Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 2/28

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Over the weekend I had a towing receiver installed on our new vehicle.  I need the receiver for the storage basket we use on our trips to Florida.  After skipping last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, we’re once again planning a beach trip this year.   Many people in our vacation group have been vaccinated, and things are relatively open in Florida.  Although quite frankly, we plan to stick to the rental house and the beach (the house is right on the beach) to minimize contact with others. We purchased a no-worries cancellation policy so we’re keeping an eye on […] Read more »

5 Home Maintenance Tips That Will Save You Money in the Future

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Did you know that maintaining your home well can actually save you money? That’s right! When you take the extra time and effort to keep up with your home’s appliances, features, and structure, you’re actually taking preventative measures from larger damages and problems arising. Getting ahead of these issues with routine maintenance will save you from spending hundreds or even thousands on repair or replacement costs. These are five of the easiest and most rewarding home maintenance and prevention tips you can start doing today. 1. HVAC Maintenance  Every six months or so, you should have a professional come and […] Read more »

4 Ways Couples Handle Discretionary Funds

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Over the weekend I showed my wife a video of a new piece of equipment I hoped to eventually add to our home gym. The object of my desire had previously been mentioned, so she asked me why I hadn’t purchased it yet. I stated the reason was we hadn’t had a serious conversation about me spending $200. I didn’t feel comfortable making a purchase of that size without discussing it and making sure it fit into our spending plan. Both parties in a relationship deserve to spend discretionary funds on things they want. Cooperation is required to ensure both […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 2/20/21

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It has been cooooooold outside the last few weeks. We’ve been pretty spoiled so far this year in the Midwest as we’ve had mild weather and no really big snowstorms.  Another benefit of such weather is monthly utility bills have been less than usual for this time of year.  That luck ran out at the beginning of February when temps took a dip.  For an entire week, temps struggled to get above zero (Fahrenheit).  I’m guessing next month’s utility bills will reflect that.  The good news is Spring is just around the corner! Fist pump for low winter utility bills, […] Read more »

Why I’m Financing New Furniture

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It all started with me pointing at a small rip in our couch worn with 17 years of use. I told my wife the next home related item we should save for and replace was the furniture in our living room. Two days later I found myself filling out an application for a 24 month, zero percent interest financing offer to order a couch, love seat and recliner combination. The obvious intent of my statement to my wife was to begin saving money. When enough funds had been stockpiled, we would go shopping for furniture. After some investigation and discussion, […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 2/12/21

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It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend, as if you didn’t already know.  Polls show that despite the pandemic, Americans are planning to spend more than ever on their significant other. The pandemic may actually be fueling the increase in spending because many have more discretionary funds due to lockdowns.  My wife has instructed me more than once that I am not to buy her flowers.  We do have plans to go out to eat for a special Love Day meal at one of her favorite restaurants.  Outside of that, we’ve both agreed that the best use of our funds right now […] Read more »

Successful Budgeting Requires Looking Ahead

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Looking at the calendar, I knew my wife and I had to do some extra planning during our next budget talk. Our budget cycle runs bi-monthly because that’s how I get paid. Looking at the 2021 calendar, I get paid on January 29th, and then again on February 15th. In between those two paydays are three weekends. We normally split the discretionary funds for a pay period between two weekends, but just how the calendar laid out in this instance, we have three. This situation requires us to look ahead, and plan ahead. Life is full of scenarios just like […] Read more »

3 Ways to Overcome Small Business Debt

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Businesses, just like people, occasionally take on debt to cover key expenses. Indeed, many small business owners take out loans and accumulate debt to pay for long-term expenses or particularly costly projects. Unfortunately, some businesses, just like some people, struggle to manage their loans effectively and overcome debt. If this situation sounds familiar, then don’t worry. It is possible to overcome business debt and build a successful company. And these three tips will help you accomplish just that. Check them out here: Speak to a Professional Contrary to popular belief, not every business leader is a financial expert. Rather, some […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 2/5/2021

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NFL football is my favorite sport to watch, therefore The Super Bowl is one of my favorite events. Normally I’m getting together with friends for the big game, either at my home or somewhere else.  This year, my wife and I will be winging it alone.  Literally, since I will need to have Buffalo wings as part of the game day food.  See what I did there?  It’ll be different, but I’m sure I’ll still enjoy the game. After all, my wife is my favorite person, and she loves football just as much as I do. Fist pump for The […] Read more »

Not Everyone Has Hassle Free Return Policies Like Costco and Amazon

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I’ve become accustomed to the hassle free exchange policy of the most popular retail giants. Returning something ordered from Amazon is as easy as bringing it to the nearest UPS store, scanning a QR code and having the refund sitting in my Amazon account by the time I get home. I once returned an unused air mattress I decided I didn’t want to Costco nearly a year after I purchased it. No questions asked. But not all retailers are the same. Consumers need to research  the return policy of unknown retailers, especially if ordering online. I was reminded of this […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 1/29

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With the reopening of restaurants in Minnesota, last weekend my wife and I went out to dinner with some friends.  It was fun, and the food was great but eating out can be expensive. This weekend will look much different.  Tonight, my wife and I purchased Alfredo sauce from Olive Garden and made pasta at home.  A normal Olive Garden visit would cost close to $100, but at home it’s a fraction of the cost.  Saturday night I’ll be grilling steaks, again at a fraction of the cost of going to a steakhouse.   We may not be going out, […] Read more »

How to Prevent Big, Long-Term Financial Problems

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financial problems

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for a person to fall into serious financial trouble these days. One or two ill-fated decisions can put even the most responsible and resourceful individuals behind the eight-ball for years to come. As such, it’s important to understand how to prevent big, long-term financial problems from occurring in the first place. This way, you can ensure you never experience serious economic strain. No matter your current financial status, these tips will help you manage your money in the short and long-term: Research Big Purchases Carefully Though it sounds simple enough, the reality is that big […] Read more »

4 Bad Spending Habits You Should Break ASAP

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spending habits

Solving money problems doesn’t happen overnight. No matter how carefully you plan a budget, you still have to follow through on your plan day after day in order to save money and improve your financial situation. As such, it’s crucial not only to build good financial habits but to break poor spending patterns as well. Learning how to avoid and prevent unnecessary purchases over a long period of time can go a long way toward helping you reach financial stability. To that end, here are four bad spending practices that you should strive to break right away: Procrastination Putting off […] Read more »

Combining Money Saving Techniques In A Single Night Out

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We share a lot of great money saving tips here on Enemy Of Debt. The goal is to enable readers to save money in their day to day life. Other personal finance blogs aim to do the same. Individually these tips will save money, but imagine if several could be combined into one frugal event. That’s exactly what my wife did with some friends over the weekend. Restaurant Gift Cards from Costco My wife and I planned to go out to dinner with two other couples. The agreed upon restaurant sold $100 gift cards at Costco for a price of […] Read more »