Money Wellness Wednesday - 4 Walls

Photo Credit: smartycents.com

4 Walls

In order to get started with a healthy budget, Chris Hogan has this advice regarding the 4 Walls:

"By maintaining the 4 Walls, you stabilize your situation so you can begin to find margin in your budget. These are your basic necessities:

Food

Utilities

Shelter

Transportation

Take care of the 4 Walls before you budget anything else."

I hear a lot of reasons why budgets don't work or why debt cannot be paid off. But often the problem is, we are trying to keep a lot of the expenses that are not really the basic necessities. We just want to keep having them, like a gardener to mow the lawn, or cable tv.

But, if you want to get financially healthy, if you are tired of running out of money before month, if you are tired of paying credit cards and not making a dent in the balance, you will start to take a hard look at where your money is going and "stabilize the situation" by starting with the 4 walls first.

You can master your money... and I can help!  

Contact Michelle Serna by filling out the Contact Me form

Money & Marriage Mondays - Celebrate Smart

Photo Credit: pxhere.com

Celebrate Smart

Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays... these can be potential budget busters. How do you prevent this?

Here are a couple ideas:

• Start planning early. Make a budget. Save for the day. Stick to the budget.
• Go out to coffee or breakfast instead of dinner. Or take advantage of early bird specials. Or, if you like to cook, make something extra special at home. Do it together for more time together. Take pictures while cooking.
• Make of list of everything you like about the one you are celebrating. If you like to make videos, video yourself telling them out loud. Gather up several videos or lists from other loved ones too to make it extra special.
• Scavenger hunts or board games can be fun. I like the ones where you act out things or describe things without saying what it is. It's sure to bring a lot of laughter and great memories. Don't forget to take pictures.
• Look for coupons for food or activities. Go to a special outdoor location and take pictures together. Explore areas nearby you have never been to.

There are so many possibilities. Once you start writing them down, you will come with even more ideas. What are some of the ideas you came up with? Send in your comments so others can see.

The goal is to express our love and appreciation for others and to celebrate special days together. They don't have break the bank or bust the budget. Document your special days in an album. The memories will far outlast anything you could have bought.

You can master your money... and I can help!  

Contact Michelle Serna by filling out the Contact Me form.

Money Freedom Fridays - More Debt

Photo Credit:  daveramsey.com

More Debt

If you want to get out of debt, stop taking on more debt. 

That seems pretty straight forward, but it's surprising how easy it is to take on more debt. Take a look at your most recent credit card statement. Are you accruing more interest than your minimum payment? Time to amp up your payments so you can stop taking on more debt without even realizing it. 

Are you still using your credit card? Time to start paying "cash". Don't buy it if you can't pay cash. Go to the next level and consider not buying it if you still have debt outside of a mortgage. Make the tough choice and wait if you are tired of being in debt and not being able to save or give like you want to.

You can master your money... and I can help!  

Contact Michelle Serna by filling out the Contact Me form.

Money Wellness Wednesday - Review Your Financial Resolutions

Photo Credit: practicalmoneyskills.com

Review Your Financial Resolutions

We are more than 2 months into the year. How are your doing with your Financial Resolutions? It's time for a check up. 

Review your budgets. Do they still make sense? Are you succeeding in following your budget? Are you succeeding in resisting impulse buying or cutting back on going out to eat or other spending reduction goals? Have you been able to pay off any debt so far?

It's easy to get off track. There are so many distractions. Or maybe something unexpected came up that put you off course. Don't give up! 

Even if you had a set back, get back on track. You can't win if you give up. The only one you are racing against is you. You can do this! You are a winner and you CAN master your money. 

If you haven't made any financial goals this year, it's also not too late. And I can help if you are not sure where to start.

You can master your money... and I can help!  

Contact Michelle Serna by filling out the Contact Me form

Money & Marriage Mondays - Date Night (Day)

Photo Credit: outdoorcommand.com

Date Night (Day)

Date nights (days) are so important to your marriage. That time with just the 2 of you. No kids, no cell phones, no TV, no distractions. But it doesn't have to break the budget and the hard work you have been putting in to pay off debt or save money for a down payment. 

Here are some ideas for no cost or low cost dates:

• Road trip - Take a day to go somewhere local you have never been or go to one of your favorite places. Take selfies for a memory of the day. Pack a lunch. 
• Game night - Play cards or even video games. Bring your sense of humor, no sore losers.
• Visit a museum - Some cities have a free day every week. Check out new exhibits. Go to the park before or after with your packed lunch or dinner. Our local museum is next to a park with a carousel. Fun!
• Take a hike - There are so many free trails. Bring a snack or lunch. Sit under a tree. Take pictures. 

Be sure to be open to communicate your dreams and goals for the future. Be specific. Paint a picture of what you are dreaming of. Bring paper and pencils to write down the goals and dreams each of you have. Develop your date pictures and put them in a dreams/goals scrapbooks with a copy of your written goals. Keep them in front of you to stay inspired to keep going.

You can master your money... and I can help!  

Contact Michelle Serna by filling out the Contact Me form.