More, Personal Finance

Warning: What Warren Buffett Says About Rising Inflation Matters

If you didn’t believe me or you didn’t want to believe me, then perhaps you will believe Warren Buffett about rising inflation. It really was inevitable and although I’d like to take credit for being one of the very first and only ones talking about the danger of inflation returning to the world economy, the truth is that it had to happen.

I've been talking about rising inflation for months, but now that Warren Buffett is talking about it, consider it a warning and be prepared.

With the economy suffering so much and so many businesses going down and under, there was only one way to see the course that would come when things started to open up and return to normal: Inflation from new higher wholesale and retail prices!

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Food, Shopping

Is Joining a Wholesale Club Like Costco Right for You?

I get asked about wholesale clubs all the time, mainly because saving on the cost of food and household supplies is such a big part of your everyday budget and of course you hear that joining a wholesale club will save you money. But is it always true?

Joining a wholesale club might be able to save you money, or it just might cost you. Here's how to tell if a wholesale club is right for you.

Back In the late 1970s, wholesale clubs (also known as warehouse clubs) started popping up and became popular all over the U.S. Then eventually they expanded internationally.

The idea of people getting an “exclusive” club membership that was offering groceries and consumers goods at significant discounts had great appeal to the then-primetime baby boomers raising families during that challenging economic era. It was a perfect storm back then. But is it still that way today? Is joining a wholesale club really for you in 2021?

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Money Mindset

Will Your Financial Dreams Ever Come True?

Do you remember that old classic song by the Everly Brothers from way back when entitled “All I Have to Do Is Dream”? Well it’s a classic and it is all about wanting someone that you just can’t seem to ever have. The story of the song is simple, all you have to do is dream and you can get the person you want with one small catch. You may be spending all of your time just dreaming and never actually getting to the goal that you really want!

Will your financial dreams be the first step to success or will they remain just dreams? Here's how to move beyond dreams into reality.

Well, that was true in the song back in 1958 and it’s still true today. In fact, dreaming about what you want may be a great start to getting there, but the reality is this: You may never have your dreams come true, including your financial dreams, unless you actually do something about them!

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Debt

How to Decide Which Debts to Pay Off First

Today’s guest post on paying off debts is sponsored by Credello.

If you have multiple debts you’re trying to pay off, you might feel overwhelmed. Which debt should you pay off first? Does it require high-level math (gulp) or a debt consolidation calculator?

Answers: It depends on your unique financial situation, you don’t need to be a mathematician (fear not, there are no riddles or word problems), and a debt consolidation calculator is very helpful but not absolutely necessary.

If you have multiple debts, you may be confused about which one to pay off first. Here's how to pay off debt in the best order.

If you’re looking to find out which of your debts you should prioritize and how to pay them off, keep reading.

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Personal Finance

What Is Your Big Financial Worry in 2021?

We have just passed the one third marker in the year 2021 and at first glance, it seems like we are in a better place than we were just a few months ago. When it comes to things like the economy for example, markets are at all-time highs, employment numbers seem to be getting back on track, and we finally have some light at the end of the tunnel on vaccinations of our citizens. All of that is good news for sure. But the questions about these things really never cease and are still on your mind, aren’t they? The questions that keep you up at night and worrying, the ones that seem ever present. So what is your big financial worry in 2021 and what can you do about it?

What's your big financial worry? If you have problems with your finances, and have a lack of cash or cash flow, here are some solutions.

Does It Help Knowing You Are Not Alone?

Since we’re all a little (or a lot) more isolated these days, it can feel good to know that you’re not going through financial stress and worries alone. You are not the only one with financial questions and challenges. Just take a look around and you will see that pretty clearly.

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Family & Relationships, More, Retirement

Why Future Shock Is So Scary and What You Can Do About It

Back in 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a best-selling book entitled “Future Shock”. The book is about our present. But that present was based in a world of 1970 and the author’s theories on what our future would be like.

Future shock is what happens when we're overwhelmed by change. That can be scary, but there is something you can do about it...plan ahead!

Future shock is about what happens to those who are overwhelmed by change. Change affects our products, communities, organizations, and even our patterns of friendship and love. Fifty plus years later, we are still experiencing future shock and we are no better off at dealing with it today, so long after Tolliver first coined that phrase. That’s because our future is very scary. It always has been, and it always will be. But why is that?

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Personal Finance

After the Pandemic: What’s Next for Your Money Plan?

The pandemic nightmare isn’t over quite yet, but with vaccines now rolling out, the end seems to be in sight. We have someone in charge now who has made a big dent into a return to normalcy. While it’s not time to be lax about public health measures (i.e. social distancing, washing your hands, and mask wearing), it is a good time to start thinking ahead to your financial future and make a money plan.

With the end of the pandemic hopefully in sight, it's time to consider your post-pandemic money plan. Here are some items to address now.

Yes, I said it. Finances, money, moolah, dough. You have to start making a plan as to exactly how you are going to recover from what has been “Paradise Lost” as someone might say. Who would have ever thought that just eating out at a Mickey D’s would have been remembered as such a special thing?

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Budgeting, Food

Your Grocery Budget: How to Make It and Stick to It

Do you have a grocery budget that’s working for you? To me, it’s super basic, but to so many, making any kind of budget is like speaking a foreign language. Setting a budget goal for food will help you save money, period.

Whether you're making a grocery budget for the first time, or simply trying to save more, these tips will help you reach your goals.

Without a budget or a plan, your spending habits and your control over your money are doomed to fail. And it doesn’t matter how much money you may have, it still happens. But I can help you find your budget and stick to it.

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