So you’ve got a tax bill. Well never fear, cuz lots and lots of people have them too. Maybe you didn’t save enough, or you had an unexpected emergency and used the money for something else, maybe you got audited and you owe more? It’s ok, it happens. One of the 2 things we’re guaranteed […]
Snowballing VS. Stacking
Often we get the question, what is the best plan to pay off debt? There are two main debt payoff plans that most people are aware of, Snowballing, and Stacking. Snowballing is the process of paying off the lowest debt first and paying the minimum on their other debt. As you pay off the […]
13 Ways to Save For a House
What’s the all American Dream? Why it’s home ownership of course. According to the Census Bureau, home ownership is at a historic low right now, of only 62.9%. Why? Well after coming off of a huge housing bust, many homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure and bankruptcy. Credit was ruined and lives were ruined. Never […]
25 Ways to Live a Frugal Life
It seems that over time, or maybe it’s just me, that most of us strive to simplify our lives. Some of us are born that way, and some seem to acquire it with age, but the truth is, most of us, as we get older, seem to want things to slow down and become more […]
8 Ways to Make an Extra $1000 a Month
Who wouldn’t want an extra $1000 per month? I know I do! Think of the things you could do with an extra $1000/month, or $12,000 a year? Pay off school loans, pay off credit cards, put it away in savings, buy a new car, take a vacation, put it into an emergency fund, start […]
8 Monthly Habits to Curb to Save Money
Are you looking to save some extra money each month? Aren’t we all? Sometimes the easiest way to save money is to stop spending it on things. Sounds simple, right? Well, the easiest way to leave a little more cash in your account is to curb some of our most common expenditures. Now I know […]
6 Ways to Survive An Audit
Dom dom dom!!! AUDIT! I said it, out loud. Trust me, it’s not like Beetlejuice, where if you say it 3x it shows up. We can talk about audit without that dreaded letter showing up. When I got that letter last spring, I was like most people. I started sweating profusely, my stomach hurt, I […]
Money Is The Key To Happiness
Money can make you happy. There I said. I know you’re all thinking that cliche, “but Sara, money CAN’T make you happy, it’s not possible. We need love, and people, and relationships, and cookies, and M&M’s to make us happy” And you’re right. Sort of. But hear me out. I would never prescribe that money […]
How To Start An Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is one of those things that is crucial to good financial health, but most people don’t have. It’s estimated that 39% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $1,000 unexpected expense. I know for myself, at times, this has been true. It’s hard to admit, but I have not been […]
Your Simple Guide to Investing
Interested in Investing? Great news! Investing is the single best way to have huge compounding benefits. While there is always a risk in investing, many a smart investor has made millions with good solid choices. Still confused as to what type of investment is best? Or even what they are? With so much talk about […]
26 Ways to Save on Monthly Expenses
Who wants more money? ME!! You too? Good, you’re in the right place. I’m always looking for places to save money. I’m not intrinsically cheap, but I do like a deal. I don’t use coupons much, but I’m always doing research on lots of stuff to find a good deal. I love the satisfaction I […]
Why You Need an Emergency Fund
Do you have an emergency fund? NO? Well never fear, because you’re in good company with lots of other Americans. Studies show that 39% of Americans don’t have enough in an emergency fund to cover a $1000 emergency. Really? Yep. $1000 isn’t very much. It’s less than most car repairs this day. Less than what […]
Financial Health and Women
So, I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot ladies. What are we doing? Do I mean literally this second, well kinda, but more figuratively. See I’m a 42-year-old, videographer, turned Realtor. I’ve started again, and it’s scary. Not terrifying, but scary. I’m poor. I’m like really poor. I’m working non-stop trying to get […]
What Does CASHTIVATED Even Mean?
So, what does it all mean, and what the hell does “Cashtivated” mean to me? Well quite simply, it means motivated to be outta debt. Motivated to live debt free Motivated to be financially independent Motivated to have choices Motivated to feel free and unencumbered to debt or people Motivated to have the time with […]
13 Simple Ways to Pay Off Debt
Paying off debt is one of those things that we all seem to dread. I mean, we’re all kinda in the same boat, right? I know I am. Debt is one of those things that unfortunately many of us, are still struggling with. If you’re like me, and the majority of Americans are, we are […]
What is an Envelope Budget?
What is an envelope budget? I asked myself that same thing a few years back. I’d heard people talking about it and I thought to myself, are they really using envelopes? Really just putting cash in them? Doesn’t this seem counter-intuitive to our digital society? Well, guess what? They were right! It WORKS. One of […]