I’m banning the budget! Yes, you heard me right, I am banning the B-word from my vocabulary. Words are powerful. Words are loaded with meaning. And the word “budget” is loaded with negative connotations. When I ask my clients what comes to mind when I say “budget,” here’s what they say: “Discipline.” “Restriction.” “Deprivation.” “No fun.” It’s a wonder that …
“If I made more income, I wouldn’t have all these money problems.” Maybe you’ve said or thought this at some point in your life. Maybe you’re saying it right now! 23 years ago, when I was living on the edge of broke, I said it all the time. Unfortunately, I proved myself wrong every time I received a raise. Having …
Much of Dave Ramsey’s advice is solid, but particular pieces of Dave’s advice can be damaging to your long-term financial well-being and enjoyment of life.
Will you be choosing a “Word of the Year” for 2023? In 2022, my word was CURATE. Why? Like a museum curator, I want to be intentional and careful with what and who I allow into my life. For many of us, life has become crowded and over busy, and that’s the opposite of what I want. Museums have space …
Your credit score is not important, and it also is. Let me explain. There are two camps in the personal finance arena that shout the loudest. In the one camp, we have the “Debt is dumb” folks led by Dave Ramsey. In the other camp, we have those obsessed with amping their credit score to the sky with scientific precision. …
On Sunday, my Dad and I chatted about fun ways to be generous over a delicious lunch of chicken taco salads and enchiladas. Our pastor just preached a very refreshing message on generosity. (Zero guilt or pressure to donate, imagine that!) The average American donates between 3% to 5% of their gross income to charitable and religious organizations. We wondered …
Ever wonder how it would feel to stop worrying about money? Before I hit financial rock bottom at age 26, I constantly worried about money. Will I have enough money for all the bills this month? Will that check clear my account before payday and cause me to be overdrawn? Where in the world will I come up with the …
Married couples having separate bank accounts might conjure up images of mistrust or deceit between husbands and wives. However, I think there are certain situations where separate accounts can be a good idea. First, let me put forth a few disclaimers. I think deliberately hiding money or debt from your spouse or partner is a horrible idea. I also …
Could you be saving too much money? That is the premise of the book I just finished reading called, Die with Zero by Bill Perkins. I picked it up somewhat reluctantly because dying with zero money seems to go against everything I’ve learned about personal finances over the past two decades. And many of the clients I work with …