Lowering Your Home Heating Expenses
Reduce Your Home Heating Bill
For those of us that live in cooler climates here are a few ideas that might help you save on your monthly heating bill. You can shave quite a bit off of money off of your bill by doing a few or even all of these relatively easy to implement ideas.
- Lower the thermostat setting
If you currently run your thermostat at 72 degrees try lowering it to 69 degrees. Wear a sweater or an additional layer of clothing for extra comfort while you adapt to the cooler setting. By just making a slight change in the setting you can save several dollars per month on your bill. Continue reading “Lowering Your Home Heating Expenses” »
How to Talk to Your Children About Money
Above all other lessons, strive to model healthy money management behaviors in your own finances. Many of us may make a mistake or two along the way regarding our credit, incurring excessive consumer debt, or failing to honor our financial promises. However, the effort of trying will be noticed by your children. Be honest and proactive when discussing money with children. Let them know it’s important to you. Continue reading “How to Talk to Your Children About Money” »
“Leveling” our Expenses
I regularly teach in my Budgeting (“Spending Plan”) classes that our goal should be to turn as many of our Variable and Periodic expenses into Fixed (or “level”) expenses as possible.
A Fixed expense is one that occurs every single month at the same cost. Examples are rent or mortgage, car payments, 401(k) contributions, monthly bus passes and day care center bills.
A Variable expense occurs every month also, but the amount varies. Electricity, heating, gasoline, and groceries are among the most common variable expenses in our household budgets.
A Periodic expense, obviously, occurs less than monthly, irregularly or just once in a life time. Typical of this type of expense are medical-related charges, vacations, car or home repair, taxes, and most insurance premiums. Continue reading ““Leveling” our Expenses” »
Basics of the New Couponing
Couponing has been making a strong comeback recently thanks to the down economy. The promises of free items or even getting cash back with “doublers” and “catalinas” is more than just merely alluring to many. If you’re tempted to coupon more than just casually, here are some things to keep in mind: Continue reading “Basics of the New Couponing” »
Realistic Emergency Savings Amount?
What Is a Realistic Amount for Emergency Savings?
Chances are that if you’ve ever looked into how much money you should be putting away as an emergency/”rainy day” fund, you have found that most financial experts, including myself, will suggest something like three to six months’ worth. The question, though, is three to six months’ worth of what? Gross income? Net income? All household expenses?
Here’s my take on this vital subject. First of all, it is my opinion that having an emergency fund is one of the top two or three indicators as to whether a household will remain financially stable or remain living continually on the edge of a financial abyss. Continue reading “Realistic Emergency Savings Amount?” »
Paradigm Shift in Personal Finance Attitudes: Millionaire Lifestyles
I generally have the pleasure of facilitating three to seven personal finance classes each week, usually around the Treasure Valley of southwest Idaho. Many of those classes are for high school students in an economics or a personal finance course.
Inevitably, whether I’m discussing budgeting, credit, avoiding debt, or effective consumer spending behaviors, questions or comments come up about wanting to be rich. Continue reading “Paradigm Shift in Personal Finance Attitudes: Millionaire Lifestyles” »
New Year, New You – Budget Resolutions
Sometimes the little things really do ad up and if you follow these ten steps you may find a wealthier and money smart you is right around the corner. Following these steps may help you achieve less stress and better health.
Try these ten rules to live by in 2011: Continue reading “New Year, New You – Budget Resolutions” »
To Bank or Not to Bank? Is THAT the real question?
I recently met with a couple who were dead set against ever having a checking account again. It’s not that they didn’t understand the value of a checking account but that they had gotten themselves into trouble writing checks for more money than their account had.
They have decided to use cash only or, only if required in the future, use a prepaid card. For them, seeing their money was they only way of knowing how much they had left to spend until the next paycheck. Continue reading “To Bank or Not to Bank? Is THAT the real question?” »
Teaching Children Finances – Online Games for Kids
Here is an excellent list put together by the Washington Department of Financial Institutions on the Financial Education Clearinghouse portion of their website. You may visit their website by clicking here: Visit Washington Department of Financial Institutions Website.
Below are links to some favorite games that can be found on the web. Continue reading “Teaching Children Finances – Online Games for Kids” »