When it comes to budgeting, it’s easier to focus on cutting small expenses here and there to save money. Canceling a subscription to a streaming service you no longer use or cutting down on your Starbucks pitstops are all simple steps you can take to reduce expenses. But let’s be real – your most significant savings will come if you cut costs in the most expensive areas of your budget. This can help you significantly impact your financial picture without sacrificing too much. In this article, we’ll discuss which areas of your budget you can cut down on to create the greatest impact and provide tips and strategies on how to do it.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top three areas that Americans spend the most in are housing, transportation and food.
Housing accounts for 33% of total expenses, followed by transportation at 16% and food at 12%.

Additionally, tax expenses are another key area where we can save more if we plan wisely. I like...

Most of us will experience grief during our lifetime. Losing someone or something you love can be a devastating experience and can leave a permanent mark on our lives. Often, there is also a financial aspect to our grief. The fusion of money and suffering creates strong emotions that affect our mental health and our relationship with money. This emotional turbulence can be overwhelming and difficult to manage, especially when you’re feeling lonely and stressed.

Let’s explore the challenges of financial grief and some practical steps for coping after a loss.

Struggling with Limiting Beliefs

Limiting financial beliefs or money habits may rise to the surface during times of grief. For example, you may believe that "good karma" will take care of your finances. Or you may question why you, a good person, should have to experience financial struggles.

These are some limiting beliefs you may struggle with during these times:

1. “Money is unimportant" - When I...

The harsh reality is that most of us weren't lucky enough to be blessed with parents who talked openly about finances in the home and ensured that we were equipped with the foundational education needed to know how money works and build wealth. The reasons may vary, and this oversight, in most cases, occurs because they never had this conversation with their families growing up. While we may brush this off as adults, the discussion around the money mindset is more significant than we realize; it has layers of emotions surrounding it. And as adults, we have to dig deeper!

As a certified financial planner who has experienced this misfortune and the lack of education on money matters, I am writing this post to share this emotional journey and connect with you regarding your challenges in maintaining and managing your finances. Maybe you were like me, grew up dirt poor, or experienced financial challenges mixed with loads of debt in your marriage (yes, we've been there too). I'm...

Did you know that there are a number of different benefits to saving for a car – both financial and non-financial? 

If you really work towards it, saving up for your dream vehicle can help improve your mental and emotional health and your relationships with your loved ones. 

If you’re desiring instant gratification from that new or new-to-you car sitting in your driveway, it may not seem worth it to save up for it. 

But…when you recognize how incredibly rewarding it would be to have that car sitting in your driveway with NO payments (or a very low payment if you choose to finance it with a larger down payment), you may think again before hitting the car lot just yet! 

Non-Financial Benefits of Saving Up for a Car 

Picture this: You head into the car lot, knowing exactly which vehicle you’re looking for. You know how much that vehicle is worth, and you’re clear on what you’re willing to spend to get that vehicle....

Empower your kids with essential money skills: Budgeting, decision-making, savings, and financial responsibility. Prepare them for a successful future

A monthly budget is a foundational piece for healthy finances. Teaching your children how to budget will serve them throughout their lifetime, especially because it’s never formally taught in schools as a part of the curriculum. 

That being said, guiding your child on how to create and manage a budget doesn't have to be difficult. One good way to help your children learn how to handle money is through early hands-on experience. How do you do that? By involving them in the family budget!

Why You Should Start Involving Your Kids in the Family Budget? 

Teaching intelligent money management and budgeting to your children will touch every aspect of their lives:

• They will gain confidence in themselves and learn good decision-making skills
• They will know how money works in the real world and how to put it to good use
...

Does Your Approach To Money Honor Your Faith?

Have you ever noticed that on the US currency, on the front of coins and the back of bills, there is the statement “In God We Trust?”

Our currency is a reminder of how we, as Christians, should approach our finances.  “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10.

As Christians, we hope and strive to align our finances with God’s Word. But, unfortunately, we can fall short of meeting His will if we are not intentional with our money.  

How we spend our money is an indicator of where our heart is. And too often, we choose to serve ourselves first. We are not honoring God and we feel ashamed when our church asks for an offering, and we have nothing to give. 

But the truth is that we choose our actions, and we can direct our spending in the right direction with just a little bit of...

So, you're getting hitched! You're making what you hope will be a lifelong commitment to the one you love through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, now and until death do you part. Sounds heavy? Well, it is! And the best way to make it less heavy is by getting the leading cause for marital splits out of the picture: money fights. 

Financial disagreements are among the top 3 causes for divorce, along with infidelity and basic incompatibility. That's why it's crucial to get started on the right foot by addressing any potential money issues upfront, discussing short and long-term goals as a couple, and having open and intentional conversations about money. By doing so, you can avoid unnecessary stress and focus on building a strong and lasting partnership.

Before we go further, bear in mind that money is a very sensitive topic for some people. Why? Because it's personal, and it's based on what you've been taught by people you respect and trust, like your parents....

Children are a blessing, but they can be expensive to raise, especially if you need to put them in daycare.

Daycare is an investment in your child’s life. Finding a childcare provider you know, like, and trust can be a challenging process. Tack on the high expense of childcare, and it is no wonder you feel nervous and exhausted before you even begin. 

But the good news? With some intentional planning, you can prepare yourself financially for daycare expenses.

What To Consider When Searching For The Right Daycare

I remember the million questions and what-ifs that circled my mind during our daycare search for our first child. Naturally, you want someone who will provide consistency for your child when they are not with you. But at the same time, you also want to pay a rate for their services that is realistic for your wallet. 

As you prepare for daycare expenses, here are some things to consider: 

• Home or Center Care – Both care options have their...

The long-term success of a business is dependent on several variables. As a business owner, you need employees you can put your faith in and lean on 100%. You need efficient processes and systems that help you save time and money. And you need a solid marketing strategy, so you can get the word out there and attract more clients.

But what truly keeps your business going at the end of the day is its ability to make and manage money. And even though it can sound intimidating (especially if you don’t have all the details figured out), the truth is that there are some simple, tried and true tools that you can employ to get ahead of the game and improve your probability of success!

Today, we’re going to discuss five of them!

Tip 1: Identify Your Key Business Goals 

If you find yourself actively worrying about cash flow management, it might be a sign that you need to sit down and review your business goals. Why, you ask? because you’re probably...

A holistic financial wellness program can help your congregation in more ways than one. It can help church members heal their relationship with their finances, align their money habits with their spiritual values, and become generous givers and grateful stewards of God's Kingdom. 

Further, financial wellness programs can also be beneficial for church leaders. They can help church leaders save time and energy they would've otherwise spent solving their congregation's financial problems, leaving them free to focus on other important church matters. 

Here are 3 key reasons why a financial wellness program can make a world of difference to your church and congregation.

1) Reduce Church Members’ Financial Stress 

One of the biggest benefits of hosting a holistic financial wellness program in the church is having less stressed church members. 

Growing up, most of us weren’t even taught basic financial...