Budgeting Essentials

 

 

 

Welcome back to Dan’s Money Help Blog.

Our Mission is to help you be smart with your money.

Check us out at https://www.BudgetingEssentials.com

 

 

 

Today, I am going to share with you how just recently

I saved over $500 on auto repairs.

 

 

Spoiler alert: Yes, it took some time and effort,

but do you like to be reimbursed for your time and effort?

 

 

 

Do your homework

I took my 10-year-old pickup into the shop for repairs.

 

I was told when I dropped the truck off that it would take up to a week

to get my spot on the infamous diagnostic machine

that will tell them what is wrong with my vehicle.

 

 

Next, came the estimate.

The service guy called me to let me know that there were two options.

Option number one was the items that Must-Get-Fixed.

Option number two added the repairs that Should-Be-Done.

Either way, the costs were quite significant.

 

 

The service guy told me to call him back to

let him know which option I wanted to go with.

 

 

On the home front, we discussed the value of our truck,

versus the cost of getting a newer used vehicle,

or a brand-new ride.

 

We quickly eliminated the brand-new ride -

due to cost and insurance rates.

To us, it seemed more cost effective to

repair our current truck.

 

Since we chose to keep the pickup,

we decided to get everything fixed.

So, I called the service guy back to let him know.

 

 

 

In the verbal conversation,

he told me that since we were getting everything fixed,

he was going to provide two of the services listed for no charge.

The charge for these two services came to just over $500.

All further conversations between me and the service repair guy were via text.

 

 

 

Next, came the problems........

 

Parts ordered not coming in timely.

 

Technician was working slow due to physical issues in his back.

 

Our technician only had two bays.

 

The rust on the truck slowed the process down

because the old parts (still on the truck) needed

to be sprayed in order to get them to come off.

 

 

 

Over the next 5 weeks,

we were promised multiple times,

that the job would be done within a couple more days.

Long story short, that turned into 5 weeks.

 

 

 

When we got the final bill,

those two “no-charge” services showed up on the final bill.

 

 

Although this may not be your story today,

I want to give you a heads up in case

this ever becomes your story.

It is always easier to learn from the life events

that others have experienced.

 

 

 

When I saw the bill,

I immediately recognized the overcharge.

So, in stead of getting angry, I took the time to do my homework:

 

 

I took a screenshot of each text between myself

and the service guy,

and sent them to my email.

There was a total of 33 texts over the 5 weeks.

 

 

Then I copied the text pictures into a

Word doc on my desktop computer.

 

 

Next, I did a PDF print of this Word doc,

so I could send these text copies as an attachment on

the email I would send to the service guy.

 

 

Finally, I also attached a copy of their repair bill

with those two no-charge items highlighted.

 

 

The email was worded carefully.

I said that I wanted them to reduce my bill

by the dollar amount of the two services that the service guy told me

he would do for no charge.

 

 

 

I went on to explain in gentle language,

that the repair shop had my vehicle for 5 weeks.

I mentioned that they told me several times

that the vehicle was going to be ready

the next day (which could be viewed in the copies of the texts).

 

 

 

I mentioned nicely,

that this event had been a great inconvenience

for my family since we had to share vehicles

while they were working on my truck.

I asked them to please send me a copy

of the reduced updated bill

when it was ready so we can come get our truck.

 

 

 

The result?

The service manager honored

what the service guy had told me over the phone.

He authorized the removal of the two verbal

no-charge services from the revised final bill.

 

 

Although I did not expect to hear from the service guy

until the next business day, he called me back the same evening.

He was apologetic for the time it took to repair my truck

and we both agreed that in the future,

all discussions of services would be done via text. That way it is in writing.

 

 

 

Here are the some of the things to remember

when a service does not go as expected:

 

 

Do all communications over text, so everything is in writing.

 

Always speak respectfully with all parties

you are dealing with, no matter how angry you may feel.

Deny those feelings for a good result.

 

 

Be understanding of the pain of others.

 

Be kind, and do your homework – it can pay off handsomely.

 

 

 

Pro Tip:

 

If the service shop or dealership offers a 10% discount

on their services, find out immediately what

the cap on that offer is.

For instance, they may cap the discount at $150.

 

 

If that is the case, it could be a good financial decision

to get a portion of the work you want done over several appointments.

This way, you could get that discount on each visit.

 

 

Choosing this option may also save time

due to less parts ordered on each repair visit.

 

 

Go ahead. Persevere, and remember that

your how you come across to others,

may well be tied to the result you get.

 

 

Remember the Goal:  

Be kind and do your homework to obtain the best results!

 

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

 

 

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials receives comes from the products we sell.

If you would like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much!

 

 

 The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)

• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

  

  

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month to get your books done quickly?

It’s called SST – short for

“Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)

Best News = Not a Subscription model. One price.  One time.  Lifetime access.

 

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

 

 

 

 

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

  

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

See You next time!

 

 

Welcome back.

Today, we are going to discuss how you can say goodbye

to your student loan debt.

 

Later in this article, you will get more specific information regarding

how student loan interest works, the interest accrual factor,

and how student loan defaults work.

 

 

For now, let us get to how you can say “goodbye” to your student loan.

 

 

First, get yourself in the right mindset by saying out loud and believing:

I can pay this student loan off.

I will pay this student loan off.

I am going to celebrate when I tell this student loan goodbye.

 

 

Your spoken words matter more than you know.

You are constantly calling something into your life

with your words – whether they are good or bad.

So, if you didn’t just say these words aloud, go ahead and do it now.

 

 

 

Second, get focused. If you look up the word focus in your

dictionary and thesaurus, you will see phrases like these:

 

Fixate (think) on.

Clear understanding.

To concentrate attention or effort.

 

 

 

Below, are three of Albert Einstein’s quotes

that I want you to take to heart:

 

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

“One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts.

 

 

In every endeavor where you mean business,

it is important to state your intentions clearly.

 

 

Here are three ways you can do this regarding

the business of saying Goodbye to your student loan:

 

 

Way One

Now that you are out of college, it is time to think differently

than you did when you first entered higher education.

Your focus needs to shift to paying off that student loan debt

as quickly as you possibly can. Why?

 

 

For one reason, the longer you take to pay off that loan,

the more interest you will accrue and pay over the life of the loan.

Why add to the cost of an already expensive education if you do not have to?

 

 

Consider thinking this way about student loan payoff:

 

 

The sooner that loan gets paid off, the more money I will have.

My household budget, (and I should be keeping one…), will

experience freedom – and I will have more piece of mind when

that student loan is gone for good.

 

 

It will be a whole lot easier to plan for larger ticket items when

I no longer have that student loan balance holding me back.

The sooner I can start putting dollars away for

_______ (a house, car, you fill in the blank),

the closer I will be to achieving it.

 

With focus and effort, you can pay off that student loan.

 

 

Way Two

Explain to yourself and family members, if you have them,

how this student loan payoff can be accelerated.

Use your imagination.

Be creative.

Take a stand that you will not back down from.

Getting your family to back you on this will make loan payment acceleration

a whole lot easier.

 

 

Document how you will do this in simple terms.

(Think about explaining the plan to a 6-year-old.)

 

Document what steps you (and the family) will take,

and what you can do to accelerate this loan payoff. With effort and focus this will happen.

 

 

Pledge to yourself and family, that as you all work together,

this can be done efficiently and effectively.

The purpose behind pledging to pay this debt is to

provide myself (and family) with money freedom.

 

 

Post your student loan debt payoff plan in plain sight

for all to see.

Who knows?

You may even decide to make your plan into a

calendar style project – that shows your progress with “X” marks across

your accomplishments.

It is fun to know things are proceeding according to plan.

 

 

 

Way 3

Achieve your goal to say goodbye to that student loan

through your greatest efforts.

Understanding that putting off desirable purchases until

after the student loan is gone, will serve me well.

 

 

Cut back on those things that you can.

Often, when we check our hearts, we all know what those things are.

You do not need somebody else to tell you

what you should not be splurging on.

 

 

Look in the mirror and tell yourself what those items are.

Then cut or stop spending in that area until

you say farewell to your student loan.

 

 

Take (or make) some time to use your imagination to contemplate ways

to pay as much as you can each time

you make a payment on your student loan.

 

 

We have discussed in previous blogs about using things like birthday cash,

or tax refunds, a work bonus, or income from a side hustle.

A brainstorming session with family and friends

is a good way to produce many more ideas.

A garage sale could provide extra funds.

What can I sell that I will not miss?

 

 

You are smart. Y

ou are quick.

You are sharp.

Figure out where those extra dollars are hiding,

and apply them to that loan balance.

 

Quite a few vocations lend themselves to “side jobs” for neighbors or friends.

 

 

How about every time you save money, you pop it into a big can or jar.

Then, when the cash starts piling up, you take half

and treat yourself and the family to a special treat.

Then use the other half to pay extra on the loan.

 

 

Ask friends or buddies who have already paid off their own student loans,

how they did it.

Especially those people who paid their loan(s) off early.

These are usually the people that are happy all the time,

because they do not have their student loan balance

burdening them any longer.

 

 

In Case You are Wondering…

Albert Einstein had his own set of challenges to overcome.

Some of them include the following:

 

Albert’s grades in school were not top-notch; he dropped out of school for a time.

He later failed at his first attempt when taking the entrance exam

for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School.

However, he overcame these and other adversities by developing

his personal study habits, and through

focusing on his strengths in math and science.

 

 

Because of the work and dreams he had,

Mr. Einstein faced skepticism, resistance, and rejection regarding his theories.

He also suffered a tough time when attempting to obtain a university position.

You know about his Nobel prize, right?

That same committee was hesitant to award him this much deserved prize,

due to him being labeled as having “unconventional” ideas.

What did he do?

He persevered. Always presenting his findings with the utmost conviction.

 

 

 

Setbacks came in his health and his career.

He fought fiercely for civil rights

and against injustice.

 

All in all, Albert Einstein’s ability to overcome weighty obstacles like these,

took constant and continual effort,

new ways of thinking,

and a lot of explaining to himself and others.

But he did it.

If Albert could do this, so can You!

 

 

Go ahead. Persevere, and remember that your greatest efforts

are what will free you from your greatest obstacles in life, including debt.

 

Resource: Here’s that article for more information on student loans.

 

Remember the Goal:  

Say Adios to that student loan!

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

 

 

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials receives comes from the products we sell.

If you would like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much!

 

 The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)

• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

  

  

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month to get your books done quickly?

It’s called SST – short for

“Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)

Best News = Not a Subscription model. One price.  One time.  Lifetime access.

 

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

  

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

See You next time!

 

 

 

 

Facts

 

$1.6 trillion dollars in student debt belongs to 42.7 million borrowers.

Over 5 million of these borrowers have not made payments in the last year.

38% of these borrowers are making payments and are current on their loans.

 

 

This information comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

Here is a link to that article.

( or copy and paste this:  

https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us- help-borrowers-get-back-repayment ).

 

 

This article is an easy read and will supply you with information

like a link to the default resolution group. They also mention things

like the “income-driven” repayment plan, and loan rehabilitation.

You do not want to end up having your wages garnished.

Please read the article.

 

My Story

 

When I first got out of college, my goal was to find a job.

I knew I had a six-month grace period, so, I wanted to get

the best job possible and I was not the least bit concerned

about paying back my student loan for those “free” six months.

 

 

Looking back,

I would now tell my younger self a few things:

    

By signing that loan, I promised to pay it back.

     Start making monthly payments now and bank those first 6.

     For your word to be trusted, do what you say you will do. No exceptions.

     The sooner you start paying back your student loan, the sooner it will be gone.

 

 

 

Repayment strategy 1:

Always pay more than the minimum amount due.

The minimum payment is set up for you to payoff your loan timely

according to how your loan repayment was structured.

Over the life of the loan, you will pay both the

principle and the interest on your loan balance.

 

 

The purpose for paying more than the minimum payment is to

pay as much as you can toward the principal amount

(the original borrowed amount)

to decrease your remaining principal balance to zero

as quickly as you can. Why?

 

 

To reduce or minimize the total amount of interest you pay

over the life of your loan.

Both interest (and late fees) are costs that are added

to your loan,

increasing the time it will take you to pay off your loan.

 

 

Keep in mind that anytime you pay less than the amount due

on your student loan, interest will accrue.

Even on some income-driven repayment plans (IDR for short),

if the payment is less than the amount of interest that has accrued,

the unpaid accrued interest

will be added to the balance of your loan.

This will increase the amount of money that you will have to pay back.

Some banking institutions use a phrase called “paid ahead status.”

 

 

At first glance, this may seem like a good thing.

This generally means that you have made the next payment of

regular principal and interest. However, what you really want to do, is

take any extra money you can get and apply it toward your principal balance.

This means that you are in effect knocking down

the original amount you borrowed,

as well as the amount of interest that will be charged

to your outstanding balance.

 

 

 

In simplistic terms, this is how that works:

Let’s say you borrowed $30,000 at 6.5% interest.

The result is how much interest you will pay in a month:

30,000 x 0.065 / 365 x 30 = $160.27

29,500 x 0.065 / 365 x 30 = $157.60

29000 x 0.065 / 365 x 30 = $154.93

28500 x 0.065 / 365 x 30 = $152.26

 

 

No matter how small the amount,

anytime you can reduce the amount of interest

being applied to your principal – this is a good thing.

 

 

So, when you pay more than the minimum amount due,

let the loan servicer know that you want that extra dollar amount

applied directly to your outstanding principal balance.

Paying more than the minimum dollar amount

reduces your principal balance faster.

 

 

Repayment Strategy #2:

Put your skills to good use.

 

Where do you get the money to pay more

than the minimum balance due each month on your student loan?

 

 

Since you have spent good money learning specific skills,

you can certainly use those skills to help people in need.

There is someone or several persons out there

who will pay you for your expertise.

Think of small business owners who could use

your skills and abilities.

You can do this on a part time basis (maybe even working from home).

You might take your skillset to any number of platforms

that are looking for gig workers to join their team.

 

 

Alternatively, you can offer your services

to entrepreneurs who are seeking help.

Entrepreneurs are either working toward getting a business started,

or they have started and needs lots of help.

They may not be looking for employees,

but they may well need your skills on an “as needed” basis.

Charge an appropriate hourly rate and give them your best work.

Who knows?

They may want to take you on full time.

 

 

When you are doing your best work for others, they are likely

to tell other entrepreneurs about you as well.

Take advantage of the contacts you have made thus far.

Share your story.

Talk about your accomplishments as it relates

to what they are doing.

When you do this, they are sure to listen and want your contact information.

 

 

Use the money you get from side hustles

and hourly engagements to aggressively paydown that student loan debt.

This is a decision you will never regret. Why?

 

 

The sooner your student loan is gone,

the better off you will find yourself financially, mentally, and emotionally.

 

 

 

Repayment Strategy #3

Use your time wisely.

 

 

People like you, who prefer experiences over material possessions,

will already know that as you travel,

you are generally surrounded by other human beings

nearly everywhere you go.

 

 

Here is how this can be advantageous for you.

People love to talk about themselves.

Let them talk.

Listen to determine if you can be of help to them.

 

 

Enjoying your experiences can be a perfect time

to mix pleasure with future endeavors.

 

Talk to everyone you interact with.

Ask them about themselves.

Ask questions that show you care and

are interested in them and what they do.

 

 

     What are they passionate about?

     What are their current or future dreams?

     What side hustles do they have?

     Do they have an entrepreneurial spirit?

     Is this person currently working any side hustles?

     Have they partnered up with someone to begin a business? If so, what is it?

 

 

 

Be a good listener and you will find out much.

If you discover mutual interests, get their contact information.

Follow them on social.

Offer whatever free help that you can to them,

while letting them know of your expertise

that pertains to their interests.

 

 

 

Keep in mind, nobody really wants to know

every detail about what you know.

Rather, people listen to what interests them.

Be of great interest to  others.

  

 

Remember the Goal:  

Get That Student Loan Paid Off Fast!

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

 

 

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials receives comes from the products we sell.

If you would like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much!

 

 

 The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)

• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

  

  

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month to get your books done quickly?

It’s called SST – short for

“Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)

Best News = Not a Subscription model. One price.  One time.  Lifetime access.

 

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

  

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

See You next time!

 

 

 

Have you ever just assumed things are the same way that they have always been?

 

Here’s my story about assumption

 

We took our truck into the shop for repairs the other day.

It used to be, that when we took vehicles into the shop for repairs,

the first thing we heard was this:

 

 

“We must hook your vehicle up to the diagnostic machine.

The cost will be $125, but if you have us do the work,

we will apply that diagnostic fee to your repairs.”

 

 

When we got the bill, there was no diagnostic fee

in the list of itemized repairs. Upon checking, all the expense lines

were the same as the amount we were quoted.

So far, so good, right?

 

 

I heard the same story when I recently arrived with my pickup

at the dealer. This time though, they said

it would take up to one week to get my pickup on the diagnostic machine.

 

 

When the service guy called me to report what was wrong

and how much it would cost, the list was long and expensive.

However, Junior (I’ve changed his name) also assumed that

I would only agree to repair the must-fix items.

 

So, he had come up with a list of what absolutely

had to be fixed and quoted me the dollar total for these items.

 

Because he had given me the individual pieces,

I added them up and included tax.

The total did not match.

So, I asked him what the difference was.

And he said it was the diagnostic fee.

So now, this diagnostic fee

which used to be absorbed by the cost of the vehicle repairs,

is now simply added onto the bill.

(I do realize that the argument could be made

about the earlier repair shops not itemizing the diagnostic fee,

but simply hiding it inside the cost of the repairs.)

 

 

Lesson learned:

Never assume you understand what is being said.

Assumption can be a dangerous and costly thing.

Especially today.

People can say anything they want.

So, it is always in your best interest to get what people tell you in writing.

That way, you have proof of what has been promised.

 

 

In my case, assumption cost me the diagnostic fee.

However, as you find yourself entering more involved transactions,

the cost for assumption increases accordingly.

 

 

Let’s say for example, that you are shopping around

for auto insurance.

What type of questions should you be asking?

And equally important, what might you not even consider asking?

 

 

Below I will include a Car Insurance article from Kiplinger

Some of the things I want to call your attention to

in this article

include the following:

 

 

The cost to insure your teenager as a driver.

 

What if you have a speeding ticket in your past?

 

What if you or a family driver has had an auto accident in the past?

 

What if there is a previous DUI record from your mischievous younger years?

 

 

You may not have expected this one:

How does my current or past credit score affect my auto policy

in dollars and cents?

 

 

Here is the link to that article –

the story is a quick read and you will learn much.  (  https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/car-insurance/car-insurance-costs-skyrocket-in-2024 )

 

Pay attention to where Kiplinger talks about the correlation

between increasing coverage limits

and how that affects your premium – you may be surprised

to discover what you can learn by asking the right questions.

 

 

Always Ask for Discounts

Do not assume

that you will automatically receive all the discounts

that you may be entitled to when searching for and comparing auto insurance.

 

 

I am going to provide another link for you to read

that will help you immensely.

I challenge you to find the 10 instances of the word “discounts”

in this article.

Read them, do more research,

then use them to your financial benefit

when they apply to your personal situation.

 

 

 

Here is that link for you to check out now.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/what-affects-car-insurance-rates

 

 

Remember the Goal:  

Ask Questions -> Save Money $$$

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

 

 

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials receives comes from the products we sell.

If you would like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much!

 

 The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)

• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

  

  

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month to get your books done quickly?

It’s called SST – short for

“Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)

Best News = Not a Subscription model. One price.  One time.  Lifetime access.

 

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

  

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

See You next time!

 

 

Your Goal: Don't Let Debt Stay

Your Situation: You got debt.

Your Desire: Crush these money woes.

 

Let's Dive In:

 

Crush #1: Control Wrong Words & Thoughts

What do words and thoughts have to do with money woes?

Simply said, how you think affects how you spend.

My job does not pay enough.

The economy pulled us down.

It's only going to get worse.

I've done all I can do about this money thing.

If only I had a better job...  

 

*Clap your hand over your mouth!

*Stop believing what you don't want.

*Start saying what you do want.

 

 

 

Crush #2: Tell Money Where to Go

Am I supposed to talk to my money? 

Yes! Here's how you talk to your money:

 

I refuse to be pushed around

by advertising that tells me what to buy and when.  

 

 

I decide ahead of time

how much I will spend on everything I purchase.

 

 

 

I will decide if I am able to afford each expenditure I make.

  

Make money serve you.

With every new expense that pops up, take the time to approve 

or disapprove the expenditure before it starts - or shop

around for a better price!

  

Control your thoughts.

Non-essential purchases are often thoughts that have been talking to you.

Learn to answer them back appropriately and promptly.

  

 

“Hey, what about that nice _____. Wouldn’t you like to have one of those?

You've been working hard; you deserve it.”   Answer: Not now.

 

“You know how good you will look wearing this?

You can have it today for 4 easy payments.

Why don’t you just get it today?”   

Answer: I don't need that to look good! 

 

 

“So what? You don't have the money right now.

Go ahead. Pull out the credit card.

Answer: Nope!

 

 

You know that old clunker you've been driving

is about to give out any day now.

The car lot offers fast financing. Why shouldn't you have nice wheels?

Answer: Repairs are less expensive than a new car.

Beside, we're saving for a house!

  

 

 

Crush #3:

Take a Power Stance Over Every Bill you have.

 Put together a simple budget with our

free-to-you Debt Relief Workshop (

See details below)

 

->Write the balance of every bill you owe.

->Write the interest rate on each of your bills.

->Write the minimum payment of each bill.

->Go online and find one of those interest calculators.  

->Plug in your numbers to get the number of payments until

the bill is paid off.

->Arrange your bills in order of the shortest payoff

to the longest payoff.

 

 

Pay your bills timely each month.

Add some extra money to the bill with the shortest payoff.

 (Even $5 more each month will help!)

            Watch that bill get paid off quicker

than the calculator told you it would. 

 

 

Once the first bill is paid off,

take the dollars you were paying on that bill 

and add it to your next shortest payoff bill.

 

 

The financial reward$ you reap from

this pattern are yours for the taking! 

 

 

 

Crush #4: Command Option for Go-getters

Go Getters Get Rid of Debt

When you get:

money in a birthday card, a tax refund,

a work bonus,

or pay from a side hustle job:

Apply as much as you can

to the bill with the shortest payoff period. 

 

 

 

 

Crush #5: Strategize to Save Money 

Strategy = A careful plan that leads to your goal 

How to Strategize smart spending:

 

Since money woes do not necessarily stop when you get

descretionary spending loans paid off, you can strategize

for your next BIG want:

Maybe you want to pay off your car or mortgage early.

 

 

Maybe you want to save for a new house.

A new car.

Or a boat.  

You choose.

 A good plan must be carried out

in order to be successful

 

 

->How about taking the money, you were using to pay those bills

and sticking those dollars into a savings account? 

->Once you get a chunk saved,

how about putting that chunk of dollars

into a CD that will earn you more money

than a simple savings account?

 

 

When you cannot touch the money for a term of months -

it tends to grow faster than you might expect.

You may also want to increase your 401k deductions

at work so you get the maximum company match amount.

This is like free money reward$

 

 

Remember the Goal:  

Crush your money woes!

Truth in Our Advertising:

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials receives

comes from the products we sell.

If you'd like to purchase a product,  we appreciate it so much!

 

 

 The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)

• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

  

  

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month to get your books done quickly?

It’s called SST – short for

“Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)

Best News = Not a Subscription model.

One price.  

One time.  

Lifetime access.

 

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

What do you want money help with?

 

 

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

  

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

 

See You next time!

Last week I talked about “How does a Financial Plan (budget) benefit a Small Business?”  If you missed that post, you can review it HERE.  This week’s post is “It is never too late to start budgeting!”  Most people think of budgeting as an end of the year activity.  But the best way to create a budget is to collect your budget information as you are going through the year.  Learn more in this week’s blog.

 

When most people think about budgeting, they think of a process that begins a few months before the beginning of the New Year.  Everything is gathered and compiled in one quick process.  Details are adjusted to achieve goals for the coming year.  The budget is finalized and put into the accounting software so that it can help you manage your budget.

 

But is that really the most efficient way to create your budget?  How good is your memory going back 9 months?  To really do a good job, you are going to have to do some digging to look at what happened in those prior months and decide if they are going to happen again next year.  Depending upon how complex your business is, this could turn into a major project.

 

The good news is, there is something you can do to make budget time easier.  You simply start working on the next year’s budget as soon as you are done with the prior one.  You are probably wondering how that saves time when you are compiling the budget.  Doesn’t it take more time if you are continually working on the budget?

 

You could easily spend more time on the budget if you use the same process every month that you use when you are compiling your budget at budget time.  But that is not what I am suggesting.  Ongoing budget work is prep work that you do when the events are fresh in your memory.  You do the research when you are already thinking about events.  You do that by making notes for the budget when the events are actually happening.

 

Let me give you an example.  Suppose you pay your businesses water bill on a quarterly basis.  Each quarter you get the bill, rather than just paying the bill and filing it, you take a couple moments while the bill is out to record the usage numbers and the bill amount in a spreadsheet or on a note sheet in your budget file.  You can also note any unusual events that affected the bill that would affect your next budget.  When budget time comes, your research is already done, because you did the work when you had the document out.  You don’t have to remember the unusual events, because you already noted them.

 

This incremental work saves a lot of time when you are creating your budget.  You have already done the research necessary to create your budget.  You have taken notes on unusual circumstances so you can account for them as you are preparing the next budget.  You save the research time that you would have had to spend doing research.  The notes help you make better estimates for the next budget.  This is a great tip for creating a well prepared budget.

 

Be organized as you keep your notes.  If it takes you longer to find your budget notes than it would have to do the research at budget time, you just wasted the time you spent taking the notes.  Keep the notes together in a folder, organized by category.  You could save more time by keeping the categories in the same order that you work on them at budget time. 

 

The folder could be a physical one or an electronic folder on your computer.  Use the medium that works best for you.  I prefer the electronic method.  This allows you to save scanned copies of any documents that you want as budget references.  If your printer doesn’t scan to a file, many smart phones now have apps that will do that for you.

 

Continually investing a little time on your budget on an ongoing basis will make your budget process easier and give you better information to base your budget upon.  Remember, it’s never too early to start your budgeting process!

 

If you know someone this post will help, please share it with them!  Then scroll down to the comments section and leave me a comment on this post.  If you aren’t already a subscriber, sign up to receive notification emails and information on other promotions!

God Bless your week!

 

 

 

This week's Question:

Is there any point

to an emergency fund?

 

Yes.

Your emergency fund acts like a safety net.

It is there to catch you when you

fall financially. How might you fall?

The ways are many,

but this is a short list below.

 

 

What things require an emergency fund?

Medical emergency

Car repair

Loss of job

Surprise legal fee

Death in the family requires travel

Broken appliance

Digital destruction

Shocking cellphone replacement

 

 

 

Step 1:  What happens

without

an emergency fund?

 

 

Emergencies wait for no one.

Emergencies expect to be paid for promptly, right?

So, what do you do?

 

Grab money from any sources you can.

Fast.

Sometimes, without considering the consequences.

 

 

Borrow from family or friends. Loans.

Credit cards.

Buy now, pay later.

4-easy-payments.

Finance through the retail outlet.

 

Unfortunately, there are costs associated

with most, if not all these options.

The only way to save yourself from these

unwanted costs

is to begin your emergency fund today.

 

 

Step 2:  How do I start

my emergency fund?

 

 

This depends on your situation.

However, this is where I would suggest

that you be as aggressive as you can

to begin saving for your emergency fund. Why?

 

Because emergencies

are surprises and you need

to be prepared.

So, let’s dive in, shall we?

 

 

Round up to the nearest $1, $5, $10, or $20.

You can do this in several ways.

 

This may happen in the budgeting stage.

For example, let’s say you are

going clothes shopping.

Cap your spending limit at $100.

Then, purposely shop the sales racks.

Or, go online before you shop, so you know

the approximate cost(s) of the items you are buying.

Then, limit yourself and your purchases

to somewhere between $80 and $90.

Then put the remaining balance in your emergency fund.

 

 

Another possibility may be to reduce the amount of cash

you allow yourself for pocket money.

For example, you may be accustomed to having

$50 cash on hand.

Before you go anywhere, remove $10 from that amount

and deposit it into your emergency fund.

Be creative.

Your future depends on it.

 

 

Step 3:  How do I grow

my emergency fund?

How to Add to Your Emergency Fund:

Birthday cash.

Set up an automatic transfer from

checking to the savings account that holds

your emergency fund.

Be sure to treat this as a recurring “expense”

each month as you budget your money.

 

 

Quit a subscription (or two).

Make it a family decision.

 

 

Toss in your next tax refund, work bonus,

or other unexpected cash.

 

 

Shop around for a

better rate on your auto insurance,

house insurance,

internet service,

or phone service.

Take the amount you save

each month

and add that to your emergency fund.

 

 

Get a side hustle

and use that income

after taxes

as a regular contribution

to your emergency fund.

 

 

 

Step 4:  How big

should my emergency fund be?

 

 

You might base this on your paycheck.

Can you go one week without a paycheck?

If your answer is no, then you could start there.

Save enough money so that you get by without one paycheck.

 

 

Then move onto two paychecks.

And three.

Then aim to get a month’s worth

of paychecks ahead.

As you are able,

increase this to 6 months’ worth of paychecks.

This is like saying

that you can go without a paycheck

for 6 months and still get by.

 

 

 

Ideally, you would want to be able to

go anywhere from

6 months to one year

without a paycheck

and know that

you can pay all your bills timely.

 

 

Feel free to use any amount you wish,

just ensure that you

use this money for

emergencies only.

Nothing else.

 

 

Step 5:  How do I

protect

my emergency fund?

 Know what is not

an

emergency

 AND

Do not allow get disappointed over the dollar

amount in your emergency fund.

Remember, that even $500

or $1,000

can help when you need it.

 

 

Ensure that all family members know

what does and does not constitute an emergency.

This does not mean you cannot have fun.

It simply means that

to do these things,

you need to first

bring in the money

to cover the cost

of the things you want to do.

 

 

Therefore, the listed items below

are definite

non-emergencies:

 

Vacations

Parties

Concert or Event tickets

Spa Day

Getting nails done

Shopping trips

Date nights

Babysitter fees

Going out to eat

 

 

Think of this way.

These are all things that you can include

in your monthly

household budget

IF you can afford them.

If not, then find a way to bring in the money

to make these kinds of things happen.

 

 

Remember the Goal:

Setting up an

Emergency Fund

 

 

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

 

 

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog to get the best home and small business tips,

money solving hacks, and DIY ideas delivered right to your inbox.

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man and Budgeting Essentials

receives comes from the products we sell.

If you'd like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much!

 

 

• The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)
• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

 

 

 

Economic times got you down? 

Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple

Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month

to get your books done quickly?

I didn’t want to keep paying every month

to do my books,

so I created this system to

STOP the recurring payments.

It’s called SST –

short for “Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)   

Best News = Not a Subscription model.

One price.

One time.

Lifetime access.

 

Are you serious about taking

control of your dollars

and getting your bills

paid off?

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

Why pay for a debt consolidation service

when you can do it yourself?

Plus, get 2 additional Bonus programs.

 

 

See you next time!

 

 

 

This week's Question:

I am spending all my money each month – Any Way

to Stretch My Money?

 

With all due respect, I must answer your question with a question:

Do you know where all your dollars are going?

 

 

Let me tell you why this is important.

I will use myself as an example.

If I don’t know - or worse yet – I don’t care where some of my money

is going – where do I draw the line between the

dollars I care about and the ones that I am careless about?

 

 

Knowing where every dollar goes is easy to determine.

Yes, it will probably take a few more minutes in the beginning,

however, once you begin taking control of your money,

you will start a habit that is as simple as brushing your teeth.

 

 

First, jot down all your incoming dollars.

Whether that be paychecks, royalties, pension,

self-employment income, or whatever money is coming in to you.

Come up with a total household income for each month.

 

 

Second, list all the bills you pay each month.

If you have bills that you pay quarterly or annually,

I would strongly suggest you check out

last week’s blog entitled:

7 Tips to Catch Up Your Monthly Bills

 

 

->In this blog we described how to break down quarterly and annual bill payments

 into monthly amounts so that you can accurately forecast

how much money you need each month to stay on top of your bill payments.

 

 

When you subtract you monthly bills from your total household income,

you will come up with either a positive or negative number.

If the result is positive, you can use these blog tips to save even more money.

If the result is negative, you can forget all this and get a second job

to try and stay ahead, or you can put these blog tips to work

to shave excess expenditures.

 

 

Key 1:

Stretch your money

by looking at

discretionary

spending areas (DAS)

 

 

 

Investigate D.A.S. or discretionary spending areas are activities

that take dollars away from you.

 

 

 

Costs beyond necessary expenses.

Areas like entertainment. Sports.

Clothes shopping.

Jewelry purchases.

Holiday gifts.

Hobbies.

Exercise equipment.

Memberships.

Subscription channels,

digital subscriptions,

cable TV,

and other expenses.

 

 

Hold on, we are not going to rub the cat’s fur backwards here.

 

 

 

We are going to start out by observing how many dollars

are going away from you to sustain your current discretionary spending level.

 

 

Remember, our goal is to stretch your money

because you are spending all your money each month.

 

 

 

You will be the one to decide which things you can live without

and what items you want to spend dollars on consistently.

 

So, jump into this project with your family members present and accounted for.

Why?

Because, when people do not understand the why,

they have a difficult time making spending adjustments

and maintaining compliance.

 

 

What to look for in discretionary

spending areas?

 

 

 

Stretching your money requires you to dig in and discover what

is included in each of your discretionary spending areas.

Yes, all of them. You cannot fix what you do not know about.

 

Find out what these categories contain.

Too often, we spend money on impulse.

We see something. We like it. We buy it.

 

 

If you are spending all your money each month,

it is time to check and see what you and the family are spending money on,

outside of your customary monthly bills.

 

 

Unfortunately, it is ridiculously easy to get into the habit of spending just

a little more money each month on items or activities we enjoy.

We justify the additional expense and rarely go back

to reevaluate how much this “enjoyment” is costing us.

This is one of the reasons many of us find ourselves spending

all our money each month.

 

 

Key 2:

It’s time to take a dive

 

 

 

Do you plan shopping trips on holidays like Memorial weekend?

 

Yes, you may save a few bucks here and there.

However, whether you are shopping in a brick-and-mortar store or online,

the goal of the retailer is to get you to look beyond your pre-planned shopping list.

 

 

Focus and Distraction

 

 

 

Focus and distraction techniques routinely performed by sellers

are rarely realized by buyers.

 

 

Since a seller wants you to buy more than you planned, they tempt you with:

 

Bright shiny sales signs making merchandise seem more desirable.

 

Advertisements that show you how much fun you will have and

how good you will look wearing their merchandise.

 

 

Bringing you to a page that shows you related items you may need.

 

Reminding you what customers also bought – so you consider it.

 

 

Installment Payments

 

 

This temptation to purchase more merchandise may be the most

hideous one of all. Installment payments like buy-now-pay-later,

or the four-easy-simple-payments exist to get you

to focus on a smaller dollar amount.

 

 

     “I don’t have to pay for it now, what a relief.”

     “I only have to pay $75 dollars now.”

 

 

These words are music to a retailer’s ears.

 

If you must use this strategy to get by for a while, I get it.

However, do not let it become the norm for you. Why?

 

It will hurt you financially in the long run.

This is one of the reasons many of us find ourselves

spending all our money each month.

 

 

Holiday Sale Shopping Help

 

 

 

You may not think this is a big deal, since you got them on sale,

but let’s look at the numbers:

 

Jeans on sale on Memorial Day weekend:  $45.00 orig:  $59.00.

Shirts on sale this Memorial Day weekend: $29.99 orig:  $39.99.

 

3 pair of jeans = $135.00    vs 1 pair of jeans = $59.00

5 shirts = $149.95               vs 2 shirts = $79.98

Spent on sale = $284.95      vs not on sale = $138.98

 

That “hot” holiday sale just cost you an additional $145.97!

 

Stop to consider that 146 dollars just left you.

 

 

Pro Tip on Sales:

 

 

 

When you regularly check on prices the way we do,

you will find out that many times sales are not the big deal

that the retailer wants you to think that they are. What am I talking about?

 

 

Retailers often do what I call “pattern pricing.”

This means that when sales are slow, you can find sale prices

popping up more often. Not just at holiday time.

 

 

Key 3:

Source your purchases

ahead of time

 

 

 

I discovered what I call "sourcing" during the pandemic.

This became even more important during the tariff talks.

Why?

Because many retailers raised their prices. A

nd not just by a dollar or two.

 

 

For example, we had been purchasing

a health product online

from Big Name retailer for $29.95.

 

 

Days ago, that same item’s price increased to $34.95.

Instead of just ordering the product from Big Name (again)

and grumbling the whole time I was ordering it,

we decided it was time to do some sourcing.

 

 

In less than a couple minutes we discovered that another

Large Name retailer with a brick-and-mortar store was selling

the exact same product for $29.99.

Bonus – since we also needed another small item,

we ordered that as well and got free shipping.

 

 

Pro Tip on Perspective:

 

Refuse to look at this as something you are doing wrong.

Rather, start looking at every dollar that goes away from you.

If you are okay with dollars leaving you ,

that is fine.

 

If you are not okay with dollars leaving you,

do something about it.

Consider looking at these and other expenses every six months as needed:

Sporting events

Entertainment

Going out to eat

Buying books, music, movies, art, jewelry, clothing,

shoes, kitchen equipment, almost anything that you buy.

 

 

Questions you can ask

 

 

 

Do we need to spend this much money

on this item every day, week, or month?

 

Could we get by with less of this item?

 

Should we cut this expense by 50%?

By purchasing every other week or every other month?

    

If we really want to keep this item,

is it time to check for better pricing?

 

Can we put this purchase off until later?

   

Have we allowed

this area of our spending to “creep”

upwards without much notice?

 

 

Remember Your Goal

Keeping your wallet full

 

 

 

Your purpose here is to eliminate

as much excess spending you can,

and keep the rest.

Remember, cutbacks can always be restored

when more money comes in,

or when you save dollars in other areas.

 

 

Now that you know

where your money is going every month,

you can s-t-r-e-t-c-h

your money.

 

Whenever we make cut-backs in our spending,

I try to remind myself

that we cannot spend more than we make

without getting into serious debt.

Oftentimes cutting back on

discretionary spending

is easier than getting a second job.

 

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

Currently, the only revenue

Dan the Budget Man

and Budgeting Essentials

receives comes from the products we sell.

If you'd like to purchase a product,

we appreciate it so much!

 

 

• The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)
• The second one is a paid product so you can do
• your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you
• into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money
• and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

 

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence

what you need money help with.

 

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

to get the best home and small business tips,

money solving hacks,

and DIY ideas delivered right to your inbox.

 

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple

Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month

to get your books done quickly?

I didn’t want to keep paying every month

to do my books,

so I created this system

to STOP the recurring payments.

It’s called SST –

short for “Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)   

Best News = Not a Subscription model.

One price.

One time.

Lifetime access.

 

Are you serious about

taking control of your dollars

and getting your bills paid off?

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

Why pay for a debt consolidation service

when you can do it yourself?

Plus, get 2 additional Bonus programs.

 

About the author

I’m Dan, AKA “Dan the Budget Man!” 

I have over 30 years’ experience managing multi-company organizations providing accounting leadership.  One of my primary job duties is preparing the annual budgets for the companies in the organizations.  For many years I have been preparing the budgets for between 20 and 35 companies annually.   I also provide comprehensive, step by step budget, accounting, and Excel training.  Today I get to share those skills (and customer driven focu) with you on www.BudgetingEssentials.com.

 

 

 

Today's Question: 

How Do I Play Catch Up on Monthly Bills?

 

A very good question. You are not alone.

 

 

Start with a quiet and calm mind

 

First things first.

Shut down all negative self-talk.

Eliminate all blame and shame.

Keep plenty of water nearby for hydration.

Do something to clear your head.

Walk the dog. Play with the cat. Smile at your infant.

Watch children play. Eat something tasty. Play soothing music.

 

 

 

Tip 1:  How to Catch up past due amounts

 

There are several ways to deal with past due amounts.

For large amounts, call the company.

Do not text or fill out an online request.

 

Honestly explain your situation

and your determination

to get caught up.

Kindly ask to set up a payment plan.

 

 

Another idea is to use savings t

o pay past due amounts.

You could also use money coming

from a work bonus.

Or a birthday gift.

Or a short-term loan from a family member

to get the amount due paid.

 

 

You may find you are able to

sell something to get the money.

If possible, avoid using a credit card

to pay for past due bills.

This is not a good practice.

 

 

 

Gather your information

Grab your laptop or a notebook and pencil.

A calculator.

Then gather all your bills.

Include monthly, quarterly,

and annual bills 

that you are obligated to pay.

This means credit card statements and

agreements to buy now and pay later.

Next, get your check stubs.

As soon as possible - stop

using buy now pay later plans.

 

 

 

 

Tip 2:  Include Your Family in Money Talks

This means your spouse, children,

anyone who lives with you.

This may seem odd,

especially when you think about

including the children.

But this is important.

Even though young ones

may not understand

everything that is going on,

but they do

store these family memories

for years, if not a lifetime.

 

 

 

Speak in a calm and rational voice

 

You are not doing yourself

or anyone else

a favor by

 acting crazy, goofy, or out of control.

Keep in mind that you listen to yourself

more than anyone else,

so stay soft-spoken and kind.

 

 

 

Tip 3:  Do these simple money calculations

 

 

 

Step 1. Add up all household income from sources

that are contributing to the household’s livelihood.

 

Do not be ashamed or embarrassed if younger ones

wish to contribute to your debt free journey.

Let them help (kids remember the money lessons

they learn from their parents).

 

Also let them know that with everyone working together,

money freedom is obtainable.

Write down total household income.

 

 

 

Step 2. Add up all your current bills and obligations

along with the amounts that are currently past due.

Write down the total.

 

Subtract step 2 from step 1.

This will serve as a starting point.

This calculation lets you know if

you can pay what is currently owed to your debtors.

 

If you have enough money to pay your bills, great!

 

If you cannot, the next step

would be to brainstorm on how

to get more money into the household.

 

Include ideas like a side hustle,

 or selling something you no longer use or want.

 

What you are looking for here

is a quick way to get some extra cash.

 

Tip 4:  Do not let this “bog” you down.

Ideas will come to you and your family members

throughout the days to come.

 

 

 

Tip 5:  Construct an at-a-glance

Annual Financial picture

 

 

Getting organized financially is not as hard as you may think.

 

Determine your annual household income after taxes.

Monthly net pay from check stubs. Multiply by 12.

 

If you are working a side business, this means

determining your expected gross monthly income and

reducing that amount by local, state, and federal taxes

and then multiplying it by 12.

 

 

Add up your bills due over the course of a year.

 

An example might be rent.

If your monthly rent is $1,000,

then annual rent would be $12,000 a year.

Of course, you would have to

look at your lease and figure out

when the next rent increase is due and

take that dollar amount into consideration.

 

 

Do the same with quarterly bills.

If you make a quarterly payment

of $150, then multiply that

by 4 for a total of $600 per year.

 

Now, subtract money owed from your household income.

 

It may be time to get a side hustle.

What should and should not be included in

regular expenses is a topic of its own.

Write in if you want to discuss that.

 

 

Tip 6:  Why is it important to look

at an Annual Financial picture?

 

 

Because you may discover that you do indeed

have enough money

coming in over the course of a year to pay

all the bills that come due over that year.

This could mean that

from month to month,

the bills you owe fluctuate.

 

 

This might mean that you have

“extra money” some months,

while other months

you find yourself coming up “short”

of what is needed.

This is easy to solve.

You may not need that extra job.

 

 

 

Tip 7:  Smooth out the Bumps

in your Billing Cycles

 

You do this by refiguring

your monthly bills due.

Each month, you add up the bills

that are usually due in that month.

 

But here is where

the smoothing out process happens.

Take all those quarterly bills

that you owe

and divide

those dollar amounts by 3.

 

In our example of a

quarterly bill of $150,

divide that by 3 to

come up with $50.

Now add that $50

to your monthly bills due each month.

 

 

Do the same with your annual bills.

Divide them by 12 and

add that amount

each month

to your monthly bills.

 

 

In our example of the $1200

annual insurance payment,

divide that by 12 to get $100.

Add that $100 to

your monthly bills due each month.

 

 

In essence, you are “saving up” money

each month to pay for those quarterly

and annual payments that you make.

 

Remember the Goal: Get those

monthly bills caught up!

 

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

 

 

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog to get the best home and small business tips,

money solving hacks, and DIY ideas delivered right to your inbox.

 

Truth in Our Advertising:

Currently, the only revenue Dan the Budget Man and Budgeting Essentials

receives comes from the products we sell.

If you'd like to purchase a product,

we appreciate it so much!

 

• The first one is free. (Free Debt relief workshop)
• The second one is a paid product so you can do your bookkeeping quickly and efficiently without a subscription. (SST)
• The third one is a paid product that takes you into a deep-dive of how to take control of your money and pay off your bills. (Debt Relief & Budgeting Program)

 

What do you want money help with?

Contact us at the website:  

Describe in one sentence what you need money help with.

 

Want more money help INSPIRATION?

Join our free blog

to get the best home and small business tips,

money solving hacks, and DIY ideas delivered right to your inbox.

 

Economic times got you down?  Free Help Here:

Try our free and simple Debt Relief Workshop  (<- Click and go)

 

Tired of paying every month

to get your books done quickly?

I didn’t want to keep paying every month

to do my books,

so I created this system to STOP the recurring payments.

It’s called SST – short for “Spend Smart Tool” (<- Click to learn more)   

Best News = Not a Subscription model.

One price.

One time.

Lifetime access.

 

Are you serious about

taking control

of your dollars and

getting your bills paid off?

Debt Relief & Budgeting Program

Click the link above to learn more.

Why pay for a debt consolidation service

when you can do it yourself?

Plus, get 2 additional Bonus programs.

  

See You Next Time!

 

Photo Credit:  Jamie Street, Unsplash

 

Like a faithful companion - we are here to help you: 

 

* Money questions answered

** Personal budget topics discussed with respect

*** Curated informational links, Tips, and Steps You Can Take Today to Help You with Money

 

 

Welcome to Money Help Blog – Personal

 

Dan the Budget Man has upgraded our blog and our site here at BudgetingEssentials.com.

 

 

 

 

1^st - Thank you for reading.

2^nd – We Value You and will never ever sell your email for any reason.

3^rd – What you get from this blog:

 

 

Each week we will respond to a very specific reader money problem.

 

We will offer detailed, actionable advice that you can put into play today.

 

This comes from real human beings – no heartless artificial intelligence used.

 

 

 

Note: We do not offer investment or tax advice.

 

 

By submitting your one-sentence personal finance problem, you agree to first read and submit to our:

 

         Terms and Conditions

         Privacy Policy

         Earnings/Results Disclaimer

All found at the bottom of our webpage:

https://www.budgetingessentials.com 

or

https://www.budgetet.com

 

 

Here's the Dessert

 Photo Credit:  Kobby Mendez, Unsplash

 

We focus on your experience

with the utmost respect for you.

So, we welcome you to submit

your one-sentence personal finance problem to us at:

https://www.budgetingessentials.com

and scroll down and click “Contact”

 

 

Examples of personal finance problems we will be dealing with:

 

 

How do I play catch up on my monthly bills?

I’m spending all my money each month – any way to stretch my money?

Is there any point to an emergency fund?

I’m moving out of my parent’s home soon – what expenses should I expect?

By submitting your personal finance question to us – you agree to be bound by our standards for appropriate behavior below.

 

Here's the Meat:

 Photo Credit:  David foodphototasty, Unsplash

 

***  We reserve the right to determine which topics are most suitable for our blog audience.

 

 

Financial and Legal Disclaimer:

We are not engaged in rendering financial, tax, or legal advice or services. These blogs

are only personal enjoyment and to stimulate thinking. Your personal financial situation

is unique. Therefore, any information or advice obtained from these blogs (or Budgeting

Essentials.com, or Dan the Budget Man) may not be appropriate for your specific situation.

Before making any final financial decisions or before implementing any financial strategies,

You will need to obtain guidance from your own professional financial, legal, or tax

Professionals who are fully aware of your individual and personal circumstances.

We are upgraded and back on the scene to provide you with practical information that you can use to make the most of your money.

 

 

Things you should know:

1. We will Never (ever) sell your information to anyone for any reason.
2. Blogs are from the heart of us at Budgeting Essentials – No Artificial Ingredients.
3. We will do our best to answer your legitimate and Ethical questions.
4. From time to time, we will offer paid products, which is currently the only revenue source

Budgeting Essentials has. If you would like to purchase a product, we appreciate it so much.

The link will be below the product ad.

Fair Treatment:

We treat others with respect and dignity, in full expectation that you will do the same.

We have zero tolerance for and prohibit harassment, bullying, discrimination, and strife of any kind.

 

 

Our Standards

 

Examples of behavior that contributes to creating a positive environment include:

• Using welcoming and inclusive language
• Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
• Gracefully accepting constructive criticism
• Focusing on what is best for the community
• Showing empathy towards other community members

Examples of unacceptable behavior by participants include:

• The use of sexualized language or imagery and unwelcome sexual attention or advances
• Trolling, insulting/derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
• Public or private harassment
• Publishing others’ private information, such as a physical or electronic address, without explicit permission
• Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting.

 

From time to time, we will offer paid products, which is currently the only revenue source Budgeting Essentials has.

The link will be below the product ad.

Sign up for our once a week blogs:     

https://www.budgetingessentials.com 

> Click Money Help - Personal (at top),

and then sign up for the blog (on bottom if using your phone OR on the right side of the page if you are on your computer).