artofthecoupon.com

Welcome back!

My article on How Not Talking About Money Leads to Spending Money is included in the Money Hacks Carnival, hosted this week at Greener Pastures.   Be sure to check it out! 

Also, check out the Finance Fiesta: Nachos Edition at Master Your Card.  My article on Decorating on a Budget was included.

This advice may seem contrary to what you might think a personal finance Blogger would say.  After all, it’s clear that our irrational relationship with money is the root of a lot of our money problems (otherwise, why would so many Americans get into debt for things that aren’t necessities).  However, while using your brain definitely has a place in making money decisions, ultimately I think the allocation of your assets should be decided by your heart.  Let me explain what I mean. (more…)

All but the most enlightened of us cares, to some degree, what other people think of us.  For some people, it is their co-workers, or their neighbors, or their friends, or their in-laws.  For some people it is career success, or being a great mom.  But, almost everyone has someone that they somehow want to impress. (more…)

Check out the Carnival of Debt Reduction #151 at Mighty Bargain Hunter.  Look for my article, about how debt breeds more debt.  While you are over there I also really enjoyed this article at Credit Withdrawal about the psychology of money and how to get over the slump that comes when you have only big debts left to pay off, and this one at The Money Answer Guy about living on $600 a month.  

The Carnival of Personal Finance: City Slickers Edition hosted at Squak Fox is also worth a good read.  I share the Best Money Advice I Ever Received.  I especially enjoyed reading The Reluctant Spouse at Not The Jet Set and these 5 Ways to Increase Your Savings that Wide Open Wallet suggested.

In my About Me Page I mention that between my fiancé and I we have a debt load that is larger than many people’s mortgages, only without a house to show for it.  Here, I detail my 9 biggest money mistakes, to give you a better picture of how I got that way.  (more…)

Well, my July income & spending round-up just went up and it wasn’t pretty :(.  I have a credit card balance, for the first time in a LONG time.  So, here are my goals for August (let’s see if I accomplish them!)

• Reduce grocery spending from $198.99 to $125.00
• Reduce pet spending from $115.25 to $55
• Pay off card balance in full ($2259.01) thus eliminating interest fees ($43.99)