Search Results for: savings amp finance

One-Step Actions that Yield Big Savings

While all of the little things that we do on a daily basis can add up to great savings, sometimes we just need to find a way to make a big impact on our finances. For example, we may be experiencing a pay cut or loss of income, or facing a large expense, such a new furnace for the home or braces for a child. In these moments, we need a quick one-step action that will yield big savings. My husband and I are pushing to build up our emergency fund, just as prices for everything seem to be going … Continue reading →

Wrap Up Your Finances Before The End Of The Year

I am sure that you are very busy preparing for the holidays right now. The thought of squeezing any more to – do’s onto your already gigantic list is probably not very appealing right about now. If you are up to it, though, there are a few things that you can do before the end of the year that could save you some money. Many of these things do not take that long, and the money that you could make or save doing them could help to offset the cost of all of those holiday expenses. Since you get one … Continue reading →

Should You Refinance Your Home?

When interest rates go down, it can be very tempting to refinance. Sometimes this is a good idea, and sometimes it isn’t. Here is what you need to know to figure out if refinancing your home is in your best interests. The first thing you need to do is to calculate how much you would save by refinancing. What would your new mortgage payment be? You can start with this number, because you can use it to figure out the rest of the numbers. Let us say that in refinancing you will save $300 a month. That seems great, doesn’t … Continue reading →

Simplify for Savings

Making simple changes can go a long way in reducing both your stress and your budget. When you simplify, you can’t help but save. Don’t worry, you won’t need to draw you own water from a well or kill your own chickens for food (although those things may save you money), but instead you can simply some basic areas in your life to reap great benefits. Reduce the credit cards Reducing your credit cards will naturally reduce your ability to acquire debt. It will also help you to stay organized with your bill paying. Having only one credit card, for … Continue reading →

Family Preparedness and Finances

When it comes to preparedness, you need to be financially prepared as well as prepared with food. The church has counseled us to get and stay out of debt for years. This is important counsel to follow, but there are other ways that we need to be financially prepared as well. Here are three things that you should do to be prepared financially for emergencies and the future. First you should have some cash on hand at home. This should be somewhere safe, that you can access in a time of emergency. For example if you live in a city, … Continue reading →

Talking About Finances with Your Kids

My experience as a single parent has made me more determined than I think I would otherwise be to make sure my children have a good understanding of personal and household finances when they embark out on their own. I am a bit of a zealot when it comes to talking about the details of money management and I think since I grew up in one of those household where we could never talk about money—I want to make sure my children have more of an open, informed attitude about finances. The other day, one of my daughters and I … Continue reading →

Helping Relatives with Their Finances

There are times when you may feel that you need to help out other family members financially. This can be a tricky area to go into. It is difficult to give money to someone, and then watch them use it unwisely. Loaning money to someone can also be very difficult, especially if you need the money. Also finances tend to be something that people keep to themselves, so it may be difficult to help them begin to budget or change their habits. Here are four tips when it comes to helping family members with money issues. 1) Never loan someone … Continue reading →

Travel Savings

Certainly summer is the time for vacations, travel and family adventures. Unfortunately the cost of travel can take much of the fun out of the trip. Let’s explore some ways to save a little money, allowing your family a more extravagant escapade without breaking the bank. First and foremost, no matter what your family’s budget situation is – take a vacation together. The bonding and memories created when parents leave work and household behind are the cream of childhood. Trust me, there are options within every budget and even a weekend camping vacation is better than none at all. When … Continue reading →

Savings Quest for Kids

Want your kids to develop healthy money habits? There is a new educational website out there that will do just that. Best of all? This learning opportunity is in the form of a fun game. Kids won’t even realize that they are learning. My Savings Quest is a free interactive online game that teaches kids all about personal finance. it covers the basics of earning money, budgeting saving and spending. The game is a great resource for parents and teachers, and it would make a great addition to many home school curriculums. When you first start the game, you’ll be … Continue reading →

Merging Your Finances

If you are just getting married, it can be difficult to begin to merge finances. This becomes especially difficult when it comes down to debt and savings. It may be difficult for the partner who has little or no debt and a lot of savings to want to merge the financial situation with a partner who has large amounts of debt and no savings. The first step to successfully merging your finances is to agree to do so. It may sound silly, but if you hold something back or hide part of your finances from your spouse, then it will … Continue reading →