One of the hardest things to do when you are low on funds is to save money. But saving money is something we all need to do if you want to be able to handle life’s unexpected moments. When you are already on a budget, saving money may seem like a daunting task. For starters, you need to find small ways to get started. Making small adjustments can be an easy way to ease yourself into saving mode. Do you already have a budget? If not you can see The Easiest Budget for Beginners or Simple 50/30/20 Budget Method Explained Find Things to Cut From Your Budget This can be anything you think you can live without. You just need to sit down and decide what you don’t need. If your mind is right and you really want to save some money, trust me…
Do you struggle coming up with dinner ideas that you can squeeze into that tight budget? Are you searching for some recipes to help with your busy week while also saving you money? In this post, I have included some of my favorite budget dinner ideas to help you out. It is possible to cook delicious meals on a budget. The recipes I have included in this round-up are some of my family’s favorites. Since food is the largest budget line item we have in our family, I have struggled with cutting my grocery bill down. It wasn’t until I sat down and started looking into it that I realized it was a problem that needed to be addressed. Check out A Simple Grocery Budget You Can Stick With if you need help cutting your grocery bill down too. Some of my Quick Tips for…
What is time blocking? well…I like to plan. I like to have a plan and know how my day is going to happen. This can make thinking about my days so much more difficult. So what do I do to simplify my planning? I use my Simplified Planner (I plan out increments of time in my planner) and I rock on with my day. Recently, I discovered that this already has a name…it is Time Blocking and can be great for making you aware of your time and setting priorities for your day. It helps keep you focused and on task. What is Time-Blocking? Essentially, time blocking is using a set slot of time to finish a task. It allows you to schedule your entire day out so you can see where hours are wasted and figure out ways to improve it. It is a…
Are you searching for the perfect Grocery Budget? Is there really a one-size-fits-all for your family? I have found a grocery budget that I can stick to that helps save my family an average of $2400 a year. Check it out below. We grocery shop to be able to eat. It’s one of the most important things we can do for our families. Food is essential for survival so we have to do it. Especially if you don’t have a farm that produces food for your family. It is not a smart thing to go into the grocery store without a plan. When you do this, people tend to overspend. The other day I was talking with my friend at work about how much she spends at the store on groceries each month and I was shocked. She has the same size family…
Have you ever been the type of person who doesn’t leave a tip or leaves the minimal amount? Do you calculate how much you owe someone to the penny instead of rounding it up? If this sounds like you…you are probably cheap. But don’t worry, in this post I will help you understand the difference between being cheap and being frugal. Hopefully, by the end, you will see why cheapskates always finish last. Frugal living is something to be proud of. There is a Major Difference between being Frugal and just being Cheap Both types of people love to save money and there is nothing wrong with saving money, you just have to make sure its the right way. I love to save a dollar myself. I always get water at restaurants because I just can’t bring myself to pay $2 for…
5 Easy Tips for Staying on Task if You are Easily Distracted Are you not focused? No problem…In the following post, I share some easy tips for staying on task if you need help to minimize distractions. Now, I know that I am not the only working parent out there that tries to get something done, only to be interrupted and then get completely sidetracked. THEN…after I finally remember what I was supposed to be doing, 30 plus minutes has passed. Is this you too? Yes! Thank goodness its not just me, lol. I want to take a few minutes and talk to you about why we get distracted and how we can get back on track or stay focused in the first place. I have a few strategies up my sleeve. According to a recent study, it can take up to 25 minutes to get back…
50/30/20 Budget Method…What is it and how to use it effectively. You hate to budget. Me too! Its something I hate to think about but it is so necessary. The Facts about Budgets Detailed budgets are not for everyone and that’s ok. I have a good “meet in the middle” budget strategy for the people who can’t be overwhelmed with too many categories and sections. Senator Elizabeth Warren is a bankruptcy expert, and her daughter, business executive Amelia Warren Tyagi, co-authored a book called, “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.” Click here to see the site In this book, they go over the 50-30-20 rule and I think it’s a great way to easily get your money in order. This rule says that you should use the money you have after taxes are taken from your…
How to Start a Blog…Today! So you want to blog huh? You can start a blog today! Starting a blog is not easy. I have already started one and this one is my second. My first blog is called Real Life Is. I was sitting around one day with nothing to do (except laundry and who wants to do that)…. so I decided to start a blog. Starting a blog is something I had thought about from time to time, but on this particular day, I decided to jump all in and get it done. I work for a company where I travel to do dentistry and there are certain days when I get home after lunch. There are also days when I’m off with nothing to do because my boys are in school. It is during these times that I thought I could start…
Easy Budgeting for Beginners Do you struggle with finances? You are not alone. Starting a budget for beginners is hard! I have failed so many times at it that it’s not even funny! If there is one thing that I have learned from my years of experience with goofing up it is that you need to start simple. So in this post I’m going to share my easy budgeting tips for beginners. First, you need to take a deep breath. Let’s be realistic. Making a budget is hard, sticking to it is harder. I tried so many that I would get confused and frustrated which led to me giving up and not following through. But you can learn from my mistakes and take it easy. Don’t rush! Starting Your Budget for Beginners Start by grabbing a piece of paper. Take a minute and write…