Money Musings

One big question mark for me over the years when I have been doing our own personal budget has been whether what we spend is "normal" com...

I previously wrote about the necessity of flexibility when budgeting regularly. There is no way to predict everything that is going to ha...

It is really important when you are setting your monthly budget to think through what you know you will actually spend. It is not helpful...

Please enjoy this highly sophisticated and technologically advanced presentation, ha! SUMMARY: 1. Meet your basic needs 2. Save for short...

"Money won't make you happy; focus on what is most important in life." I get the intention behind this phrase, truly. However, I would ve...

Drew and the girls were out of town last week, and though most of the time was spent working (tis the season for accountants...) and clea...

It's tax season, and one aspect of tax preparation that directly impacts my budgeting work with my clients is how much of a refund they g...

When we first started budgeting together, it was a struggle. There were fights. Drew wanted to curl up in the fetal position every time. ...

Giving to others is one of the greatest parts of the human experience. However, around Christmas in particular, it can be really overwhel...

This is part 3 of a 3 part series on the cash impact of buying vs renting. In this portion we focus on considerations for renting. I init...

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on the cash impact of buying vs renting. In Part 1 we explored some of the factors that influence cash...

This is part 1 of a 3 part series on the cash impact of buying vs renting. Barring unusually wild escapades from small children, part 2 w...

One of the first steps I take with each of my clients is to simply pay attention to each transaction coming through their accounts. Witho...

Food cost is the #1 struggle for controlling spending that I hear from my clients. One strategy I use for myself is to calculate ballpark...

When you find merchandise that is defective, rather than passing it over, ask for a discount. It reduces waste and saves money. I know m...

One topic that is constantly swirling through my mind is my big-picture career choice. There are so many jobs that I have done in the pas...

Don’t try to create a budget that will apply to every month of the year. Make your budget specific to the current month. When you approac...

I often get complimented on my wardrobe. For the most part, I dress with style and, at work, professionalism. There are a few good ways t...

Cars are a huge money pit for Americans. The rate at which they depreciate is pretty outrageous, not to mention insurance, gas, maintenan...

Child care is expensive (understatement of the year?!) and sometimes you have to get creative. This year we have put a lot of hours into ...