By simplify, on December 17th, 2010%
Well, this week should seem like a no-brainer. Of course if you want financial freedom, I would think that most, if not all of you, would consider debt to be a huge hindrance to your financial freedom.
So, it goes without saying that once you reduce your expenses, and increase your income, the next area to focus on is eliminating any consumer debt that you have besides your mortgage.
Ideally, you should be able to pay any extra money you have each month after expenses are paid to your outstanding debt.
But, the first step is critical. Stop spending! . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – Step 4 – Eliminate Debt
By simplify, on December 10th, 2010%
Last week we talked about step 2 in the 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – reduce expenses.
This week I want to cover the flip side of that equation, which is to increase your income.
Usually, the first step when someone is in debt is to look at ways that expenses can be cut: canceling cable, using public transportation, not eating out, canceling a land line, etc.
But, when the expenses have all been cut and you still don’t have enough headway to make progress on your debts, there is only one other option – increase . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – Step 3 – Increase Income
By simplify, on December 3rd, 2010%
Last week we talked about step 1 toward financial freedom, which was to figure out what does financial freedom look like to you?
This week we are on Step 2 in the 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom: Reduce Your Expenses
This may seem like a no-brainer. Obviously, when you want to create financial freedom, you must manage your expenses.
If it were that easy, then why aren’t more people financially free?
There are several problems here. First, we spend WAY more than we make. Second, we are PROGRAMMED to spend.
Every day we are bombarded by . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – Step 2 – Reduce Expenses
By simplify, on November 19th, 2010%
As I mentioned last week, we are going to spend the next five Fridays on a great topic: The 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom.
Why?
Because it is important to take control of your financial freedom.
And it starts with Step 1: What does financial freedom mean to you?
You know the adage…”If you don’t have a destination, how will you know when you have arrived?”
The same is true with your financial picture. It is so important to take time to figure out what financial freedom looks like to you.
This will be different for . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – Step 1 – What Does Financial Freedom Mean To You?
By simplify, on November 11th, 2010%
I’ve been thinking long and hard lately about financial freedom, and more importantly, the steps to get there.
I have by no means arrived, but in the past few years I have taken steps that are putting me closer and closer to financial freedom.
And because there is really too much information to possibly cover on one post, I’m going to spend the next five weeks talking about the 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom in more detail.
For now, here’s an outline of what is coming up in the following weeks:
1. What does financial freedom . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – 5 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom
By simplify, on October 29th, 2010%
If you are following along on this adventure of my life, you may know that I am currently in the middle of the 75 in 75 Challenge – that is getting rid of 75 items in 75 days.
In the midst of this challenge, I read a great ebook by Adam Baker called Sell Your Crap. This was such a great book that I decided to purchase his other ebook Unautomate Your Finances.
It was in reading Unautomate Your Finances that I read something profound.
I was reading along just fine until I got to page 35, . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – My Profound Lesson
By simplify, on October 21st, 2010%
Okay, enough already. I just want to scream from the mountaintop that I HATE DEBT!
I’ve always disliked debt, but being a “frugal spendthrift” my alternate personalities never agree, and I do like to shop (except for groceries or clothes). And, I do have a weakness for all things organization.
But lately, I am just getting fed up with the entire scenario.
Granted, most of our debt is in rental properties that we own and apartment buildings that we manage, but there is some personal debt still lurking.
I’m a big fan of Dave Ramsey, and use . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – I HATE DEBT!!
By simplify, on September 24th, 2010%
The leaves are changing colors here in Vermont, and with temperatures getting cooler, I am looking ahead to Christmas.
I know what you are thinking – it’s still three months away!
Well, I do like to prepare ahead, but this year it was even more important.
Earlier this year, I started a 31 Goals in 31 Days Challenge, modeled after my brother’s journey with 100 Goals in 100 Days. One of those goals was to have a frugal homemade Christmas. So, back in March, I began working on several projects.
There are three main families, and so . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – A Frugal Christmas
By simplify, on September 10th, 2010%
This post is a Tidy-Up Thursday AND a Frugal Friday all rolled into one! Since organizing your pantry is organization and it saves you time and money!
Have you ever bought something at the grocery store, only to come home and find that you already had that item hiding in the depths of your pantry?
Or, do you look in your pantry with a blank stare, wondering what you will make for dinner?
The answer is to organize your pantry.
I love to organize my pantry about twice a year, with updates every month. I . . . → Read More: Tidy-Up Thursday AND Frugal Friday – Organize Your Pantry
By simplify, on September 3rd, 2010%
I’ve been a big Dave Ramsey fan for years. Back when no one knew who he was, I was reading his first edition of Financial Peace.
I was a broke college student, working to make ends meet, while taking a full load of classes (complete with student loans).
I still remember reading Financial Peace for the first time. It was life-changing.
I did well incorporating some of the suggestions in the book for a while, and managed to pay off all my student loans and then some within just . . . → Read More: Frugal Friday – The Envelope System
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