Savings Corner

DECEMBER 25, 2023

To calculate how much house you can afford, we take into account a few primary items, such as your household income, monthly debts (for example, car loan and student loan payments) and the amount of savings available for a down payment. How does your debt-to-income ratio impact affordability?

Calculators 52

Calculators Debt Insurance Taxes 52

Family Balance Sheet

AUGUST 6, 2022

We’ve seen higher grocery and fuel bills lately, so we’re upping our frugal game to help the budget. Here are five ways that I saved money this month. Related reading: 10 Ways to Save at Giant Food Stores. To save time during the week, I make the salad and chop the fruit on Sunday nights. Marked down meat!

July 130

July Frugal Credit Cards Donation 130

Savings Corner

APRIL 4, 2024

But it’s a revolving debt that offers an amount of funds (a replenishable balance, similar to a credit card limit) tied to the level of equity in your home. Others use them to pay off high-interest credit card debt or other bills. $16 Loans often don’t charge origination fees , which’ll save you money at closing.

Home 52

Home Work Debt Credit 52

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 15, 2021

Right before the pandemic started, I opened 529 College Savings Accounts for our daughters. My oldest was in eighth grade and one of my goals for 2020 was to start saving consistently for both daughters’ college education. In January of 2020, I was gung-ho about saving for college, however, I had no idea what was about to happen.

College 130

College Used 2020 Saving 130

Savings Corner

DECEMBER 23, 2023

Life insurance may not seem like a priority right now, especially with competing financial concerns, such as saving for your first big purchases or paying off your student loans. Entering the Job Market If you’ve just started looking for a job, you may also be putting together a budget for the first time. Watch her story here.

Life Insurance 52

Life Insurance Insurance Graduation Financial Goals 52

For the Mommas

DECEMBER 19, 2015

Christmas Gifts on a Budget. When you’re on a tight budget, you may think that your Christmas shopping will only yield cheap gifts. Even on a tight budget, you can purchase gifts that look expensive. Your friends and family will never know that you were on a tight budget. Take Advantage of Member Offers.

Budgeting 40

Budgeting Budget Christmas Gifts 40

Savings Corner

APRIL 4, 2024

Key takeaways A home equity loan allows you to borrow a lump sum against your home’s equity, usually at a fixed interest rate that’s lower than other forms of consumer debt. While high compared to their average of six percent in 2022, that’s significantly lower than other forms of consumer debt. What is a home equity loan?

Home 52

Home Debt Credit Cards Credit 52

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 9, 2014

When my husband and I wrote our Debt Freedom Plan earlier this year, we made a commitment to scrutinize our monthly expenses to find money to put towards our plan. Our Savings: $67 a month or almost $800 a year. Our savings: $55 a month or $660 a year. Our savings: $184 a month. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

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Grocery Spending Financial Goals January Budgeting 242

Savings Corner

DECEMBER 24, 2023

Key takeaways A personal loan is money you can borrow to finance large purchases, consolidate debt, invest in yourself or cover emergency expenses. Working to improve your credit score and reduce your debt-to-income ratio before applying can help get you the best loan terms. Personal loans have advantages and drawbacks.

Debt 52

Debt Credit Cards Credit College Tuition 52

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 12, 2013

Saving up this chunk of change can take a long period of time, especially if you have a high expense to income ratio, which many people do (especially if you’re paying down debt). . I was contributing hundreds of dollars each month to it, and now I could add that back into my savings plan or budget. Pay Down Debt.

Emergency Fund 200

Emergency Fund Debt Goals Money 200

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 2, 2015

Today’s Debt Free Story is from Acadia. How much debt did you pay off? What kind of debt was it? All of our debt was $97,000 in student loan debt. We ended up buying a house from a relative, which put us in even more debt. What inspired you to get debt free? Tell us about you and your family.

Student 100

Student Debt Debt Free Finds 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 4, 2012

Stay with me here – I’m very concerned about my child’s future, especially in these debt-ridden times of financial uncertainty. Even though my son is only three, I am already teaching him that it’s important to value saving his money. If you have a fixed budget, this might be especially useful.

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Life Insurance Insurance Debt Money 187

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 21, 2012

Editors Picks: Big Cajun Man from THE Canadian Personal Finance Site shares 10 Phrases I have Used to Save Money. Really, we should all carry a cue card in a our wallet that we can just whip out and use anytime we have an opportunity to save money. We take advantage of anything we can get if it is free or cheap, but do we need to?

Personal Finance 219

Personal Finance Finance Debt Money 219

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 1, 2013

Set up a savings account linked to your checking account and automatically transfer a set amount every payday. Put every spare dollar into this account, as a matter of urgency, until you have saved six months of wages. Make an allowance for a small amount of savings, in addition to your emergency fund.

Emergency Fund 272

Emergency Fund Credit Cards Personal Finance Finance 272

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 4, 2011

Philip from Deliver Away Debt shares his story: How I Delivered Away My Debt. Control Your Cash from Control Your Cash boldly says Your Smart Car Isn’t Saving the World. mbhunter from Mighty Bargain Hunter asks Are you contributing to this debt clock? How about you? What do you think? He’s right.

Personal Finance 240

Personal Finance Finance Family Debt 240

Saving Cents With Sense

MAY 26, 2014

Only 32 percent of Americans prepare a monthly budget, according to a Gallup poll taken in June 2013. Creating a short-term budget and long-term financial plan can not only help you get out of debt once and for all, but they can also guide you to economic independence and prosperity. Build a Budget & Emergency Fund.

Emergency Fund 71

Emergency Fund Goals 2008 Debt 71

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 10, 2012

The Skilled Investor , Editor Budgeting and Economics Little House presents The Five Tool Budgeter posted at Little House in the Valley , saying, “In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels in some of the game’s major skills: fielding, base running, hitting for power, hitting for contact, and throwing ability.

Money 113

Money May 2012 Debt 113

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 3, 2012

Four hours of uninterrupted time is a luxury, so we took advantage of it. Increase our Monthly Debt Payment. We have set a goal date of July 2015 to pay off all of our debt. Currently, we have about 3 months salary saved, but we are self-employed and should have a six month security net. Our 2012 Financial Goals.

Financial Goals 127

Financial Goals Goals 2012 Emergency Fund 127

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 15, 2011

Good Financial Cents: What to Watch For With Debt Settlement Companies Considering using a debt settlement company? Here’s some tips to be wary of when trying to consolidate your debt. There are so many different ideas out there about how to do a budget and very little guidance on how to make them work in your life.

October 200

October 2011 Finance Personal Finance 200

Savings Corner

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Further, good credit can qualify you for lower interest rates, which saves you money. Issuers are prohibited from providing cards to people under 21 unless they have proof of independent income or a co-signer — someone who agrees to be responsible for the debt if the primary cardholder doesn’t pay the bill. Renting an apartment.

Credit Cards 52

Credit Cards Student Credit College 52

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 6, 2012

Budgeting and Economics. Wayne presents Purpose of Budgeting posted at Young Family Finance , saying, “Are you left wondering why you should budget? Find out the purpose of budgeting and whether it’s important for you. ” Managing Debt. Here are 5 steps to painlessly become debt free.

Money 133

Money Finance Personal Finance Real Estate 133

For the Mommas

MAY 22, 2012

The term “sinking fund” was originally a business term used to designate a savings account where a corporation holds funds for the repayment of a debt in order to improve their liquidity. In personal finance, a sinking fund is a savings account that is designated specifically for an irregular expense. Bank Your Savings.

Craigslist 78

Craigslist West Virginia Bank Banking 78

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

As I reflect back to January 2016, I started that year pretty determined to pay off the balance of our non-mortgage debts. Unfortunately, we did not hit that goal and in part, have made some major changes to our Debt Freedom Plan. Our Debt Freedom Plan Started in 2013: The year 2012 was quite exciting for me and my husband.

Debt 100

Debt 2017 Student 2016 100

Couponing 101

DECEMBER 26, 2011

Christmas can be very stressful, especially when you have a tight budget. I have a few tips for saving money (and your sanity!) Shopping a little bit at a time over the course of the year can be easier for some people than paying one lump sum at the end of the year (and potentially using credit cards and going into debt.)

Christmas 80

Christmas Toys Gifts Bath and Body Works 80

Couponing 101

JANUARY 4, 2011

Christmas can be very stressful, especially when you have a tight budget. I have a few tips for saving money (and your sanity!) Shopping a little bit at a time over the course of the year can be easier for some people than paying one lump sum at the end of the year (and potentially using credit cards and going into debt.)

Saving Money 74

Saving Money Christmas Money Bath and Body Works 74

Saving Cents With Sense

FEBRUARY 28, 2014

With PNC reporting that the average 20-something faces $45,000 in debt, and Generation Opportunity finding a 15.9 Your parents, especially if they are baby boomers, grew up in a vibrant economy that afforded them many advantages. Retirement is decades away, but it’s important to think about your savings now. Car Buying.

Parenting 81

Parenting Economy Student Cars 81

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 23, 2014

We don’t like debt. We should have applied for a VA mortgage right after he got out of the Army in 1974 instead of waiting 4 years and saving up a down payment to get a commercial mortgage. Here are some that most anyone (if you are a vet) can take advantage of. VA Mortgage. I bought those plots from him several years ago.

Military 162

Military Grandfather Education Los Angeles 162

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 22, 2011

Big energy bills can bleed your budget dry, not to mention the potential impact on the environment. Get into the habit of boiling only what you need at that particular moment and you’ll save both energy and money. Not only will you save energy but your clothes will smell fresher too. 5 Ways to NOT Save Energy.

Bills 224

Bills Appliances Home and Garden Green 224

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 17, 2018

2 – Save $10k in a savings account, specifically earmarked for medical expenses. We blew through our health savings account, and now need to save another $10k so we’re not caught off guard if another emergency were to happen. Save for a camper upgrade. If not, we’ll start saving in 2019.

Financial Goals 113

Financial Goals Goals 2018 Debt 113

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

Bucksome Boomer shares with us 9 tips for tax time that will save us from forming those wrinkles. Saving Money Today clears up for us the difference between defined benefit and defined contribution. I can say though that by using a money management program you are more likely to stick to your budget and your financial goals.

January 113

January February Debt Personal Finance 113

Saving Cents With Sense

MAY 13, 2013

Because of this, you might think that one is out of your budget. But the truth is, there are plenty of ways to sail the seas without ending up in an ocean of debt. Take a peek below at ten ways you can save on a cruise and enjoy the experience for less. Sail Away for Less: 10 Ways to Enjoy a Cruise on a Budget.

Vacation 56

Vacation Cruises Cruise Insurance 56

Family Balance Sheet

MAY 27, 2015

Today’s Debt Free Story is from Olivia. We are both planners and despise wasting money on debt/interest, which is what led us to pay off our mortgage as soon as we could! How much debt did you pay off? What kind of debt was it? We paid off a total of $118,000 debt. What inspired you to get debt free?

Debt 100

Debt Debt Free Pay Off Debt Finds 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 14, 2012

Thinking about saving money, traveling the world, investing in the market, or starting a new job? The Debt Princess: The Kool-Aid Effect: The Relationship Between the Poor & Nutrition – A look into how the working poor are eating unhealthy. Just how much money did that save me? Read away my friends.

Credit Cards 220

Credit Cards Credit Finance Personal Finance 220

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 12, 2016

Today’s Debt Free Story is from Jessica. How much debt did you pay off? What kind of debt was it? I had $56,000 of debt when I decided to become debt free. What inspired you to get debt free? The inspiration to pay off my debt was watching my grandmother balance her checkbook.

Credit Cards 100

Credit Cards Debt Debt Free Student 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 14, 2012

The Skilled Investor , Editor Budgeting and Economics Paul Vachon presents Frugal Living Made Easy posted at The Frugal Toad , saying, “Frugal living is all about making informed and deliberate choices in how to spend money. Learn how you can amend regular over spending habit and stick to the budget. Well, not to worry.

Money 124

Money 2012 June Credit Cards 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 18, 2021

Retirement has become an uncertain landscape for many families as they’ve watched economic markets shift and debt grow while financial burdens wreak havoc. Depending on how organized you are with your money, you may already have an accurate depiction of your budget. Look at your current savings as well.

Insurance 100

Insurance Re-use Delivery Service Family 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 24, 2012

We need to learn that some things are worth waiting for, especially if it means we can avoid going into debt. Try and control ‘wants’ spending and you’ll have more for saving. We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again – create your own budget so you always know how much money you have for spending on ‘wants’.

Money 213

Money Activism Credit Debt 213