Well, the first quarter of the New Year has come and gone. I don't know about you, but I heard my fill of talk about becoming a better you, making resolutions, and all the normal tropes of moving from one year to another. But really? How is December 31st really that different from January 1st? Our lives, problems, or mindsets do not magically change at midnight. So, how do you make real lasting financial changes in your life? Let me define...
For some reason I am reminded of a time in my life when I worked a job I truly HATED. The job simply wasn’t right for my personality, experience or skillset. Honestly, when I interviewed for the position, I saw it as an opportunity to stretch my skills, and do something new, but it turned out to be the most frustrating, draining and joyless job I have ever had. Those were dark days for me at work, and slowly, it began to leak into my...
January has been SOME KIND OF MONTH for me. There is so much going on and I feel as though none of it is getting done. However, you can't always go by how you "feel". I actually have gotten a lot done. Some were big steps, but most were small baby steps getting me started down the right path. I had to remember not to underestimate them. A small baby step in the right direction, is still a step forward. That's just as true with personal...
It’s an honest question. To clarify, I am not referring to a physical injury, but instead, us wounding ourselves financially with questionable decisions. So I will ask again… Are your thoughts and behaviors causing you financial pain? What do I mean? Well, are your thoughts and/or behaviors.... H: Hindering You created a budget and live by it. Things are going smoothly, and then six months, a year into your plan, you begin to...
Back in August U.S. News sent me an email with an interesting subject line. “Treat Every Purchase Like an Investment” OMG! What great clickbait! The email contained various article links discussing credit, loans, budgeting and etc. However, the title is what stuck with me the most. It made me think. What if I treated regular everyday purchases like I was investing? How would I shop differently? That is an intriguing thought,...
College and other higher education can be costly. We see in the media the debates regarding student loan forgiveness. However, if you want or need to further your education, it will be up you to figure out a way to pay for it. College, and technical schools are true life-long, high dollar, investments. You want to get the most for your money, without overpaying or going into mountains of debt. This week we review potential ways...
...Warren Buffett Yahoo! Finance featured an post by Serah Louis about billionaire (yep, BILLIONAIRE) Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in the world and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is known for both his investing savvy and financial frugality. Mr. Buffett doesn’t fit into the standard clichéd billionaire mold. Even with a $100-plus billion net worth, he keeps a “regular kind of guy” persona which makes him easy to relate...
Here in Texas we are coming upon our Tax Free Holiday Weekend. For those who may be unfamiliar with the “holiday”, it is a time when the state of Texas suspends collecting sales tax from consumers on specified school related items, such as clothing, backpacks and school supplies. The primary goal for the event is to provide consumers with an added incentive to get out and back to school shop. As a parent of two boys, this hilarious, because...
