How to Efficiently Deal with a Financial Emergency

It happens to everyone at least once — just when you think you are on top of your finances and your budget is flowing smoothly, disaster strikes. The size of the disaster may not be huge; it could just be a blown tire during your tightly budgeted vacation. Or it could be as big as the loss of a job, a house fire or a disabling health condition. Whatever your financial emergency, you can get through it if you have planned ahead and prioritize.

A big part of making your budget is saving for the unexpected. Most financial experts agree that everyone should have an emergency fund of at least one month’s expenses. Ideally you should have savings and investments that could support you for six months or more.

Have a “No Splurge Month”

Do you need to save some money for a big purchase or recover from a large bill you just paid? Perhaps you just want to gain better control of your spending. Having a "No Splurge Month" could be the answer for you.

A “No Splurge Month” is when you designate a month where you won't spend any money on anything that isn't absolutely essential. There is no spending money on anything you don't legitimately need. When done as a family, this is a great way to save some money and learn more about what you can really live without.

5 Ways to Make Your Salary Stretch Further

Living on a budget is not always an easy thing to do, especially when expenses will arise when you least expect them. But, even though it may not seem possible there are many ways to make your salary stretch further. Avoiding needless spending, comparison shopping and utilizing budget billing are a few ways to achieve this.

1. Avoid any needless spending.

• How many times have you gone to the store to pick up one or two items and left with a cart full? Sometimes it is easy to get drawn into sales that you did not know about and spend more than you wanted to. Most of the items are not necessary or needed at the moment.

• To help you curb unnecessary spending, either wait until you have a list of items to buy or keep yourself limited to the items you only need. Wants can be purchased at a later date as your budget allows.

7 Easy Strategies to Practice Self-Discipline and Frugality

Deciding to practice self-discipline and be frugal in your spending is one thing. Actually doing so is often quite another. Our old habits are hard to break. However, if you apply strategies to your spending, you will find it easier to practice self-discipline and frugality. Here are some easy strategies to get you started.

* Change your attitude about money. How you think about money determines the role it plays in your life. Stop thinking that you have to have the same things as everyone else. Instead, focus on what you really need instead of what you just want.

Top 5 Features of a Successful Budget

Budgeting seems simple enough, but when put into practice most people suddenly realize it is incredibly difficult to make and stick with a budget if certain factors are not developed. Successful budgets, no matter the size or purpose, all have a few common denominators: reality, goals, commitment, focus, and self-discipline.

1.  Reality

• Your budget needs to be tailored to fit your particular needs. Consider your income, debt, housing payments and utilities, insurance costs, food requirements, clothing requirements, transportation, activities for each family member, the ages of family members, and your particular financial goals.

• Do you need to budget semi-temporary expenses or long-term goals? Do you have plenty of income or are you barely scrimping by? Look at your own situation and seriously consider what money needs to go where to meet the needs and wishes of yourself and your family. Don’t forget unexpected and once-a-year expenses in your planning.
  
  

Discipline Yourself to Spend Less

No one wants to go into debt. We try to avoid it if we can, but we fall into the traps of credit cards and delayed payment specials so easily. Curbing our spending requires discipline and an honest effort.

As consumers, we have to learn to live within our means. This is more than having enough money in a paycheck to pay our bills. Financial security is having something in a savings account and money left over from our paychecks to use in an emergency if we need it.

Living paycheck to paycheck can be dangerous, especially if you have a family. Children get sick; cars break down. Taking money from the bills is not a wise decision, but if you are in a bind, you do what you have to do. The way to break this cycle is to spend less money each month.

Frugal Fourth of July Party Ideas

Summer is a time for celebrating and the Fourth of July is the keystone summer holiday. Fourth of July celebrations can get quite expensive, especially if you throw a big party every year. There are ways to keep your costs down without sacrificing the quality of the party. Here are some ideas to help create the perfect Fourth of July party without the big price tag.

Close neighborhoods are famous for a potluck get together. A potluck is where each person attending the party brings a food item to share with others. This way, no one person bears the brunt of the hefty food bill. In turn, it is an excellent way for neighbors and families to try different recipes.

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Winesworld The Amateurs Wine Guide - WinesWorld is a friendly wine guide for amateurs, by amateurs.

The Ad Master - Tons of Tips and Tricks to help you advertise online. From lists of free traffic resources to advice on keyword placement and linkbuilding.

Go Las Vegas Baby! - Interesting info and fun facts about Las Vegas plus a daily list of free stuff to see, do and get.

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Frugal Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

We all want to celebrate and honor our moms on Mother’s Day, but you may be stumped for frugal Mother’s Day gift ideas this year. Giving Mother’s Day gifts doesn’t have to break your budget if you use one of these ideas.

Many restaurants offer discounts for mothers on Mother’s Day; some even allow moms to eat for free. You can check your local newspaper to see if there are any local restaurants offering this type of deal.

If you can’t find a restaurant that allows mom to eat for free or a reduced price, that doesn’t mean you can’t take mom out for the day. You may be able to find a museum or concert that has a Mother’s Day special. Check local colleges or universities, the newspaper, or online to find a venue offering a special for Mother’s Day.

8 Tips to Help You Beat Budget Busters

If you want to have control over your finances, a budget is essential. Knowing exactly how much money you have coming in each month and how much it will take to pay bills, buy the things you need and save a little, is the best way to prevent a financial meltdown. But it only works if you follow it closely.

Sometimes sticking to a budget is easier said than done. Everyone has a lapse every now and then, and while a couple of dollars won't make a huge difference, it can add up when it happens repeatedly. This will throw off your budget, and it could leave you struggling to come up with the money for the things you truly need.

By planning ahead and avoiding impulse buying, we can beat the budget busters. Here are some tips:

Setting Financial Priorities During Hard Times

Most of us have experienced times of financial hardship at one time or another. Sometimes it's because of layoffs or reduced working hours. Other times, it's due to large, unexpected expenses. But no matter what the reason, financial difficulties necessitate taking a look at our priorities.

When money is no object, we often spend it on things that we do not really need. We might go out to fancy restaurants every week, buy designer clothes or buy expensive high-tech toys for the kids. But when our disposable income is reduced, we must often give those things up to have enough money to pay the bills and spend on necessities.

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