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What Money Advice Would You Give Yourself If You Could Go Back in Time

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

These are lessons that I try to impress upon my son because I don’t want him to make the same mistakes I made 15 years ago. I’m trying to be a little more hands-on with my son, and talk more openly about money (which is something that didn’t happen much in my parents’ home. Money Tips'

Money 209
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The Spending Plan Mentality

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

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. Over the years, my husband and I have pretty much narrowed down our spending priorities so that we only use our money on the things that are most important to us.

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How to Make Your Budget Work for You

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

I like travel, I feel it’s important to set money aside for retirement and my son’s college education, and I like charitable giving. In fact, if you identify your values, and use them to direct your finances, you are more likely to stick with a spending plan and feel better about your financial situation at the same time.

Budgeting 218
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Are You Prepared For An Emergency?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

My son knows that there are two meeting points out (depending on whether he leaves out the front or out the back) in our neighborhood. If your emergency is strictly financial (and even if it has a physical component to it), you should be ready with a liquid emergency fund.

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How to Get into the Stock Market

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

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. My father-in-law lined up his grown sons and daughters to chip into a fund, from which he bought stock.

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Financial Success: It’s Not Always About Your Income

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

When I was younger, I used to think that a higher income was the solution to most of my financial issues. Our son was growing, and we knew we wanted to provide him with extracurricular activities that made sense for him — music and sports and scouting. However, this isn’t always the case.

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What Has Your Money Done for You Lately?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

It’s one thing to have a couple thousand dollars in an emergency fund. I also find that putting my money to work for extracurricular activities for my son, and for cultural experiences like plays and concerts, are investments in my lifestyle. Instead, you want to put that money to work for you so that you can enjoy life.

Money 200