Guest Post Written By: Wendi Iacobello Electricity 1-Lights-Change your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. Then, only use lights in the room in which you are sitting. During the day time, open up your blinds or curtains and let in fresh light instead of using electricity. To learn more about the cost savings of energy efficient bulbs, click here. 2-Appliances-Change the way you do laundry to save money. Washing clothes in cold water is cost saving. Make sure your laundry

Who doesn’t like to relax, party or unwind every now and then? We all do, but at what cost?  There comes a point when we have to realize that some of our extra activities or things we indulge in are costing us our livelihood. Discipline is necessary when breaking or curbing any habit that you enjoy.  I used to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol years ago.  I bought a carton of Kools cigarettes every two weeks, they were about $40 dollars.  If you add up the cost of the cigare

Today, take time to think about what you are spending money on. Do you buy things outside of  paying your bills? You may be surprised to find out  how much extra money you actually have. When you are struggling to make ends meet, buying a $5 dollar Starbucks, a pack of cigarettes, or a bottle of wine can possibly add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year and quite possibly be the reason why you are struggling to begin with, think about it.🤔 Make a short-term g

Emotional stress can negatively contribute to the way you spend and budget money. When I am stressed, I tend to buy fast food everyday. This is definitely not a good financial habit. Is there anything you impulsively spend money on when you’re stressed? Below is a link with a few tips on how to reduce stress. http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot A few things you can do when you’re stressing to avoid impulsively spending m

Over the years I have learned how to cook budget-friendly meals. This used to be difficult for me.  Growing up, my family cooked very large meals, enough to feed an entire brigade of soldiers. When I became an adult and was single, I didn’t have to cook at all if I did not want to.  Now that I am married and have children, I am the person responsible for preparing most of the meals my family eats. I have learned over time to make smaller meal portions. I have also learned how

Children should be taught how to be responsible. They learn from things they see. Often, if parents are financially irresponsible, the children will become financially irresponsible.  If they are taught the value of money, and how to earn it,  they will better understand the responsibility of having and keeping it. Below, I have included  a responsibility chart.  It is a little different from a normal chore chart, this chart more so helps teach basic responsibility for childr

Did you know that people who give back to their communities are wealthier and happier than people who do not? If you have ever listened to a financial counselor, advisor, or guru speak they all have one thing in common, they believe in giving back to their communities. Their methods maybe different; some tithe in church, some assist homeless people, and others contribute to charitable organizations. You don’t have to be rich to give back to your community. There are plenty th

Saving money can seem like a chore. Really,  it’s quite the opposite. Saving money can be exciting and empowering! I love knowing that every dollar I put away, has a greater purpose to serve in the future. How do you save money? Do you have a traditional savings account? Do you save the old fashioned way,  with a water bucket or a shoe box? There are different avenues to reaching your financial goals. There are a lot of money saving challenges. You can find them on Pinterest,

Moving, in my opinion,  is always a fun new adventure to be had! It can also be a costly endeavor. I have moved more than the average citizen, due to military life.  In this article, I will discuss how to move when you are on a budget. First things first, do you know the new location you’re moving to? Are you familiar with the area, schools, cost of living, and overall lifestyle? If you are familiar with your new location, great, this will make your move easier and more than

So I have a confession, I love to shop! But, who doesn’t? There is a way you can have the things you want and still live within your budget. If you are truly serious about securing your financial future, the first thing you have to learn is financial discipline. The hardest part is saying no, especially when there is something you want. I have a weakness for clearance sales! When I see an item with a reduced price tag, something in my brain triggers. I start having racing tho

Couponing has helped my family survive hard times. When we didn’t have much money, we never had to worry about what the children would eat. One thing we never ran out of, was food. In this article, I’m going to teach you the basics of couponing and how to live in abundance while still living within your means. Couponing is the new cash! You can save thousands of dollars a year using coupons for groceries. I am far from the greatest couponer of all time, but saving $4,000 in 2

Eating out is my biggest weakness when it comes to saving money.   I eat out a few times a week.  Do you eat out? If so, how often?  Eating out is considered impulse spending when it is not planned. It may also put a damper on your savings. In this article, I will let you in on some of my money-saving secrets while eating out. Reward cards are the best thing since the invention of Caller ID, lol.  I have a reward card to almost every fast food chain, grocery store, and coffee

Many people who have poor credit believe fixing it is nearly impossible or will take years.  This is not necessarily true.  Sometimes the smallest issue on your credit report can be easily fixed and may be significant enough to change your score. If you are ready to begin the journey of credit repair, there are a few tips that will help you create a solid foundation to excel forward. To get started you will need to know your current credit status.  You can do this at annualcr

Have you ever thought that it’s impossible to save money when you are living on a tight budget? I used to think so.  I worked a full-time job, worked over time, and did side jobs just to make ends meet. Without realizing it, you have extra money and its money that can be saved!  In order to get out of the struggle; you must gain self-control and become financially disciplined. This Blog will show how to not only get ahead, but also achieve goals you never thought were possibl