#budgeting

#budgeting

When life takes an unexpected turn, do you have a plan to stay financially sound? Being ready for any situation gives you peace of mind and confidence, no matter what comes your way. If you set aside a little amount each month, you can create an emergency fund with a 0 Balance Savings Account that keeps you secure if an unexpected situation arises. This fund helps you stay confident and in control during emergencies.

Most of our family's income comes from federal funds. My husband and I both have military retirement checks, and he's a federal civilian. Our retirement pensions are not affected by the government shutdown, but my husband's paycheck is. We're on day 37 without his income, and honestly, it's surreal. While our retirements and my job will get us through, the loss of a paycheck has prompted some adjustments in our spending.

Our entire family sits down to have a meal together several times a week. We ask each other questions, find out what's going on in our kids' lives, and share funny stories. Though mealtime can sometimes be chaotic, with bickering and typical exhaustion, we also relish in the limited opportunities we have to sit, face-to-face, and share a meal. We also have some family time on Sunday mornings, attending church together, and the occasional Friday night, where we can watch a movie.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is undeniably awesome. So is Victor Wembanyama. Yet, in a traditional snake draft, getting both is essentially impossible given both are found firmly in the first round. There is a draft format, however, that absolutely allows you to pair SGA and Wemby. Or Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo... you get the idea. Salary cap drafts afford you the ability to assemble compelling collections of superstars.

When you're busy swiping your card and paying bills, all coming out of one account, you may be more likely to get to the end of the month with nothing left - and definitely without any extra money to set aside in savings. "Everything's just flying out everywhere," @hermoneymastery said, pointing to subscriptions, groceries, bills, and rent, as well as all the little snacks and food delivery you might buy throughout the week.

Dave Ramsey is a radio personality and finance guru, well-known for helping Americans join the debt-free ranks. Dave Ramsey founded The Lampo Group, Inc. in 1992, which was later rebranded as Ramsey Solutions in 2014. He has written multiple books, including his best-seller The Total Money Makeover. Dave Ramsey's program has reached millions through The Ramsey Show, books, courses, and Financial Peace University.

For you to have money, you have to learn to live below your means but within your needs. How do you do that? You do that by simply purchasing needs versus wants. What is a need? Need is food that you buy at a grocery store. What is a want? A want is going out to eat at a restaurant and doing it over and over again.

If you're a college freshman, congratulations! You're now likely financially responsible for yourself. While that can be exciting, it can also be nerve-wracking especially if you don't have a lot of money. You have the freedom to control your own budget. At the same time, you may have thousands of dollars in student loans. How do you make smart financial decisions so you have enough money to spend at school and don't graduate with more debt than you need?

But there's something about putting pen to paper that helps mentally solidify your intentions. And when it comes to growing financially, having a budget is critically important. That includes itemizing your assets, liabilities (e.g., expenses) and income. That income should include your present pay from working, but could also include potential future sources like Social Security benefirts, pensions, investments, and retirement accounts.

Sign up to student discount sites such as UNiDAYS and Student Beans, and always check them for discount codes and deals before you buy anything. Most places offer between 10 and 20% discount, and the savings can really add up. Zahra Onsori, City, University of London, journalism Zahra Onsori: Sign up to student discount sites.' Photograph: Zahra Onsori It might feel a bit old-school, but using cash on a night out really helped me stick to my budget.

PITTSBURGH - These are anxious times in which to feed our families. Grocery shopping is not just wildly expensive these days - the Consumer Price Index in July was up 2.7% year-over-year, with the price of some foods reaching record levels - but also filled with uncertainty. Just when you think the price of a box of Honey Nut Cheerios couldn't be higher (seriously folks, $7?) we have to worry about how big a hole President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs will burn in our pockets going forward.

Create a budget that lists your income and your expenses. This is crucial. Without a budget, many of us lose track of what's coming in financially and what's going out. In fact, when others have asked me for financial advice, my top question is, What are you spending on? Unfortunately, I'm often met with a deer-in-the-headlights stare and a response of "I don't know." Unfortunately, not knowing will destroy you financially.

Most entrepreneurs don't launch companies because they love spreadsheets; they launch because they see a market gap or a mission they can't ignore. Yet as the day's revenue appears, so does the need for rigorous finance. Ignore it and you risk becoming another cautionary tale. Sixteen per cent of failed startups cite cash-flow mismanagement as the primary reason for shutting down. The great news is that, in 2025, a first-rate financial education is sitting online fully free

Aligning strategy and budgets is touted as a hallmark of effective management. Yet, an alarming disconnect between the two has been observed over many years.

In 2019, I embraced the FIRE movement and reduced my work hours to enjoy more time freedom while living on a strict budget.

Do not go for whatever you did not budget for. Don't do any expenditure because others are doing it. Make your budget in the order of priority and follow it diligently.

Eloping became the attractive option as we realized the stress and expense of a large wedding didn't align with our new priorities as parents.

Knowing how much money you should allot for a kitchen remodel is a key piece of the renovation puzzle. The budget needs to be decided before you even start the project.