budgeting Archives - Money Smarts

The surprising psychological effect of tracking your expenses

Have you ever felt stressed out over finances? You’re not alone. Nearly two-thirds of Americans report that money is a major source of stress. Studies show that insurmountable debt may be even more stressful than divorce or the death of a close friend. Financial...

Budgeting, Money, Save It

Your 7-Day Financial Game Plan

My favorite saying in the finance world is “personal finance is personal.” We all come from different backgrounds with money, and no two people handle their finances the same way. Our lens from which we view money is created over time by our parents, our...

Budgeting, Save It

The Real Costs of Pet Ownership

They say dog is man’s best friend, and they’re not wrong. A dog — or any other pet, really — can bring love, joy and companionship to its owner and improve their quality of life. Simply petting an animal releases oxytocin — the feel-good hormone — and lowers cortisol...

Budgeting, Spend It

5 ways to Save on Common Pet Expenses

It’s no surprise that having a pet can mean transferring money from the “fun” category of your budget to “vet” and other categories you never had before. The costs of pet ownership are many — and they’re not cheap. But having a pet, as almost any pet owner will tell...

Budgeting, Save It

How to Prepare Your Finances for 2022

If 2020 seemed to drag on forever, 2021 was a lightning strike. It’s hard to believe we’re drawing to a close on another year, but time moves regardless of whether we want it to or not. This year was a wild one from the start for me, personally. I signed a...

Budgeting, Save It