"If I weren't earning $3 million a year to dunk a basketball, most people on the street would run in the other direction if they saw me coming."Charles Barkley
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Classic Style for Men on a Budget
College campuses, once the seat of all things cool and hip, now look like something the GAP threw up after a wild night of partying at the local bar. No longer is college the place to experiment and try out new things. Campus fashion has become as boring ...
The Delicate Art of Balancing the Budget
Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross Domestic Product (GDP), depending on the country. The members of the European Union (Germany, France) and the Scandinavian countries represent the apex of this encroachment upon the national ...
Tips for Luxury Travel on a Penny Pincher's Travel Budget
Not all of us are rich! Wouldn't we like to be though? Then we can wipe away a travel budget and go all out in style on our vacations. Well, with just a few of the tips in this article, you can take luxurious trips on a tight travel budget. So, if you ...
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Mention the “b” word, as in BUDGET, to a friend and they'll look at you like you have a third eye growing from the middle of your forehead. For most people the word budget too often carries negative meanings such as limits, restrictions, living on an allowance, giving things up, no shopping, no fun.
Unfortunately, the point they're missing is that a budget doesn't limit you but instead gives you freedom. That's right - FREEDOM. The words “budget” and “freedom” are not mutually exclusive, once you understand what a budget can do for you.
Having and using a budget will give you direction. Your budget is your personal map of how you're going to move financially from “point A” to “point B” and so on. Would you like to pay off your credit card debt? Buy a new house or car? Save for retirement? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then let me ask you one more - how are you going to do it? What's your plan?
Let's take a look at paying off your credit card debt. You've decided to lower your debt by adding an extra $20 to your monthly payments. Great idea - as long as you can afford it and you stop using your credit cards. However, you won't know if you have the extra $20 if you don't know what your monthly expenses are from the start. With a budget you may find that you can actually afford more and pay off your debts faster. You'll have the freedom to use your money more wisely and achieve your goal.
What about buying a new house or car? If you don't have a budget, you won't know how much you can pay for a house or a car payment. Make that mistake and you'll get a visit from the repo man or you'll find yourself in foreclosure. Your budget gives you the freedom to make an informed decision.
How about saving for retirement? Unfortunately most of us don't consider retirement savings until we're into our forties or even fifties. Imagine if only we'd been smarter, had a budget, and started contributing toward our retirement when we were 10, 20, or 30 years younger?
Having a budget doesn't limit you. It gives you the freedom to make informed financial decisions, allows you to use your money more wisely, and achieve your financial goals more quickly and easily.
Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
About the Author
James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book “IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” and other bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
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 Budgeting made easy! - PR Inside
With budgeting becoming more and more important during these times of financial uncertainty, having access to an effective yet easy to use budget planner, which allows individuals to plan and record their finances over a 12 month period is very ...
Budgets and Budgeting - Chicago Tribune
Facts and figures on President George W. Bush, the nation's 43rd president, who will leave office to make way for President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20. ___ 62, president's age. 2, number of children, twin daughters Jenna and Barbara. 3, the ...
Beginners' steps in basic budgeting - Raleigh News & Observer
Q: My parents are faithful readers of your column (I'm not because I'm in college and don't subscribe to the newspaper). I'll graduate in May and we were talking about the task of budgeting once I'm out on my own. They said you've written about that ...
Budgeting and Planning Essential to Achieving Financial New Year's ... - Market Wire
RALEIGH, NC--(Marketwire - January 6, 2009) - Given the current economic climate, many Americans may be resolving to pay down debt, or improve their financial situation in 2009. But how can you stay on track to achieving your New Year's resolutions ...
Mint - Free Online Budgeting Resource and it works with your Apple ... - Best Syndication
[Best Syndication News] Budgeting is probably on the minds of many after the holiday season, and a free online budgeting resource is available at Mint.com. Mint.com is a website that connects to your credit card and banking information that you ...
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