Budget Archives - Page 3 of 93 - Making Sense Of Cents

Want To Live Your Best Life? It Starts With Saving

July 23, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 32 Comments

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

Let’s get this out of the way first – saving your money is one of the best things you can do for yourself. And, the financial security that comes from learning to save your money means you’re able to pursue your passions, try new things, and jump on whatever adventure comes your way.

So, why do some people think that if you live frugally and save your money, then your life must be boring?

Because that couldn't be further from the truth!

On the other hand, many think that satisfaction and enjoyment only comes from spending money. Sure, money can help improve your life, but it’s not everything. And, if not managed well, it can lead to debt, stress, and more.

Still, there are situations when people can’t save and may have to live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. However, living a frugal life doesn’t just help you save your money, it can help you prepare for extraordinary circumstances that can lead to debt and a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle.

Learning how to save your money shouldn’t be what happens when you are out of options. It should be a lifelong practice that means you are prepared for the what-ifs, the emergencies, and a future free from the constraints of living a paycheck to paycheck life. [Read more…]

Getting A Loan To Buy A Pet Is Ridiculous

July 20, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 47 Comments

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

Getting A Loan To Buy A Pet Is Ridiculous #petfinancing #buyingapet Recently, I came across the crazy world of pet financing.

From what I found, there are many, many pet stores out there that sell puppies and kittens that let you take out pet financing on them in order to “afford them.”

Monthly payments are usually a few hundred dollars, and because so many people can't say no to a cute little puppy or kitten, they bring their new furry friend home.

However, this is a disaster because, sadly enough, too many people do not read the fine print in the pet financing terms. Also, when you consider that people are actually taking out a loan means they most likely can't afford the pet.

I had no idea that people financed animals in order to be able to purchase them, but after thinking about it – of course they do! People finance everything in this loan-happy world that we live in. [Read more…]

Can A No Spend Month Actually Help You?

July 3, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 32 Comments

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

Can A No Spend Month Actually Help You? Have you ever taken part in a no spend month?

If you're looking to learn how to save money, especially lowering your monthly spending budget, a no spend month can be a great way to do so!

Many people are in debt. In fact, the average person has some sort of debt, whether that be credit card debt, a mortgage, student loans, or something else.

We all have things we have to spend money on, and there is even some debt we knowingly take on, like student loans or a home, but many people make unnecessary purchases on a regular basis, sometimes every single day. These unnecessary purchases can lead to not being able to save money or even adding to your debt. This can negatively impact you for years, even decades, and sadly for some, your entire life.

And, this is why a no spend month can help! [Read more…]

You Wouldn’t Work For Free, Right? So, Why Do You?

June 28, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 54 Comments

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

You Wouldn't Work For Free, Right? So, Why Do You? Do you often find yourself at the end of the year with unused vacation days?

If so, then you are essentially working for free.

According to CNN, 23% of workers surveyed said they used all of their vacation days in the previous 12 months. That means that 77% of people had unused vacation days!

Also, this same survey showed that the average U.S. worker uses less than HALF of their paid days off.

So, I did some more research because I find this subject so interesting. According to CNBC, on average, American workers gave up around $604 in lost benefits by ending the year with unused vacation days and other paid time off.

I find this topic interesting because when I used to work for others, I would never use all of my paid vacation days. [Read more…]

10 Easy Homemade Snacks To Bring On Your Next Hike

June 20, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 11 Comments

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10 Easy Hiking Snacks To Make. Going on a hike soon? Here are 10 easy hiking snacks and backpacking food to make. These all look so delicious and will be a great addition for your next trip #hikingsnacks #backpackingfood

Hiking is definitely one of my favorite activities.

I love exploring new areas, going on exciting adventures, and seeing beautiful views, all while getting in a fun and enjoyable workout.

For a good hike, though, you also need hiking snacks. Whether I'm hiking, biking, or something else, I always bring a snack. Lately, I've been making more homemade hiking snacks. Homemade ones are great for a lot of reasons, and one of them is that homemade hiking snacks usually taste better and are healthier than what you may find at the store.

Plus, making them at home means you will probably even save a good amount of money. Hiking snacks at the grocery store are not cheap!

The hiking snack recipes mentioned in today's article can be great snacks for other times too – not just hiking!

Other recipe roundups to check out:

Note: If you're looking for easy weekly meal plans that are full of budget recipes, I recommend $5 Meal Plan. $5 Meal Plan is a meal planning service that sends you a delicious meal plan and shopping list every week for just $5 a month.

Here are 10 easy hiking snacks and backpacking foods to make:

[Read more…]

How Kayla Earns $10K/Month From Home as a Virtual Assistant

June 15, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 21 Comments

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

How Kayla Earns $10K/Month From Home as a Virtual Assistant Today, I want to introduce you to my friend, Kayla Sloan. Kayla is a full-time blogger, virtual assistant (VA), and project manager who earns over $10,000 per month while working from home. She is also the founder of $10K VA, her new program where she teaches exactly how you make a consistent $10,000 per month as a virtual assistant too!

Kayla used to work a full-time job as a credit analyst, earning about $2,000 per month. She was struggling to make ends meet while paying off debt, so she started a side hustle as a virtual assistant.

In our interview, she shows how she was able to grow her business from part-time to full-time and now earns 5 figures per month from the comfort of her own home. She also shares how this is a great way to make money on the side or even as a full-time career.

Check out the interview below for more information and be sure to check out Kayla’s course $10K VA to learn further about how to become a successful virtual assistant. [Read more…]

Is too much house making you house poor?

June 6, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 43 Comments

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

Is too much house making you house poor? I keep hearing stories from people who, after buying their first home, become immediately overwhelmed by the financial toll of homeownership, especially when they spend more than they can actually afford. And, when buying your first home, it can be so easy to get in over your head.

When we were in the process of buying our first home, we were given a pre-approval amount of $150,000.

If we would have bought a house for that amount, I'm sure it would have led to us being house poor, which is when you buy more house than you can actually afford. While that amount may not seem like much to some, it was more than enough to purchase a good starter home in St. Louis, where we were living at the time.

This $150,000 number seemed high to us because we were quite young, just 20 years old, and we both had mediocre jobs. Yes, we were both working full-time, but our yearly salaries put together were still very low, and I definitely do not think we should have been approved for $150,000. If I remember correctly, our annual take-home income was only around $30,000. [Read more…]

Here are 10 easy hiking snacks and backpacking foods to make:

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