We all want to live and look like our favorite influencers and celebrities. Unfortunately, most of us don’t earn enough money to go on fancy vacations and wear the latest designer fashions. But luckily there are ways to indulge your expensive taste on a budget. Here are some tips I use to inject a little luxury into my lifestyle without breaking the bank. Train Like
How To Adjust Your Budget To Account For Inflation
Inflation reached a 40-year high in May of 8.6%. The price of food is up 10.8% and gas costs an average of $4.88 a gallon. These drastic price increases have caused many Americans to feel financially strained. I’ve been finding it hard to stick to the budget I created two years ago. If you’re frequently going over your budget too, it may be time to
6 Things I Won’t Cut Back On To Save Money
In order to save money, you have to exercise financial discipline and eliminate some luxuries. It probably isn’t possible to meet aggressive financial goals while ordering takeout every night and shopping on Amazon all the time. I’m willing to live a simple, modest lifestyle to have financial security. But there are some things I won’t do to save money because they’re too much of a
Should You Donate Money To Charity?
Deciding whether or not to give to charity is tough. You want to give back, but can you afford to donate if you’re in debt or having trouble saving for retirement? You may also be worried your donation won’t make a difference, especially if you can only make a small contribution. Some charities spend as much as 80% of donations on overhead costs. Depending on
How I Save Money on Household Items
One of the biggest surprises when I moved out on my own for the first time was how much cleaning supplies and household goods like tissues cost. The average American household spends $40 to $50 per month on cleaning supplies and $60 per month on personal care products and services. But luckily you don’t have to spend $1,300 per year just to keep your home
Why I’d Rather Buy Things Than Experiences
In the past decade, consumer attitudes have shifted from valuing things to experiences. Nearly 80% of consumers worldwide would rather spend their money on experiences than material goods. Instead of buying a shiny new car, most people want to travel, go to concerts, and make memories with family and friends. Some studies have shown that spending money on special events tends to make people happier
Is Collecting Things a Waste of Money?
Recently I learned about a popular brand of pottery I’d never heard of before called Rae Dunn. It’s sold at retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s and is always in demand. People line up at stores that sell it before they open hoping to score some new pieces. There’s such a big market for these products that flippers are able to make a profit by
How Much Should You Spend on Decorating Your Home?
Because of the pandemic, we’ve all been spending more time at home, which has shifted our financial priorities. Instead of investing money in travel and experiences, Americans are spending more on home improvement projects than ever before. In 2020 alone, consumers spent a combined $420 billion on renovations to turn their houses into their dream homes. Before quarantine I didn’t understand the importance of home
How I’m Coping With Rising Inflation
If you’ve noticed that you’re spending more than ever on gas and groceries, you’re not alone. Over the past year, consumer prices have increased by 5.4%. Annual inflation usually sits at around 2%, so this is a big change for all of our budgets. Although wages have been increasing in many industries due to labor shortages, experts say that they may not be rising fast
How to Determine If a Sale Is Actually a Good Deal
This year many retailers have had sales to compete with Amazon’s Prime Day. These blowout sales have helped me get some pretty great deals on furniture to finish decorating my home. But in order to snag the best prices, I’ve learned that you have to do your research. Unfortunately, not every sale is as good as it first appears. Sometimes stores artificially inflate the retail