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Budgeting and Goals Articles

Learn how to set and stick to a budget to achieve your financial goals.

Learn About Budgeting and Goals

Check out these articles to get tips and tools for creating and maintaining your budget so you can get where you want to be.

All Budgeting and Goals Credit: Score and More Family Finances Fending Off Fraud Paying Off Debt Personal Finance 101 Homeownership Retirement
Image for tile. How Your Healthy-Eating Resolution Saves Calories and Money To get tips on mindful eating and spending, we talked with Jessica Thiefels, a full-time blogger and ACE Certified Personal Trainer, as well as an NASM Certified Fitness Nutrition specialist and the owner of her own personal training business, Honest Body Fitness in San Diego. If you made a resolution to eat healthier this year and need a boost to keep going, get excited because it turns out you’ll save a lot more than a few extra calories. You Eat Out Less Often The top expense for most people is eating out. In fact, 2014 data reveals the average American spends $232 per month eating food prepared outside the house. When eating healthy, however, a restaurant is the worst place to be. With no idea of how much salt, butter, dairy, and oil goes into a dish, you could be eating double or triple the amount of fat you should have in one day. You soon come to realize that eating in is not only less stressful because you control the ingredients and portions, but that it’s saving you hundreds of dollars a month. Planned Eating Cuts Down on Food Expenses When eating healthy, it’s important to plan your meals and snacks in advance so that when your 3 pm craving rolls around, you can reach into your trusty stash of almonds nearby to avoid hunting for sweets instead. This healthy eating strategy helps you save at the grocery store. When you know what you need, you can buy just that. All too often we buy more than is necessary and end up tossing it. This is a nationwide problem, with 40% of food in the United States going uneaten. This means we throw away the equivalent of $165 billion dollars each year, according to the National Resources Defense Council. By planning your healthy meals for the week, you waste less and save more. Vegetables Are Versatile Vegetables are not only some of the cheapest items in the grocery store, but they can be used in so many ways. Save money and time by buying them when they’re fresh and freezing some for future meals, or by simply buying them frozen to begin with. “Frozen vegetables are a lifesaver and can 4 min read
Assortment of cleaning products and supplies on wooden floor 5 Steps to Kick off Your Spring Cleaning It may be hard to believe, but spring is just around the corner. We’re here to guide you through the spring cleaning process one step at a time. 3 min read
Row of cars in a car sales lot Buying Your First New Car: What to Know It’s a moment to savor: getting your first vehicle, enjoying the new-car smell, taking pride in ownership. Here are some things to consider before you sign on the dotted line. 3 min read
Image for tile. Where Your Locally Spent Dollar Goes [Infographic] An illustrated look at what happens when you spend a dollar or two in your hometown. 1 min read
Loung chairs and pool outside house Are Timeshares Worth It? We’ve all heard it before: the timeshare pitch. But timeshares can’t be all bad, right? If you’re considering a timeshare purchase, take the time to weigh the pros and cons. 3 min read
Grilling at summer weekend 8 Ways to Save at Your Summer BBQ In the South, we take barbecues seriously—whether it’s smoking a whole hog or grilling franks with the family. And with the warm weather, it’s even harder to resist firing up the grill for a feast, but you’ll get more out of each party if you find ways to save a few bucks each time. 4 min read
Hand handing a lightbulb to another hand on a ladder 10 Easy Ways to Save On Home Energy Costs Looking to save on home energy costs? You could shell out big money for new, more energy-efficient appliances. You could move to a more energy-efficient home. Or, you could start with the low-hanging fruit. 3 min read
Base of golf club next to ball with feet in the background Save Some Green on the Greens: Cost-Cutting Tips for Golfers Whether you’re the next Arnold Palmer or just a weekend duffer, there are plenty of ways to save money on the course. 3 min read
Image for tile. 5 Tips for Safely Managing Your Finances Online Online banking is not completely without risk. Here are a few simple tips to help you safely manage your finances online. 2 min read
Life Hacks to Save Money 10 “Life Hacks” That Will Save You Money View our list of 10 small things you can do to help yourself cut costs and get the most out of your purchases. 3 min read
Image for tile. 10 Tips to Help You Save Money at the Grocery Store Here are 10 tips that will help you save a little cash each month at the grocery store, no matter how many hungry mouths you have to feed. 6 min read
Image for tile. The Numbers in Pet Ownership Considering a friend of the four-legged variety? You may want to consider these facts and figures before you commit. 2 min read

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