Personal Finance Blog Posts- Page 6 of 6 - Big Picture Budget Big Picture Budget |

Gyms are too expensive. I can’t get in shape!

Just because gyms are expensive doesn't mean you can't get in shape. Explore 4 inexpensive workout options & how to get the most value from your gym membership.

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Gyms are too expensive. I can’t get in shape! This is an excuse, not a fact. If you’ve ever uttered this phrase, I hope you weren’t serious. Just because gyms are expensive doesn’t mean you can’t get in shape. Don’t get me wrong, gym memberships range in price and can certainly cost a good bit of money, but there are plenty of ways to get in shape without using cost as a convenient excuse. The Mayo Clinic states that working out even as little as 10-15 minutes at a time can have huge health benefits in lowering stress and anxiety.

With focus increasingly being put on self care, make sure to make some time for you. In addition to the physical health benefits, working out can also give you some time to think or even be a way to be productive and do something fun at the same time. You should pick the form of exercise that you will most enjoy. It could be a workout class or video, walking beside your friend while you talk about what’s new in your lives, spending some time walking with your dogs, or even walking while listening to music or a podcast you really enjoy.

Friends on a budget

Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you have to sit at home alone and not ever have any fun. Enjoy 8 ways to enjoy friends without spending much money.

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Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sit at home alone and not ever have any fun. There are lots of ways that you can enjoy fun with your friends without spending a ton of money. I’ll honest, I’ve been budgeting for over 10 years now and while my budget doesn’t allow me to go to expensive events every week, I still manage to have plenty of fun and find things I enjoy. Here are 8 ideas of how to have fun with friends without spending an arm and a leg to get you started.

Read moreFriends on a budget

Goal setting power

Aren’t goals just ideal things you want, but that never really happen? There’s a reason goals haven’t worked out for you in the past and, even more importantly, there’s a way to make them work for you now. HUGE big picture goals with no specifics on how you're going to accomplish them are nearly impossible.

Should I even bother setting goals? Aren’t goals just ideal things you want, but that never really happen? If this sounds like you, keep reading, there’s a reason goals haven’t worked out for you in the past and, even more importantly, there’s a way to make them work for you now. When I think about goals, I think about the things that you talk about on New Years Eve and you’ve forgotten about by January 3rd. Think about some common New Year resolutions: I want to lose weight and get in shape. I want to make more money. Have you ever made one of these resolutions? Can you really say you’re surprised that you didn’t follow through?

For starters, those are HUGE big picture goals with no specifics on how you’re going to accomplish them. When you think about how to achieve the goal, is it clear what your first step should be? Do you have smaller goals that will help you achieve your big picture goal? Did you write them down? Have you found an accountability partner such as a friend or family member who will help encourage you to succeed? Do you know why you even want to achieve the goal? So how do you change your goals so you succeed?

Life versus debt freedom

A lot of experts will tell you to live as poorly as possible to pay off debt as quickly as possible. I’m here to tell you that they are definitely right, but that isn’t the path I took. Sure, I cut out a lot of indulgences and monitor my spending very carefully, but I also want to enjoy life and be in a good mental and emotional place. I definitely could have saved money by living with my parents (or any relatives) after college graduation, but I had been dreaming of moving to North Carolina and honestly the thought of another Boston winter sounded absolutely miserable. I made the choice to follow the path I thought was right for me and am so unbelievably glad I did. Will it take me a bit longer to get out of debt? Yes, but it’s a trade off. As long as you are caught up on minimum debt payments, I think it’s important to listen to expert opinions (after all, there’s a reason they’re the experts), but also to really reflect on your own personal situation and make sure you choose the path that is right for you.

Student loan struggle bus — All aboard!

Are you riding the student loan struggle bus? Do you feel buried in loan debt and unsure that you’ll ever be able to escape? Well believe me, I know the feeling well. If you haven’t experienced it firsthand, I’m not sure you can fully understand how horrifying it is to have student loans more than 5 times your annual salary and over $30,000 more than your mortgage. Lucky for you, I’ve been there. As a matter of fact, I’m still buried in student loans and trying to dig myself out. The good news is that in the 5 years since I graduated college I have made progress and I’ve learned some tips and tricks about how to figure out what you owe, how to make a game plan and how to stay motivated even when getting rid of the debts seems impossible. In the last 6 months I’ve made extra payments and been able to knock over $15,000 off of my loan balance. And if I can do it, so can you.

I’m engaged!!! Now what?

You’re engaged, congratulations! Now what? Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. I’m sure you’ve already started getting questions about when the date will be. I know that I was asked that question the second I announced I was engaged. Try to keep calm through the questions and don’t panic if you haven’t set a date yet. Enjoy your moment. The rest will come. There are tons of ways to save money on a wedding, but today let’s focus on some basics on how to get your dream wedding.

Actionable advice towards big picture budget goals

You have to keep your big picture goals in mind. Break goals into actionable pieces to help you achieve your big picture goals.

You have to keep your big picture goals in mind. Popular personal finance experts will give advice that includes things similar to: sell your house and your car and move into a studio apartment walking distance to work with 6 roommates or quit your rewarding non-profit job that you love and go get a better paying job. While this advice will definitely get you out of debt quickly, a lot of people just aren’t going to follow it. The extreme advice will make people shut down and just keep doing what they’re doing. I’d rather have more realistic recommendations that are actionable and help you achieve the big picture goals. It’s also important to mention that suggestions may work perfectly for some people and be just completely unrealistic for others and that’s ok. That’s what makes it PERSONAL finance. You have to evaluate any advice based on your situation and determine if it’s a fit for you.

I just looked at my money and… UH OH

Have you realized that something with your money just isn’t the way you want it to be? Do you have a budget and stick to it?
Maybe you realize that no matter how hard you try, you’re always spending all of the money in your bank account. Maybe you don’t have a bank account. Maybe you have 5 different credit cards and they are all maxed out. Maybe you just looked at your student loan balance and had a panic attack. Once you recognize that something about your money isn’t the way you want it to be, you’ve already taken the first step towards fixing it. Whatever the situation, if you want to change it, you can. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but keep moving through these four steps and you’ll get through it.

Decrease your expenses now- 8 ways to lower your costs

Make a good amount of money, but your expenses somehow end up being that whole amount? Ever think it’ll be impossible to save money when you make as much as it costs you to live? Have you wondered if budgeting is something that could help you? You may not need to spend as much each month as you think. Follow the steps below to lower your expenses.

Want to make more money? 8 ways to increase your income

8 ways to increase your income and make more money

Do you want to make more money? I’m not sure anyone has ever said, “No, I have plenty of money.” Have you considered a side hustle? Have you ever felt like you just don’t have enough money to get ahead? These 8 suggestions will increase your income so you have extra money. Not all of these suggestions are right for everyone. That is, after all, what makes it personal finance. Take the suggestions that work with your life and leave the rest.