First Of The Month

Sunday is always a good day to sit down and set your plans for the week. This Sunday is also May 1st, so it's a doubly good day to get your life in order. Take a look at your calendar for the month and get it together. Make note of any upcoming expenses, like birthday gifts, car inspections, etc. Most importantly: take a look at your budget and make adjustments. A quick check-in with fresh eyes can help avoid financial mishaps this month. 

In the past few weeks we've had a few things come up (for better and worse) that require a few budget tweaks. Here's my new and improved budget for the month of May: 

How I Made $2700 in 2 Days

How's that for a clickbait title? But it's true - I did! And you can, too.

Weekend Quickie

Today you will be the panda, not the shopping cart. You got this!

How Do You Money? Roger

How Do You Money? Is a series where I talk with real people about their money and how they manage it. Everyone does things a bit differently and there is much to learn from others.

Roger is 33 years old, married with one child. He currently is finishing his engineering degree at Robert Morris University. Let's get into it:

Your Mini Emergency Fund

If you are just starting to make sense of your budget (you have one, riiiiiiight???) and you feel like you're finally adulting, the next thing you need is an emergency fund. 

If you are starting on the long (and satisfying!) road to paying down your debt, then you need an emergency fund. 

If you are a person who does things with money, then you need an emergency fund. 

I talked about it a bit already in this post. The long and short of it is that you need a smaller fund for mini-emergencies and a larger stash to save you from ruin. Get your smaller fund together first, that will save your butt in case of unexpected expenses like a car repair or broken phone. 

$500 is good, $1,000 is better. That should keep most of your financial boogiemen away.

What are some ways to build up your mini-emergency fund quickly? Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

Thoughts On Saving When It Seems Impossible

Bad news comes, don't you worry even when it lands. Good news will work it way to all them plans. We both got fired on, exactly, the same day. Well, we'll float on, good news is on the way - Modest Mouse, "Float On"


As I've said previously, saving money is tough - I totally get it. And it's not always about just getting a handle on overspending from your discretionary income. For most people, learning to budget "better" just doesn't matter because there simply isn't enough money to spread around. 

Weekend Quickie

When you think about all the fun you used to have going out and buying stupid expensive things for no reason

Making Money

Until science finds a better way, the only way to get something done is to do it. So, you've trimmed as much as you can from your budget and the people at the library are tired of looking at you. You have eaten 10 PB&Js this week. You ride your bike to work. And you still can't make ends meet. 

All that's left to do is make more money. Here's some ideas to get you started: 

Saving Money

Saving money is hard, there is no doubt about that. Spending money is easy. SO EASY. Why is it so easy?? Just an "I deserve this!" here and a little "one won't hurt" there and before you know it, you're afraid to check your bank balance. How are you supposed to save when you like to spend? 

It's tricky, but not impossible. 

Money Saving Tips

Just a few ideas to get you started:

Go to the library. Books, dvd's, and magazines are all here waiting for you. For free! Just return them on time, duh.

While you're there, pick up a cookbook and start planning your menu for the week! Use my guide here to get you started. 

Debt Basics

“You want a hot body? You want a Bugatti? You want a Maserati? You better work bitch.” – Britney Spears, “Work Bitch”

In debt? You’re not alone. The average household has about $15,000 in debt – not including mortgages and student loans. But! Just because everyone is doing it does not make it cool. Paying off your credit card debt takes hard work and resolve. If it were easy, everyone would do it. But you’re not everyone – and you’re gonna do it! But how?

My Story

“Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week.” Jay-Z, “Diamonds from the Sierra Leone”

So how do I know so much about money? Trial by fire/life experience.