Budget Archives - Page 3 of 95 - Making Sense Of Cents

13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes

October 17, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 4 Comments

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My 10 Budget Recipes roundup proved to be popular, so I'm back at it again with 13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes.

Thanksgiving isn't too far away, which means that you may be looking for some Instapot Thanksgiving side dishes.

I recently purchased my first Instapot, and will definitely be using it for Thanksgiving.

We've always had a slow cooker. I bought one about ten years ago for a whopping $14, and I've used it multiple times a week ever since.

I've definitely gotten a ton of value from that small purchase and decided to upgrade to an Instapot since my crockpot was falling apart.

If you're looking to get your own Instant Pot, I recommend checking out the one I purchased – Instant Pot 3 Qt 6-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, and Warmer.

If you want easy Instant Pot recipes that are budget friendly and delicious, don't worry, it is possible! The Instantpot Thanksgiving side dishes included in this roundup are affordable, easy, and you may already have many of the ingredients in your home! [Read more…]

Pay Off Debt And Break Free Of The Debt Cycle – You Can Do It!

October 15, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 15 Comments

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Pay Off Debt And Break Free Of The Debt Cycle – You Can Do It! #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #howtolivedebtfree Do you want to pay off debt and learn how to live debt free?

Do you feel like you are stuck in a cycle of debt? Are you able to pay off your debt, only to fall back into it shortly after? That is what a debt cycle is, and many people fall into this cycle and can't seem to get out.

Falling into debt over and over again can lead to insane amounts of stress, unhappiness, sadness, and feelings of hopelessness. No one wants to experience these feelings.

The thing is that there are lots of reasons for why you may have debt, like student loans, a mortgage, etc. In some ways, that kind of debt can be good, as it can be an investment in your future. Going to college can lead to a higher earning potential, and a home can add to your net worth. [Read more…]

The Best Hacks On How To Save On Online Shopping

October 14, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

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The following is a sponsored partnership with JoinSavvy.com.

As many of you know, we got rid of our Jeep a few months ago. We've been riding our bikes and walking everywhere, which has been great.

However, that also means that we are ordering things online more than ever, because going to the store and carrying stuff back isn't the easiest, especially when you are outfitting a boat and getting ready to leave (we're ordering ALL the things, haha).

While I'm not new to ordering things online, I am always looking to save as much money as I can. Because, after all, who just wants to waste money?

Not me!

If you're like most people in today's world, you're probably shopping online a lot as well. So, these tips should be especially useful to many, many people! [Read more…]

Why it makes sense to invest with friends

October 8, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This is a collaborative post in partnership with Voleo.

With over-the-top movies like The Wolf of Wall Street and the Big Short, it’s easy to see why many people are intimidated by investing. What most people don’t realize is that you don’t have to work in finance to be a great investor. By keeping up with industry news and doing a bit of research, stock investing can be an exciting and rewarding side hustle. If you’re thinking about trading stocks, forming an investment club with friends could be a perfect way to get your financial future off to a flying start. Here’s our take on why it makes to invest with friends.

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While you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand investing, it does take some time to learn the ins and outs of stock markets and stock selection. This is where the combined resources of a group can be incredibly useful. Individuals who share the time-consuming legwork of researching potential investments can be of great value to the group as a whole. The vast amount of information gathered and the different perspectives and insights shared within the group are bound to provide a faster learning process than doing it alone. [Read more…]

You CAN Reach Retirement! Avoid These Top 5 Retirement Mistakes

October 8, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 34 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Have you ever checked in to see if you are on track for retirement? I know this can feel like a daunting task, but preparing yourself for retirement can help you save more and avoid common retirement mistakes.

For some, retirement means quitting their job after 40+ years, but it can also mean working towards early retirement, in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and so on.

I know that’s not for the “average” American, but by avoiding some of the retirement mistakes I will talk about today, you can start preparing for retirement at any age.

The thing about retirement is that sadly many out there are not saving enough money. In fact, according to Zacks Investment Research, 72% do not save enough for retirement each month.

Also, according to surveys done by Bankrate, 20% of people aren’t saving any money, and 61% of Americans have no idea what they will need to save for retirement.

These numbers are very alarming. [Read more…]

11 Things To Ask For A Regret Free Spending Decision

October 1, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 23 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

11 Things To Ask For A Regret Free Spending Decision #spendingdecision #howtosavemoney #moneysavingtips Think about this for a second – you’ve made a large purchase and later have a dreadful feeling when realizing that your spending decision was a huge mistake.

Sound familiar at all? I’m sure we’ve all experienced this at least once. Perhaps you don't realize for months or years later, but you eventually understand what a waste of money the item was.

Poor spending decisions like that may cause you to:

Shake your head in disappointment.
Think about more worthwhile ways to spend your money.
Regret the purchase in the first place.
Be angry or frustrated with yourself for wasting money.
Fall into debt.

And more!

However, you don't have to make that same mistake again. [Read more…]

How A Minimalist Lifestyle Can Bring You Happiness

September 26, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 41 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

How A Minimalist Lifestyle Can Bring You Happiness #MinimalistLifestyle #Minimalist #Minimalism I should start out by telling you that I haven't always been a minimalist. I used to purchase crazy amounts of clothing, random items for my home, honestly wasn’t interested in a minimalist lifestyle, and so on.

I would hoard all kinds of things, hoping that one day I would find a use for them. I actually told myself I needed those things, which lead to overspending when I should have put my money to better use.

Then, a few years ago, I realized that I had an unhealthy relationship with material things. It wasn’t just that I had too much stuff, it was that I was overspending to compensate for being unhappy with my job, among other things.

Things really started to change for the better when I quit my day job to blog full-time. And, once we decided to travel full-time, at first in an RV and now a sailboat, I’ve had to donate or give away the majority of my belongings. Getting rid of all of that stuff was hard, but now I pretty much only have the things I need to get me through the day or week ahead. [Read more…]

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