pHERsonal finance

15 Ways to Effectively Manage Money with Your Spouse Money causes so much stress, even more stress once you’re in a relationship, but that doesn’t have to be your story. It’ll take some work from both of you, but it’s possible for the two of you to work together and develop a great system for your joint finances. There’s no right or wrong answer here, but I will say that you must do what’s best for you. Knowing exactly how much you spend day-to-day will not only help you reach your financial goals faster, but it’ll prevent you from having small disagreements about money.

There are so many frugal family fun activities that you can indulge in without traveling far, especially while the kids are out for Spring and Summer break. If you don’t have a membership, there may be a small entrance fee, but be sure to check their website or Groupon ahead time to see which days and/or time your local zoo offers a discount. Even though you’re on a journey towards financial freedom, that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. Try these frugal family fun activities to keep you and your kids entertained all year long.

I relied heavily on credit cards to cover any unexpected expenses I had, which is how I wound up amassing $18,000 in credit card debt. You’ll no longer have to scramble to come up with the money because you have cash in place, which prevents you from going further in debt and you’ll no longer rely on credit cards. If you’re in a similar situation as I was in, relying on credit cards to cover unexpected expenses, starting out by saving $1,000 to build an emergency fund is a great place to begin. The good news is that you don’t have to save it all at once whether your number is $1,000 or $5,000.

You’ll also limit the amount of food waste you’re creating weekly by only buying the food you need and eating what you have. Once a dish is complete, transfer that food item over to your food storage containers and wash the pot. Simply line your CrockPot before adding your items and once they’re done, transfer the food to your food storage containers and toss the liner out. To prevent food borne illnesses, be sure to use food storage containers that are airtight to keep bacteria and order out.