Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Many families are toeing the line of slipping into debt, if they aren’t already over their heads. With just one emergency such as a car breaking down or, in the US, a medical bill, many could be in a very precarious position. A surprising amount of North Americans are not putting money away consistently for retirement.

Building 225

Building Emergency Fund Money Savings Account 225

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 19, 2012

Pertinent knowledge and prior planning will help you limit the long-lasting effect financial difficulties can have on you and your family. Of course, we don’t do it on purpose, I know, it’s just that we often don’t realize what we have done until it’s too late and disaster strikes. I know that sounds harsh, but it is the reality.

Emergency Fund 222

Emergency Fund Insurance Debt Credit Cards 222

Family Balance Sheet

MARCH 19, 2014

Last year, my husband and I took Dave Ramsey’s online Financial Peace University course. Save $$$ Home Emergency Fund – Dave suggests to start at $1000, but being self-employed, ours is much higher, but it is not quite 3-6 months of expenses. We will cash flow a FAMILY TRIP TO DISNEY. Our Debt Freedom Plan.

Debt 100

Debt Money Emergency Fund Goals 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 16, 2014

Traditional investment advice says that you shouldn’t invest in the market until you are financially stable, have an emergency fund and have taken care of other basics, such as insurance of all kinds, debt removal and etc. Remember that you need to review your specific situation to determine the course of action you should take.

Emergency Fund 184

Emergency Fund Debt Money Father 184

Penny Pinchin' Mom

JANUARY 16, 2024

However, if you have been following me, you know that I am quite serious about finding ways to not only get out of debt but also how to create a budget (and stick to it) as well as how to save money without necessarily depriving your family of the quality of life they deserve.

Personal Finance 52

Personal Finance Finance Tips Finance Mom 52

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 20, 2014

It’s one thing to have a couple thousand dollars in an emergency fund. You could flip a house, or buy a multi-family complex and rent out the units. Of course, not all investments have to be financial. The money might be gone, but my family’s lifestyle is improved. Invest that Money.

Money 200

Money Emergency Fund Work Advantage 200

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

My retirement account contribution, emergency fund contribution, car payments, utility bills, and mortgage are all set up so that they are paid automatically each month. Of course, this spending plan method only works in my family because our wants are fairly modest so we don’t exceed our income each month.

Emergency Fund 202

Emergency Fund Budgeting Budget Psychology 202

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Tell us about you and your family. I needed to count on myself and support my son, and that meant getting my financial life in order, starting with building an emergency fund for the first time. We used my app to track our progress while we were paying off our house, and of course I ran a zillion different scenarios.

Debt 236

Debt Debt Free Pay Off Debt Financial Goals 236

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

Everyone has different circumstances to take into account, whether it’s their family structure, personal situation, luck (or lack thereof), and their values. Of course consumerism is a deadly sin of finance. Lots of people will say that there’s no real formula for personal finance, because it’s personal. Consumerism.

Personal Finance 222

Personal Finance Finance Consumerism Debt 222

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 27, 2012

Of course, I wasn’t alone but that wasn’t much comfort, I can tell you! Difficulty meeting basic family needs Counting on tax returns or pay increases to ease your financial situation Lying about spending or anything else to do with finances. Like I state on my About page , I was in debt and living a life that didn’t satisfy me.

Emergency Fund 212

Emergency Fund Credit Cards Budgeting Budget 212

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 25, 2014

By then, I was married, raising a toddler, our family was paying down debt and I was practicing much better financial discipline. I opened a retirement account during that period, but it involved a managed fund with a 2% annual fee. Why Aren’t You Doing THIS? Me from 10 to 6 years ago was a different animal.

Money 209

Money Giving Las Vegas Credit Card Rewards 209

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Of course, we like to have fun, too. Our cost of living is low because we bought a modest house with a modest mortgage payment, and an “expensive” dinner at the nicest restaurant in town still costs our small family of three less than $100 — including drinks, dessert, and tip. My husband enjoys collecting items.

San Francisco 248

San Francisco Emergency Fund Money Utah 248

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Over the weekend, during a family visit, I had a conversation with one of my nephews – a thirty something husband, father and CFO of a small company. He and his family currently live in a home in a suburban subdivision. Of course, you would investigate the fund or company in which you plan to invest prior to shelling out!

Real Estate 100

Real Estate Money Bank Banking 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Over the course of a year, it is possible to save up a couple of hundred dollars, just by saving your change! Medical emergencies, car emergencies, or family situations may arise where you need to dip into your emergency fund. Whether it is a piggy bank or your private branch, put the money away.

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Bank Banking Money Saving 265

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 15, 2012

My family has a crawl space downstairs, a pantry upstairs, and a freezer in the garage. Including items that you eat in the normal course of your meals is important, since a vital part of home food storage is rotating your food so that it doesn’t expire. For many, this means that you need to look at the space in your home.

Storage 229

Storage Building Home Bank 229

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 8, 2018

I discovered the term, Zero-Based Budget, when my husband and I took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University home course many years ago. I would never tell someone to cancel the gym membership if they use it, and if you do use a gym membership, find out how my husband got a FREE family gym membership.

Budgeting 133

Budgeting Budget Financial Goals Goals 133

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Tell us about you and your family. I have been sharing my passion for simple living on GrowingSlower.com since 2011, and I now have added the Real Mom’s Guide series of books and courses to further encourage my readers! We got an unexpected tax return, which of course went toward the loans. She writes at Growing Slower.

Debt Free 100

Debt Free Debt Financial Goals Budgeting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 26, 2016

To learn to live within your means is one of our primary family money values. Of course, depending on what we buy, we may experience some buyers remorse. It has served me well over the years, eventually leading to my current position of financial freedom. Helping the parents teach my grandchildren to save is an ongoing project of mine.

Money 124

Money Saving Money Lowes Grandchildren 124