Search Results for: blog down and dirty debt plan

How to Find a Debt Counselor

If you need to dig yourself out of debt or a family budget that is stretched to the breaking point, you may want to consider having a little help to develop a plan and keep you on track. There is nothing embarrassing about using a debt counselor. If you are in debt, you are not alone. According to recent estimates, there are millions of Americans who are deep in debt. The important thing, of course is what they do about it. A debt counsellor will help you by taking a look at the big picture as well as the details. … Continue reading →

Down and Dirty Debt Plan

Do you want to get out of debt? Follow this simple but powerful plan, and your finances will be in a much better place in just six months. 1. Stop using credit. This includes credit cards, paying on time, loans, etc. Just don’t do it. People spend more money when they use credit instead of cash, and there is all of that interest that compounds. 2. Sit down with your spouse or another trusted person to whom you can be accountable. Announce your plans to get out of debt and make a commitment to meet at least once a month … Continue reading →

How to Be Prepared for Black Friday 2013

Shopping for the best 2013 Black Friday Deals? This year, things may be a little different. Be prepared with the following tips, and you’ll get the best prices without being overwhelmed. It is solid advice to get you through the most important shopping day of the year. By making the following preparations now, you’ll be sure not to lose out on those bargains and at the same time, have everything be a positive and fun experience. Prepare for the Changes Swallow that turkey and be out the door by early evening if you want to start your Black Friday shopping. … Continue reading →

How I Got Frugally Motivated This Week

After a month of moaning about how we should be able to afford certain activities that our beyond our means, I knew that I needed to get out of my funk and back into being actively frugal. Instead of focusing on what we couldn’t afford, I needed to start focusing on our financial goals of having a healthy emergency fund and paying down our debt. So, with a little extra time this month, I set off to focus on our house, our kids and what little remains of summer. First, we made a list of some fun and frugal things … Continue reading →

Money Saving Ways to Prepare for Christmas Now!

Yes, the summer is still here, and temperatures may still be in the 90s or higher, but it is a perfect time to start making some preparations for Christmas right now. From gifts and decorations to food and entertainment, making the right moves now will be big savings during one of the toughest seasons for the budget. Stock up on the following items during the summer and fall, while you still can. Fresh Produce You’ll get the best prices on fresh produce right now, thanks to the bounty of late summer. Blueberries, strawberries, cherries, corn and other fruit and vegetables … Continue reading →

How to Have a No-Spend Month

Interested in challenging yourself to go without spending anything for an entire month? Accomplishing such a goal can be something to brag about. If you want to try a no-spend month, you might want to do just a little research and preparation. This way, you’ll be more likely to be successful. Here are my tips for having your own no-spend month. Visit the Library Head over to your local library and take out a bunch of cookbooks. Skip the ones that use a lot of complicated ingredients as well as the ones that you a lot of processed food. Why? … Continue reading →

The Money Saving Mom’s Budget

When it comes to frugal living, fresh inspiration is often hard to find. Oh sure, we do what we can, from attempting a budget to washing out baggies in order to save money. Often, the problem, though, is that we aren’t armed with a solid start to finish plan. Crystal Paine’s book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget gives you that plan, and explains the importance behind each step. I haven’t seen anything this good since Amy Dacyczyn’s The Tightwad Gazette, a book on frugal living that has now pretty much obtained cult status. Paine’s book, however, is updated with more … Continue reading →

Frugal Holiday Ideas for Leftover Wrapping Paper

You know all of those little extra pieces of wrapping paper that are too small to use? Do you save them anyway? I do. I always feel guilty throwing them out, but it is very rare for me to find that I have presents small enough to use them. Most of the presents under our tree are for the kids, so they tend to be larger and usually made out of plastic, not small like jewelry. Then there is the time after the gift are unwrapped. What do you do with all of that leftover gift wrap that winds up … Continue reading →

Sorry Junior, the Economy is Hurting

According to a recent report by Bankrate, 49 percent of parents say that they will be spending less on Christmas gifts than they did last year. With fewer bottom basement bargains available this Black Friday (which was really creeping into Black Thursday) and parents who will be spending less this holiday, does this mean that kids will be disappointed on Christmas morning? It is easy to feel guilty or sad if you can’t get your kids certain items on their list. After all, we get the message everywhere that we go. Our kids must have the latest and greatest, or … Continue reading →

How to Be Prepared for Black Friday

If you are heading out for Black Friday, you might want to consider making the following preparations now, to make sure that you don’t lose out on those bargains and at the same time, have everything be a positive and fun experience. Prepare a Budget Knowing how much you have to spend will keep you on track and make sure that you don’t get caught up in the bargain frenzy and overspend. Have you heard of the envelope system? Take out the same number of envelopes as you have people to buy gifts for. Place the amount of money you … Continue reading →