Debt Free Life Hacks: Managing Money Like a Boss

So it's settled; another round of stimulus checks are making way to the mailboxes and bank accounts of eligible individuals. Don't know if you're eligible? Find out more by visiting the Economic Impact Payments page on the IRS website.  Extra Money, How will you spend it? Depending on your circumstances, this extra check can help in various ways. If you suffered a job loss or a cut in hours, the extra money could help you make ends meet. If you are fortunate to still be doing okay during these trying times, the check could help you in other areas. The key is not to be wasteful.  Here are some ideas on how to spend your stimulus check for those without an urgent need: Emergency Fund  💰- If you do not already have a fully-funded emergency fund, consider putting some or all of your stimulus check into an existing emergency fund. If you do not have one, start one with these funds.  Pay Down Debt ➖- Have some bills or debt you need to take care of? This is an excellent o...

 Happy New Year!  It is now 2021, a new beginning. Did you reach your financial goals last year? Maybe, maybe not. If you did, that's great! If you did not, that is alright too. Successfully reaching last year's goals should give you a feeling of accomplishment and, hopefully, the motivation you need to keep going. If you were unsuccessful, that's no reason to give up. You have to figure out where you went wrong and come up with a plan that really works. Maybe you set the goal too high; maybe you were hit with some unexpected expenses. These things happen, and that is no reason to quit.  Setting Financial Goals Every year, I set some type of financial goal. A few years ago, I learned about a savings plan to increase your savings amount by a dollar each week. Week 1 - save $1, week 2 - save $2,  week 3 - save $3, etc. This became my travel fund. I would save all year and use the money saved for vacation and travel. The second time I did it, I decided to increase each ...