Don’t Ignore Budget Maintenance

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When was the last time you paid attention to your budget? I don’t mean a glancing look, I mean sit down at the computer or kitchen table and really dug into it ensuring it accurately reflects your expenses and spending? If you don’t regularly evaluate your budget and our spending, your finances are not running as efficiently as they should. My wife and I spent the majority of our Sunday afternoon cleaning our home. As I worked through some of the tasks, I was surprised at how dirty some areas were (and at just how much cat hair had collected […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 11/16

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Next week is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I am consciously thankful each and every day, but it seems right for there to be a special day devoted to be thankful.  Whatever challenges you may have, financial or otherwise, keep in mind all the blessings you have in your life and be thankful for them. Fist pump for being thankful and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Does It Matter Where You Go to College? from Money Crashers 3 Ways to Eat Well on a Budget This Thanksgiving from Everything Finance How to Protect Yourselves […] Read more »

Never Pay Full Price For SiriusXM Satellite Radio

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We’ve had SiriusXM satellite radio in our van for years. We actually have the package that comes with online streaming, so we can use it with our phones paired to a bluetooth speaker when sitting outside or traveling. So when I noticed our subscription was about to expire, I knew exactly what I needed to do: I needed to call and cancel our subscription. It may sound strange that I would call and cancel a service I use daily. Our subscription was a promotional offer that was half the regular advertised price. Now that the promotional period was over, our […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 11/10

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Yesterday a few coworkers and I signed a patent application! My employer has an intellectual property program that encourages, and actually pays employees to patent ideas designed in the course of doing our work. They have a whole legal team devoted to the process. It protects their products and it puts some extra cha-ching into the inventor’s pockets.  The extra cash will show up in my paycheck just in time for Christmas shopping! Fist pump for a little extra cash, and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump A New Case for Unsubscribing from Nearly […] Read more »

Doing Your Due Diligence: 5 Ways of Making Sure That You Don’t Fall for a Debt Relief Scam

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Financial debt has become such a major challenge for many individuals and families. According to statistics, the average American family has a debt of $16,048, with most of this debt in the form of credit card debt. But how do you escape this mess? The smart thing to do is to come up with a good debt relief program that can slash your debt balance considerably and allow you some much-needed breathing room. However, you must make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate debt relief company. There are many fraudsters who have devised methods to steal from unsuspecting […] Read more »

Saving Money While Traveling

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Traveling can be expensive and often is a luxury for most people. For some it might even getting into debt. What if there where ways to take those lavish trips and save money at the same time? It would mean travel for more people, and it would mean financial freedom. If you are someone who wants to travel and want to be smart about it, there are definitely tools, knowledge and resources out there that can help you achieve just that. A Few Different Ways to Get Extra Funds before Traveling For those thinking about traveling, there are a few […] Read more »

Do NOT Start Your Christmas Gift Shopping

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If you are thinking of going Christmas present shopping in the very near future, stop. Seriously, put down the checkbook, wallet, or purse because now is the worst possible time to do so. You’re guaranteed to pay full price, and there’s absolutely no reason to pay full price for any Christmas present. The Price Hike I’ve had my eye on a smoker at Walmart that has been on clearance for weeks. As grills, lawnmowers and other summer seasonal items were put on sale to make room for Christmas trees and snow blowers I noticed a smoker regularly priced at $274 […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 11/2

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As we near the end of 2018, I realize we’ve had more medical bills this year than any other year.  Both my wife and I have been to the emergency room and both kids have also had significant visits to the doctor. I’ve drained my HSA, and still carry a balance to the hospital. I’m not worried about it, as I’ll just keep making payments each month.  I wait until my monthly pre-tax HSA contributions show up in the account, and then make a payment.  Come January, I’ll get another round of employer and incentive contributions and the bill will […] Read more »

How to Achieve Debt Freedom Without Sacrificing the Fun Stuff

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In most cases, it’s not super easy to achieve debt freedom.  But that doesn’t mean your life has to be miserable while you’re getting out of debt.  In fact, you don’t have to sacrifice all the fun in your life just because you’re paying down debt. You can still have fun! In this post I’ll show you how to make a solid plan to achieve debt freedom without being miserable in the process.   You Can Still Have Fun Getting out of debt isn’t completely about deprivation and self-sacrifice, although they do play a role. Some people would rather put […] Read more »

Make Money Selling Re-Selling Clearance Items

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If you want to earn some extra money, but common side hustles such as mystery shopping, blogging, or even a second job don’t interest you, I have another idea for your consideration. Reselling clearance items found at stores you visit every day on Craigslist can put extra money in your pocket. I go to Walmart several times a week to pick up necessities for my family, and each time I do I walk through the outdoor section looking at grills and smokers. As summer turned to fall the prices of these grills and smokers declined as Walmart tried to clear […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 10/26

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A couple of weeks ago I fist pumped for my kids being financially responsible as they both paid for the privilege of having a car using paychecks from their part-time job. Today they both received paychecks again, and I noticed they are each accumulating quite a healthy bank account balance. I started to wonder if  I should have them take on a larger financial responsibility as what they currently pay is only a portion of their car payment and insurance. In the end I decided against it in favor of letting them grow their accounts, saving for emergencies or special […] Read more »

Financing a New Set of Wheels: 6 types of Car Loans You Can Choose From

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There’s something awesome about cruising down the street in your new car as the wind brushes through your hair. You feel like life has taken on a new meaning. The bottom line is that owning a car is at the top of most people’s list. The reality is that most people don’t pay for their cars out of pocket. This is because there are numerous financial institutions that are ready and willing to give you a loan. Statistics show that car loans are one of the biggest forms of debt in America, right after student loans and house mortgages. But […] Read more »

Vacation Specials Aren’t Always Special

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My wife planned a weekend get away for our family at an indoor water park in Wisconsin Dells. She found a package offered by one of the hotels that initially saved us over $300 off the regular price. She later found an even better offer that, after a quick phone call, saved us another $80. These packages included the room only for two nights. Another package offered additional amenities, but analysis was needed to determine if it was worth the higher cost. Package Details My wife and I went through the list of additional amenities, researching how much each of […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 10/19

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Schools in Minnesota are out Thursday and Friday of this week, so my family and I are at Wisconsin Dells at an indoor water park. My wife had found a great deal for a two night stay in a specific room, however just a few days before our trip she discovered an even better deal was available from their website. She called the resort and asked for a price adjustment, which the reservations person agreed to.  With a simple short phone call, she saved us about $80! Fist pump for saving money AND my favorite posts of the week! Posts […] Read more »