Budget Archives - Making Sense Of Cents

The Best Ways To Save Money This Holiday Season

December 11, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you ready for this year's holiday shopping season? Did you know that the average person buys around $900 worth of gifts over the holidays?

It's December, so you may have some spending to do still.

But, you don't need to spend that much!

There are plenty of ways to save money over the holidays, and even get cash back for your spending.

The holidays can be expensive, but they don't have to be if you are mindful of how you spend and save for the holidays.

The first step I recommend taking is setting a budget for your holiday shopping.

Completing this important step will allow you to analyze your holiday spending so that you can spend less money and not go into any unnecessary holiday debt. [Read more…]

How we’ve saved $130,000 for our children’s education fund in 9 years

December 6, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you have children? Do you think you might have children someday? If the answer is yes, then you may be wondering about college costs. Here's an article from a reader who has saved $130,000 for their children's education fund in 9 years. Enjoy!

College education keeps getting more and more expensive. Many (not all) higher paying jobs require a post-secondary education of some sort.

Saving money for your kids will give them a great head start in life. It will also reduce the burden on you when it comes time to help them out!

Today, I am going to tell you how we've saved $130k for our children's education fund in 9 years.

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About Mr Fundamental

I am 39 years old and a computer engineer. My wife, Mrs Fundamental, and I live in Canada with our three lovely children.

We have a 9 year-old daughter, and 7 year-old boy/girl twins. My wife is an amazing stay-at-home mom. As a result, this has saved us huge amounts in day-care expenses over the years. [Read more…]

Do you need travel medical insurance if you travel long-term?

December 2, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

The following is a sponsored partnership with SafetyWing travel medical insurance. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been traveling full-time for several years now.

While before it was mainly in the US by RV, and due to laziness, I had never looked into travel medical insurance.

I just always thought that I was fine.

Almost invincible – like nothing bad would happen to me while traveling!

However, lately, I have been hearing horror stories from friends, of those who travel and have had accidents and/or medical emergencies while traveling. Due to that, I recently started looking into the best travel medical insurance.

We are about to leave the U.S. on our sailboat, and travel health insurance is something that we desperately need. [Read more…]

Everything You Need To Know About How To Build Credit

November 18, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to learn how to build credit?

While you might be intimidated, it doesn’t have to be hard!

I learned how to build credit at 18 by opening a credit card offer that came in the mail. My first credit card had a small limit around $300.

I never maxed it out, and there were really no benefits. But, it didn’t have a monthly fee, and it helped me learn how to build credit.

My credit score is now over 800 and considered excellent.

I don't rely on my credit score and credit history, but I know that it impacts my life in many different areas — from insurance, to loans, to my cell phone bill. [Read more…]

Can Buying Things Really Make You A Happier Person?

November 11, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 13 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Have you ever bought something thinking that it would improve your mood?

I'm sure you have. In fact, we probably all have!

When I was younger, I used to have a crazy spending problem. I would either go out to eat or spend money on clothing after a stressful day at work.

I would tell myself that I deserved it for having such a bad day.

But then, the bad days happened over and over again.

Instead of trying to find the root of the problem, I would simply spend money that I absolutely did not have.

While I didn’t go into credit card debt, I was close to it. I spent money on things I definitely didn’t need, and this was causing me to live in a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. [Read more…]

How To Be More Productive: 17 Tips To Help You Live A Better Life

November 4, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 19 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you wanting to learn how to be productive?

Are you feeling like you aren't as productive as you usually are? Or, perhaps life is really busy right now and you want to be able to manage it all better.

Many people struggle with how to be productive. We all have lots of things to do and sometimes we can accomplish them all, and other times it is very difficult.

I go through productivity spurts.

At times, I feel like I can accomplish anything and everything, and other days I don't even know what (if anything) I did all day.

This is an area that I am constantly working on, and perhaps you are too.

Sometimes I am distracted by so many different things that it has caused me to waste a huge amount of time. Therefore, I have not been able to live in the moment like I would really like to.

[Read more…]

Sallie Mae Ignite℠ Credit Card – For Where You’re Headed

November 4, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sallie Mae Cash Back Credit Cards for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello!

Are you a current student or a new graduate? And, are you looking for a new credit card? [Read more…]

About Mr Fundamental

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