Budgets
Taking Your Finances From Good to Great: Part Four
Friday, January 28th, 2011
One of the best business books I’ve ever read is “Good to Great.” It’s a research-based look at why some companies, after battling it out neck and neck with their competitors for many years, suddenly surged ahead to achieve remarkable, sustained success. As I read it, I couldn’t help but see many ways that the ... [Read more]
5 Comments » Which Household Budget System Is Best For You?
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
A Cash Flow Plan (budget) is the single most powerful personal finance tool anyone can use for wise money management. But this is not a one-size-fits all proposition; there are different planning and tracking systems, each with its own advantages. Here are the options, along with my recommendations as to who would benefit the most ... [Read more]
Taking Your Finances From Good to Great: Part Three
Friday, January 21st, 2011
Do you have a compelling vision of your financial future? And, to go along with that vision, do you know the truth about your current financial state? If you’re going to achieve uncommon financial success, you need both. In this third installment of my look at how the lessons from the business classic “Good to ... [Read more]
How Much Should I Spend?
Tuesday, January 11th, 2011
Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a strong believer in the use of a budget. Once you start tracking your income and expenses, the next logical question is how much should I spend on food, fun, and all the rest. That’s why I developed detailed recommended spending guidelines for one-, two-, three-, and ... [Read more]
One Habit That Will Greatly Improve Your Finances
Friday, January 7th, 2011
What if there was a single step you could take to greatly increase your sense of financial control and confidence, decrease your financial stress, free up money for generosity, increase your savings, and speed the process of getting out of debt? What if this single step was available to you no matter how much money ... [Read more]
The Year Ahead at MattAboutMoney.com
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
I’m excited about the start of a New Year, the opportunity to pursue some important new goals, and the opportunity to share ideas with you on how to live with the freedom and joy that come from getting the money thing right. As we reset the calendar, this seems like an appropriate time to explain ... [Read more]
Getting Started With the Most Powerful Personal Finance Tool Available
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
I am an unabashed, unapologetic, unceasing believer in the power of a budget. I know that many people cringe at the mere mention of the word. They think it’ll be restrictive, constraining, and, heaven forbid, work! It will take some work – that’s for sure. But the benefits are so great that I believe everyone ... [Read more]
The Practical Challenges of Making a Budget Work
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
I recently received a question about budgets that I’m guessing may be applicable to many other people. Here’s the issue in the person’s own words: Yes, we have put together a budget, but making it work for us is a different story. Do you have an easy-to-use system for spending money each month? Our problem ... [Read more]
The Ugliest Dog in the Personal Finance Pound Finally Gets Some Respect
Friday, November 19th, 2010
Budget. The mere mention of the word makes people cringe, gnash their teeth, bang their head against the wall, or slump in their chair. When I ask workshop participants who comes to mind when they think of a budget, I get responses like The Grinch, Scrooge, and Dwight from “The Office.” One person even said, ... [Read more]
I Will Not Overspend, I Will Not Overspend…
Monday, November 8th, 2010
Navigating the many temptations of the holidays can be a challenge. It’s a time when a lot of people overspend, overeat, and miss out on all that makes this time of year so meaningful. When I teamed up with the Market Research firm Synovate a couple of years ago to conduct a Holiday Regrets survey ... [Read more]
