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This is a sponsored article. Budgeting is an essential task for every family. It helps keep finances on track, reduces stress, and promotes financial growth. Whether this is your first or nth attempt at making a sustainable budget for your household, this guide offers valuable insights that can make the process more productive and less…

We just passed through July. And the amount of Christmas movies that were available on TV and streaming services was insane. (No, I still don’t watch TV or have any streaming services, but my parents do and we put on movies for my mom almost daily.) So, of course, I started thinking holidays. And with travel so expensive and me trying not to spend any money if at all possible…well, I got to planning and talking with the kiddos. And travel is booked! We’ve got a busy fall… August – girls and I have Beauty’s bridal shower (I will travel to GA for a long weekend.) September (end of the month) – I will drive back to GA to stay and help with final wedding prep. October – everyone converges on GA for Beauty and Redwood’s (that’s what I’m going to call her fiance here) wedding November – Thanksgiving when we all have traditionally gone to Texas. December – Christmas when we have all traditionally been in Georgia at our home. So much has changed. And is changing. It’s good. Us at Thanksgiving in Texas last year. The Holiday Travel When I made the initial move to Texas, I told the kids that I would plan to be here for Thanksgiving, but didn’t know about Christmas. As I’ve hunkered down and gotten focused, I’ve decided that outside of the probably 2-ish week trip for Beauty’s wedding, I don’t plan to do any additional travel this fall. The kids have all decided what their holiday plans are now, and we’ve booked most of the travel. (All with points, so far – yeah!) Beauty and Redwood are going to come to Texas for Thanksgiving. It will be his first time around the extended family for a holiday. (They travelled here last year and he met everyone, or most everyone.) They want to spend Christmas in their own home which I fully respect. The twins and Princess are going to come to Texas for Christmas. One twin was planning to come for Thanksgiving, but when he learned that his brother couldn’t come then, he switched so they could be together. Gymnast lives here in Texas so he will be here for both holidays. All this travel is booked except for Princess as she won’t know her dates until she begins working in her permanent office later this month. My dad got Beauty and Redwood’s flights using points and I got the twins’ Christmas flights with points. To keep the holiday flights as economical as possible, we avoided heavily travelled dates and booked return flights on holidays. We will figure Princess’ out when we get dates. But my flight points are completely depleted now. Total we spent $11.20 on each child’s ticket for a total of $44.80 for all 4 to travel to and from Texas. Now I call that a win-win! Excited to see all my kids…a

Click Here to Read the Transcript for This Episode George Kinder is an author, international thought leader, and founder of Kinder Institute of Life Planning with more than 35 years of experience as a financial planner and tax advisor. George is dedicated to guiding individuals in uncovering their deepest values and leading more fulfilling lives. His ultimate aim is to promote greater freedom in every aspect of existence. In this conversation we discuss:  The importance […]

Budget-friendly Paris tips and cheap ways to explore the city without overspending. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it also has a reputation for being one of the most expensive. But what if we told you that you could sip wine for less than you would at home, wander […] The post Paris On a Budget: 17 Money-Saving Tips To See More For Less appeared first on The Thought […]

You know how it is. You set yourself a big hairy goal such as paying off the mortgage or achieving financial independence (FI). And initially you’re bursting with enthusiasm. It’s all systems go: “Project GetMyLifeBack you are cleared for launch.” .memberful-global-teaser-content p:last-child{ -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); } This article can be read by selected Monevator members. Please see our membership plans and consider joining! Already a member? Sign in […]

You’re having a baby! This is such an exciting time.  I created this frugal, minimalist baby must-haves article to help you figure out what you actually need for a new baby, so you don’t overspend or buy things you just won’t use. Now, if you’re anything like me, you might be experiencing slight dread at … Read more

Penny for your thoughts? Not if you’re learning how to live frugally! Frugal people don’t just pinch pennies. They put them through bootcamp! I’m amazed how they save without giving up their lifestyle. Lucky for us, I know the secret, and it isn’t abstaining from your spending habits! It all boils down to spending wisely…. Read More The post 20 Things Frugal People Never Spend Money On appeared first on FinSavvy Panda.

Here’s a list of 50 frugal fall recipes that are budget-friendly and perfect for enjoying the season. I have tried to find recipes that are close to what I make at home. I have only included recipes my family would actually eat. I am not a recipe blogger and usually adjust all recipes for what … Read More about 50 Frugal Fall Recipe Ideas The post 50 Frugal Fall Recipe Ideas appeared first on Budgets Made Easy.

Can you believe it is already time to start thinking about fall activities! I just can’t believe school is already starting and that summer is basically over. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love fall because it is getting cooler, the leaves change, and there is so much fun stuff to do. I … Read More about 20 Frugal Fall Activity Ideas for Families The post 20 Frugal Fall Activity Ideas for Families appeared first on Budgets Made Easy.

As physicians, we spend so much of our lives learning how to take care of patients. But when it comes to managing our money? That part’s completely left out of training. And for most of us, by the time we finish med school, residency, and maybe even fellowship, we’re years behind when it comes to building wealth. So it’s no surprise that one of the most common questions I get from doctors is:“Should I hire […]

Retirement planning is a big part of your financial preparation and strategy. Your 401(k) is one of the best retirement investing accounts you have and so easy to set up through your employer. Add on tax free or tax deferred growth and matching employer contributions and you’ve got a retirement planning powerhouse. However, among the biggest retirement planning mistakes includes ignoring your 401(k) and forgetting to contribute to your workplace retirement account. Following are the 9 biggest retirement planning mistakes to avoid. Most of these 401(k) mistakes can be avoided with smart retirement planning and help from professional retirement consultants. 401(k) Mistakes That Can Cost You  Most experts agree that a 401(k) is one of the smartest ways you can save for retirement. But here’s the catch, about one-third of middle-class Americans are dipping into their retirement funds before actually retiring, according to a 2025 Transamerica Research study, “Retirement in the USA: The Outlook of the Workforce”*. If you do that, you could be putting your future financial security at serious risk. Withdrawing from your 401(k) before you turn 59½ typically means paying a 10% penalty in addition to any income taxes owed. That one decision could cost 30%+ of the amount withdrawn. These are some common retirement planning mistakes to avoid: 1. Being Unaware of Types of 401(k) Accounts When it comes to 401(k) accounts, most people can choose between two main types: traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k). The difference between them can have a big impact on your retirement strategy. With a traditional 401(k), your contributions are made before taxes, so you lower your current taxable income. However, you’ll pay taxes later when you withdraw money from your 401(k) in retirement. This can offer major tax advantages today, depending on your current tax bracket. A traditional 401(k) might be a good choice if you believe that you’ll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire and start your withdrawals. On the other hand, a Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax income, which means that you pay taxes on your income before funding the Roth 401(k). When you retire, your 401(k) withdrawals, including any investment growth, are completely tax-free. This account might be good for you if you anticipate that tax rates will go up in the future or that you’ll be in a higher tax bracket in retirement. 2. Failing to Make Saving a Regular Habit It’s easy to think you’ll start saving later when you feel more financially secure. But, if you don’t save enough, skip contributions to a 401(k) or fail to gradually increase your 401(k) contributions as your income grows, it could seriously impact your retirement savings in the long run. The good news is that it’s simple to get started. You can set up your 401(k) to automatically deduct contributions from your paycheck, so that you’re saving and investing automatically. Many plans also let you schedule automatic annual increases to your contribution rate. This way, you’re contributing a greater amount each

Reinventing yourself in midlife can feel thrilling, but many hopeful pivots stall before they start. Shaky foundations, hidden costs, and outdated assumptions often trip up even the most determined. Without a clear roadmap, financial cushion, or support network, enthusiasm alone dries up fast. Recognizing common pitfalls turns hindsight into foresight. Addressing these challenges up front […] The post 19 Things That Secretly Undermine Your Midlife Pivot Plans appeared first on Wealthysinglemommy.com.