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  • BUDGETING
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        • Living on a budget can be as challenging as sticking to a diet or committing to a workout routine. Here are tips to avoid burnout so you can achieve your goals!

          How to Avoid Budget Burnout: 5 Tips to Stay the Course

          When creating a budget, most of us focus on tracking our expenses, but tracking your income is just as important. This includes knowing your starting balance.

          What is Your Starting Balance & Why Does It Matter for Your Budget?

          Most of us have invisible money scripts that hold us back from reaching our financial goals. Learn what the three most common money beliefs are and how you can start taking steps to change them. 

          3 Money Beliefs That Might Be Holding You Back

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        • The true cost of a speeding ticket depends on your location, how fast you were driving, and any previous violations. Learn how much you can expect to pay after receiving a speeding ticket.

          Explained: The Surprising True Cost of a Speeding Ticket

          If you’re looking for ways to save, buying second-hand items might be a good idea. These 17 things are better to buy used instead of new.

          17 Things That Are Better to Buy Used Instead of New

          If you need to earn fast cash, selling household items online is the easiest way to do it. Here are 20 things in your home that you can sell right now.

          Need Cash Fast? 20 Things In Your Home You Can Sell Right Now

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        • Many people consider going to grad school but wonder if it’s worth the financial investment. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before committing to grad school.

          Should I Go to Grad School? 5 Things to Consider First

          Forget about a New Year’s Resolution! Try setting a New Year mindset instead. It might not seem like much, but your mindset can make or break your financial goals.

          How to Improve Your Financial Mindset to Achieve Your New Year’s Goals

          It’s not too early to start helping your child build their financial future. If you want to help your child start investing, here are the steps you’ll take to get started.

          How Can My Child Start Investing?

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          Should You Buy Your Leased Car?

          Collection accounts can be stressful, but you can bounce back. Learn how to handle collection accounts and improve your financial picture.

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        • It might be tempting to withdraw investments, especially during times of economic uncertainty. However, most people should avoid touching their investments.

          The ONLY 3 Reasons to Touch Your Investments

          It’s that time of year again! Unfortunately, we’re not talking about the holidays. Now is the time for everyone to file their taxes. Here is what you need to know.

          2021 Tax Season: How to File for Taxes Online

          It’s not too early to start helping your child build their financial future. If you want to help your child start investing, here are the steps you’ll take to get started.

          How Can My Child Start Investing?

Browse articles
  • BUDGETING
  • DEBT & CREDIT
  • FINANCE 101
  • FRUGAL LIVING
  • SAVE MORE
Should I Go to Grad School? 5 Things to Consider First
Should I Go to Grad School? 5 Things to Consider First Read more
Many people consider going to grad school but wonder if it’s worth the financial investment. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before committing to grad school.
The ONLY 3 Reasons to Touch Your Investments
The ONLY 3 Reasons to Touch Your Investments Read more
It might be tempting to withdraw investments, especially during times of economic uncertainty. However, most people should avoid touching their investments.
Explained: The Surprising True Cost of a Speeding Ticket
Explained: The Surprising True Cost of a Speeding Ticket Read more
The true cost of a speeding ticket depends on your location, how fast you were driving, and any previous violations. Learn how much you can expect to pay after receiving a speeding ticket.
How to Avoid Budget Burnout: 5 Tips to Stay the Course
How to Avoid Budget Burnout: 5 Tips to Stay the Course Read more
Living on a budget can be as challenging as sticking to a diet or committing to a workout routine. Here are tips to avoid burnout so you can achieve your goals!
17 Things That Are Better to Buy Used Instead of New
17 Things That Are Better to Buy Used Instead of New Read more
If you’re looking for ways to save, buying second-hand items might be a good idea. These 17 things are better to buy used instead of new.
2021 Tax Season: How to File for Taxes Online
2021 Tax Season: How to File for Taxes Online Read more
It’s that time of year again! Unfortunately, we’re not talking about the holidays. Now is the time for everyone to file their taxes. Here is what you need to know.
Need Cash Fast? 20 Things In Your Home You Can Sell Right Now
Need Cash Fast? 20 Things In Your Home You Can Sell Right Now Read more
If you need to earn fast cash, selling household items online is the easiest way to do it. Here are 20 things in your home that you can sell right now.
How Price Matching Can Help You Achieve Your Savings Goals
How Price Matching Can Help You Achieve Your Savings Goals Read more
You don’t need a coupon or a limited time offer to get the best price possible. Thanks to price matching, you can get the best price wherever you shop.
How to Improve Your Financial Mindset to Achieve Your New Year’s Goals
How to Improve Your Financial Mindset to Achieve Your New Year’s Goals Read more
Forget about a New Year’s Resolution! Try setting a New Year mindset instead. It might not seem like much, but your mindset can make or break your financial goals.
How Can My Child Start Investing?
How Can My Child Start Investing? Read more
It’s not too early to start helping your child build their financial future. If you want to help your child start investing, here are the steps you’ll take to get started.
What It Means to be “Cash Poor” and How to Avoid It
What It Means to be “Cash Poor” and How to Avoid It Read more
Just because someone has a large house, luxury vehicle, and brand name clothes, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have money worries.
8 Ways to Save Money on Printer Ink
8 Ways to Save Money on Printer Ink Read more
The cost of printer ink can add up quickly, especially if you frequently have to print off documents. These eight steps will help you cut down on the cost of printer ink.
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Friday reminder.

No one else is you & that is your ultimate power.

Don't forget that.
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Going into 2021, I had a clear plan on WHERE I wanted to invest my money.

Now of course, this is completely dependent on my personal situation, which is a little unique.

First, I wanted to max out my 401k contributions. “Max Out” just meaning I want to contribute as much as I legally can. For 2021, the contribution limit for a 401k is $19,500 for employees under 50. If you are over 50, it’s $26,000 with the catch-up contribution. But I am not just the employee, I’m also the employer. This means I can actually contribute $58,000. My goal is to contribute up to that max.

Second, I wanted to fully fund an HSA account. I will be talking more about HSA accounts next week. The contribution limit (max) that you can contribute in 2021 to an HSA is $3,600.

Third, I wanted to fully fund my Roth IRA. Now, my situation is unique because I’m over the income limit for making contributions to a Roth IRA. So I have to have a backdoor Roth (Roth conversion), which is just fancy lingo for allowing taxpayers to contribute to a Roth IRA even if they are over the income limit.

Fourth, I wanted to invest $10,000 into my son's 529 College Investment Account. This is definitely a personal decision as a parent.

Fifth, I wanted to invest into two different taxable brokerage investment accounts. One is managed by a financial advisor, the other I wanted to manage and pick my own investments. I wanted to do $100/month to the one I am managing and $200/mo to the one that my financial advisor manages.

A simply investing sequence I believe anyone can follow is on the third slide of this post. Make sure to swipe through.

No matter what, you first have to have a clear understanding of your personal financial situation before deciding where and how to invest your money.

What’s one investing goal you have in 2021?
Open
This is the difference between a budget and a REALISTIC budget.

Implementing this into my budget creation was a game changer for me. It's why tracking your spending is so important.

You have to know where you are starting before you can tweak and perfect in the future. 

Give me your favorite emoji in the comments if you started doing this with your budget.
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My March budget is finalized.

I have a few things happening next month. I am cash flowing an art project using my fun envelope for St. Patrick’s Day with my son. I am also using some of my food budget to make corned beef, which is a yearly tradition in March.

Second, I have a small trip planned in March, which I will be talking about later. The expenses are already covered, and I am using credits from a trip that I had to cancel at the end of last year. 

Here are some things that you might want to include in your March budget:

St. Patrick’s Day
Spring Break
March Madness
Income Tax Preparation Fees
Easter 
Freezer Stock-Up
Landscaping

Since Easter is happening on April 4th, it’s best to start planning in March. I love planning ahead for my budget calendar so I can be prepared for upcoming holidays.

March is also Frozen Food Month. Yes, there is such a thing 😉 Many grocery stores will be having once-a-year specials via coupons and online. I will be using some of my Costco sinking fund to take advantage of some of these deals.

Have you filled out your March budget calendar yet?
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A reminder for today.

What appears today to be sacrifice is really an investment in something better.

Let's spread this reminder to everyone who needs to see it! Save, share and comment below!
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