Search Results for: blog you should never go in debt for

How to Prevent Identity Theft: Keeping Your Data to Yourself

Think identity theft can’t happen to you? It is probably only a matter of time, because identity theft is growing in leaps and bounds. New technologies and a more global way of doing business has made it easier than ever for thieves to pretend to be you. With thousands and thousands of databases that can be compromised, such as the gas station where you just swiped your car, and hundreds of people who see your card on an annual basis, such as the waiter who just served you dinner, the odds of not being a victim of identity theft is … Continue reading →

How to Get More Fun for Your Money

You can be happy with less money. It all depends on how you use it and what it does for you. Apply your money in the ways that will make you happiest. Be purposeful in how you spend your cash, and your life will be enriched, even on the tightest budget. Choose Experiences Instead of Materials Experiences can be one of the best investments of your money. Long after the money is spent, you will look back on the time with many fond memories. Money that is used toward experiences generally leaves people feeling that it was absolutely worth it. … Continue reading →

How to Use Garage Sales to Get Out of Debt

Garage sales can help you get out of debt in at least two major ways. Learn how you can use this staple of American culture to your advantage, as you pay down your bills and obtain financial freedom. Dave Ramsey, financial guru, once said to get out of debt he held a garage sale, selling so much that his kids thought they were going to be next. While this may seem like an extreme thing to do, the fact is that it is a good strategy to use in your arsenal of tools that will get you out of debt. … Continue reading →

How I Got Frugally Motivated This Week

After a month of moaning about how we should be able to afford certain activities that our beyond our means, I knew that I needed to get out of my funk and back into being actively frugal. Instead of focusing on what we couldn’t afford, I needed to start focusing on our financial goals of having a healthy emergency fund and paying down our debt. So, with a little extra time this month, I set off to focus on our house, our kids and what little remains of summer. First, we made a list of some fun and frugal things … Continue reading →

Have You Supersized Your Expectations?

Go into any fast food drive through and you will be asked if you want to “supersize” your order, to get just a little bit more than what you were originally expecting. The problem is that those supersized meals can lead to fat belly and a skinny wallet. When we want to save money or live within our means, we talk a lot about the opposite, downsizing. This could be anything from cutting back on the number of times per week that we eat out to moving into a smaller home. Downsizing things can certainly save money. But, if you … Continue reading →

Things That Could Affect Your Credit Score

Keeping your credit score in good shape is as easy as carrying as little debt as you can and paying your bills on time, right? While most of the time those two simple rules – simple to understand but not always simple to execute – will keep your score at its best, there are some things that you may not be aware of that could be making your credit score lower than it could be. There are things that most people know will affect their credit score such as applying for loans and credit cards, but there are other things … Continue reading →

Should You Take A Personal Loan to Pay Off Credit Card Debt?

People take out loans for many reasons such as buying a home, buying a car, or getting an education. Personal loans are also available, and sometimes people wonder whether it is a good idea to take out a personal loan to pay off credit card debt. There are many factors that will impact whether taking such a loan is the right thing for a person to do. Exploring these factors can help you to get a sense of whether it might be the right choice for you or something you can avoid. There are other ways to pay off credit … Continue reading →

Deal With Those Things You Do Not Use

There are things that you buy that you love, and you use them until they are all used up (if they are consumables) or all worn out if they are things like clothes or shoes. Then there are those things that you may not want to talk about. Things that you have bought that you do not use, or that you never wear. Things that cost you money, things that are just sort of in your home (or a storage unit) taking up space. This is not a topic that people enjoy discussing because no one wants to admit to … Continue reading →

Things to Know Before You Start Extreme Couponing

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Have you been thinking about getting into extreme couponing? It certainly sounds as though it would be an incredibly easy way to save your family a ton of money. There are some people who do manage to save huge amounts of money on their grocery store bills that way. Before you jump into this lifestyle, there are some things you should be aware of. Recently, I found the time to watch an episode of the television show called “Extreme Couponing”. The show certainly highlighted why some people find this intense form of shopping to be really exciting. Some of the … Continue reading →

How to Help Your College Graduate Get on Their Feet

If you are the parent of a recent graduate or of a child who will be graduating from college soon, chances are that you’re just as nervous about his or her future as he or she is. There is plenty to be nervous about, including a sluggish job market and those enormous student loans. You may want to offer some assistance to your now adult child, but you may wonder what would be the most helpful thing that you could do. Here are a few ideas that might work for your family. As with any financial decision, discuss it thoroughly … Continue reading →