You'll want to read these 10 tips for better budgeting in 2018

January 2nd, 201835366 Freelancer Fonda Semerjian wrote this post.  New year, new you, right? New diet, new workout routine and – for many of us – a new budget are all on the horizon in 2018. Here are some tips to keep you on track with your financial goals in the new year: Keep your budget and goals realistic – Goals need to be manageable. If you’re looking to pay down debt, make sure you can afford the payment you want to include in your budget. Account for all expenses and seasonal changes – Evaluate your bills from each month in 2017 for a reminder of the fluctuating expenses. Perhaps your power and water bills increased during the summer...

What to do if you're veering off your holiday budget

December 19th, 201737396 Freelancer Fonda Semerjian contributed to this post.  If you're not wrapping up a whirl-wind Hanukkah, chances are you're counting down the days until Christmas. But be honest: are you also counting down your final dollars? It's understandable. Between office parties, family visits and gift giving, this time of year gets expensive. But it's not too late to salvage things. Here are some tips for climbing back on top of your holiday budget: Set a spending limit – Calculate how much money you can easily find in your budget to spend on festivities for the remainder of this holiday season. Make sure bills are paid off and try to...

Five ways to save money around the house

November 20th, 201743524 Everybody knows the big ways to save money around the house these days. Do away with cable packages in favor for cheaper streaming services like Netflix. Get rid of that old landline (seriously, who even uses those anymore?). And for goodness sake, make sure your cellphone automatically connects to your home’s WiFi so you’re not blowing through your data while you’re laying on the couch browsing Pinterest. But if you’re not quite Millennial enough to give up your old-school TV experience, don’t worry. There are other more timeless ways to save a little bit of money in your day-to-day life. Trash talking – In some areas,...

Angi says: Don't get caught unprepared for emergencies

November 20th, 201725120 The following post contains advice from Angi Christensen Harben, the Director of Communications for Georgia Credit Union Affiliates. When she was younger, a credit union stepped in and supported Angi’s finances and life. Now, she enjoys supporting credit unions and spreading the financial wisdom she’s gained. I walked out to the garage and something wasn’t right. There was a pool of water, and it was spreading. I could hear a faint gushing sound and it took a second to sink in. It was the dreaded busted pipe (insert ominous music here). It was also freezing. The kind of freezing that turned the water pouring out over my...

Are You 'Budget Hacking' to Trim Finances?

September 18th, 201796167 What if you could easily reduce expenditures each month to free up room for a vacation or leisure expense? While not an official term, “budget hacking” means finding money within fixed expenses — and not simply through reduced latte runs and cancelled social outings. Users of this strategy review their recurring (fixed) expenses and call on companies to reduce their bills, according to an article by Kendal Perez, US NEWS. One example is a woman who was able to reduce a fixed expense by $141 each month, just by calling up the company and requesting a better rate. While cutting back on eating out and unnecessary movie...