Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 1, 2013

Lack of An Emergency Fund . One of the most common disastrous finance mistakes is not having any sort of financial back-up for emergencies. Experts recommend an emergency fund of at least six month’s salary as essential, especially if you are struggling to make ends meet. Minimum Payments On Credit Cards.

Emergency Fund 272

Emergency Fund Credit Cards Personal Finance Finance 272

Penny Pinchin' Mom

DECEMBER 17, 2023

Your positive credit report will encourage other lenders to grant similar facilities. Your risk profile goes down as you are no longer a first-time borrower, and your debt-to-income ratio goes down along with your credit utilization rate. This is why you should pay off your high-interest debts like credit cards first.

Pay Off Debt 52

Pay Off Debt Debt Emergency Fund Financial Goals 52

Family Balance Sheet

MAY 6, 2020

Our emergency fund. I am totally paraphrasing the year, but had it not been for the money in our emergency savings, we would most likely have used credit cards to survive. We reduced our spending where we could, but the money to pay any shortfall each month came from our emergency fund.

Debt 130

Debt Emergency Fund 2007 2020 130

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 19, 2012

Start an Emergency Fund One of the biggest things you can do to help avoid disasters is to create an emergency fund. This is a reserve of money for emergencies; leave it alone and don’t go dipping into it for general spending. As each one is paid off, cut up the card and close the account.

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Emergency Fund Insurance Debt Credit Cards 222

Penny Pinchin' Mom

JANUARY 16, 2024

Pay Attention to Interest Rates Did you know that 82% of all Americans have a credit card, and 61% of them have credit card debt? Credit cards can be a lifesaver, especially when you need a small personal loan. Again, you’re not alone with this problem. What Is Your Current Net Worth?

Personal Finance 52

Personal Finance Finance Tips Finance Mom 52

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 30, 2012

Having Multiple Credit Cards Buying with credit cards leads to spending more than you earn and we all know where that leads. Interest rates on credit cards are usually the highest around so you are actually paying many times what the item is worth. Make establishing an emergency fund a priority.

Money 235

Money Emergency Fund Debt Financial Goals 235

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 27, 2012

See if you can identify with any of these statements: I spend more than I earn I don’t have a household budget I use credit cards all the time to buy everyday essentials like food, gas, transport. Also include an emergency fund and contributions to a retirement account, even if just small amounts at first.

Emergency Fund 212

Emergency Fund Credit Cards Budgeting Budget 212

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 19, 2015

Earmark this money for an emergency fund, a new car fund, a vacation fund, whatever you would like. If you use credit cards, another great source of free money is credit card rewards. Then, you’re continually building a slush fund in your checking account.

Money 100

Money 2015 Emergency Fund Bills 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 25, 2014

Or put yet another trip to Las Vegas on the credit card. I opened a retirement account during that period, but it involved a managed fund with a 2% annual fee. My rewards credit cards were feeble, and I didn’t have a plan for using them. Why I Don’t Use Credit Card Rewards Programs.

Money 209

Money Giving Las Vegas Credit Card Rewards 209

Penny Pinchin' Mom

MARCH 11, 2024

Whether you are looking to save extra money for your emergency fund and potential unexpected expense, a new kitchen, or your kids’ college tuition—you name it—you will require self-discipline and a plan to reach any financial goal. What I do is use my credit cards in conjunction with cash back apps.

Saving Money 52

Saving Money Money Saving Credit Cards 52

Family Balance Sheet

JULY 10, 2023

I locked in the CD at my local credit union where it will earn 4.75% during that time frame. I also opened another Capital One 360 account for our emergency fund that was also sitting in a zero-interest savings account. Airlines Refund of $400 + $200 credit We flew to Florida in March to visit family.

Frugal 100

Frugal June Flights CD 100

Family Balance Sheet

AUGUST 11, 2016

Start Saving for your Emergency Fund TODAY! If you are part of 70% of Generation X that has less than $1000 in personal savings account, start saving today for your emergency fund, whether it is the starter $1000 emergency fund that Dave Ramsey promotes, or it is 3-6 months of expenses. Where We Stand.

Emergency Fund 100

Emergency Fund Money Finance Debt 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 4, 2013

Money is taken from my connected personal line of credit, and I am charged a $5 fee, plus interest until the small loan is repaid. If I didn’t have that line of credit connected to my checking account , though, the consequences would be different. My other stopgap is the personal line of credit.

Emergency Fund 243

Emergency Fund Money Bills Credit Cards 243

Saving Cents With Sense

MAY 26, 2014

Income should include all funds from paychecks, government assistance, annuity payments and so forth. Build a Budget & Emergency Fund. Cut out unnecessary spending and use that money to build an emergency fund. When it comes to contributing additional money to this fund, explore all your options.

Emergency Fund 71

Emergency Fund Goals 2008 Debt 71

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

I’ve gotten into the habit of logging on to my bank account and credit card accounts when I first wake up and open the computer. Knowing what your balances are (ie, how much you have in your account or owe on your credit card) is key to intuitively knowing when you may need to be a bit more frugal.

Making 192

Making Emergency Fund Saving Debt 192

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 30, 2013

Some of the items that you should have available to you during an emergency include: Cash. Credit card with an adequate limit. Financial contact numbers for banks, credit issuers, insurance companies, and others. You can augment with other emergency sources as well.

Emergency Fund 211

Emergency Fund Job Loss Transportation Staying Warm 211

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 4, 2011

Nathan Richardson from ComplexSearch.com presents What’s a Good Credit Score? Philip Taylor from PT Money Personal Finance presents The Best Gas Rewards Credit Cards–June 2011. Ben from Money Smart Life provides Credit Card Bonus Comparison Charts so you can make the best decision. I totally agree.

Personal Finance 240

Personal Finance Finance Family Debt 240

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 15, 2014

If something substantial suddenly happens, we do have an emergency fund to cover it, but now I’ve been given a warning that our van will need some major service in about a year. The goal is to identify the need before something breaks down, so you are not caught off guard without the funds. How will you pay for the item?

Finance 100

Finance Organic Organization Emergency Fund 100

Family Balance Sheet

MARCH 19, 2014

We didn’t have credit card debt, we paid off our car notes early, and the interest rate on the student loan was at a low 2.75%, so we thought we were doing okay. We thought credit card debt wasn’t very smart, but a car loan? But Dave Ramsey’s view of debt is very different. That’s a necessity.

Debt 100

Debt Money Emergency Fund Goals 100

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

About $52,000 of that $147K was consumer debt (credit cards, a student loan, a car loan, a home improvement loan, etc.) We just wanted to pay off our credit cards, which seemed like a huge task since we’d struggled with it for years. Building an emergency fund also helps enormously. Get creative.

Debt 236

Debt Debt Free Pay Off Debt Financial Goals 236

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 2, 2017

Maureen eliminated $79,000 of credit card and student loan debt less than 3 years. Chris and his wife made a financial goal to switch to an all cash lifestyle, instead of relying on credit cards. They compared their cash months to the months that they used credit cards and were blown away by the results.

Financial Goals 100

Financial Goals Goals Debt Budgeting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

My husband and I were graduate students with loans and credit card debt, and we were certain that a higher income would solve all of our problems. This means that after we take care of retirement and emergency fund contributions, and after everything else is taken care of, we have enough to do what we like.

San Francisco 248

San Francisco Emergency Fund Money Utah 248

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 26, 2014

If you have the time, you can open a Swagbucks account and search the internet for points that can be traded in for gift cards, or you can take advantage of bank cash bonus offers if you open a credit card or checking account. You can also try taking surveys.

Holiday 169

Holiday Emergency Fund Homemade Eating Out 169

Saving With Shellie

NOVEMBER 29, 2013

Just in time to pay your credit card bill from Christmas When I took advantage of this offer a while back I just put $10 in the account. Then I used the card at Sonic for Happy Hour 5 different times. Capital One makes it easy to transfer money back and forth between our credit union.

Emergency Fund 68

Emergency Fund January Credit Cards Sonic 68

For the Mommas

JANUARY 19, 2016

If you are one of the many people who have a little or a lot of debt accumulated through credit cards or other ways, use this opportunity to pay some of it back. Add to Your Emergency Fund. An emergency fund can never have too much money in it. If you have an emergency fund to add to, then add to it.

Taxes 40

Taxes Emergency Fund Debt Money 40

Saving With Shellie

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Now $125 in free money will come in really handy when it comes time to pay your credit card bill from Christmas! ING makes it easy to transfer money back and forth between our credit union. We have quite a few: Checking, Savings, Vacation Account, Stan’s Business Account, Little J’s savings account, Emergency Fund.

ING Direct 58

ING Direct Emergency Fund Savings Account Credit Cards 58

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 8, 2018

Many years ago, our cash flow sucked, we put Christmas on a credit card, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for a large tax bill. If they are, you can consider putting the extra funds into an emergency fund, pay off a credit card, or save for another financial goal.

Budgeting 133

Budgeting Budget Financial Goals Goals 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 21, 2012

” Jacob from Dwindling Debt asks Do Overdraft Chargers Affect Your Credit. Glen from Credit Card Smarts shares how to Use a Credit Card to Build Your Credit History Fast. Specifically, how important emergency fund planning was for a couple with a veterinary emergency at their home.”

Personal Finance 219

Personal Finance Finance Debt Money 219

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 26, 2016

Having that emergency fund to keep on paying for the utilities when you lose your job, or for buying the new furnace when the old one gives out may save you from using high interest debt, such as credit cards or title or payday loans to finance your day to day needs. Saving first can help you avoid usury interest rates.

Money 124

Money Saving Money Lowes Grandchildren 124

Finally Frugal

JANUARY 17, 2011

I know I'll put this on my credit card (and immediately pay it off, of course), though I'm hemming and hawing about whether to take it out of my fairly healthy emergency fund (is it really an emergency if I could have prevented it by simply taking the car to MY mechanic weeks or months ago?) Bad, bad, bad.

Emergency Fund 45

Emergency Fund Debt Cars Car 45

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Money Talks Coaching: Finding Your Emergency Fund – I hear you saying “I know emergency funds are important, but how am I supposed to save money when I can’t even pay my bills?” Today I’m going to talk about getting those emergency funds going. krantcents: How Will You Measure Your Life?

November 188

November 2011 Personal Finance Finance 188

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 20, 2012

Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio – This approach looks at your debt levels, including housing debts, loans, car payments and credit card repayments. It’s also a good idea to know that you’ve got an emergency fund buffer in reserve for those unexpected expenses that will inevitably crop up.

Money 186

Money Home Debt Buy 186

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

I wasn’t comfortable keeping only $1,000 in an emergency fund with two little ones and just one income, so we didn’t follow that part of his plan. We also continued using debit and credit cards (paid in full multiple times per month) for the convenience of tracking our expenses online.

Debt Free 100

Debt Free Debt Financial Goals Budgeting 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 15, 2011

Personal Finance Whiz : What Is An Emergency Fund? One of the major components of being financially fit is to have an emergency fund. Money Reasons: Why I Got An American Express Blue Cash Card MR loves reward credit cards. Read his take on this great rewards card.

October 200

October 2011 Finance Personal Finance 200

Finally Frugal

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Unfortunately, my credit card bill has now expanded to match the frustration I was feeling last week as I cleaned up the floor multiple times. I can afford to pay $500 at the veterinarian because I still have an emergency fund. After tests and more tests, they still don't know why she was power-vomiting last week.

Emergency Fund 45

Emergency Fund Bills Cat Credit Cards 45

Family Balance Sheet

AUGUST 11, 2014

The debt included overdraft protection, mattress, car, and a credit card (post divorce stress spending, clothes to accommodate the yo yo diets and weight for 2 years, a trip to Disney World & I’m sure several things that I don’t remember because I was spending without a plan). How much debt did you pay off?

Debt Free 235

Debt Free Debt Mom Goals 235

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 20, 2017

medical bills, a small credit card, both of our cars, and student loans. We tackled our small credit card balance, then our. emergency fund, so we started throwing what little extra we had straight. First, we will save our six-month emergency fund. How long did. it take you? We are debt.

Debt 100

Debt Debt Free Friends And Family Sale Budgeting 100