Fall is here, and with it comes family get-togethers, decorating, and maybe even gift purchases. Usually, these activities result in more expenses added to your fall budget. Make the most of your budget and the time you spend with family and friends by incorporating cheap or free activities into your fall bucket list. Here are a couple of my favorite low-cost fall activities. Shop At A Thrift Store Fall is the season for pulling out your light jackets and long pants. If you need to update your wardrobe or if your children have outgrown their old clothes visiting a thrift store for gently used or new items can save hundreds of dollars. Let's face it, kids are constantly outgrowing their clothes, and buying new clothes to replace them next fall can create a continuous cycle. Walk the aisles of your local thrift store to find some hidden gems. Decorate Your Home Advertiser Disclosure It's essential to check your current stock of fall decorations before purchasing new ones for your home. Take an inventory, see what you have on hand, and find creative ways to add to your autumn decor. Get creative by visiting your local dollar store or checking out unique finds on Etsy to limit your costs. You can also revisit the thrift store and see what valuable finds you may have left behind. Attend A Fall Festival Many cities have fall festivals and pumpkin patches that are free to enter. These family-friendly outdoor festivals allow you to meet the local craftspeople, listen to live music, visit food trucks and vendors, and even play children's games. More importantly, you will be able to purchase a pumpkin a two for your fall treats or decorating delight. If you've been stuck in the house for too long this year, attending a fall festival is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. Bake At Home Now that you've selected the perfect pumpkin, it's time to start baking. There are a couple of seasonal pies that are perfect for the fall. After you've carved your pumpkin, visited an apple orchard, or shelled some pecans, you can bake a pie for any upcoming get-together. There's nothing like a homemade pie when you're gathering with your family, friends, or coworkers. Watch Classic Fall Movies Ad Setting time aside to bundle up by the fire or with a warm blanket to watch your favorite fall classic is an excellent way to enjoy the fall season. Many television providers like DirecTV, Netflix, and HULU feature fall shows on the home page. So, grab your popcorn and favorite blanket, relax and enjoy the show in the comfort of your own home. See my feature in 5 Baby Items To Buy Used. What cheap or free activities are on your fall bucket list? Leave a comment below. Need more ideas? Check out Unation to find stuff to do in your local area.

Making changes to a few of your daily habits can help fix your budget and create a stress-free financial future. There are benefits to creating a spending plan and setting goals for the future. A couple of advantages are less stress around financial uncertainty, increased funds for emergencies, and even the ability to travel by paying cash for vacations. Let's take a closer look at how you can control your financial future, identify financial priorities, and increase your income. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Identify Your Income And Expenses Write down your income and expenses. Your income can come from multiple sources, especially if you are a business owner or consultant. When creating a budget, use income from steady sources, like a paycheck, disability payments, or pensions. Your monthly expenses could include your rent or mortgage, insurance, car loans, gas, utilities, groceries, and more. 2. Define Your Goals After you have identified the surplus income that you have, you can create your financial goals. Goals can be short-term, mid-term, or long-term. If you are single, establish your goals and identify someone who can keep you accountable for achieving them. If you have a significant other, you can plan your goals together. Some couples also find it easy to have individual savings goals as well. 3. Create A Spending Plan A spending plan can be specific to you. There are two rules of thumb that some individuals use. The first is the 50/30/20 rule of thumb. The second is the 70/20/10 rule of thumb. For example, 50% of your income will go toward your needs, 30% toward your wants, and 20% toward your savings. The key is to set a spending plan and stick to it and make any necessary adjustments as needed. 4. Start An Emergency Fund For the most part, emergencies are unpredictable. Creating an emergency fund for unexpected expenses can reduce the need to use your credit card for emergency events. A good rule of thumb is to set aside three to six months of your monthly income in an emergency fund. 5. Use A Monthly Budget Planner Keep track of your income and expenses using a weekly or monthly budget planner. This will help you identify the money you have coming in and the money you have going out on a steady basis. A budget planner also helps you keep your spending under control and can guide you in adjusting your budget due to fluctuations. 6. Pay Your Credit Card Bill Monthly 7. Cook More Meals At Home Cooking at home is cheaper than eating out at a restaurant. Changing your habit and cooking at least one extra meal a day at home can save you at least $300 a month. Involving your significant other or children in meal planning can help ensure commitment from everyone. 8. Plan Your Grocery Shopping And Meals Planning your grocery shopping can reduce the time that you are in the grocery store. It can also eliminate the need to go down every aisle looking for what you need. Creating a list before leaving home can get you in and out of the store quickly. You can even involve your children in meal planning to develop more creative ideas for family mealtime. To further control spending, schedule your grocery pickup online using an app. Online scheduling can reduce impulse buying that results from browsing the aisles or shopping while you're hungry. 9. Avoid Spending Unnecessarily Avoid making purchases when you are bored or when your emotions are running high. Shopping from boredom can cause you to make purchases that you don't really need. Shopping from sadness, anger, and even happiness can cause you to make purchases that you may end up regretting later. One tip to avoid unnecessary spending is to walk away from your online shopping cart and see if you still want to make the purchase the following day. 10. Start A Side Hustle If your income does not cover your monthly expenses, try and find other creative ways to save. If that doesn't work, you can start a side hustle to increase your income. Most side hustles consist of skills or knowledge that you already possess. So, starting a side hustle can be a seamless transition to taking charge of your financial future and enhance the skills you already have. For more tips and tricks on how to control your finances, schedule a consultation today to learn how a financial workout plan can help.

Do you own a home, or do you want to buy a home someday? If so, it's essential to understand how your debt-to-income ratio can affect how much home you can afford. Understanding your debt-to-income ratio can prepare you to make changes to your current debt and future savings methods. It can also help you achieve the "American Dream" of homeownership. Why Does Debt-To-Income Ratio Matter? Your home can be your largest asset and your most significant investment. Understanding your debt-to-income ratio can ensure that you can afford to pay for a future mortgage and enable you to retain your investment. Evaluating your budget and looking at your current and future financial situation can help you determine how much debt you can afford and be comfortable with. Financial institutions will also use this same method when determining the loan amount you are eligible for. Understanding & Calculating Your Debt-To-Income Ratio What is Debt-To-Income Ratio? Your debt-to-income ratio evaluates how much you owe to creditors compared to your gross monthly income. You can calculate it by dividing all of your recurring monthly debt payments by your before-tax income. For example, if your total monthly debt is $1,000 and your monthly income is $4,000, your debt-to-income ratio will be 25%. Most experts recommend that a healthy ratio is below 35% but that no more than 40% should go towards all debt payments, including a mortgage. Consider this rule of thumb when evaluating your next large purchase. Calculate your DTI Ratio here.

Children are never too young to start learning about money. Most children can understand the concept of money at the age of two. To help you start the conversation with your kids about money, I've found five games that teach your kids about money. These conversations don't have to be dreaded talks but can be made fun by incorporating real-life discussions and games into the mix. Here are five ways you can start playing and learning today. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Games That Teach Your Kids About Money 1. Monopoly Yes! The number one game is Monopoly. Monopoly can show children ways to strategize purchases when it comes to real estate. Monopoly allows you to purchase property, add houses to that property, and ultimately upgrade it into a hotel. Owning real estate and upgrading property can be advantageous in Monopoly because you get to collect rent from those who land on what you own. However, purchasing property can be expensive, and if you don't manage purchases correctly, you may go bankrupt before you can reap the rewards. Try this competitive game and collect $200 when you pass Go. 2. The Game of Life The Game of Life gives you two choices, start a career or go to college. If you choose to start a career, you would also need to pick a salary at the beginning of the game. If you decided to go to college, you would need to get a student loan for $40,000. You will eventually choose a job and a salary. The Game of Life will take you through life choices, and you will need to manage your finances through your career, home purchase, family planning, and retirement. The person who retires at the end of the game with the most money wins! 3. Rich Dad - CASHFLOW for Kids CASHFLOW for Kids takes the conversation a little further by incorporating real-world skills and discussions into the mix. CASHFLOW is not a fast game, so set aside time to have meaningful financial discussions with your children. These conversations will allow you and your child to learn and grow together. What could be better than that? 4. Cash Registers The Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register is another fun resource for children. My daughter requested one of these for Christmas when she was younger. She would create price tags for everything in our home and even charge us at mealtimes. Using a cash register can teach children how to make change, determine what change they should get back, and return change in different coin combinations. This realistic cash register, which includes a debit card, is perfect for today's youth. 5. The Allowance Game The Allowance Game teaches children how to spend their allowance. It's the perfect game for any age, but more specifically for those in elementary and middle school. It helps develop priorities regarding needs and wants and other childhood responsibilities. Do you really need that gum, and do you have the money required to afford it? This game also teaches children to earn money by doing chores and how to make change. Children can understand needs and wants by playing because the game is over once the money's gone. The end result is that having constant money conversations with children can break the 'shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations' curse. Teach child(ren) positive money habits to help them build a solid financial future. What other games can be used to make learning about money fun? Leave a comment below.

Reducing credit card debt could be as easy as changing some of your regular spending habits. For example, you could eliminate your coffee purchases on the way to work. Instead, you can use the company-provided coffee and save over $1,000 a year. What about bringing your lunch instead of buying it from the cafeteria or a fast-food restaurant? I'll be generous and estimate that you could save at least $2,000 a year by packing a lunch instead of eating out daily. I don't want to forget to mention that it's a lot healthier and can decrease your waistline as well. 3 easy steps to reduce your credit card debt and build wealth. Steps to Pay Off Your Credit Cards Evaluate your previous month's credit card bills and find purchases that you could have paid cash for. Make a rule to pay cash for any purchases under $20. Write down your rule and keep it in your car or on your desk at work as a reminder. Follow these three steps to achieve your credit goals and build wealth. Here's a great book that can help you on your credit journey. Your Score: An Insider's Secrets to Understanding, Controlling, and Protecting Your Credit Score (Ad) See How to Get an 800 Credit Score to see how my husband and I built and maintained our credit score.

Getting rid of credit card debt can be done by following three steps. There are many options out on the market that offer credit repair. However, these options do not get to the root of the problem. As a result, you may find yourself in a constant cycle that causes you to work with credit repair agencies. Review these three ways to eliminate credit card debt and/or keep it at manageable levels. 1. Apply For A Balance Transfer Balance transfers allow you to move your outstanding credit card balance from one credit card to another. Sometimes you may have to pay a fee for this. However, the fee can be minimal when you consider that most balance transfer terms are not subject to interest for a certain amount of time. The important thing is to eliminate or reduce your credit card balance to manageable levels before the interest rate increases. 2. Consider Debt Relief Options Credit card companies do not want you defaulting on your payments. Any amount that you can pay towards your balance can keep you from going into default, missing payments, or your balance from being sent to a collection agency. You can contact the credit card issuer to apply for relief options. These options enable you to continue making credit card payments and can even reduce your interest rate for a limited time. Many credit card issuers are even providing relief if you or your family has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Let the company know this, and your fees can be waived, or your payments deferred. See my reference in What Is A Credit Card Charge Off? 3. Create a Financial Workout Plan Working with a financial coach can help you get your budget on track. Creating a workout plan with a trusted accountability partner can help you find additional relief options, ways to establish a budget, build your savings, and how to build your personal wealth. See 4 Reasons Why Your Expenses Are Breaking The Bank.

HR is a constantly evolving field. Changes to federal and state laws can be complex and overwhelming. Networking with other HR professionals enables you to be aware of changes in the industry. More importantly, you can share resources and ideas with other senior professionals. The complexity of laws and workplace situations can become even more challenging if you are an HR department of one. Networking with other HR professionals can enhance your knowledge and ability to tackle any situation you are presented with. How Do You Connect With Other HR Professionals? You can connect with other HR professionals in forums, professional HR organizations, professional networking events, and on LinkedIn. Multiple HR forums enable HR professionals to ask questions and share their knowledge in their area of specialization. By joining local and national organizations such as the Society for Human Resources Management, WorldatWork, and other organizations, HR professionals will attend events and receive valuable information relevant to the industry. Finally, LinkedIn is also a valuable resource that readily allows you to connect and share information, resources, and potential job opportunities. See my reference in 4 Expert Tips for Networking With Other HR Professionals. How Do I Connect During A Pandemic? Connecting with other HR professionals has changed during the pandemic and forced many organizations to use virtual events and resources to share information. Currently and in the future, organizations are offering virtual and in-person options as a means of networking. Some of these events provide virtual meetups before the event begins to enable connectivity. In the past, HR events were only available in person. However, offering a hybrid training method in the future will increase HR professionals' ability to attend events in which valuable resources are shared. 4 Best Practices for Networking Attend professional networking events that are relevant to HR and connect in person with others; Become a valuable resource by contributing to HR forums; Create content and ask questions that lead to value-added conversations; Make genuine connections on LinkedIn and follow up with individuals to get more out of a mutually beneficial relationship. Whatever method of networking you use can enhance your net worth. There's a saying that "No man is an island...every man is a piece of the continent," by poet John Donne. This means that we work better together, and your value and career will prosper through networking and learning from others.

How can you use tuition reimbursement to fund your college education and achieve your professional goals? Tuition reimbursement is when employers reimburse employees for education-related expenses they incur. Employers provide tuition reimbursement for employees to upskill in their current profession. Employees can complete degrees or start degrees that will enable them to enhance their existing workplace skills. Providing tuition reimbursement benefits employers because employees will use the skills learned and apply them to the workplace. How Does Tuition Reimbursement Work? When employees seek tuition reimbursement, they typically seek approval from their supervisor before enrolling in a college or course. You will be eligible to enroll in the class(es) when consent is received. Tuition reimbursement must be applied or benefit the employee's current profession. Electives are allowed if part of a degree program that applies to your career. In addition, you must take courses through an accredited institution for them to be eligible for reimbursement. 5 Ways to Get a College Degree With No Debt When Will I Be Reimbursed? Typically, you will pay for the course, receive a passing grade, and provide your transcript and invoice to your employer for reimbursement. Some schools allow employees eligible for tuition reimbursement to delay payment until after the course is completed. This way, the employee does not have to pay out of pocket. You must receive a passing grade in the class to receive tuition reimbursement. It does not benefit your employer if you do not pass the course. See my reference in Top 10 Things Every College Grad Should Know About Money. How Long Do I Have to Work for My Employer? Some employers require employees to sign reciprocity agreements when applying for tuition reimbursement. These agreements vary by employer and can include a rating scale on what the employee would have to repay the employer if they exit the organization within a specific time. However, other employers do not require employees to continue working for them after course completion. Is Tuition Reimbursement Taxable? The IRS allows for non-taxable tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per calendar year. After the employee exceeds this limit, the tuition reimbursement is taxable and included in the employee's gross income. Do I Qualify for Other Financial Aid, or Need to Fill out the FAFSA? Yes. Employees can complete the FAFSA and apply for any grants or loans for which they are eligible. Grants received do not have to be repaid and can be used before using the employer's tuition reimbursement program. See my reference in Dear Graduate, Here's What To Know About Your Money. How Do I Find Out More? Ask your employer for their tuition reimbursement policy and determine if there is a reciprocity agreement. You should also evaluate if an annual or semester course limit extends your service requirement to your employer if a reciprocity agreement applies. Looking for Companies That Offer Tuition Reimbursement? Google the company and see if their website mentions anything regarding tuition reimbursement. If it is not mentioned on their website, you can always give their human resources department a call and ask.

A side hustle can increase your income and enable you to use the knowledge and skills that you have built over a lifetime. If you work in a profession that can translate into an independent side hustle, not only can you enhance your skills, but it could also benefit you at work. Providing a service to others can also give you a source of internal satisfaction and increase your desire to gain more knowledge to improve your competitiveness in the market. Fiverr Fiverr is one of the growing sites that provides gig opportunities to individuals with graphic design experience. Fiverr uses freelance designers located worldwide to provide low-cost marketing services to customers. More experienced designers can charge an increased rate for their services. If you have experience creating logos, websites, or understand search engine optimization (SEO), Fiverr is constantly looking for sellers. The best part is that you can work with Fiverr from the comfort of your own home. Side Hustles Ideas Canva Canva is the entrepreneur's dream. With Canva, you can create social media posts across multiple platforms. Canva also has a content calendar where you can schedule your posts without leaving its site. Do you have experience creating carousel posts? It's not as easy as you think. If you are a wiz with social media, graphic design, and have a creative eye, many small-business owners would be interested in your skills. See my feature in 10 Tools That Small Business Owners Should Have. Web Design Do you work in a profession where you are required to maintain your employer's website? Or, do you have a small business and created and updated your own website? Hundreds of small business owners have not started a website out of a lack of know-how or fear. I have helped multiple non-profits like D.R.E.A.M. Financial Academy create their website using free resources on the internet. The entrepreneurs that you work with may not know where to start. Providing this service using your knowledge, skills, and abilities can be done with no money and can help you earn between $500 - $1,000 per build. Blogging Writing is a great way to share your knowledge with the world. Picking a topic that you know a lot about can make an impact on your audience. However, when blogging, you should first define your audience, choose a topic that you are passionate about, and ensure that it's a topic that people will be interested in reading. For example, not everyone will be interested in the different grass varieties available in Florida, but they may be interested in ways to eat healthier or manage their finances. So how do you make money blogging? You can increase your revenue stream by authorizing ads on your site through affiliate marketing, offering your business services, and other digital products. Want to learn more about side hustles? Read Hustle Away Debt by David Carlson. Ad

Holiday gift-giving is a time of joy, and the expression you see on someone's face when they open that perfect gift can confirm that you found the perfect gift. Gisele Bundchen stated that "Christmas and the holidays are the season of giving. It's a time when people are kinder and open-hearted." When searching for the perfect gift(s), keeping your budget in mind is also essential. Here are tips to keep your holiday budget on the right track. Budgeting for the Holidays Budgeting for the holidays begins by estimating what you plan to spend for gifts, travel, and food. If you have children, budgeting for presents keeps your budget on track by designating what you will spend on each child. If you have a significant other, agreeing on gift purchase limits for each other can help ensure that one partner doesn't overspend. You can also preplan your travel by budgeting at least six months in advance and establishing a limit for flights, hotel fees, and even souvenirs. Food can be expensive around the holidays because you may spend more time at home cooking with the family. Establishing a menu and meal budget can help keep costs under control. Planning a potluck where everyone is responsible for one dish can help defray grocery shopping costs. Holiday Savings Tips Budget Early You can start budgeting for the holidays early to have money designated for any purchases or travel you or your family plan to do. Preplanning your budget reduces stress levels that tend to increase around holiday time. Most importantly, it reduces the need to pay for purchases using credit cards, which can charge excessive interest rates. Setting a budget for holiday dinners, gifts, travel, and even holiday decorations can ensure you keep your budget on track. Set Price Ranges for Gift-Giving Your budget for the holidays will depend on the size of your family and network of friends. Here are some estimated price ranges that you can use: Gifts for family - $100-$200 Gifts for friends - $20 - $50 Holiday dinners for four - $150-300 Travel - $500 - $1,000 Holiday Decorations $100 - $500 See my feature in How to Budget for the Holidays. Stick to Your Holiday Budget Once your holiday budget is set, stick to it. You can stick to your holiday budget by: Preplanning travel at least six months in advance Shopping around for cost-effective flights and hotel accommodations Establishing price limits for gift-giving Having a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish Reusing holiday decorations

Oh no! Your budget has taken a nosedive, and you don't know where it all went wrong. Trust me, many of us have been here and have not figured out where the money is at the end of the month. There are many reasons why this could happen to you. Here are some reasons why your budget didn't work this month and how you can get it back on track. How Eating Out Too Much is Costing You These costs come from not taking lunch to work and picking up dinner from a fast-food restaurant on the way home. Look at your bank account and see how much money you've spent eating out in a month. To save money, eat breakfast before leaving home and consider taking your lunch. Preparing your meals can reduce your eating out expenses by two-thirds. Tips to Save Money on Groceries How Your Utility Bill Could Cost You Hundreds You may be wasting money by not making repairs to your home. If you have a running faucet or toilet, this can increase your utility bill. Leaving lights on when you leave a room also creates an added expense. Take an inventory of your home and identify needed home repairs causing your utility expenses to increase. Remember, flip the switch when leaving a room. Not Having a Grocery List If you don't have a grocery list when you enter a store, this can lead to impulse shopping. You may not always remember what you need, so shopping every aisle to jog your memory can increase impulse buying. To combat impulse buying, create a grocery list before you leave your home. Having a grocery list eliminates the need to browse every aisle, and you can reduce your monthly grocery expense. You Have Too Many Cell Phone Subscriptions Cell phone subscriptions can add up. The click of a button on your phone can enroll you in a free trial. However, if you don't cancel that free trial or use the app on your phone, you could be wasting money. Evaluate your cell phone bill and determine if there are any apps that you pay a subscription fee. If you don't use them, cancel your subscription. Another way to decrease your cell phone expense is to cancel the subscription before the free trial ends. Canceling subscriptions allow you to use the app during the trial, and you are in control of the renewal.

Your priorities in planning for retirement may change as you age. When planning for retirement, four things to consider are your income, home mortgage, future planning, and managing debt. Balancing your income, debt, and life's unexpected challenges as you age is essential to preparing for a financially secure retirement. Read on for four things you can do to prepare for retirement. How to Find Your Retirement Number Knowing how much income you will need for retirement can help you keep track of your goal. When calculating your retirement number, consider the age you claim social security, any retirement contributions, your current salary, and the age that you want to retire. In a recent MoneyRates article, I discussed that "To maintain a resemblance of your current financial situation, plan to have 80% of your current annual income. If you will be retired for 30 years and earn $80,000 annually, your retirement savings goal would be $1,920,000." Calculate your retirement number on NerdWallet. Your priorities of planning for retirement may change as you age. When planning for retirement, four things to consider are your income, your home, planning for the future, and managing debt. Balancing your income, debt, and life's unexpected challenges as you age is essential to preparing for a financially secure retirement. Read on for four things you can do to prepare for retirement. Considering Your Mortgage in Retirement Your home and whether or not you have a mortgage is a significant factor in making retirement decisions. When preparing for retirement, you should consider whether your mortgage will be paid off or if you are interested in a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages are confusing and risky, so considering all of your options is essential. Whatever you decide, your home and the equity you have built over the years can be a financial safety net. What's a Reverse Mortgage? Planning for Your Retirement Future One of the financial concerns of retired people nearing retirement is medical care. As we age, we tend to require more medical attention. To prepare for medical concerns, evaluate the medical plans offered by your employer after retirement. Preparing should also include considering long-term care insurance. Many people may need long-term care insurance, but those who are more likely to need it are individuals with chronic illness or disability, older persons, women, and people living alone. Managing Debt in Retirement Planning for retirement at an early age enables you to keep your retirement plans on track. Paying off your mortgage early, carefully considering refinancing opportunities, and estimating your income and expenses throughout your life can keep your debt in check. Completing annual checkups on your retirement savings and income can prepare you for a financially secure retirement. Retirement savings and income can prepare you for a financially secure retirement.