Living the Budget Balancing Act and Coming Out Ahead

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Living the Budget Balancing Act and Coming Out Ahead

These days, most of us are doing a funny dance. It’s called the budget balancing act and it can make many of us feel crazy at times. However, keeping a budget and balancing it with the rest of our lives is a responsible and worthwhile enterprise. Budget balancing means taking responsibility for your finances, living within (or better yet, below) your means and coming out of it with our sanity intact. Here are some tips for living the budget balancing act and coming out ahead.

Make your budget real by putting it into real numbers

Many people make the mistake of thinking of their budget in abstract terms. “I’m on a budget,” you might tell a friend who asks you to accompany her on vacation, or to an expensive dinner. Most of us are on such a “budget.” But what does it really mean? Take your budget out of abstract terms and make it real. Sit down and do the math, as hard as it can be. Many of us avoid taking a good long look at our finances because it can be too hard, especially if we suspect we are deep in the red.

It’s time to take control, and taking control means having the courage to sit down and take a good look at your finances. Take out your bills. Are you in debt, and if so, how much? Be honest and don’t overlook any accounts. Lying to yourself about debt is not helpful or necessary. If you are not in debt, but perilously close, figure out why. Most numbers don’t lie. Are you spending too much on housing? Is that extra car payment eating away at your budget? Are your child care costs soaring? Know your budget inside out—what you can and can’t afford, how you pay for things, your debt and credit score, and savings.

Keep a log book

If a log book sounds too technical for you, just think of it as a notebook where you keep your records. Make a note of your earnings, saving, debt and purchases. Think of your log book as a place where you can do your math. Your log book should be private and a place where you feel free to jot down notes, calculate interest rates and keep financial notes to yourself.

If you haven’t already, set up your bank account online

Almost every bank in the world now allows its customers to keep an online account. If you haven’t already, set up your account. This is an easy way to manage your accounts, check balances and make payments. Set up an automatic bill payment. This is an easy way to make sure that your payments are always made on time. Many credit card companies and banks will even send you email reminders and payment confirmations if you so choose.

Avoid debit cards if you’re on a strict budget

Debit cards are a convenient and safe way to pay for everyday purchases. They can also be very dangerous if you are on a strict budget and you are trying to save. If you are serious about saving money, forgo your debit card for a while. Once you have constructed a good solid budget, on pay day, head to your local bank or ATM machine. Withdraw enough cash to make necessary purchases and then tuck your debit card away somewhere safe. This is a surefire way to stick to your budget.

Check your interest rates

If you have credit card debt, do you know how much you are paying in interest? Especially if you are juggling several accounts, it can be easy to forget or overlook interest rates. How much exactly are you paying on purchases and balances? Check with your credit card for this information. If you have long-standing accounts in good standing, try to lower your interest rate.

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◦	Saving Money
◦	Living Debt Free
◦	Four Areas of Life to Downsize and Realize Money Savings
◦	Living the Budget Balancing Act and Coming Out Ahead
◦	Many Easy Ways to Save Money and Lighten Your Debt Load
◦	Negotiating Your Way to a Better Deal Without Breaking Your Budget
◦	No-Nonsense Tips for Living Within or Below Your Means
◦	Penny-Pinching Tips for the Fresh Faced College Grad
◦	Shiny New is Overrated: Buy Used to Save Money
◦	Six No-Nonsense Ways for Living Below Your Means
◦	Smart Ways to Cut Costs and Realize Savings Each Month
◦	Don't Deny Yourself
◦	Get Married Without Going into Debt
◦	Having a Bit of Summer Family Fun Without Any Debt on the Run
◦	Helpful Hints on How to Avoid the Debt of the Holiday Season
◦	How to Take a Family Vacation and Still Live Within Your Means
◦	Ways to Find Money For Those "Extras" Without Dipping into Your Savings
◦	Daily Money Saving Tips
◦	Boost Your Savings Account with These Garage Sale Tips
◦	Eight Ways to Save on Your Drug Prescriptions
◦	Five Easy Snack Makeovers to Save on the Grocery Bill
◦	How to Dine Out on Occasion and Still Make Your Budget
◦	Nine Nifty Ways to Earn an Extra $100 Bucks a Month
◦	Seven Painless Pointers for Lowering Bills and Living Below Your Means
◦	Seven Simple Ways to Save Money Today
◦	Stay Financially Fit with These Grocery Shopping Tips
◦	Saving BIG on Household Expenses
◦	Cheapie Ways to Stretch Your Dollar in the Bathroom
◦	Energy Tips to Keep You from Maxing Your Household Budget
◦	Kitchen Item Recycling Tips to Save Some Money
◦	Live Within Your Means and Still Get Good Furniture
◦	Saving Money in the Long Run: Get the Right Home Insurance
◦	Water Saving Strategies to Keep Your Pocketbook Padded
◦	Saving BIG on Car Expenses
◦	Eight Ways to Save Money on Gas Without Going in Debt
◦	Pocket Extra Cash By Avoiding These Silly Car Wastes
◦	Six Savvy Car Shopping Moves to Keep You From Breaking the Bank
◦	Bargain Baby & Child Care
◦	Baby Bargains For the Budget Conscious
◦	Cutting Expense Corners During Baby's First Year
◦	Get Back to Work with These Money-Savings Childcare Options
◦	Saving Money Living Green
◦	Conserve Energy and Reduce Your Bill with This Great Advice
◦	Freecycling a Great Way to Avoid Accumulating Debt
◦	Going Green and Still Living Within Your Means
◦	Smart Money Management Advice
◦	Avoid These Major Money Missteps and Stay Out of Debt
◦	Five Money Ways to Simply Your Life and Breathe a Bit Easier
◦	Importance of an Emergency Fund and Ways to Fund It
◦	Manage Your Money with These Simple Solutions
◦	Realize a Bigger Paycheck by Plugging These Money Draining Holes
◦	Saving Big Time with These Unadvertised Secret Deals
◦	Seven Smart Tips for Living Below Your Means Comfortably
◦	Simple Ideas to Buck the Economic Downturn and Flourish
◦	Ten Ways to Simplify Your Life and Lower Debt
◦	The Wants vs. Needs Battle and How It Affects Your Budget
◦	Three Banking Tips to Keep Money… In the Bank!
◦	Top Ways to Increase Your Net Worth
◦	Saving For College
◦	College Savings/Investment Options
◦	Can You Afford It?
◦	Community College: A Financial Head Start on Education
◦	Get the Family Involved
◦	Getting Started Saving For Colle
◦	How Much Does It Cost?
◦	Important Steps to Take When Saving for College
◦	Is It Too Late To Start?
◦	Options To Think About
◦	Required Steps to Set up a Coverdell ESA for College
◦	Roth IRAs: A Viable Option for College Funding?
◦	Savings Plan Considerations
◦	The Ins and Outs of Controlling a Coverdell ESA
◦	The Pros and Cons of the Coverdell ESA for College
◦	Viability of US Savings Bonds to Fund College
◦	What Are Your Options?
◦	Why Save For College?
◦	Why In-State Colleges Should Be a Financial Aid Solution
◦	College Funding/Grant Options
◦	Federal PLUS Program Smart Move for College Funding
◦	Free Money for College: How to Find It
◦	Funding Options for College Bound Students
◦	Helpful Hints for Identifying College Scholarships
◦	How Federal Work Study Programs Come into Play for College Funding
◦	The Scoop on Pell Grants for College Education
◦	Wading Through the Financial Aid Options for College Students
◦	What About Scholarships?
◦	What Is Financial Aid?
◦	Student Loan Options
◦	Co-Signer and No Co-Signer Loans
◦	Credit History and Student Loans
◦	Interest Rates, Now and Future
◦	No Credit Loans
◦	PLUS Student Loans
◦	Private Student Loans
◦	Seeking Loan Advice
◦	Stafford Student Loans
◦	Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans
◦	The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
◦	The William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
◦	Your College Loan Options for the Future
◦	How Students Can Help
◦	Financial Know-How for New College Students
◦	Graduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid: Similarities and Differences
◦	How Federal Work Study Programs Come into Play for College Funding
◦	Paying For College From the Student Standpoint
◦	529 Savings Plan
◦	What Is the 529 College Plan?
◦	A Glimpse into the Independent 529 College Plan
◦	Overall Benefits of the 529 College Savings Plan
◦	The Lowdown On Prepaid vs Savings 529 College Savings Account
◦	The Scoop about 529 Penalty on Refunds
◦	The Skinny on A 529 Plan: What It Is and Where to Fund It
◦	Top FAQs Regarding the 529 Plans
◦	What the Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities (TIPS) Means in the 529 Plans
◦	Important 529 Plan Considerations
◦	529 Plan's Future When College is Not in the Future
◦	Are 529 Plans Necessarily the Best for Everyone?
◦	Getting Past Contribution Limits For 529 College Savings Plans
◦	Keeping Track of your 529 College Plan Contributions
◦	More Than One Kid: Why Two 529 Plans are Better Than One
◦	Opening a 529 College Savings Plan for You a Possibility?
◦	Pros and Cons of Pre-paid Tuition vs. 529 College Saving Plan
◦	Quirks About Getting Education Loans Even with a 529 College Plan
◦	Sound Reasons For Multi-State 529 Contributions
◦	Switching from Your UTMA/UGMA To A 529 Plan
◦	The 529 College Savings Plan as an Estate Planning Move
◦	The Medicaid-529 College Plan Debate
◦	What Contributing Grandparents Need to Know about 529s
◦	Why Prepaid Tuition Plans May Not Be So Great These Days
◦	Your Investment Options with the 529 College Plan
◦	529 Plan and Your Taxes
◦	Changes Made To The "College Kid" Tax Rules
◦	Good News - Bad News on 529 Gift Tax Situation
◦	Learning about State Tax Deductions with 529 Plans
◦	Tax Savings For 529 Plans Even If College Has Started
◦	What the $12k Gift Tax Exclusion is All about in Terms of 529 Plans
◦	State By State 529 Options
◦	A Look at Mississippi's 529 College Plan
◦	A Sunny View on Florida's 529 College Plan Options
◦	States that Come Close to the 5-Cap Rating with 529 Plans
◦	Top Three States With The Best 5
◦	What’s Up with 529 Plans in Texas?
◦	Why Consider Out of State 529 Plans?
◦	Related Content
◦	Currency
◦	Family Budget
◦	Living Wills
◦	Offshore Banking
◦	Ways to Save Money
◦	401k Plan

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