For some people, it can be incredibly difficult to discern the difference between what they want and what they need. Here is just one practical example: Let’s say someone goes to a mall to replace a broken dish. Walking through the mall, they see a shirt in the window that would go perfectly with one of their outfits. (People generally...
Unexpected expenses are, hands down, usually the biggest budget breakers out there. (An unexpected expense is anything that you did not foresee or plan for in your budget.) A clinical look at all cash flow for three full months, including all income and expenses, is one of the first exercises we conduct when working with new clients. During this time,...
Why are some of us natural savers, while others are spenders? In a way, it’s a matter of perspective. The main difference is that savers take in the big picture, while spenders only see things as they are, or as they appear to be at that moment in time. We say savers tend to have an Encompassing Perception, where spenders...
A lot of people are under the impression that having a budget, or being able to create a budget, is all they need in order to get ahead of their finances. In reality, this is not the case for most of us. People fail with their finances because money is far more emotional than any budget might suggest. It’s one...
It feels rewarding to help your children. When your adult children ask for help, they can, no doubt, be difficult to refuse. It might seem natural that you would or should help them reach certain financial goals, but when they approach you for money, you need to be careful. Obviously, every child and every situation is different: When your normally...
I was told recently about a successful lawyer who wanted to write a book called Broke on Any Budget. He selected this title because, he was broke as a law student; broke as a junior lawyer, and even after he made partner in his law firm, he was still broke. As our careers advance, so does our income. Sadly, we...
According to Yahoo News, the first Friday the 13th of each year is officially “Blame Someone Else Day.” First started by Anne Moeller of Clio, Michigan in 1982, it’s said that Anne’s alarm clock did not go off, and she overslept. As a result, she was late for appointments all day long and spent the day spreading blame and making...
Money may not be the root of all evil, but overspending can cause a whole lot of disagreement in a marriage. It’s assumed and fair to say that the less money a couple makes, the more arguments there are likely to be. If there is shopaholic in the relationship though, even top earning couples will fight about money.
There are a lot of commercials out there which attempt to position certain products and services as a substitute for discipline. Offering “fast and easy” solutions, companies will wrap your debt into a line of credit, negotiate a lower balance on your credit cards for you and help to reduce your payments.
We all know that procrastination makes us feel guilty, stressed out, and frustrated. The vast majority of us also believe that having enough to live comfortably during retirement is of paramount importance. So why do we torture ourselves and put off the important things that will help us achieve financial freedom?
« Previous Page — Next Page »
