personal finance in a coupon blog

When it comes to getting married, most people have the basics covered. Where they'll live. Whether or not they'll have kids. What color dinner plates they'll register for.

The one thing that many don't discuss before walking down the aisle is their finances. In fact, studies have shown that nearly one in five couples don't talk about their financial situation until after marriage, and a full 15% don't even discuss it after they get married. "Before walking down the aisle and saying 'I do,' there is a long list of wedding to-dos for brides and grooms," says ING retirement coach Barbara Taylor. "Often left off the wedding checklist are financial to-dos like getting on the same page about debt, retirement savings or money values, and mapping out the finances of your life and retirement dreams."

Having these important discussions ahead of time will help you build a strong foundation with your partner, says Taylor. So what exactly should you be discussing? Taylor shares her top six discussions to have here. Read More »

(photo credit: Newton Free Library)

If you're anything like us, the arrival of spring conjures up images of open windows, sun-filled days and, of course, spring cleaning our finances.

Even if that last one's not on your list of 'Top 10 Reasons to Celebrate Spring', it should be. That's because the arrival of a new season is a great excuse to do some tidying up—both in your house and with your finances.

Spring cleaning your finances doesn't have to take a long time, either. In fact, here are five things you can do right now to help your finances, each of which would take five minutes or less to accomplish. Read More »

Did you know taxes are due right around the corner?

Of course you did, and you're probably almost done preparing everything as well. However, before you file them away and checkmark that box off your to-do list, ask yourself one question — are you totally prepared to file?

We spoke with Thomas D. Fisher, CPA, LLC and asked: What are the top five tax mistakes people make every year?

Check out what he told us, and be sure to get your own ducks in a row before signing those magical slips of paper. Read More »

One of the hardest parts of buying a house is saving for the down payment. Most down payments are anywhere from 10 to 20% of the total house price, and the more money you can put down for a down payment, the less interest you'll pay over the course of your mortgage.

Saving that much money can be hard, of course, but not impossible. Here is a step-by-step guide to get you off on the right foot. Read More »

Let me start off by saying, I am a new homeowner. After years of renting, my husband and I were able to finally save enough money to put a down payment on our new home.  The question we consistently asked ourselves throughout renting was if we were making the best decision for our future (financial future).

We wanted to feel like we were investing in something versus throwing our hard earned money away.  However, the constant lingering question in the back of our heads were the responsibility of owning something and if we would be able to handle it financially. We would be responsible for property taxes, all utilities, gardener, maintenance and any breakdowns in the home, and the list went on.

When we finally bought our home, within the first month, we ended up spending over $12,000 of our savings to replace the back roof, adding a vent to our tankless water heater inside our garage, getting rid of the shrubs in our backyard, pest control and taking care of a backup in our plumbing. Yes, this happened all at once, prompting my husband to want to put our home on the market.

After experiencing renting and owning, I've come up with the pros and cons of both: Read More »

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January.

It's the time for resolutions and wishes, promises and new beginnings. The thing about the New Year's Resolution is that we're always left feeling really badly when, at the end of the year, we haven't been able to keep them.

That's why this year we decided to come up with five super easy, super actionable New Year's resolutions that will be simple to keep, but that can make a big difference in our personal finances throughout the year. Read More »

I've been known to be a bit of a complainer about my family's financial situation.

With my husband out of work and my freelance income in constant flux, my household exists in a permanent state of financial anxiety.

At least we're in good company: it seems like all our friends are in similar straits, though some folks just seem to have a can-do attitude about money management. We're all scrimping and saving, but not everyone has the desperate, fearful attitude that marks my interactions with the cost of living.

One thing I have done to reduce anxiety a bit is to ramp up my bargain shopping. Read More »

By now your kids are probably geared up for school, and everyone is in the process of getting used to a new schedule (hopefully). The last thing you need is to have your child wake up one morning with a high fever or, even worse, that dreaded call from the school nurse telling you to pick up your ill child ASAP.

Come on! School just started!

Still, many parents find themselves dealing with a sick child early into the school year. Read More »

You already know why you should have ongoing discussions about money with your child.

It teaches kids to be responsible with spending and saving. They can learn from your mistakes. It sets them on the path for financial success.

On the flip side, your kid doesn't need to know everything you're thinking, at all times, when it comes to finance. "There is no question that bombarding your kids with facts, feelings and information about money all at once, or too early, can be overwhelming for children," says Jaclyn Weitzberg, CFP®, President of Money MindEd, a financial education company for parents and teens.

So what should you keep to yourself? Below, experts comment on when to stay mum … and when it's appropriate to share.

1. What You Earn

The first time your kid asks how much you earn, you may freeze. Read More »

Stretching your food budget is as easy as learning to take those leftovers that usually get pushed to the back of the fridge and using them to create a new and exciting dish. The key to doing this successfully is planning your meals to take full advantage of everything in your kitchen. Following a few simple rules will ensure that you don't end up with a refrigerator full of plastic leftover containers.

Plan Ahead

There are literally thousands of ways to take main course leftovers and turn them into something dramatically different. One of the easiest ideas is making tacos, which can be done with shredded beef, chicken or even turkey. Soups are another easy transformation for a former main course meat. The tried and true pot pie is also a great choice. Read More »

Extreme Couponing is coming back for another season on TLC, bringing with it even more attention on some of the negative perceptions of the couponing world.  When you get weird looks in the store for walking around with a coupon binder or having a stack of coupons at checkout, you can thank some of the more "extreme" people who tend to get lots of attention on TV.

In reality, most couponers are ethical, use coupon etiquitte, and don't displace their children's play areas for paper towel storage.  Here are a few myths people believe about people who use coupons, and some ideas for setting people straight.

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