Thriftism

What is the big deal with budgeting? It seems like everyone is talking about it, but they don't always mention why it is important. Creating your first budget might sound like a lot of work, but we will walk you through it and help you understand the why and how of it. Let's start with the why.   WHY???   Creating a budget is important for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that creating a budget means creating a spending plan for your money. This ensures that you have money for things you need or want. By having a plan for your money, you will be much less likely to go into debt and be able to begin chipping away at your current debt. It also keeps you from spending money you don't have. It is so easy to swipe that card, but if you're not tracking what you're spending, you may end up unable to pay the bill at the end of the month. When you're tracking your spending, you're also more likely to kick those bad spending habits. What doe...

Are gas coupons worth it? YES! The number one argument I hear is that you don't really save that much for all the hassle you go through to use a coupon. That is pure laziness talking. How often do you buy gas? Whether it's once a week or once a month, those savings can really add up--Think of getting a free tank of gas every year. Or maybe hit up the dollar menu once a week since we don't eat out much while following a tight budget. Possibly it still doesn't sound like much, but those little savings (gas, groceries, survey earnings,etc) are really what keep my budget alive some months. When you're set on saving or paying off loans, a couple dollars goes a long way. Gas coupons are awesome because they are fairly easy to come by as well. Coupons really aren't that difficult to use and walking into the gas station, well that can be an excuse to move around a bit. No one gets enough walking in these days anyway. :) I've listed a few places that you can obtain...