News

It might seem tedious and easily forgettable but tracking your expenses daily can really help you save money. One of the most important things you can do when trying to get your personal finances under control is to figure out WHERE your money is going first.

If you start off by tracking your expenses each day, you’ll be able to get a better idea of where your money is going each month. Once you have tracked your spending for thirty days, multiply that by 12 and that is the amount of money that you spend in one year. Talk about an eye-opening experience!

Tips for tracking your daily expenses:

1. Keep a pocket-sized notebook with you for the entire 30 days. If you have a smart phone, you can create a new Note and track your expenses there.
2. Keep receipts from ALL of your purchases. Refer to your checkbook, online banking, ATM/debt receipts, bank statements, credit card statements and other bills you may have.
3. Record every purchase, regardless of the amount spent. (Remember the little things can really add up!)
4. Enter your daily spending totals on a spreadsheet or in a notebook at the end of every day. This will help you total everything up and the very end of the month.
5. Organization is the key to staying on top of your daily spending! Make folders and keep it all in one safe place.
6. There are new Apps for your smart phone that help track spending and keep everything together and cohesive.

Did you know that your expenses can be divided into three categories? The three categories are: fixed, variable and periodic expenses.

Fixed Expenses:

• Typically require a set payment every month, i.e. rent, loan payments, insurance, etc.

Variable Expenses:

• Amounts that vary from week to week or from month to month
• Occur on a regular basis
• Some examples are food, utility bills, entertainment, etc.

Periodic Expenses:

• These can be fixed or variable
• Do not occur on a regular basis
• Include such things as quarterly taxes, gifts, clothing, impulse buys, etc.

Tracking your expenses daily can save you money but it can also help you set financial goals for the future. If you know exactly where your money is going every month, you can easily see where some cut backs and compromises can be made. It will also give you a good outlook on your spending habits and those impulse buys will stick out like little red flags.

Try it for 30-60 days and let us know what you’ve found out about your spending habits and how much money you were able to save. We liked to hear about your success stories!

Tips

It might seem tedious and easily forgettable but tracking your expenses daily can really help you save money. One of the most important things you can do when trying to get your personal finances under control is to figure out WHERE your money is going first.

If you start off by tracking your expenses each day, you’ll be able to get a better idea of where your money is going each month. Once you have tracked your spending for thirty days, multiply that by 12 and that is the amount of money that you spend in one year. Talk about an eye-opening experience!

Tips for tracking your daily expenses:

1. Keep a pocket-sized notebook with you for the entire 30 days. If you have a smart phone, you can create a new Note and track your expenses there.
2. Keep receipts from ALL of your purchases. Refer to your checkbook, online banking, ATM/debt receipts, bank statements, credit card statements and other bills you may have.
3. Record every purchase, regardless of the amount spent. (Remember the little things can really add up!)
4. Enter your daily spending totals on a spreadsheet or in a notebook at the end of every day. This will help you total everything up and the very end of the month.
5. Organization is the key to staying on top of your daily spending! Make folders and keep it all in one safe place.
6. There are new Apps for your smart phone that help track spending and keep everything together and cohesive.

Did you know that your expenses can be divided into three categories? The three categories are: fixed, variable and periodic expenses.

Fixed Expenses:

• Typically require a set payment every month, i.e. rent, loan payments, insurance, etc.

Variable Expenses:

• Amounts that vary from week to week or from month to month
• Occur on a regular basis
• Some examples are food, utility bills, entertainment, etc.

Periodic Expenses:

• These can be fixed or variable
• Do not occur on a regular basis
• Include such things as quarterly taxes, gifts, clothing, impulse buys, etc.

Tracking your expenses daily can save you money but it can also help you set financial goals for the future. If you know exactly where your money is going every month, you can easily see where some cut backs and compromises can be made. It will also give you a good outlook on your spending habits and those impulse buys will stick out like little red flags.

Try it for 30-60 days and let us know what you’ve found out about your spending habits and how much money you were able to save. We liked to hear about your success stories!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. This day is all about undying love and showing that special someone how much you care. Show your sweetie you love them while keeping your bank account in check. That is easier said than done, right? Total holiday spending is expected to reach $15.7 billion this year according to the NRF (National Retail Federation).

We all seem to be expecting more this year. You can’t walk down the street, ride on a bus or catch a taxi cab without advertisements enticing you every second of the day. It’s so easy to put aside your financial woes when love is in the air. Nevertheless, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your true love happy.

Here are some helpful tips to stay frugal while expressing your feelings:

1. Do a chore or task that your significant other doesn’t like doing. Vacuum the house, do the dishes, take out the garbage. Anything that you know they don’t like to do, do it for them. Make sure you do a thorough job as well. This little gesture goes a long way to touching their heart.
2. Create your own one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day card. Instead of going to your local convenience store and just picking out any old card, make one yourself. This can be done on the computer or by hand. Be creative and let the love flow into creating that special card.
3. Have an intimate dinner made by you. It can be hard to find a restaurant on Valentine’s Day that isn’t over crowded with a really long wait. Why not make dinner yourself at home? If you can’t cook, order out from a favorite restaurant. Create the mood by lighting candles. This is a wonderful way to show how much you care.
4. Find your favorite picture as a couple and put that picture on an item for them. You can add pictures to just about anything these days. Whether it’s a coffee mug, mouse pad, calendar, t-shirt, ornament, etc. It’s really easy to create and order it online. It’s such a personal and thoughtful gift that they will cherish for a long time.
5. Make a burned CD or create a Playlist on their MP3 player of favorite songs. Be sure to include the song that you both think of as “our song”. Use your computer or drawing skills to make a custom cover for the CD case.
6. Design your own flower arrangement. When you buy pre-arranged flower bouquets, you could be paying double what you’d normally pay. Save money by buying individual flowers, a lovely vase, and do the arranging yourself. Remember to cut the stems at an angle and the flowers will last longer. Another tip is to put a penny in the bottom of the vase. The penny acts as a natural fungicide and will help the flowers stay vibrant.
7. Bake a cake or favorite dessert. Make something by hand or use your talents to create something unique for him or her. If you like to write, maybe write them a poem. If you are a musician, write or sing a song. If you work with wood or metal try creating a memory box. Whatever skills or talents you have, use them to make something truly special for them.

If you put a lot of thought or time into a gift, it means so much more to that person. You don’t have to buy expensive jewelry or 12 dozen long-stem roses to show that someone you really care. This day is about expressing your love and feelings. Just being with that person on this special day could be enough for them. There’s no reason to break your budget and overspend on this holiday.

What are your Valentine’s Day Plans? Do you think you might have gone a little overboard on the planning and spending? We’d like to hear your thoughts and ideas!

Debt Management

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. This day is all about undying love and showing that special someone how much you care. Show your sweetie you love them while keeping your bank account in check. That is easier said than done, right? Total holiday spending is expected to reach $15.7 billion this year according to the NRF (National Retail Federation).

We all seem to be expecting more this year. You can’t walk down the street, ride on a bus or catch a taxi cab without advertisements enticing you every second of the day. It’s so easy to put aside your financial woes when love is in the air. Nevertheless, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your true love happy.

Here are some helpful tips to stay frugal while expressing your feelings:

1. Do a chore or task that your significant other doesn’t like doing. Vacuum the house, do the dishes, take out the garbage. Anything that you know they don’t like to do, do it for them. Make sure you do a thorough job as well. This little gesture goes a long way to touching their heart.
2. Create your own one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day card. Instead of going to your local convenience store and just picking out any old card, make one yourself. This can be done on the computer or by hand. Be creative and let the love flow into creating that special card.
3. Have an intimate dinner made by you. It can be hard to find a restaurant on Valentine’s Day that isn’t over crowded with a really long wait. Why not make dinner yourself at home? If you can’t cook, order out from a favorite restaurant. Create the mood by lighting candles. This is a wonderful way to show how much you care.
4. Find your favorite picture as a couple and put that picture on an item for them. You can add pictures to just about anything these days. Whether it’s a coffee mug, mouse pad, calendar, t-shirt, ornament, etc. It’s really easy to create and order it online. It’s such a personal and thoughtful gift that they will cherish for a long time.
5. Make a burned CD or create a Playlist on their MP3 player of favorite songs. Be sure to include the song that you both think of as “our song”. Use your computer or drawing skills to make a custom cover for the CD case.
6. Design your own flower arrangement. When you buy pre-arranged flower bouquets, you could be paying double what you’d normally pay. Save money by buying individual flowers, a lovely vase, and do the arranging yourself. Remember to cut the stems at an angle and the flowers will last longer. Another tip is to put a penny in the bottom of the vase. The penny acts as a natural fungicide and will help the flowers stay vibrant.
7. Bake a cake or favorite dessert. Make something by hand or use your talents to create something unique for him or her. If you like to write, maybe write them a poem. If you are a musician, write or sing a song. If you work with wood or metal try creating a memory box. Whatever skills or talents you have, use them to make something truly special for them.

If you put a lot of thought or time into a gift, it means so much more to that person. You don’t have to buy expensive jewelry or 12 dozen long-stem roses to show that someone you really care. This day is about expressing your love and feelings. Just being with that person on this special day could be enough for them. There’s no reason to break your budget and overspend on this holiday.

What are your Valentine’s Day Plans? Do you think you might have gone a little overboard on the planning and spending? We’d like to hear your thoughts and ideas!

Credit Counseling

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. This day is all about undying love and showing that special someone how much you care. Show your sweetie you love them while keeping your bank account in check. That is easier said than done, right? Total holiday spending is expected to reach $15.7 billion this year according to the NRF (National Retail Federation).

We all seem to be expecting more this year. You can’t walk down the street, ride on a bus or catch a taxi cab without advertisements enticing you every second of the day. It’s so easy to put aside your financial woes when love is in the air. Nevertheless, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your true love happy.

Here are some helpful tips to stay frugal while expressing your feelings:

1. Do a chore or task that your significant other doesn’t like doing. Vacuum the house, do the dishes, take out the garbage. Anything that you know they don’t like to do, do it for them. Make sure you do a thorough job as well. This little gesture goes a long way to touching their heart.
2. Create your own one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day card. Instead of going to your local convenience store and just picking out any old card, make one yourself. This can be done on the computer or by hand. Be creative and let the love flow into creating that special card.
3. Have an intimate dinner made by you. It can be hard to find a restaurant on Valentine’s Day that isn’t over crowded with a really long wait. Why not make dinner yourself at home? If you can’t cook, order out from a favorite restaurant. Create the mood by lighting candles. This is a wonderful way to show how much you care.
4. Find your favorite picture as a couple and put that picture on an item for them. You can add pictures to just about anything these days. Whether it’s a coffee mug, mouse pad, calendar, t-shirt, ornament, etc. It’s really easy to create and order it online. It’s such a personal and thoughtful gift that they will cherish for a long time.
5. Make a burned CD or create a Playlist on their MP3 player of favorite songs. Be sure to include the song that you both think of as “our song”. Use your computer or drawing skills to make a custom cover for the CD case.
6. Design your own flower arrangement. When you buy pre-arranged flower bouquets, you could be paying double what you’d normally pay. Save money by buying individual flowers, a lovely vase, and do the arranging yourself. Remember to cut the stems at an angle and the flowers will last longer. Another tip is to put a penny in the bottom of the vase. The penny acts as a natural fungicide and will help the flowers stay vibrant.
7. Bake a cake or favorite dessert. Make something by hand or use your talents to create something unique for him or her. If you like to write, maybe write them a poem. If you are a musician, write or sing a song. If you work with wood or metal try creating a memory box. Whatever skills or talents you have, use them to make something truly special for them.

If you put a lot of thought or time into a gift, it means so much more to that person. You don’t have to buy expensive jewelry or 12 dozen long-stem roses to show that someone you really care. This day is about expressing your love and feelings. Just being with that person on this special day could be enough for them. There’s no reason to break your budget and overspend on this holiday.

What are your Valentine’s Day Plans? Do you think you might have gone a little overboard on the planning and spending? We’d like to hear your thoughts and ideas!