With school almost back in session, the typical home buying season is wrapping up. If you recently sold or bought a home, or are switching from one rental to another, then it’s time to start packing. Moving is one of those chores that pretty much stinks no matter which way you look at it. I just went through a move myself, and I’ll be the first to admit it is not at all fun. But there are a few ways to make it easier, less stressful, and to save some money in the process. The easiest (and most obvious) way to save money moving is by doing it yourself. Hiring movers can be a huge help but also a pretty big cost. Read on for a few more tips to save money, and sanity, while moving. 1. Get free boxes. You can buy boxes at your local hardware store for less than $2 a piece, but if you’re going to need a lot of boxes, that can quickly add up. Try going to your local grocery store and ask if they give out boxes for free. A lot of them do, and if you can score some milk boxes, ... View Post
How to Save $1,000 Fast (in as Little as One Month!)
Have you been wanting to build an emergency fund, but you don't know where to start? One of the most important first steps to financial freedom is getting some money saved up. Eventually you want to have money saved up for different things like a new car, vacations, planned medical expenses, etc. But the first thing you want to save up for is emergencies. A lot of people recommend $1,000 to start with in your emergency fund. I think it's a great first goal to shoot for because it doesn't have to take very long to save up, and $1,000 can usually cover an insurance deductible or a minor vehicle repair. If $1,000 sounds way too low to you, then decide on a number that would make you feel safe. Related post: How Much Money Should I Have in Savings While Paying Off Debt? I'm going to use $1,000 as a beginner emergency fund goal in this post, but you can replace that with whatever number suits you and your life better. What I want to do is show you some real examples of ... View Post
5 Big Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money
Have you heard of the term 'minimalism'? If not, you probably will soon. Minimalism is a rising movement that cherishes experience over possessions. Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist describes minimalism as "the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it." Now, this blog isn't really about minimalism, so if you want to learn more about it I'd recommend clicking on the link above or doing a quick Google search. You'll find tons of great blogs all about the minimalistic way of life. But I do want to share with you some ways that minimalism can save you some serious money. 1.) Save on Housing Even if you don't want to sell all your belongings and live in a tiny house or a travel trailer, minimalism can save you money on housing. Has your house started to feel more like a curse than a blessing? Are you throwing away hundreds of dollars a month on a mortgage that you're struggling to afford? Are you ... View Post
I tried a “No Spend” Month (and Totally Failed)
It was the end of April, and I decided on a whim to attempt a "no spend" month for the month of May. Looking back now, I realize that was my first mistake--not preparing for something so drastic farther in advance. I'll admit, I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it was. I already consider myself pretty thrifty, so I didn't think going from "watching my spending" to "not spending any money at all" would be all that hard. Boy, was I wrong! Even though I blew my no spend month by week two, there were a few high points for me to take out of it: I didn't spend any money for a week. When I decided to go for the no spend month, I was determined in the beginning. I made it through the entire first week of packing my lunch for work, not stopping for (even cheap) coffee in the mornings, and even denying myself tacos on Cinco de Mayo. I got to practice problem solving. For the week that I actually didn't spend any money, there were some days I had to get a little ... View Post
How to Save for Vacation Fast: 5 Tips to Increase Your Vacation Savings
May 4th. It can't already be May 4th?! If this was your thought when you looked at the calendar this morning, I know how you feel. The first quarter of the year flew by, and summer is somehow already at our doorstep. One of the best parts of summer has to be summer vacations. But if you looked up and realized it's already May and you haven't yet started saving for your vacation, don't freak out just yet and grab the credit card. There are a few ways you can add some quick cash to that vacation fund still. Do some weekend jobs Think about all the people you saw talking about spring cleaning. How many of them actually followed through and did it? There may be plenty of people who wouldn't mind a little extra help getting their house ready for the outdoor season, and they probably wouldn't mind paying someone to do it. Post a status on Facebook that you're looking for houses to clean, and you may find yourself racking up $50 to $100 (or more) per house. If cleaning is not your ... View Post
How Much Money Should I Have in Savings While Paying Off Debt?
One of the very first steps to paying off debt is actually to have some money in savings first. If you're wondering why savings has anything to do with paying off debt, I think there's two important reasons. 1: If some unexpected expense pops up (new tires for your car, you have to pay your insurance deductible, etc.) you have some money to take care of it instead of putting the expense on another credit card. and 2: There comes a certain mindset shift that comes with having some money in a savings account, all to yourself. You have the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong, you've got some cash to cover it (see #1.) But it also makes it a reality that yes, you have some control over what you do with your money. You have the right to put some away. So if you're focused on paying off debt, I want to help answer the question of how much you should have in savings before (and during) the debt payoff process. I hear $1,000 is a good number to save, is that right? This one ... View Post