Tag Archives: personal finance

Financial Topics That Should Be Covered In school

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Children are smart. They are exposed to more and more things that we did not worry about as children. One of those things is finances. It is more important than ever for a child to have a good financial mindset by the time they exit high school and enter college. The more financially savvy they are, the less of a chance they will incur large amounts of debt and the more likely they are to lead a more financially secure life. Here are a few financial topics that should be covered in school to help Read more [...]

Practice Sustainable Finance

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Today people are more environmentally conscious than they were 10, 20, or even 30 years ago. Many companies are keeping track of their carbon footprint and offering more environmentally friendly packaging, services, and products. It’s a way for them and us to help preserve our environment. It’s not just a trend. For some, it is a lifestyle. And while people are moving to buy reusable bottles and ditching paper bags, what about finances? If you’re trying to figure out ways to make sure you practice Read more [...]

Simplify: 7 Areas to Reduce Spending

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Recently I mentioned that I was reading 7 Days of Simplicity by Jen Hatmaker. In this book, the author explores seven different areas of life to simplify. Simplifying in each of these areas can also reduce spending. Here's a closer look at how I can apply this to my own life: 1. Reduce Spending in the Kitchen It's appropriate that the book starts off with kitchen spending. After all, I spend a lot of money on food. If I can reduce spending in my kitchen, then I'll save myself a lot of money. Read more [...]

Should I Go Back to Using a Checkbook?

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A book that I'm reading makes a pretty solid argument for a return to the days of using checkbooks. I haven't written checks in well over a decade. Would it make any sense to go back to using a checkbook? The Inspiration for The Idea I've been reading "7 Days of Simplicity: A Season of Living Lightly" by Jen Hatmaker. It's a book about simplifying your life in a variety of ways. In the chapter on simplifying your spending, Hatmaker makes a good point. She notes that back when you had to write Read more [...]

5 Money Mistakes I Made This Month

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I think it's important to be honest with ourselves when it comes to our money. Moreover, it's important to take stock of our personal finances regularly. Doing so allows us to nip problems in the bud. We become accountable to ourselves, which helps us financially. Therefore, here are five money mistakes I want to own up to from the past month: 1. I Forgot to Review My Subscribe and Save I've signed up to receive a variety of items through Amazon's Subscribe and Save program. Overall, this benefits Read more [...]

Money in the Year of the Ox

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Today is Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Ox. More specifically, it's the Year of the Metal Ox. It's always interesting to take a look at astrology to get some insight into personal finance. Whether or not it's "true" isn't really the point. Instead, you can glean helpful tips and ideas from this type of information. So, what can we learn about money in the year of the ox? What Is The Year of The Metal Ox? Every year in the Chinese calendar is represented Read more [...]

One Simple Step to Simplifying My Taxes

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I've worked as a freelance writer / independent contractor for well over a decade. Some years I do better than others with money management. Which in turn means that some years it's a lot easier than others to complete my taxes. At the start of 2021, I've made a super simple change that will simplify my taxes immensely. Operating as a Sole Proprietor Without a Business License People often ask me what my business legal structure is. Am I registered as an LLC or DBA? Do I have an Employee Identification Read more [...]

Getting Real: How My Mental Health Impacts My Finances

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I'm going to be really honest with you because I think it's important to do so: I struggle with depression. It's chronic, recurring, and although it's well-treated, I'll probably deal with it off and on for the rest of my life. I share this because it's an important part of my money story. And because I know that a lot of you out there have stress, trauma, and mental health issues that might affect your finances, too. My Mental Health and My Money Can't Be Separated I used to really beat myself Read more [...]

What Are the Alternatives to Filing Bankruptcy?

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If you're overwhelmed by debt then you might think about filing for bankruptcy. This is a viable option for many people. However, it deeply affects you financial life. Therefore, people usually only turn to this option as a last resort. Before you go that route, make sure that you know the alternatives to filing bankruptcy. Find a Way to Pay Down Debt If at all possible, the best of all alternatives to filing bankruptcy is to pay down your debt. Of course, if you're looking at bankruptcy, then Read more [...]

5 Ways to Better Understand Your Money Psychology

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I have a Masters degree in psychological studies. Therefore, it's no surprise that I'm very interested in the psychology of money. The way we approach finances should be logical but many of us respond emotionally to money instead. Better understanding your own money psychology can help you better work with your finances. Here are 5 ways to better understand your relationship with money. 1. Journal About Money We all have complicated feelings about money. Uncover yours by keeping a journal about Read more [...]