There’s an old management dictum that says “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. This holds true not only in business but also with personal money management. A common mistake is to only take stock of your situation when you’re already feeling financial stress. You can avoid a lot of worries by keeping track of … Read More
When you go in for your annual physical, the doctor will look at certain numbers to determine how healthy you are. Meaningful numbers to doctors are your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels, and your body mass index. If any of those are at harmful levels, your doctor will give you advice … Read More
Managing your money involves not only tracking your spending, but also monitoring the timing of your expenses. If you’ve never mapped out important financial dates, I recommend getting a regular calendar, preferably one with plenty of room to write on it, and go through this exercise: Mark down the dates that you receive income including … Read More
In my last post, I talked about how budgeting is viewed with disdain by virtually everyone. I also mentioned that before attempting to work out a budget, it’s important (if not essential) to begin by tracking your expenses for at least one month so you see how you’re really spending your money. Today, let’s take … Read More
The “B” word. Budgeting. Uggggh! (slight shudder). Budgeting is probably one of the most hated words in personal finance topics. I can honestly say I have NEVER met anyone who likes budgeting. I’m not even sure I’ve met anyone who is lukewarm on the subject. If budgeting is seemingly universally disliked, it begs the question … Read More
In my last post I talked about how, during the process of settling your spouse/partner’s estate, you’ll have to go through all of the financial and business accounts. While doing so, it’s a good time to take stock, tally everything up, and do a check of your own net worth. It’s also a good time … Read More
In my last post, I talked about the struggle a surviving spouse has when they realize that they are now on their own financially. I talked about how couples make their goals and plans with a “we” and “our” perspective and how difficult it is to adapt to flying solo. I mentioned that this adjustment … Read More
