Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Personal Finance

Personal Finance is a catch-all for anything that falls under the umbrella of taking care of your money. A lot of people think of their personal finances as some "other" thing they don't always have to pay attention to. I think it's integral to your life and health.

Take a look at the articles below and get your personal finances in shape.

Give a Smile to the Kids on Your List – Top Holiday Gifts Under $75 for Kids – 2014

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The holiday shopping season is upon us. 

Now is the time to find the perfect present for those special people on your list.

While there are plenty of ideas for gifts under $25, we recognize that sometimes a $25 present isn’t going to cut it.

For kids in your family, a gift of $75 or under may pack more return (and excitement) than a smaller gift.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of presents under $75 that will thrill every child on your list, from baby to teen.

Keep in mind that with sales, you can nab many of these items for less than their retail price.  Amazon, especially, often discounts their merchandise, so that might be the site to check first before you head to the toy store.

The Top Holiday Gifts Under $75

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Know Your Spending Triggers To Change Your Financial Behavior

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Many financial experts advocate knowing your financial personality. 

Investopedia defines five major financial personalities: big spenders, savers, shoppers, debtors, and investors.  While these financial tests can be entertaining, most people fall into a several categories or none of the categories.

What can be more beneficial than learning what broad category you fit into is to identify your spending triggers and how to deal with them.

For instance, I am generally frugal.

I hang up my clothes rather than dry them in the dryer, my car has over 100,000 miles and is 8 years old, and I barter for services that I need rather than paying for them.

My one spending weakness is food, specifically going out to eat.

Generally, my desire to dine out is motivated by stress.  If I have had a busy or chaotic day, there is nothing I want more than to sit in a restaurant, relax, and have someone cook and clean up the mess.  To combat this trigger, I try to find other ways to relax, but I also prepare freezer meals so food is already prepared on a crazy day.  If I still want the dining out experience, I have learned to prepare ahead by buying deal certificates to our favorite restaurant so we can dine out for less.

By taking these steps, my family has curbed our dining out excursions from several times a week to once or twice a month.  I recognized my spending trigger and found solutions for avoiding it or ways to dine out for less.

4 Big Spending Triggers You Need to Know!

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Being Thankful Works Wonders for You, Including Your Money

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It’s easy to lose focus when it comes to your money.

When you’re struggling to get your bills paid, stressing over retirement, worried about the kids paying for college — it’s a lot weighing on you and it can bring you down.

Even if you’re doing well you can lose focus.

With more money comes more desire for more stuff — bigger house, nicer car, wider TV…you know the drill.

That’s why gratitude is so important.

You need to appreciate what you have even if it doesn’t seem like a lot.

How Practicing Gratitude Will Improve Your Relationship With Money (and Other Aspects of Your Life Too!)

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I’m Sick Of Hearing It’s For The Kids – Stop Spoiling Them

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Ever run across someone that gives their children everything?

All the latest clothes, electronic gadgets, extracurricular activities, lavish weddings, education, you name it they have it.

And then you find out the parents are struggling to keep their heads above water financially.  (Note: the parents aren’t always in financial jeopardy but I find it’s a common theme.)

Not “we’re just getting by.”  No.

I mean one month they don’t pay cable, another month they miss the electric bill; the rent gets paid late; always something and always “it’s for the kids!”

When you talk to these people they take great pride that they provide for their kids.  They insist that their kids have the best even when it’s out of the parent’s means.

The problem though, comes when the kids start to expect a certain lifestyle with nothing in return (read: they’re spoiled).  When you get stuff just for asking without having to work for it then the stuff you get starts to lose value.  That may sound like it doesn’t make sense but it does.  When you keep getting things you don’t worry about what happens to it.  Why should you?  If you break that new toy or lose it you’ll just ask for another one or for whatever else is new out there.  It’s a cycle that builds a certain negative character in a child that they take to their adult life.

Of course the other problem is the parents that can’t afford the lifestyle they are creating for their kids.  It creates debt which creates stress.  And somewhere down the line it has to stop and the child is left wondering what they did wrong that they can’t have their cushy lifestyle anymore.

Here are 6 Excuses/Reasons I’ve Heard Regarding “It’s for the Kids”:

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Should You Buy a Bigger House? Take These Into Consideration First!

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Many people look to the time when they can get a bigger home. 

Sometimes you just need more space.  Some just want the bigger place.  I see homes being torn down and re-built into much larger houses.

Thing is, when you buy a bigger house you aren’t just paying a bigger mortgage.  With a bigger house comes some other expenses and costs that increase.

The question is, should you buy a bigger house?

If you have weathered the current recession and have the funds, those beautiful, large houses that were built just fifteen to twenty years ago may be tempting.  Even if the price on a larger house is one you can afford, think carefully before upsizing.

With an upsize comes many other upsized costs.  Keep reading and see why buying a bigger house may be more than you expected.

Here’s What You Can Expect to Go Up If You Buy a Bigger House:

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