Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

  • Home
  • About
  • We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Powered by Genesis

Search Results for: budget

An Update on Our 2023 Financial Goals

September 4, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Mount Fuji in the background with a woman in a kimono facing the mountain in the foreground

Back in December 2022, I shared two big financial goals my husband and I had for 2023. The good news is that we’ve partially achieved those goals, but as usually happens with life, not in the way we had imagined nine months ago when we set the goals.

Goal #1: Prioritize Domestic and International Travel

Our goal in December 2022 was to travel both domestically and internationally.

Domestic Travel

Domestically, I wanted to travel to Maine. Unfortunately, that did not happen. We did not travel domestically this year and likely won’t next year, either.

International Travel

Internationally, we wanted to save money for a trip to Europe. (We knew we wouldn’t take that trip in 2023 but wanted to save for it.) Unfortunately, we were not able to do this, either.

However, we did take our family on an 11-day trip to Japan to visit my husband’s family for the first time since our kids were born. (They’re all teens now.) We found out in January 2023 that my father-in-law’s cancer had returned, so we set aside our other travel goals and prioritized traveling to visit my husband’s family, and we’re happy we did!

Goal #2: Buy a New Car for Mostly Cash

Side view of a Toyota Corolla Cross

We saved for a new car for several years. Regrettably, the market was hot. when we needed to buy the car. If we could have waited until the market stabilized, we would have, but we couldn’t.

I would have loved to have bought another minivan, but that was outside the budget. Instead, my husband and I decided on a Toyota Corolla Cross.

We wanted to take out a car loan for $10,000 or less but had to go a bit higher. The car price fit our budget, but we neglected to consider the expenses beyond the sticker price such as tax (wow, was that a lot!), a warranty, and gap insurance. We ended up with a car loan of $16,800. We’ve had the loan for six months now, and the balance is down to $15,041, so we’re making progress on paying it off early.

While we’re disappointed that the car loan wasn’t smaller, we’re also excited that we were able to pay a significant chunk down on the vehicle. Ideally, by the time we need to buy my husband a replacement vehicle, we can put even more down on his car so that over time, the amount we need to finance gets smaller and smaller each time we buy a new vehicle. (We keep our cars until well over 200,000 miles, so we don’t buy cars frequently.)

Final Thoughts

I’m happy that we accomplished our two primary goals for 2023—traveling internationally and buying a new vehicle. Like so many things in life, our plans didn’t work out exactly as we hoped. However, travel worked out better than expected because we prioritized seeing family we hadn’t seen in over 20 years. We created memories with older family members; Europe and Maine can wait a few more years.

Read More

Why Buying a Toyota Sienna Was One of Our Best Decisions

4 Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

Haggling or No Haggling When Buying a Car?

Filed Under: Goal Setting Tagged With: financial goals, new car, travel

How Routine Care From Professionals Helps You Avoid Significant Costs

August 31, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

You may be facing a significant amount of financial responsibilities and challenges with costs rising every day. As a result, looking for ways you can avoid substantial costs is the best strategy when trying to stay out of debt. Routing care, like many valuable approaches, is often overlooked. This article will take a look at how routine care from professionals can help you take care of your finances.

Oral Health Maintenance Saves on Dental Bills

The preeminent way to prevent costly dental issues is with regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Catching dental problems early can spare you from more complex and expensive procedures. The good news is as of 2023, in the United States, there are 185,897 dentists’ businesses, according to IBISWorld.

You never know when a dental emergency will pop up. Routine dental care helps identify potential issues before they escalate into emergencies. Find local dental professionals in your area who work with most insurance providers so you can get the care you need without having to break the bank.

Prevent Water Emergencies to Save Home Damage

According to JB Water Damage Restoration, industry estimates suggest that 14,000 people in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency every day. In addition, 98% of basements will suffer some amount of water damage. Regular maintenance of plumbing systems prevents the need for costly water damage restoration. This variety of maintenance can identify leaks while allowing you to address water issues quickly. Look into affordable basement waterproofing contractors in your area as well to avoid issues regarding flooding.

Safeguard Assets through Professional Care

Regular check-ups with a healthcare professional detect health issues early. In the same way, routine maintenance for your possessions can rescue you from unexpected expenses. This type of maintenance often looks like oil changes for your vehicle and tune-ups for appliances.

Reviewing your insurance policies falls under necessary personal routine maintenance. Included in this review process should be consulting legal advisors for finances. This step provides protection when you need to be within legal standards and requirements. These measures help you stay financially stable and out of debt.

Roof Maintenance Prevents Whole House Destruction

According to Bob Vila, the average homeowner pays over $9,000 for roof replacement services. To avoid these costly replacements, make good use of routine roof inspections and maintenance. These result in the ability to identify minor issues before the damage becomes significant. If you find concerns, you can repair them at a small percentage of the cost of a complete replacement. When repairs are no longer feasible, find a roofing company that offers discounts for replacements.

Create a Culture of Responsibility with Finances

When you embrace routine professional care, it’s reflective of a mindset of proactive financial responsibility. Even better is that this mindset expands to many aspects of life, including budgeting and investing. When you don’t protect yourself properly, significant cost increases can lead to increased debt. When you invest time into your routine care, you can reduce the possibility of being caught unaware of financial setbacks. These scenarios may result in borrowing money, leading to further debt.

Choose Professional Expertise to Assist You

The right professionals do more than help you make informed choices to save money. They’re instrumental in your overall financial stability. This type of routine care supplies peace of mind. Ask your family and friends for referrals in order to feel confident in hiring routine care providers in your area.

Incorporating routine care from professionals into your life creates a strong foundation for a healthier financial future. Routine care serves as a powerful tool to steer you clear of debt and achieve financial freedom. Utilizing these measures today helps you be proactive. You will find you’re working towards an unshakeable and prosperous tomorrow.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Being Wise With Your Spending

August 16, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Living on a budget can be challenging, but it’s often necessary when you’re trying to pay off debts and regain control of your finances. Remaining on a budget while trying to pay off your debts may seem like a balancing act. Here are some guidelines for paying off your debt – along with some advice about handling some future expenses you may need to face.

Your Financial Situation

It would be best if you planned to prioritize paying some of your more financially challenging debts. Putting your focus on these debts can make it easier to understand how much money you have for other financial needs. Your next priority should be paying any high-interest debts, including credit cards. Having the ability to build your credit back up and use it for other expenses can give you some wiggle run when unexpected costs arise. If you need assistance understanding how to prioritize your debts, be sure to schedule a meeting with a financial advisor.

Spending Strategies

Once you’ve begun paying off debts, focus on handling some of the expenses that will arise. For example, even if you have medical and dental insurance, you’re likely to have medical or dental bills that aren’t covered by these policies. According to Four Corners Orthodontics and Dental, over 90% of adults in the United States have at least one cavity. Many avoid receiving the routine care that they need because these expenses aren’t always covered. Having money set aside for these appointments is a wise strategy.

Consolidating Debts

One popular strategy for resolving debts is consolidation of debts. To consolidate, you’ll need to secure a personal loan for your debts. These loans often have a lower interest rate than other credit cards. A similar strategy uses a balance transfer card which is often interest-free for up to 21 months. Talk to a financial expert to learn more about these options and if they’re right for your unique situation.

Need Furniture?

You may need furniture when you move to a new home or if anything within your home breaks. According to Statista, U.S. furniture sales in November of 2021 were over $13 billion. However, before buying new furniture, see if you’re able to have your living room set reupholstered.

Many popular furniture stores today have outlets that offer their merchandise at lower prices. You can find bargains that are of good quality. You can also check consignment stores, where secondhand furniture will be of higher quality.

More Ideas ,

Another money-making strategy gaining momentum is a “side hustle.” A side hustle is a job you do in addition to your regular job. Many companies today offer jobs you can do from home. Examples include online tutoring and medical transcription. These jobs often have flexible schedules and allow you to choose your hours.

Increase Your Property Value

While doing your best to live by your budget and pay your debt, don’t forget your financial future. When it’s time to sell your home, you’ll want to sell for the best price. Securing a better property value means spending available money on things to help increase your property value. One of those purchases could be a steel door.

Although businesses use steel doors more often than homeowners, they’re also becoming popular for residential properties. Buying steel doors provides very secure and durable doors. According to the Family Handyman, you can expect up to a 75% return on your investment when you replace your door with a steel door. Talk to a contractor today to learn more about steel doors and the benefits they have for homeowners.

While you may find it frustrating to live on a budget, keep your end goals in mind. Using your wise spending strategy will help you achieve those goals. Take control of your finances before they’re able to control you.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • …
  • 170
  • Next Page »
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Improve Your Credit Score

Money Blogs

  • Celebrating Financial Freedom
  • Christian PF
  • Dual Income No Kids
  • Financial Panther
  • Gajizmo.com
  • Lazy Man and Money
  • Make Money Your Way
  • Money Talks News
  • My Personal Finance Journey
  • Personal Profitability
  • PF Blogs
  • Reach Financial Independence
  • So Over Debt
  • The Savvy Scot
  • Yes, I am Cheap

Categories

Disclaimer

Please note that Beating Broke has financial relationships with some of the merchants mentioned here. Beating Broke may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize the links located throughout the content on this site and generate sales for the said merchant.

Visit Our Advertisers

Need to change careers? Consider an Accounting Certificate Program from WTI.