It is so hard these days to not spend money. We’re constantly bombarded with offers to spend. Remove the temptations to spend and saving will become that much easier
5 Habits Of Millionaires That You Should Try And Emulate
I was reading an article today on Monster.com (no, I’m not looking for a new job) that was talking about things that millionaires do that set them apart from those who aren’t successful. It had some pretty keen insights that I thought were worth sharing. A lot of people like to think that most millionaires […]
False Starts And Budget Malaise: Getting Back Your Budgeting Momentum
If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s starting a budget. I have no problem tracking our spending for a month or two or setting up income and expense categories. I’m even able to setup a working zero based budget where we allocate every dollar to a category, leaving no money left over to just […]
7 Common Questions About The 2009 New Car Sales Tax Deduction
A while back I posted about the sales tax deduction on new car sales that was included in Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus package. Basically the provision in the bill gives every taxpayer who buys a new (not used) car after Feb. 16, 2009 the ability to claim a deduction on their 2009 income tax for […]
Don’t Fall Into The Trap Of Not Budgeting When Things Are Going Well
The past 6 months have gone extremely well for my wife and me. My job has remained stable through the tough times, I received an unexpected bonus and my blog income has been steadily increasing. Making ends meet is no longer a huge issue. We first started seriously doing a budget last year because we […]
Don’t Let Your Emotions Cloud Your Good Judgement. Set Goals And Delay Gratification.
This past weekend my wife and I got away to the woods of Northern Wisconsin for a few days of fun and relaxation on the lake. Sometimes it’s good to get away to just recharge. A Weekend Away My wife’s family used to own a beautiful cabin on a gorgeous lake near the town that […]
Happy Memorial Day: Take A Moment Today To Remember The Sacrifice So Many Have Made
Remembering Happy Memorial Day everyone! Don’t forget to take a moment today to remember those fighting men and women who have sacrificed so much to allow us to remain free, and to be the greatest nation on God’s green earth. This weekend I stopped by my grandparent’s grave at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Bloomington, […]
Stories That Illustrate The Power Of Persistence
A lesson everyone must learn is the need to persist when it is difficult. When we experience defeat and rejection, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit, but the successful have learned to persist. – Abraham Lincoln
My Experience With The Making Home Affordable Refinance Program: Part 1
Last month after reading up on the Obama Administration’s new “Making Home Affordable” refinance program, I decided to look into it for our household. We’re sitting on a 6.5% 30 year fixed rate mortgage right now, and we’d like very much to be able to refinance that loan into a lower APR. With rates this […]
If You Were Strapped For Cash, How Far Would You Go To Make Money?
Times Are Tough, And So Is Finding A New Job We’re living in a down economy and thousands of people have lost their jobs. Budgets are tight! A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet, and they’re having to find new ways to make money. While listening to the radio this morning on […]
Should Your Grandparents Refinance Their Home?
This is an article by Neal Frankle. Neal found himself in a financially fragile situation at the age of 17. Both his parents passed away while he was still in high school, leaving behind a small insurance settlement. Neal sought out a financial advisor to help him invest his nest egg so that it would […]
And On the Seventh Day, He Rested
This one line in the Bible has influenced much of my life. In Hebrew, the seventh day is called “Shabbat” or “Shabbas“. It starts at sundown on Friday night and ends when you can see three stars in the sky on Saturday evening. Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. Growing up in a fairly […]
Breaking Free From Materialism
The major way to give more is to break free from the grips of materialism. The goal of this life should not be to accumulate money for the sake of personal gain. As a person of faith, our God may bless us with wealth, but all things ultimately belong to Him and thus should be […]
To Refinance Or Not To Refinance
I’d like to do a quick rundown of the question “to refinance or not to refinance,” which seems to be plaguing everyone right now. It’s a timely topic for sure. Rates are down and we’d all like to save a buck or two, but when you add in closing costs, how do you know if […]
