Annual budgets aren’t just for big corporations or the wealthy. Whether you’re planning for a vacation, saving for retirement or buying a home, a yearly budget is very important. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just by spending as little as possible you can take control of your financial life. Being financially responsible can be easy with a well-planned budget!
The holidays can be one of the most stressful times on your budget. Now that the holidays are through, it’s important to take a look at your financial well-being and get back on track in the New Year. Here’s some tips to help you recover and minimize debt from holiday spending.
Gift giving can be the best and worst part of the holiday season. On one hand, it feels great to give gifts to those you love the most and to receive gifts in return. But nothing is as stressful during the holidays as trying to find the perfect gift for that difficult someone. What do you get the person who seems to have everything? What do you get your in-law who only ever seems to buy you candles? (Not that we don’t love a festive holiday candle). Finding the perfect gift can seem impossible. Here’s some tips for finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
This holiday season, consumers are expected to spend nearly $1.1 trillion. It’s no surprise that whether online or in stores, the majority of these purchases will be made with a card of some sort. Debit and credit cards are very different and have their pros and cons when it comes to holiday shopping. We’ve broken down the implications of using a debit or credit card this holiday season so you can choose the swipe that’s right for you.
If there’s one thing Los Angeles is famous for it’s for being a city of style! Walking down the streets of Beverly Hills and Hollywood can often feel like walking the catwalk during Fashion Week. This leads to the question: how do people afford extravagant clothes and ridiculous LA rents?
According to psychology experts, the mind is just another muscle that works the same way. If you exercise the brain, you can strengthen your financial health, and lose some of that money-related anxiety.
We asked Ryan T. Howell, Ph.D, an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at San Francisco State University and Co-founder of Beyond the Purchase, a think tank about how and why people spend money, to explain how you can use the power of the mind to trick yourself into buying less, paying down debt, and saving more.
To rent or to buy? Doesn’t seem like a very complicated question, does it? Going to Vermont for the weekend? Rent skis. You got a new job? Buy a suit. The permanence of the purchase is the real and underlying variable. You will only need those skis for a few days, but that suit will be around for a long time.
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