The sun is shining, the pool is refreshing, and you’re (hopefully) taking time to relax and enjoy your friends and family.
It seems unnatural to be thinking about reindeer, stockings, and cold weather. However, we all know the dreaded feeling we get when we put off Christmas planning until November. If you start budgeting now, you’ll have the time to be intentional with your finances and relieve that end-of-year stress.
Read MoreAs the old adage goes, “you need to spend money to make money.” But how do you know if you’re making the right decisions with your business spending?
Understanding expenses vs. investments is key. It’s important to be intentional about your business to keep your expenses from spinning out of control, but it’s also necessary to know when your business needs an infusion of capital to make meaningful strides forward. Keep reading to learn the 3 questions you should ask before every investment.
Read MorePlanning for college costs in advance can reap tremendous benefits for your child. Instead of having an average of $28,950 in student loans to tackle when they graduate, they can put their money to work for their futures. Without college debt they can use the money they earn to start investing in their retirements, continued education, or even begin saving for a home.
If you’re interested in how to avoid college debt and want to make sure your child isn’t one of the 43 million Americans with student loan debt, read on to find out what you can do to help!
Read MoreWhen you first set out as an entrepreneur, being your company’s chief financial officer (CFO) may not have been top of mind. But even if you’re not a numbers person, have no fear!
We’re here to help you avoid common small business money mistakes — and figure out what to do if you’ve already made them.
Read MoreAs a small business owner, you know the pressure to succeed can be… heavy. And because no one else can take responsibility for your business, that burden can feel both overwhelming and isolating — especially when you depend on your business to support your family and your livelihood.
I get it! With so much on the line, it can be easy to let fear take over when it comes time to make important business decisions. But ironically, this fear can actually prevent you from reaching the success you so desire.
As it turns out, there’s a name for this sense of fear in the world of business and finance: loss aversion. Keep reading to learn 4 ways to prevent it.
Read MoreMaybe you’ve gotten the hang of planning for your monthly business expenses. Your internet bill, monthly subscriptions, and software all have a place in your budget. And each month, you pay the bills on time. You’re feeling good! You’re a business owner, and you’re taking care of business.
But then, all of a sudden, another expense shows up. The yearly fee for your website. The cost to renew your LLC. After years of reliable companionship, your computer finally breaks down.
Unlike your fixed monthly costs, these expenses don’t have a spot in your budget. They don’t have a pile of money with their name on it, waiting to be spent. So how do you efficiently plan for them?
Read MoreKids are notorious for misunderstanding money. To them money is always available and everything they see around them is fair game for mommy to buy! There is a good reason for this.
The mind of a child in the earliest years is primarily formed through the process of observation. Everything they see and hear helps them to form their understanding of the world. Take a second to think about what this means to most children…
Read MoreWhen you want to reach a specific goal in other areas of life—like running a marathon or starting a business—it’s common to consult a coach. A coach can help you take a huge goal and break it down into doable steps, all while cheering you on and celebrating your progress.
A financial coach can do the same for those financial goals you’ve been struggling with. Sometimes all it takes is getting some help to show you how successful you can be. If you’re ready to see success in your financial life, working with a financial coach might be the perfect first step.
Read on to see if a financial coach might be what you need to skyrocket your success and reach your goals sooner.
Read MoreWhen you think about rich people, ultra-wealthy business tycoons like Bezos, Musk, and Buffet probably come to mind. But you don’t have to be a multi-billionaire or even a multi-millionaire to be wealthy. “Average” people all around us are wealthy—you may just not realize it because they don’t live flashy lifestyles.
Read MoreWhen you run your own business, the line between what’s personal and what’s business-related can blur. But when it comes to finances, you’ve got to draw the line. Yes—your business and personal finances are intimately connected, but as a successful small business owner, you need to keep them separately organized if you want to live with financial ease.
Read MoreOne of my favorite exercises at the beginning of a New Year is sitting down to reflect and set informed financial goals for my business and personal life. This month, I invite you to join me by analyzing your current spending and figuring out how to find extra money in your budget to reach this year’s goals.
Read MoreThink of all the words you’ve used to describe your budget. If the terms “complicated,” “confusing,” “time-consuming,” or “outdated” come to mind, that’s okay! You certainly aren’t alone. The truth is, budgets are hard. Not only do you have to set up all of your accounts and categorize your expenses, but you also have to monitor, analyze, and adjust your budget regularly to reflect your true spending needs and habits.
If you routinely fear that you’re running out of money or that you don’t have enough to bankroll your biggest priorities, then keep reading. While you might be struggling with budget problems right now, after reading this article you’ll be able to diagnose and amend your budget so you know where incoming money is going before it even arrives.
Let’s be honest, when it comes to building a profitable business, the learning curve is steep.
Navigating the new terrain will be easier if you focus on the right goals from the beginning. And one of the most important goals is to focus on is how profitable your business is.
Focusing on profitability will help to prevent your dreams from becoming a cash flow eating nightmare.
Read MoreIf you’re one of the lucky ones who continued to grow throughout the pandemic, you may find that your business has extra money in the budget as you’re doing your year-end financial reckoning. This can be a good opportunity to pay yourself more, increase the stability of the business, or invest back into the business.
It can also be a great opportunity to give back to your community and say thanks. If you’re feeling so inclined, here are six ideas for how to give thanks with extra money in your budget this year.
Read MoreRemember the old adage; businesses who fail to plan, plan to fail. By completing the steps in this year-end financial checklist, you can rest easy knowing that you’re creating a plan for success. You can’t improve what you haven’t measured, and this checklist will help you measure all the right things for year-end planning and improved forecasting.
Read MoreMay can be a season of change and chaos, but don’t let these seasonal expenses surprise you!
Read MoreThe average American family of 4 spends anywhere between $580 and $1300 on their food budget every month. And if you’re like most families, you spend that and then another $300-$500 eating out. This can often cause waste in the household groceries from the intentions to the actions.
Food is a common place we get caught up in spending….most people are either eating, wearing or driving their retirement, and in this case, I want to talk about when we’re eating it.
Read MoreIt’s officially fall in Western Pennsylvania! The air conditioning has been off for a few weeks, pumpkin flavored everything is in full swing and the cooler temperatures are setting in. And October this year has another benefit for many Americans, a 3rd paycheck.
What most people are inclined to do is pay off large amounts of debt with that extra pay. Was that what you were thinking too?
Read MoreIf I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it 100 times. Why would I rent when I can buy and pay less? I can be building equity. I’m throwing my money away by renting.
Read MoreDon’t forget these top 8 items most commonly missed when doing the May budget. And if you’re a lucky winner of the extra paycheck this month, make sure you spend it with intention!
Read More
