing. Do not get into the habit of pausing investing to satisfy your material desires. It’s a hard habit to break. Stay the course, practice self-discipline.
29) Do not chase short-term gains or get rich quick schemes.
It sounds cliché, but if i t sounds too good to be true, it is. Warren Buffet puts it this way, if you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, do not even think about owning it for 10 minutes.
30) Use a financial advisor.
Although I know quite a bit about investing, we use a trusted financial advisor to manage our portfolio. He ensures we have dotted all our I’s and crossed all our T’s. What I do not know, he explains. A good financial advisor is a great teacher. Do not invest in anything you do not understand. If your advisor does not take the time to help you understand where your money is going, do not give it to them to manage.
31) Learn about investing. Become self-educated.
Although I was an accounting major in college, most of what I learned about investing came from personal study. I have always been intrigued with personal finance, so I sought out to learn as much as I could. Spend time learning how to manage the money you work so hard to earn. It is not rocket science. Read, read, read. Then read some more.
⭐️ More on investing & retirement:
- What You Need to Know About Retirement Planning
- 7 Things You Should NEVER Do in Times of Financial Hardship
- The Best Investing Tips Millennials Need to Know
- How to Invest When it Feels Like You Have No Money
- The 7 Baby Steps to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
- 10 Habits to Start in Your 20's to Retire a Millionaire
- The 7 Most Important Money Habits You MUST Know
- 7 Things Millionaires Do Differently With Their Money
- 7 Surprising I Wish I Knew Earlier About Money
- 5 Key Life Skills Millennials Need to Learn
- Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: How to Know What's Best for You
- 5 Retirement Plans for Self Employed That You Probably Didn't Know About
- How to Develop Healthy Money Habits This Year
- Stocks Vs. Mutual Funds
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Sharing our 25 budget categories for our family of 5! Some of these are sinking funds (indicated on slide 2). Our monthly budget is constantly changing and having to be tweaked as our kids get older (and as we’ve added more to our family). Got questions? Ask below!😌 #budgeting #budgetingfinances #personalfinanceforwomen #familybudget #budgetwithme #budgetwithmelButton -
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Practical budgeting tips for beginners! Discouraged by budgeting? Implement these budgeting hacks to create a monthly budget you can actually stick to & that allows you to reach your financial goals! 🎯 📌Save for later!! #budgeting #budgeting101 #financialliteracy #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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Texts from my mom😂 had to get on this trend. The accuracy once you have kids😜 anyone else?? #trendingreels #textsfrommymom #momreels #financeblogger #moneybloggerButton -
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This is my unconventional but effective budgeting formula🙌 Here’s a breakdown of each expense type listed: - Necessities: food, housing, transpiration, utilities, insurance, etc. These are actual necessities— Netflix subscriptions don’t count! These are the expenses you would keep/have to pay in the event of a financial crisis. - Financial Goals: these are “expenses” you put in your budget based on your long-term financial goals. For example, if investing 15% of your gross income is a goal you have (one I highly recommend), and you make $6,000 gross every month, you’d put $900 for investing in the budget. The KEY is that goals are immediately after necessities— they are non-negotiable! - Discretionary: these are all your wants (vs needs). Think restaurants, clothing, recreation, extracurricular activities, subscriptions, etc. - Irregular/Seasonal: these are expenses that are non-monthly, but probable. Think “gotcha” expenses. What expenses come up every couple months that cause you stress? Car repairs? Home repairs? Annual insurance premiums you forget about every year?! Instead of trying to cash flow them all in one month, set aside money for them every month. This way, when these expenses hit (its not if but when), you have the cash ready to go — or at least a good start! Budgeted income - budgeted expenses should always total ZERO for a true zero-dollar budget ☑️ #budgeting #financialfreedom #budgetplanner #financialliteracy #budgetingforbeginners #budgeting101Button -
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This is my favorite #budgetingforbeginners tip! If you can relate to any or all of these, this strategy is foe you! 👇 - because you are paid more than once a month, you struggle to follow a monthly budget. Your timing/cash-flow always seems off. - you like to break every plan/goal down into small action steps. - you struggle to stick to a monthly budget! A paycheck budget is a specific budget strategy where instead of budgeting once a month, you budget every time you are paid. A paycheck budget doesnt mean you’re living #paychecktopaycheck (though its great for breaking that cycle too). Rather, its just a detailed way for budget nerds like myself to make it easier for myself to actually stick to the #monthlybudget and track it throughout the month. For certain budget categories, I like to break them down into weekly or bi-weekly amounts. For example, our monthly groceries budget is $400, so I break that down into $200 out of paycheck 1 & $200 out of paycheck 2. Could I simply spend $400 on the first of the month and still be fine? Absolutely! But I’ve found that budgeting this way helps me stay on track! Another tip- we only keep the amount of cash we have budgeted for each line item in our checking account— I transfer what we want to save IMMEDIATELY after we are paid to another account so that im less tempted to spend it on something else. Its simple, yes, but very effective. We also have our IRA contributions auto-withdrawn. This keeps me disciplined and less likely to say “ahh we’ll just skip this month so we can buy ____ .” Hope this helps! ✨Button -
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This is how we have built wealth in our 20’s (against the cultural norm). There’s nothing special about us, anyone can do it if you’re willing to delay your gratification and put in some work! Its not easy, but its with it. Once you start, these things become habits and they get easier to do as you go 👍 Your personal finances are SO SO important— how you handle money today will affect the dreams you can turn to reality, the legacy you leave your children (they’re watching and more is caught than taught), the health of your marriage, your ability to quit your job when you want to (not work past retirement), and your dependence on the government. As Christian’s, we know that we are mere stewards of the resources God has given us. Its ALL His, and we wan to manage it faithfully as instructed in the Word. The Bible tells us a fool devours all he has, but a wise man: 1) leaves an inheritance for his childrens children 2) gathers money little by little 3) does not submit to worldly pleasures 4) uses his resources to cheerfully give to others 5) stays away from debt Those are some powerful principles that we can apply as believers! Here’s what we’ve been doing in our 20’s! #personalfinance #financialliteracy #personalfinanceforwomen #moneymanagement #biblical #godlywisdomButton -
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This is what delaying #investing just 10 years will cost you! Sally started at age 25 instead of 35 like Amy, and she contributed $200 less per month than Amy and still wound up with nearly double Amy’s total! My biggest pieces of advice for #investingforbeginners ✅ just start ✅ set up an auto withdraw ✅ utilize a Roth IRA ✅ stop putting it off — you’ll never feel like its the “perfect time” #financialliteracy #personalfinance #investing101 #investingtipsButton -
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When you’re out to dinner with your husband and he catches you calculating how much you can save if you skip an app and extra cheese 🧀 #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #moneysaver #financeblogger #frugaltips #cheapskateButton -
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Do you feel defeated because any time you try to commit to budgeting, saving money, investing, etc., unexpected expenses always pop up during the month and blow your plan?? You need sinking funds! Follow the steps in the reel to save money and beat unexpected expenses 👊 These are sinking funds we have RIGHT NOW: ☑️ car repairs ☑️ home renovation ☑️ medical (in an HSA) ☑️ new tires ☑️ vehicle replacement ☑️ vacation ☑️ Christmas/holidays ☑️ gifts ☑️ annual insurance premiums ☑️ meat (purchase a steer) Sinking funds we’ve had in the past: ☑️ maternity leave ☑️ baby (HSA) ☑️ new furniture ☑️ baby equipment/gear (non-medical costs) Sinking funds are a game-changer ✨ #sinkingfunds #budgetingtips #budgeting #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financialliteracy #financetipsButton -
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Does the current stock market scare you? Here are 4 do’s and Don’ts when the stock market is down 📉 ✨Bonus: split your investing portfolio between these 4 mutual funds 👇 - growth - growth and income - aggressive growth - international #financialliteracy #personalfinanceforwomen #investingforbeginners #stockmarketinvesting #investingtips #investing101Button -
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People will try to give you all kinds of shovels to dig yourself into a hole— a debt hole. That hole sets you back financially for years! There’s the car debt shovel, student loan debt shovel, credit card debt shovel. Many young people have even said that they’ve put off marriage, kids, and buying a home because they’re in so much debt. Additionally, whenever the Bible talks about debt, it’s never in a positive way. It warns against being a co-signer, and compares debt to slavery. In a nation where broke is normal (70% of people are living paycheck to paycheck), sorry, count me out ✌️ 👉I don’t want to be dependent on my next paycheck to make ends meet. 👉I don’t want to use a credit card as a lifeline to fill the gap between income and expenses every month. 👉I won’t advise my kids to pay $120k for a 4-year degree, pay interest on that $120k, delay marriage and a family, and be a slave for 20+ years to the lender just to get a piece of paper that is the “gold standard” of approval for entering the workforce. Especially when their father got a 2-year trade school degree and comfortably supports a family of 5 🙊 (can you tell how I feel about higher Ed??🤣) We don’t have any car debt, student debt (anymore), and we have no credit cards to our name. This forces us to be intentional, self-disciplined, and to weigh every purchase we make carefully. No, I don’t think consumer debt is ever a good idea! What’re your thoughts?? #financialliteracy #consumerdebt #debtfreecommunity #payoffdebt #debtfree #studentloans #creditcard #carpaymentButton -
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Checking your account balance is not the same thing as budgeting! A budget is a plan for every dollar, on paper, before the month begins. While for some people simply checking your balance might work for a while, it’s a plan that only works in the good times. You need a plan that works in the good AND bad times. #financialliteracy #budgeting #financetipsButton -
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“If you knew what the government did to your money, there would be no federal reserve.” #endthefed #economics #economictimes #inflation #financialliteracy #biggovsucksButton -
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“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Did you catch the last part of that verse? Discipline, though painful, will later on produce a harvest IF you have been trained by it. That’s a big if. Sometimes we make the mistake of after we do something big and change our life in a big way, we think we are owed or deserved something. For example, we paid off all our consumer debt in 12 months while living on one income. Wow! Great! It was super super hard, and required a lot of self-discipline and determination to persevere and stay motivated. But you know what the actual really hard part is? Now that we’re debt-free (besides our mortgage), we are able to take our foot of the gas a little bit. Diligently save and invest, but also enjoy life. The hard part is CONTINUING to consistently do the same thing over and over again — save up for large purchases, invest 15% of our gross income, always pay cash (no credit cards). You see, we COULD spend more on groceries, we could take more vacations, we could do more shopping. Drive a fancier car. But for us, we have long-term goals that we believe will pay off more and are worth the work of planning meals, price comparing, and saving up month after month to pay cash for everything. Because $200/month could make you over $1 million dollars if invested consistently for 40 years and not touched. The small things matter. No, they may not make or break your ability to build wealth in one month, but they do matter. Because your BEHAVIOR and ATTITUDE about money matters. The small choices you make reflect your habits, and if you want to change your life you have to change your habits. #financialliteracy #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #moneymanagement #selfdisciplineButton -
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What happens if you #invest the average car payment?? You’ll #retireamillionaire ✅ This is why getting out of debt is so important— it eats your monthly income so there isn’t much left to save & invest! If you invest $500 for 25 years starting at age 25, then leave it alone and don’t contribute a dime more from age 50-65 (15 years)— you’ll have over $1 million. *Assuming a 10% average annual rate of returnButton -
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Money management is something we all do, but how well we do it will determine how much financial stress and financial anxiety we feel surrounding our personal finances. These are ways you can take control of your financial future. ✨Build an emergency fund. Aim to save 3-6 months of expenses (not income) in a separate savings account. If you have a stable, predictable income, then you probably only need 3 months of expenses saved. If you have irregular income, or you are a business owner, commission employee, etc., you might want to save closer to (or even more than) 6 months expenses. This will help you survive financial crisis - job loss, major repairs, unexpected medical bills, etc. An emergency fund is an incredible safeguard that will help you sleep better at night. ✨Pay off all your debt. Debt is stressful. There’s no way around it. The best way to reduce financial anxiety surrounding debt is to pay it off. Aim to pay off all your consumer debt as quickly as possible using the debt snowball method- where you list your debts smallest to largest & pay off in that order. See Dave Ramsey’s website for more details. ✨Make a detailed budget, and stick to it. Budgeting finances is incredibly easy. Add your income, list all your monthly expenses, and budget it to zero. Be sure to allocate income to saving for large purchases and investing (or other financial goals). ✨Make both short & long term financial goals. If you don’t have goals, it will be hard to stay motivated to take control of your finances. Let’s face it— personal finances can be boring, especially if you’re a free spirit (not a nerd). If you make goals, it keeps you motivated AND the likelihood you’ll actually hit your goals goes up tenfold! ✨Automate your finances. Set up auto-withdraw for your bills (and savings!!), so that you aren’t tempted to brush them off and pay them later, only to forget and realize you don’t have enough money to cover the bill that month. You get behind little by little, small decision by small decision. Pay bills first, savings second, and spend what’s left over. #financialliteracy #financialfreedom #financialstability #financialstress #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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Why is college pushed as the ticket to a successful life? Why is institutional education considered the best education? Call me old school, but I think your aptitude, skills, and personality are what set you apart. My first two years of college was a literal repeat of everything I learned in high school. So I paid $60k for a “refresher.” They know this. But they got you- you have to have a certain number of “credits” to graduate, and there are certain requirements for what kinds of classes those can be at different universities. You’re in golden handcuffs. Truth be told, I learned the majority of the tax code and tax return mechanics from PREPARING hundreds of tax returns my first year, and having a veteran accountant review and correct my work. I realized after working just how little use my actual degree was. You learn by doing! So ask yourself, as either a parent of a potential college student, or a college student: 1. How löng will it take me to break-even on my degree? 2. Do I really know what I want to do, or should I do some job-shadowing and work some different jobs first? 3. Can I find an employer who will train me instead of going to college for 4 years just to enter the workforce? As I’m considering hiring a virtual assistant myself, I could care less if the person who I (potentially) hire has a college degree. I care about who they are as a person- their skills, personality, and willingness to learn. End of story. #entrepreneurspirit #degree #tradejobs #bachelorsdegree #collegedebt #collegedegreeButton -
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My secret #budgeting weapon: the paycheck budget! Paycheck budget planning is not just for those living paycheck to paycheck, it’s for anyone who wants more control over their finances and a better method to stick to their monthly budget! #paychecktopaycheck #paycheck #budgetplanner #monthlybudget #financialliteracy #financialindependence #moneysavingmom #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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Here are some ways you can save money on the rising cost of groceries! Some more info on how I’m saving money despite high (and still rising) inflation: ⭐️Some Top Ways I Save Money: Stay out of the snack aisle. It will cost you double to buy single-serving, pre-packaged goods. While it’s convenient for kids lunches, buy the food item in bulk (or choose a healthier option), and put in reusable containers. You can even choose a day of the week to make 3/4 of your kids lunches or their entire lunch for the week and either freeze or refrigerate if necessary. Price compare (quickly). While this sounds super simple (it is), I’ve found that sooo many people don’t realize there is a per unit price on most price stickers. Did you know that?? This makes it super easy to quickly compare what the cheaper item is per unit. Buy staples in bulk no matter your family size. Even if you have a small family, buy in bulk. When it was just my husband and I, it didn’t seem effective to buy in bulk because we wouldn’t eat everything before it expired, and I didn’t realize how many things you could freeze (trust me, I knew NOTHING about food cooking, preservation, etc, etc). Which brings me to point 4… Freeze, freeze, freeze. Seriously. I freeze just about anything and everything. Cheese. Butter. Sour cream. Pancakes. Cream cheese. Fruit. Coffee (ice cubes). You name it, I freeze it. Buy the dairy mentioned above in bulk, then freeze. Take out of the freezer as needed so you don’t waste and let food go bad! Commit to 1 grocery store trip/week or less. The more you go to the mall the more money you will spend. The more you go to the grocery store, the more money you will spend. This is more an act of self-discipline than anything else. If you commit to going only say once per week (you decide what’s doable for your family), and STICK TO IT, you will see a decrease in your spending. If it’s mid-week and you realize you’re out of something (that isn’t a necessity), find something at home to make. Get creative. This will force you to use what you already have on hand and PLAN before you go to the grocery store (both a meal plan and a shopping list).Button -
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If you’ve just started your #investing and #retirementplanning journey, it can be confusing trying to decide where the best place to invest your money is. Here’s how to invest for beginners & investing tips for everyone! #investingtips #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingstrategy #rothira #401k #ira #retirementgoals #retireearly #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen How to Invest for Beginners: ✨How much to invest? Try to invest at least 15% of your gross household income into tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Do not include any employer match incentive for purposes of the 15% calculation. ✨IRA vs. 401(k)? An IRA is an individual retirement account, where you invest money apart from your employer-sponsored 401(k) account. Think of an IRA as a DIY investing option, although I recommend using an investing professional from a brokerage firm to help you get started with an IRA. A 401(k) is tied to your employer, and typically has more limited investing options (the average has about 20 funds to choose from), and often times employers have an employee matching incentive. ✨Roth vs. Traditional? Roth & Traditional investments are a TYPE of investment INSIDE your retirement account. These terms are specific to retirement savings accounts, not general investing accounts. Traditional contributions are made pre-tax, and both the principal and growth are taxed in retirement. On the other hand, Roth contributions are taxed on the way in, but both the growth and principal distributions are tax-free in retirement!!Button -
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Investing is a key part of #retirementplanning , but you can make so many mistakes, which deters many people from #investing at all. Don’t make these investing mistakes! #investing #investors #stocks #retireearly #retireyoung #investingtips #investingforbeginners #investmentstrategies #401k #ira #rothiraButton -
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Don’t you dare come at me with “iTs BeCaUsE oF rUsSIA”, no it’s because of our energy policies 😬 C’mon, man. #samsclub #keystonepipeline #drillbabydrill #gasprices #inflation #bidensucks #groceryshopping #grocerylist #grocerystore #economics #economyButton -
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Inflation is an invisible tax imposed on the people by a government, but how? When they can’t get “their” money via ⬆️ taxes, they confiscate it by printing money and reducing your purchasing power. If you knew the harm the Fed caused to your money, there would be no Fed. In promises of “fixing” and stabilizing the economy, they only make it worse. Caused by: ✅ gov borrowing ✅ gov spending ✅reckless monetary policy Governments have two ways of paying their expenditures: ▪️direct taxation ▪️ borrowing money — pushing the bill onto the taxpayers of the future, and todays taxpayer must pay the interest The government isn’t really even borrowing and spending anymore— they are simply printing money out of thin air and spending… then forcing you to foot the bill via inflation. At some point the brakes have to come on and there will be a reckoning, probably much worse than the 08-09 financial crisis. This time may we learn from it. #inflation #government #taxes #tax #economics #economy #stocks #stocktrading #investment #investing #invest #monetarypolicy #federalreserve #interestratesButton -
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4 *must know* HSA benefits! 💡 Here’s why we choose an HSA over an FSA! #hsa #fsa #medicalexpenses #investment #investing #invest #healthsavingsaccount #flexspending #employeebenefits #savingmoney #healthinsuranceButton -
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If you aren’t familiar with our story (why I started this account and my blog 4 years ago)… here it is! We paid off over $20k of student loan debt in 12 months while living on one income (my husband was still in school). I started full-time work as a tax accountant when we got back from our honeymoon, and he was in school during the day and worked construction after school until he started his internship! It was an incredibly busy first year of marriage! We worked our butts off to knock my student loan debt out in 1 year. It wasn’t without struggles. During this time we : - cash flowed our honeymoon - cash-flowed a $5k car repair - didn’t eat out, buy anything new, and lived in a janky apartment that was cheap and allowed us to send a lot of money to debt Though difficult, this time helped us set a firm foundation to build our finances together— God’s way. We learned how to work together as a team, work HARD, sacrifice, and live well below our means. The self-discipline and financial habits we developed have served us well. We still don’t have any credit cards. We live well below our means. We don’t care much about what other people have. We’re content. We automate our investing. We pay extra on our mortgage because we just hate debt. #payoffdebt #debtfreejourney #debtfreegoals #studentloans #studentloandebt #moneymindset #personalfinance #financetips #debtfreedom #debtsnowball #daveramsey #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #financialpeaceButton -
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💡A Roth conversion is the process of transferring funds from a Traditional to a Roth retirement account. The following scenarios would be a situation where a Roth conversion could take place: 1. Transfer from a Traditional 401(k) to a Roth 401(k). Example: Let’s say your employer adds a Roth option to their 401(k) plan. You decide to move the funds in your Traditional 401(k) to the Roth 401(k). The money never leaves the plan, it just changes nature of taxability. 2. Rollover from a Traditional 401(k) to a Roth IRA. Example: You leave your job where you have a Traditional 401(k). You roll over the funds from your old employer account to a Roth IRA— which is a retirement account separate from your employer sponsored plan. 3. You convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This most commonly happens when someone exceeds the income limits of being able to contribute to a Roth IRA. Example: You make too much to contribute to a Roth, so you open a Traditional IRA. You contribute all year to the Traditional IRA, then convert it to a Roth IRA at the end of every year. 🔑The main difference between a Roth retirement plan & a Traditional retirement plan is WHEN and HOW they are taxed. 💡You contribute money to a Roth retirement account AFTER-TAX, but the GROWTH on the contributions is not taxed. 💡You contribute money to a Traditional retirement account PRE-TAX, and the GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTIONS are taxed in retirement. Depending on your situation, this can make a big difference. Some general principles: - If you’re young, you’ll likely want to contribute to a Roth. If you have 30-40 years of growth, you want that growth to be tax-free! - If you expect your income to go up, you’ll likely want to contribute to a Roth (when you have the lowest tax rates you’ll have in your working years). NOTE: Regardless of whether you have a Traditional or Roth 401(k) option at work, the ER match portion of your retirement savings is ALWAYS taxable. #retirementplanning #retireearly #retireyoungretirerich #rothira #401k #ira #investing #investingtips #investingforbeginners #financialfreedomButton -
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“TaX tHe RiCH”🥴 as a former CPA, this one just gets to me. Did you know that businesses pay 93% of all income taxes — which then, lowers employee wages & prices as income tax burden rises? The U.S. has one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. People like to point to the Scandinavian countries as the “perfect model” because they have lots of social programs, but when it comes to taxes, they are MORE capitalist than the U.S. — everyone pays a flat tax (my personal preference). When businesses are allows to thrive, workers thrive, the economy thrives, and everyone is better off. #taxseason #taxtips #taxtherich #economics #economics101 #capitalism #socialism #socialismsucks #politicsButton -
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Thanks but no thanks. Everything requires a spreadsheet. My budget, my grocery list, each child, EVERYTHING 🤗 #spreadsheets #nerd #accountinglife #accountant #cpa #accountinghumor #excel #microsoftexcel #spreadsheet #budgeting #budgetplanner #familybudget #momsonabudget #budgetingtips #personalfinance #moneymanagementButton -
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⚠️ Unpopular opinon alert… I believe today’s generation of parents participate in a form of child welfare by not teaching their kids the value of hard work. Any discomfort or challenges their children face are immediately removed. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for my parents and the lessons, both direct and indirect, they taught me about money. We had to work, and work hard. My parents were not interested in being our personal ATM. They provided the necessities, we worked for everything else, starting in middle school! You can teach your kids about money at every age, here are some ideas to get your started! ➡️ For all kids: ✔️ More is caught than taught. Model smart money behaviors yourself first and foremost. ✔️Pay commissions, not allowances. Never once in my life did I have an allowance. I survived. My parents paid commission to show us that you have to work for what you want AND need. ✔️Establish chores that aren’t paid, but are just required for being part of the family. ✔️ Cut them off when they graduate. ➡️ For smaller kiddo’s: ✔️Keep a jar of coins to show that you don’t waste things and small contributions add up over time. ✔️Explain to them WHY they can’t have something. For instance, reasons could include- you already have one at home, life isn’t always fair, or it’s not in the budget right now. ✔️Have them re-use items year to year. This is a great idea for school supplies! If they already have a perfectly useable backpack, binder, pencil box, etc, have them re-use these items. ✔️For really young kids, keep jobs/chores short and simple. ✔️Pay your child immediately after the job is done to teach them the relationship between work & money. These are just a few ideas! Follow along for more tips 💥 ‼️let me know in the comments how you teach your kids to work‼️ #teachingkids #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #familybudget #familyfinances #momonabudget #financialeducation #financialliteracy #daveramseybudget #workethic #hardworkpaysoffs #hardworkpays #familybusiness #raisingtoddlers #raisingteens #raisingtinyhumans #raisingthefutureButton -
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Are you relying on social security as a retirement vehicle? The SSA is projected to be insolvent by 2033. Benefits are expected to be cut, so you won’t even get out of the system what you put into it. Sound like a good deal? 🙅♀️ The U.S. government thinks you are not capable of making your own financial decisions, so they forcibly take money from your paycheck and do it for you via payroll taxes. Some nuggets of info about social security: 1️⃣Social security benefits are comparatively lower than market rates of return. You can even have a negative rate of return after adjusting for inflation. The unrestricted free market ALWAYS outperforms government run social programs. The stock market has averaged a 12% rate of return since it’s inception. 2️⃣If you die before reaching government-regulated retirement age (another discussion for another day), you lose all your Social Security benefits. If you invest privately, you can ensure that if you die the money you have diligently saved can be passed onto someone close to you. Hows that for a deal? They will take money you could’ve been investing, invest it for you, and then if you die, they keep it. 3️⃣Social security benefits are subject to double taxation. You are taxed on your gross (W-2) income, which includes the money that was remitted to the gov for social security taxes. Then, in retirement, you are taxed on your benefits if you earn over a certain amount in retirement, and the income levels are not very high (it’s almost like you’re being disincentivized from earning money in order to enjoy retirement). How’s that for a good deal? In the name of “compassion” the government tries to act as a white horse saving the day. However, when you read between the lines, you realize that what you are giving in exchange for what you are getting is not a good deal 👎 Alright, queue all the commies sending me hate mail 😂 #socialsecurity #retirement #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #governmentspending #inflation #investing #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginners #economics #economy #freemarket #stockmarket #taxes #notaxationwithoutrepresentationButton -
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Getting ready to see what you made before the government robbed you blind 🙄😅 #taxes #taxseason #government #incometax #socialsecurity #medicare #fica #paycheck #paychecks #january #federaltaxButton -
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You’re shocked?? 😂 the average car payment in the US is right over $500/month… OF COURSE it feels like you have no money! #carpayment #debtfreejourney #debt #daveramsey #debtisdumb #cashisking #getoutofdebt #payoffdebt #usedcars #newcar #daveramseybudget #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseyplan #consumerism #consumerbehavior #consumerdebtButton -
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When the hubby says Chik-Fil-a doesn’t qualify as a “nice date.” 🤪 I’ll forever be the spender and he will forever be the saver🥰 that’s what makes it work! If I didn’t have him, I’d never go out. If he didn’t have me, he’d never eat in😉 Are you the spender or saver?? Give me a funny story below about it 👇 #personalfinance #spender #saver #moneysaver #moneysavingtips #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #moneyandmarriage #money #savers #moneysaver #frugalliving #frugal #cheapdate #frugalmom #thriftymomButton -
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The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow. Here’s what you DON’T need to become a millionaire: ❌ Six-figure income ❌ College degree ❌ Luck ❌ Single stocks ❌ Cryptocurrency ❌ Real estate (although this can be a great source of passive income/investment once you are completely debt-free) This is what you DO need to become a millionaire: ✅ Consistency - investing every month over a long period of time. There is no shortcut to wealth. The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow. ✝️ Proverbs warns: “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” ✅ Discipline - you have to discipline yourself to pay yourself first and be willing to make sacrifices NOW so you can reap the rewards LATER. ✅ Live on less than you make - you can never out-earn bad money management. If you invest just $200/month consistently for 40 years, with an average rate of return of 10%, you will have $1,264,815 in retirement! You might think, 10%?? Yeah, right. No one makes that good of a return on their money unless they get lucky and invested in a business early on that went big (think Walmart, Microsoft, Apple). This couldn’t be further from the truth. That accounts for MAYBE 1% of investors. Most people become millionaires by cultivating the habits I outlined above. Since inception in 1926, the S&P 500 has averaged right at a 10% rate of return. Will you get 10% every year? Nope! Some years you might only get 3%, or you might simply break even when you account for inflation (hello 2021/2022!!). It’s all about staying the course - weathering the highs and lows of the market 📈 👉🏼Side note: The S&P 500 is just fancy terms for an index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. So different companies are always being pulled in & out of the S&P 500 based on their performance. You should actually average higher than the S&P 500 if you have a good investment professional! #investing #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginners #investingstrategy #stockmarket #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #millionaireminds #daveramsey #daveramseybabystepsButton -
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💡Looking for a way to save money this year? I talk a lot about this, because it’s so powerful — using cash literally changes how your brain responds to a purchase. The feeling associated with the purchase is more powerful. Think about it— is it harder for you to hand over a Ben Franklin to the cashier or swipe your card? Additionally, If you commit to using cash for certain budget categories, you can leave your cards in the car and this way you force yourself to only spend what’s in the envelope— it’s your only option that way! 📩 I won’t go into all the research for this specific post that shows willingness to pay doubles when a card is used, because I think most of us can admit we don’t think as much when swiping plastic vs handing over physical cash. I sell these cash envelopes in my Etsy shop if you’re interested! ✅ 4 different floral designs ✅ customizable blank envelopes ✅ elegant design ✅ instant download ✅ over 25 pre made envelope categories Here is the link if you’re interested: 💫Vertical envelopes: https://etsy.me/34amnxp 💫 Horizontal envelopes: https://etsy.me/3zKRlrX #personalfinance #cashenvelopes #cashenvelopesystem #cashisking #debtisdumb #daveramseybudget #cashenvelope #cashenvelopestuffing #frugalliving #budgetmum #financetips #financegoals #moneysaver #moneysavingmom #moneysavingtips #savemoneytoday #savemoneylivebetter #moneymanagement #frugalmomButton -
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These DM’s always irk me. The “must be nice to _____.” And they’re always from people who don’t know anything about me besides that we paid off all our consumer debt in 1 year & I quit my job as a tax accountant to stay home with my kids. Based on this set of facts, the assumption is that I - came from a wealthy family which set me up for success - make insane amounts of money - have never had any hardships None of these are true. But that doesn’t matter to people who assume that success comes from luck (marrying into money, growing up wealthy, receiving an inheritance, etc.) Did you know that over 90% of Americas millionaires are self-made & never inherited a DIME? Bet CNN won’t tell ya that fun fact🙃 The TRUTH is: ✅ I paid my way through college, working 3 jobs (before classes, in-between classes & after class) ✅ I did NOT grow up wealthy ✅ My husband & I paid off all my student loans while living on one (modest) income ✅ I drove a beater for 6 years until getting our minivan in 2018 ✅ Today we still make many sacrifices to save, invest, and build wealth So no, I haven’t had it “easy” , but that’s relative. I’ve had it easier than some, and worse than some. #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #debtfreeliving #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #studentloans #millennialmoney #moneymanagement #financeblogger #debtisdumb #cashisking #debtsnowball #debtfreegoals #financialgoals #moneygoals #2022goalsButton -
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Debt is one of the most normal things in the world to most people. The government subsidizes it(via tax breaks and being in the student loan business), many parents encourage it (student loans), and Americans buy it. 🧑🎓The average student loan debt is just over $37,000. 💳The average balance on a credit card is $5,525. 🚗 Americans borrow an average $34,635 for new vehicles and $21,438 for used vehicles. I think part of the issue is we lack contentment, and part of the issue is we lack knowledge. ✨People don’t take the time to calculate how much they’ll end up paying in total (after interest) for their degree, new car, furniture, etc. ✨Most don’t realize that credit card companies spend billions on consumer behavior research every year, so when they offer you cash back & airline miles, they know they’ll more than recoup their costs by the increase in your spending using credit instead of cash or debit (it literally affects your mind differently). ✨Another one that will get me in trouble… a college degree is not a prerequisite for success! Trade jobs are sitting open, paying $45/hour starting wage, while students line up at the university to pay $100k for a degree that will put them at a lower starting wage than the trade job. Getting out of debt was an incredible weight lifted off of our shoulders. It took a lot of sacrifice — we didn’t go on vacation or eat out, we rented a janky apartment for cheap, worked, worked, and worked some more, drove old, rusted, duct-taped vehicles, and ate a lot of beans and rice until we clawed our way out. There is a better way, but you have to be willing to do the work! 💪 #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #daveramsey #personalfinancetips #getoutofdebt #debt #debtfree #finance #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #cashisking #debtfreeliving #debtisdumb #millennialmoney #frugalliving #budgetmom #momonabudget #studentloans #credittipsButton -
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**MY PERSONAL OPINION** But it’s backed by research 🙃🙃 Do you honestly think you’re outsmarting credit card companies who spend BILLIONS of dollars on consumer behavior research?? Do you really think they’re giving you free money (“cash back”) without getting something in return? They KNOW that their billions spent on research shows that you SPEND MORE MONEY with a credit card than a debit card or cash 👍 The buy now pay later mentality affects your purchasing decisions. Specifically, it affects your willingness to pay. Let me give an example. In one study, randomly selected participants were offered the opportunity to purchase tickets to an actual professional basketball game. They were either to pay by cash or credit card. They were asked how much they were willing to pay for those tickets, and those who were told they would have to pay by credit card were willing to pay over TWICE as much as those who were told they would have to pay with cash. What’s going on here? Payment method affects consumer spending behaviors. The same study found: 👉 people pay less attention to prices when using a credit card 👉 it hurts the brain more psychologically to use debit or cash vs credit 👉 people who use credit cards are less likely to have a household budget The facts don’t lie ✅ 👉Source: Journal of Consumer Behavior #financialfreedom #finance #financialliteracy #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #daveramsey #personalfinanceforwomen #millionairemindset #daveramseybabysteps #debtsucks #cashisking #personalfinance #creditrepair #creditcarddebt #creditcard #cashButton -
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🚗 What happens if you invest the average U.S. car payment?? 👉 $550/month ( Yikes‼️) 👉 40 years (age 25 to 65) 👉 10% average annual rate of return $3,478,243 in retirement ✔️ Don’t buy (literally and figuratively) the myth that you HAVE TO have a car payment, or that it’s smart! If you’d take that car payment and invest it instead, you could be a millionaire. Drive what you can afford, which is what you can pay cash for! #carpayment #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #debtisdumb #invest #investing #stockmarket #compoundinterest #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #moneymanagement #millennialmoney #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #debtsnowball #debtfreegoals #debtfreelivingButton -
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Do you ever wonder what percent of your income you should be allocating to certain budget categories? These are Dave Ramsey’s recommended budget percentages for your personal finances! 1. Giving 10% 2. Saving 15% 3. Housing 10-25% 4. Food 5-15% 5. Transportation 10-15% 6. Clothing 2-7% 7. Health 5-10% 8. Insurance 10-25% 9. Recreation 5-10% 10. Personal 5-10% 11. Debt 5-10% (+ any extra, pay off all consumer debt before investing) #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #daveramseyplan #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financialfreedom #finance #financialliteracy #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetmomButton -
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Just because there is high inflation doesn’t mean you can’t build wealth! These are 5 things we’ve done to deter inflation and build wealth this past year. Tips for combating inflation in your personal finances! 1. Made extra mortgage payments. 2. Invested in the stock market (mutual funds) so our money at minimum keeps up with inflation (hopefully outpaces it). 3. Kept our emergency fund on the low end. Put as much savings as we could in the stock market instead (for example our new vehicle savings is in a brokerage account instead of a savings account). 4. We haven’t made any major changes to our monthly budget (increases). 5. We don’t panic. Slow, steady, calculated, unemotional investing is how you win with money. The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow ⭐️ #investing #inflation #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingtips #moneymanagement #moneymanagementtips #financetips #stockmarket #payoffdebt #payoffmortgageButton -
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When people try to justify the $70k 2022 suburban they can’t afford because it’s “for the kids safety”🤔 ‼️I have nothing against suburbans or nice cars ‼️My only beef is when they’re used to justify a car payment that you can’t afford 🙅♀️ Once we had 2 kids in tow, we ditched my 2004 Ford Escape for a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica minivan that we bought used with cash! The average car payment in America is over $500 🤯 that can be a major budget killer depending on your income! Save up, pay cash 💰 #personalfinance #debtfree #daversmsey #payoffdebt #debtisdumb #cashisking #carpayment #autoloan #debtsnowball #debtfreeliving #debtfreegoals #millennialmoney #getoutofdebt #payoffdebtButton -
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Had to do it 😂 I had way too much fun making these 🙃 But for real… SAVE THE GIFT BAGS BEFORE I LOSE MY SANITY THEY COST MORE THAN THE GIFT ITSELF 😆 I’m the psycho whose saving all the gift bags, wrapping paper, and tissue paper #frugalmom I can’t help it. It’s my identity. Merry Christmas Eve, God bless you & your family 💕 #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #money #frugalliving #frugalchristmas #christmassavings #millennials #memes #christmasmemes #mommemes #funnymemes #daveramsey #daveramseycommunityButton -
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When you’re Christmas shopping and the cashier tries to convince you to open that store credit 🚫🙈 ✌️not in a million years We have never had a credit card in our 6 years of marriage, sorry not sorry 😉 We pay cash for EVERYTHING, because I know the research that shows your willingness to pay increases 150% using credit va debit or cash 👍 so save 20% today and spend 150% more on all future purchases! No thanks. Felt like rufflin some feathers this eve of Christmas Eve 🎅 #creditcard #creditcarddebt #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #frugalliving #debtfree #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #moneymanagement #holidayspending #cashisking #payoffdebt #millennialfinanceButton -
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✨DIY WINTER DRY SKIN BODY BUTTER✨ 1 part coconut oil 1 part epsom salt 15-30 drops essential oil of choice ✅ non-toxic ✅ frugal ✅ minimal ingredients This was one of my favorite things to use in the shower when I was pregnant! Extremely moisturizing! #diyremedies #diyrecipe #dryskin #bodybutter #diybodyscrub #nontoxic #diychristmasgifts #frugalliving #naturalcures #naturalremedies #dryskincareButton -
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🌱 How to choose the best stock mutuale funds! We follow Dave Ramsey’s advice exactly and put our money into four buckets of stock mutual funds: 1. Growth 2. Aggressive Growth 3. Growth & Income 4. International The key is to diversify your investing portfolio to mitigate investment risk. Mutual funds is just a fancy term for a group of stocks. We personally don’t invest in any single stocks because the return over time is not favorable and it’s risky! We don’t want our hard earned money being gambled by investing in single stocks! #stocks #mutualfunds #investing #investing101 #investingforbeginners #personalfinanceforwomen #investingtips #daveramsey #retirementplanning #financetips #finance #personalfinanceButton -
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5 SELF-EMPLOYED SMALL BUSINESS RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS💡Did you know you have options as a small business owner to invest, despite maybe not having the funds to start a traditional 401k plan for you or your employees? You can even take advantage of a Roth IRA! #smallbusinessowner #investing #401k #rothira #simpleira #solo401k #investingforbeginners #retirementplanning #retirementplans #retirementsavingsButton -
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💡401(k) vs IRA: What’s the difference? Great question, let me answer! I’d recommend: ✅invest in your 401(k) up to your ER match, then open an IRA. Open a Roth 401(k) if available through your ER retirement plan. ✅ if eligible, max out your Roth IRA ($6,000 for 2022). If this still doesn’t meet 15% of your gross income, continue funding the 401(k), which is maxed out at $20,500 for 2022. ✅ if you are not eligible to open a Roth IRA because of income limits, open a traditional IRA & convert it to a Roth at the end of every year, paying the taxes on your contributions upon conversion. This is called a back-door Roth. #investing #rothira #401k #401kplan #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingtips #retirementplanning #retirementincome #retirementsavings #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinances #iraButton -
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💡This is exactly why you need to start #investing in your 20s! Harness the power of #compoundinterest to #buildyourportfolio! TIME IS MONEY! #investing101 #investingforbeginners #investingstrategy #investingeducation #financialliteracy #financialplanningButton -
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These are 7 sinking funds you need in your monthly budget & how to budget for a sinking fund! #sinkingfunds #sinkingfundstracker #budgeting #personalfinance #moneymanagement #savingsgoals #savingsaccountButton -
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✅ A few reasons you need a ROTH IRA ASAP! Be sure if your employer offers a Roth 401(k) you are taking advantage of that option. Then, invest above and beyond your match in a Roth IRA (this is an individual retirement account, not employer sponsored). Between the two, if you’re eligible, you can contribute up to $19,500 per year. However, for the IRA, the max contribution is $6,000 per person for 2021 ($12,000 per married couple) ‼️#rothira #investing #401k #investingforbeginners #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #millennialmoneyButton -
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Easy way to figure out what paychecks you will use to budget and pay for which bills! A paycheck budget does not mean you’re living paycheck to paycheck, rather, it is just a detailed schedule showing when funds will leave your account and how each paycheck is allocated! A simple budgeting method. Link to this template in my bio! #paychecktopaycheck #paycheck #paycheckbudgeting #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetbypaycheck #plannerinserts #plannerinspirationButton -
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If you’re planning a wedding, it doesn’t have to be expensive and stressful. Here’s how to create a wedding budget from scratch and save money on your wedding! #weddingbudget #budgetwedding #weddingplanningButton -
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Do you know your net worth? When it comes to personal finance, net worth is a much better indicator of wealth than income. You can make a million a year and still be broke 🥴 if your spending is equal to your household income, you’re by definition, living paycheck to pqycheck. Give it a try, calculate your net worth in a few minutes! Share in the comments how it went (don’t have to share numbers of course)- but were you surprised? Motivated? Happy?! #networth #finance #personalfinance #investing #wealth #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #moneymanagementButton -
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If you're an employee, you've likely heard the terms 401(k), IRA, Pension, etc thrown around, but maybe have no idea what they actually mean. The WORST thing you can do as an employee is set up your employer-sponsored (don't worry- this is defined in the slides😉) retirement account, and then never look at it again, assuming as long as you make contributions, you'll be set for retirement. Or, you might have a few things briefly explained to you, such as the difference between a pension & mutual fund, but you don't really know what's the better choice 🤷♀️ I'm here to help with all the confusing retirement jargon! Here are some key things to remember: ✅ 𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐑𝐀 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐑𝐀. Though you contribute to it with after-tax dollars (unlike a traditional IRA where you contribute with pre-tax dollars & get a tax deduction in the year of contribution), the withdrawals you make in retirement are 𝐭𝐚𝐱-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. ✅ 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐚 "B𝐚𝐜𝐤-𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐡" if you are above the income limits for contributing to a Roth IRA. Just note you will have to pay taxes on your contributions upon conversion. ✅ 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈'𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. They have limited investing options and don't perform well. PLUS, you have no control over the investing decisions. ✅ 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐑𝐀. This is a great option to invest above and beyond your employer-sponsored 401(k). You will likely have more investment options. ✅ 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. However, they offer no tax-savings, so they are good for saving up for large purchases, but not a great retirement savings option. ⭐️ And of course, always contribute at least 𝟏𝟓% 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 (𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦-𝘵𝘢𝘹) 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 towards retirement ⭐️Button -
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Literally all the time 😂 sorry, had to. Part of laying out a budget means forcing yourself to see the 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 involved with your purchases. Money is about behavior more than it’s about head knowledge. If you can change your behavior, you can change your life. This is nothing new. Just like if I’m frustrated because it FEELS like I have no time, one look at my weekly screen time report and I realize time isn’t the problem— it’s my behavior. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. You might feel like you have no money to save, but in reality if you cut back to eating out 2x per month instead of 4x, you’d have $100-$150 to save. Or, if you sold your brand new car and got a used, reliable car paid for in cash, you’d have $300-$500 extra per month because you don’t have a car payment. Ask yourself, 𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺? Do you really have no money living in the wealthiest country in the world? Or, are you a slave to your money because your behaviors around money are irresponsible? Don’t worry, I’m always here for your reality check 😉Button -
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➡️ This should blow your mind. If you invest just $100/month from age 20 to 75, at an 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 annual return of 12% (you could have a 1% year and a 30% year), you will have $7,103,877 at retirement 🤯 $100 dollars per month. 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. The problem is most people don’t think it’s possible— so they don’t have a long-term plan for their money. Couple that with the fact that we have a problem with wanting what our parents and grandparents have, but not wanting to do what it took them to get there— saying no, consistent investing & saving, living below their means, staying away from consumer debt, etc.— leads to most people having a victim mentality when it comes to their personal finances. 93% of America’s millionaires are self-made. Additionally, most of the 93% came from lower or middle class families. It can be done, and it should be. Button -
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If you’ve never added it up, I dare you😉 we spent upwards of $500 per month eating out before attacking debt & budgeting (and kids)! A few nights of takeout a week, dinner out on the weekends, meet up with friends for drinks... what I THOUGHT we were spending vs what we were *actually* spending were two completely different numbers 😑 but that’s what happens when you don’t budget, you really have no idea 🤷♀️ and quick tip— your best guess is usually not accurate! #daveramsey #budgeting #budgethumor #budgetingtips #personalfinance #daveramseycommunity #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #moneyhumor #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinanceformillennialsButton -
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When you are budgeting, it’s nice to have something to gauge if what you’re budgeting is reasonable. These are Dave Ramsey’s recommended budget category percentages. Now, remember, these are 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. I understand that some people have extremely unique situations, and for example, someone with a family of 10 is going to probably be pushing the grocery budget percentage limits! This is why they are general guidelines, not absolutes. These guidelines are designed to keep you on track so you can make your money do what you want it to, rather than being a slave to it. If you’re housing is taking up 50% of your take home pay, you’re likely feeling pinched — and for good reason! You’re house poor, meaning you’ve bought more house than you can afford, and thus you have a hard time finding money left over every month to save or give. Likewise, if your grocery budget is taking up 25% of your take home pay, you might need to scale back the Costco trips and start meal planning to free up some of your income for other things. ➡️Swipe right to see some important notes on housing & saving in particular! Button -
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ITS A BIG DEAL 🤣 love my husband for these important reminders before I lose my mind reconciling our bank account! I reconcile daily and I’m still off $10 sometimes. I try and figure it out for a few minutes and if I can’t, no biggie 🤷♀️ #bankreconciliation #accountant #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #budgeting #monthlybudget #budgetmomButton -
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There is one baby step in Dave Ramsey’s FPU plan that we will not complete— funding kids college! My husband and I carefully considered what we thought would be best, and ultimately came to the conclusion that we want our kids to take 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 for their education. The cost of higher education has risen dramatically over the last 10 years, and frankly, we are of the opinion that the value of the education has not increased proportionally. In fact, it’s decreased (we believe). America is 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 with credentials, but credentials don’t determine success, and everyone has to decide what success means for them. 41% of recent college graduates are working in jobs that don’t require a college degree. High paying trade jobs sit empty while high schoolers are pressured into going to school or being labeled a failure. But at what cost? 4-8 years of schooling is a long time, and the opportunity cost must be considered. We will absolutely support our kids if they decide to go the college route, and advise them (if they’ll let us 😜) to find a school they can afford. This might mean working and paying their way to a community college, or if they’d like to attend a four year school, working REALLY hard to compete for scholarships!Button -
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Everything you need to know about the Advance Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ✅ #americanrescueplan #taxrefund #taxseason #childtaxcredit #advancechildtaxcredit #taxcredits #cpa #taxaccountant #taxreturn #presidentbiden #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financetipsButton -
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•𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒• So many people feel defeated by unexpected expenses that seem to come up 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 month and bust their budget. They feel like it’s impossible and useless to keep a monthly budget for this reason. A budget actually helps you prepare for these expenses using a handy tool called sinking funds! ➡️ Swipe to see how they work!!Button -
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Anybody else a budget and spreadsheet nerd ??! 🙋♀️ I could spend hours looking over the monthly budget 😜 #monthlybudget #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetnerd #marriedfinances #personalfinanceforwomen #budgetspreadsheetButton -
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Many people falsely equate being frugal with being broke. Our culture loves to make you think that the appearance of wealth = wealth. A while back, I read a book called The Millionaire Next Door, and from this book I learned that the average millionaire: • Drives a car that is 3-5 years old • Has never paid more than $50 for a pair of jeans • Lives in a home less than 3,000 sq ft • Owns a primary residence worth $300k What does this tell us? Your neighbor driving a Benz that just put in a pool and remodeled their entire house probably didn’t make the cut 🤷♀️ Either way, you don’t know if they are responsible with money or not, and the data shows us that those who don’t look wealthy are often the ones who are. Our culture has it 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴- consume, consume, consume. You 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦, you 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥, you 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 have ______. Wisdom tells us that the only things we NEED are the essentials, what we DESERVE is not as important as what we can GIVE, and we are not 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 to anything we can’t pay cash for. Read between the lies. There are wise poor and wise rich—and foolish poor and foolish rich. Choose carefully who you learn your habits from ⭐️Button -
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💡BEGINNERS GUIDE TO INVESTING! Bookmark & save for later!Button -
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✅ PRODUCT SWAP - DRY SHAMPOO RECIPES FOR BLONDE & BRUNETTE BELOW (save for later!!) I’m always trying to find cheaper, easier ways to do things. However, admittedly, it can be difficult to find a cheaper, easier, non-toxic product replacement. I’ve always avoided natural products because I *𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵* you’re always going to pay triple. While for some things there is no way around paying more, I’m on a journey to see what practical, affordable ways you can swap out toxic products for non- toxic products. I’m what you’d call a 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘺. I’m becoming more and more crunchy, but I’m a natural skeptic. But as I learn more about chemicals and toxic ingredients in everyday products in general, I’m realizing that I was wrong about some things, and some products are worth paying more for. But of course, I’m going to try and do it cheaper, and help you do the same! 🤗 This DIY dry shampoo recipe is not only inexpensive, it uses all natural ingredients AND works just as good as dry shampoo. Before using this new recipe (below), I was using the Dove dry shampoo. I LOVE the dry shampoo, but when it is one of the worst offenders when it comes to toxic chemicals 😩 Here’s the recipe ⬇️ 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐃𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐎 8 TBSP Arrowroot Powder 4 TSP White kaolin clay 24 drops essential oil (I used Tea Tree) *** Brunettes 👩🏽 do 5 TBSP Arrowroot powder & 3 TBSP cocoa powder Add dry ingredients to bowl & mix well. Add essential oils. Stir. Use a funnel to pour mixture into a glass shaker jar! I shake it over my hair or put some in my hands and run it through my roots on day 3 hair! ⭐️ Toxin-free dry shampoo that’s just as inexpensive! Recipe credit: Bumblebee Apocrathy Button -
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🚘 Car payments are never a good idea, here’s why! With the average car payment in the U.S. being over $500, imagine what you could do with an extra $500 per month! Save, invest, pay extra on your mortgage! Cars are a depreciating asset, the second you drive a car off the lot it starts to depreciate in value. Coupled with paying interest on an asset that’s going down in value rapidly, you pay above sticker price for a product you won’t be able to make any money on! #carpayment #autoloan #cardebt #debt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #debtpayoff #investment #financetips #getoutofdebtButton -
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🏠 We bought our first home (we currently live in it) in February 2018 for $184,000. We were told (by the bank) we could afford a $400,000 home. The monthly mortgage payment (including taxes & insurance) would have taken up HALF of our take-home pay at the time. We would've been house-poor, running the hamster wheel, feeling like we never had enough money left over. At the time of purchase, we were pregnant with our first. While I did end up working full-time for a brief period after he was born, we knew that we wanted the freedom to be able to have me home (which is what I ended up doing). When you live below your means- that's exactly what it affords you- freedom. We have been able to save up and pay cash for all the repairs & remodeling we've done and pay extra on our mortgage every month. Looking back, I'm so thankful we didn't over-extend ourselves when we were living double-income-no-kids. It's tempting to bite off more than you can chew when it comes to how much house you can afford. Everyone around you does it. Every so often, I have someone message me asking me to look over their finances and help them out. They can't figure out why they can't get ahead, and they say while living without credit cards and second mortgages might work for my family, it can't work for them. There's no possible way. When I look over their expenses, some quick math determines the main culprit - the mortgage. When I reply that their mortgage is literally eating their income alive, they can't believe it. That's what the bank said they could afford, so it must be okay. Do the math yourself, and make a mock-budget with your potential mortgage payment before buying a home! Don't guess. Luke 14:28 says, "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? " It's wise to count the cost before laying the foundation. There is a cost to anything worthwhile- following Jesus & home ownership! The fool is reckless & careless (Proverbs 14:16). These 3 principles will help you enjoy home ownership, and your home will feel like a blessing rather than a curse! Button -
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HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR NET WORTH IN MINUTES ⭐️ Many people make a large income, but have nothing to show for it. This is why net worth is a bigger gauge of wealth than income. A millionaire is defined as someone whose total assets less their total liabilities nets to more than one million dollars. Here’s how you can quickly calculate your personal net worth in minutes! #networth #investing #finance #financialliteracy #personalfinance #millionairemindset #millionairegoals #assetsoverliabilities #assetsButton -
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If you’re getting married, you need a wedding planning organizer that will help you stick to your wedding budget. Planning a wedding can be stressful and expensive, but with this organizer, it’s fun & on budget! This is an editable pdf template, instantly download today by clicking the link in my profile to my Etsy shop! ❤️ #weddingbudget #budgetwedding #weddingplanner #weddingprintables #weddingonabudget #instantdownload #printablesButton -
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The budget by paycheck method allows you to break your monthly budget down into smaller, more manageable chunks. If you’re paid weekly or bi-weekly, this budget method is a must! If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this budgeting method allows you to work in real time with real dollars and break the cycle. Find this budget template in my Etsy shop: Frugalmillennialmom. Link in profile description! #budgeting #paychecktopaycheck #paycheckbudgeting #budgetplanning #budgeting101 #budgettemplate #biweeklybudget #weeklybudget #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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🔑 Key reasons to invest in a ROTH IRA instead of a TRADITIONAL IRA. There are other things to consider, these are just the main perks. The biggest benefit is 𝐭𝐚𝐱-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. Most people when they start investing in their 401(k) just choose traditional deferrals because it SOUNDS better, as you get to put money into the investment pre-tax! However, as the money grows in the account, it is ALL (both contributions you made & earnings/growth) taxable upon withdrawal in retirement 👎 For example, let’s say you invest $10k every year for 30 years and at retirement you end up with around $3 million. 1️⃣ If you contribute to a TRADITIONAL 401(k) or IRA: Each year, you have the benefit of earning, then contributing, $10k to your investment without paying any tax on it. At retirement, you will pay tax on the ENTIRE $3 million, AND, even if you don’t need it, you will be required to take minimum distributions every year. 2️⃣ If you contribute to a ROTH IRA: On the other hand, if you contribute to a Roth 401(k) or IRA, you will contribute the $10k after tax. However, at retirement, you will pay 𝐍𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐗 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 $𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧. What’s the difference here? You pay tax on $300k ($10k a year for 30 years) with the Roth, and you pay tax on $3,000,000 with the traditional, the only benefit being the 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘭 of the tax until retirement. ✅ It’s ALMOST always better to do a Roth!Button -
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How important is time when it comes to investing and retirement planning? It’s amazing what a difference just 15 years makes! #retirementplanning #investing #investingtips #moneymanagement #retirementgoalsButton -
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How many times I said we were done having kids after baby #2.... 🤷♀️💁♀️🍼👶 I’m a bad liar ;) #pregnancyannouncement #pregnancy #babybudgetButton -
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Dave Ramsey’s 4 recommended types of mutual funds! We don’t invest in any single stocks, just mutual funds. Of those mutual funds, we spread our investments 25% each over 4 categories. #mutualfunds #investing #investingforbeginnersButton -
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⭐️ 5 SINKING FUNDS I ALWAYS BUDGET FOR ⭐️ Sinking funds are used to save money for a specific period of time for a specific purpose. For example, if you have a vacation coming up in 8 months, and you want to have $800 saved up to spend during your trip, you would set aside $100 per month into either your normal savings account or a separate savings account at your bank. Then, when it’s time to take the trip, you can transfer it to your checking. This way, you don’t have to barely squeak by during the month you vacation! I love using a sinking fund for Christmas gifts! This way, I have the money saved up and ready to spend. The best part? I can spend guilt-free knowing I’ve carefully planned. What do you use sinking funds for?? #sinkingfunds #savingmoney #moneysavingtips #personalfinanceforwomen #moneysavingmomButton -
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HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM WITH YOUR SPOUSE WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY! Let’s be honest, it doesn’t come easy. Here are 3 things you can do to work as team instead of fighting about money. #marriedfinances #moneyandmarriage #couplesbudgetingButton -
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⭐️WHERE SHOULD YOU START WITH INVESTING?? Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, here are 3 things you should always do when investing for retirement, no matter your age! #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginnersButton -
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Swipe right for simple budgeting tips ➡️💡 #budgetingtips #paychecktopaycheck #moneymanagementButton -
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Me & my baby girl♥️ My heart could just burst into a million pieces when I look at her 😩Button -
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What’s your biggest challenge with groceries & meal planning? Mine used to be so much WASTE & lack of meal planning. We would spend upwards of $500/month on groceries for two! And guess what.... I’d end up throwing away half our fridge every couple weeks😐 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 $𝟑𝟎𝟎/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬! Many families spend $600+ on groceries every month‼️ A good rule of thumb is $100/person per month. We have 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats whatever I make every night, so our budget is $300/month. Now, you might be thinking 𝘰𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥. Let me tell you from experience, If you aren’t keeping track, you’re probably WAY off. Go look at your prior months bank statement. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥?? 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯? These are all things that be mitigated and opportunities for you to SAVE more! #groceries #groceryshopping #mealplanning #familymealprep #budgetmealsButton -
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💡 A few of the 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 differences between a Roth and Traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account). We contribute to my husbands 401(k) through his work up to the employer match, then we both have our own IRA’s. The reason we only contribute up to the match is— 1) 401 (k) plans generally don’t have as many options as you do in an IRA 2) It’s always good to diversify your investments to mitigate risk Side note, if you are over the income limits to be able to contribute to the Roth IRA, there is a work-around, commonly referred to as the backdoor Roth, where you contribute to a traditional IRA, then 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 it to a Roth. ➡️ More about that on my blog! ❓do you contribute to an IRA❓❓ Drop a 🤚 below if you do!! #rothira #traditonalira #investingforbeginners #investing101Button -
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THE DEBT SNOWBALL 👊 These five steps are the exact steps we followed when we paid off over $20k of student loan debt in 12 months. You don’t have to be a high income earner, a math geek, or even good with numbers at all. It’s a simple plan. You just have to be willing to do hard things. All you have to do is commit to a plan, and stick with it at all costs. Easier said then done, I know! However, I can say without a doubt that this was one of the most difficult, humbling, and rewarding experiences we have ever gone through as a couple! When I wanted to quit, my husband encouraged me. When he wanted to quit, I encouraged him. Many people during this pandemic have realized that they’ve been “winging it” with their finances. That’s a fine plan when things are good, but it’s a terrible plan when things are bad. Is the pandemic your fault? Of course not! No one saw it coming. However, there are many things you’ll go through in life that aren’t your fault (and some that are), and that’s not an excuse to not be prepared! Debt will hinder your ability to save money. It will make you a slave to the lender. Imagine going into this pandemic having no debt. How would you feel? While you still might have some fear, it would feel pretty dang good knowing that your debts are paid and you’re not a slave to the bank! Make this your “never again” moment! Button -
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We are having a nice, relaxing day at home after traveling ALL DAY yesterday with our two kiddos! They did AMAZING! Kids are so resilient. The babe was easy, she slept almost the entire time both plane rides (3.5 hr flights). Our toddler was a challenge at times, but he surprised us with how well he tolerated the plane ride! Even so, it was exhausting and we are happy to be home!😊 I hope you guys enjoyed the kickoff to my debt payoff stories blog post series, I can’t wait to share more! Next one will be this week 🙌 If you’ve paid off debt, comment below the BIGGEST sacrifice you had to make ⬇️⬇️ Ours was putting off buying a home and we didn’t see the inside of a restaurant for a LONGGG TIME. #personalfinanceforwomen #millennialmoney #debtpayoffButton -
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Couldn’t resist posting a picture from our hike today! 🌲 ☀️ We are having so much fun on vacation! I can’t believe it’s going by so fast😥 if you’re looking for a beautiful place to visit, I highly recommend the Oregon coast! My parents moved from Washington state last summer to Oregon, and I’ll admit I was apprehensive at first that I would like it as much as where I grew up, but it is B E A U T I F U L⭐️ Staying on budget & having tons of fun, doesn’t get better! #personalfinanceforwomen #millennialmoney #travelonabudget #oregoncoastButton -
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☀️ WE ARE HEADED TO THE OREGON COAST TOMORROW!! I can’t wait to see my family ❤️ It will be Tripp’s second time to visit them in their new home state and Parker’s first time! One of my favorite things about being debt free and budgeting is setting aside money to travel! I’m thankful we are able to get out to the west coast at least once a year. We save for travel by setting up a sinking fund and treating it like a monthly expense— it’s a line item in our monthly budget. This way, our vacation never follows us home. It’s paid for before we even go! I use the EveryDollar app to track our spending while on vacation. I will typically at the end of every day (or if we are just sitting around for a while) enter all the days expenses. It honestly takes no time, under 5 minutes for sure! I’m excited for family, SEAFOOD, and to let the purse strings loose a little😉 ‼️Disclaimer— my husband still has to remind me even on vacation.... IT👏IS👏OKAY👏TO SPEND MONEY YOU HAVE SAVED 🤪 It honestly pains me to spend money because that’s my nature, so I’m glad I have my hubby to balance me out 😅 anyone else?? Yes, we are flying with 2 under 2. Yes, I covet the prayers 😬😜 Any tips for travel are welcome below ⬇️Button -
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This is exactly how I break down our budget by paycheck every single month. By doing this, I'm able to break our budget into smaller, more manageable chunks. This really has been a game-changer in making sure that I actually stick to our budget... because let's be honest that's always the biggest struggle! ;) What questions do you have?? #budgetbypaycheck #paycheckbudget #millennialmoney #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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A little bit about our debt payoff story and what motivated us to get out of debt! We used the dave ramsey debt snowball method to pay off all my student loan debt. Plus, three dangers to avoid regarding debt! #payoffdebt #debtsnowball #studentloandebt #daveramseyButton
