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Spending hundreds of dollars on dates with your significant other can add up quickly if you don't track how much you're spending. Of course, you may want to treat yourselves every now and then, but consistently spending money at a high rate can cause problems and delay achieving your future financial goals. To help couples have the best date night on a budget, I asked dating and relationship coaches for their best ideas. From cooking together to trying outdoor movies to having a picnic under the stars, there are several date night ideas that are excellent for couples on a budget. Budget-Friendly Date Night Ideas Cooking Together Keep It Simple With a Picnic Go to a Bookstore Try Outdoor Movies Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Play Indoor Board Games Picnic Under the Stars Cooking Together Some of my favorite date nights have been making exotic meals together. Going out for sushi, pizza, Indian, etc., often gets quite pricey when you include alcohol. My partner and I enjoy special date nights where we recreate some of our favorite foods, and often they are much cheaper to make at home (and a lot more fun). Nearly any grocery store now has its own international cuisine aisle and a host of interesting vegan and vegetarian options. These meals have included making homemade Chinese dumplings (you can usually find the "wrappers" for these dumplings in the refrigerator section of the grocery), Indian, homemade bean burgers, and homemade pizza. Choose ahead the movie you want to watch, and you have the makings of an excellent date night on the cheap! - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Keep It Simple With a Picnic Create a picnic. Whether you choose a traditional outdoor setup or even create a picnic in your home, this can be a fun and affordable date idea. All you need to have a picnic date is a blanket and food or drinks. This leaves the budget entirely up to the couple, whether they want to splurge on a full spread with beverages or keep it light and easy. A picnic is a great, easy way to switch up the routine in any season. - Lisa Odenweller, Kroma Wellness Go to a Bookstore Go to a bookstore for a date night. Select a book for each other. While it's fun to pick something you may like, choosing one for someone else is quite meaningful. This gets you thinking about the other person, leads to conversations about what they like to read and what they're not a fan of, and really helps you understand their personality. It's a great way to get to know each other in a non-typical date setting. - Corey Ashton Walters, Here Try Outdoor Movies Outdoor movies are a great date night for couples on a budget. You can get a smartphone projector for $50 or less or DIY one for a couple of dollars with a shoebox and magnifying glass. Simply find a blank wall or hang up a sheet for your screen. Then, roll out blankets and pillows, grab some popcorn and dollar candy, and enjoy a show under the stars. This special setup makes for a more romantic evening and upgrades movie night from simply cuddling on the couch with Netflix. - Carly Hill, VirtualHolidayParty.com Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Consider bringing your own bottle of wine to date night when dining at a restaurant. When the restaurant allows it, they will charge a cork fee in exchange for you bringing in your own bottle to open. These prices range from $25 to $80, which is pennies compared to what you would pay for the same bottle at an upscale restaurant. What's even better is that you can put a cork in the unused portion and keep what is yours. A little extra bubbly for the bubble bath later? This tactic is a great way to spend more on great conversation instead of the tab. - Will Gill, DJ Will Gill Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Picture this scene—a dinner date on a rooftop, complete with all the works. Spice things up with dreamy lights, a white canopy, flowers, music, good food, and wine. You can even toss in some blankets and throw pillows for some cuddling. You may think that staging one can break a hole in your pocket. It may be far from the truth. All you need is a bit of creativity and resourcefulness. It can be a DIY thing, with items borrowed from your unit or place. Whip up some gourmet dishes in your kitchen, then bring them to the rooftop. Wine does not need to be pricey. You can buy flowers from the market and wrap them yourself. The same is true with fairy lights, which are affordable and easy to install. The preparation may take a bit of time. But all the effort will be worth it. And one thing is for sure; you are sure to bring some happiness to the person you love. What a way to spend some priceless moments together in the most unique way possible. - Laura Martinez, PersonalityMax Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Art, wine tasting, and romantic ambiance. Selecting an art gallery for a low to no-cost date night is the way to go. Even though this is a public place, you will have excellent conversation starters and enjoy each other's company. Break the ice by discussing your insight on the newest exhibition. What makes an art gallery a great place is the ability to dress to impress without overdoing the occasion. You will enjoy the company of your date and, if successful, will have many fond memories of a romantic night. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT Play Indoor Board Games Playing indoor board games as a night date can be a cheap yet intimate moment. Indoor games allow players to be their authentic selves because once competition sets in, the usual tension of a date eases. The couple will get to bond as they have fun in a relaxed state. Another plus is that such a game requires minimum resources in terms of money. The couple needs just enough to buy snacks and some drinks to enjoy as the games go on. - yongming Song, Imgkits- Photo Editor Picnic Under the Stars Have a picnic under the stars. Can anything be more romantic than that? All you need is a blanket, a picnic basket filled with delicious snacks, and a prosecco bottle to add some sparkle. A picnic date night doesn't require too much planning. Just grab a basket, turn off your phone, and enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite person. Remember that your wishes are twice as likely to come true when you both wish upon the stars together! You can also watch movies, play a couple's card game, or talk about life. There are plenty of picnic date ideas to choose from, depending on your tastes and interests. This date night option is affordable, romantic, relaxing, and original. It's just a perfect idea for anyone, I believe. Have fun! - Agata Szczepanek, Resume Now

Is your child planning to go to college? Planning to save for their education can be challenging if you don't know where to start. To help parents best prepare their children financially for college, I asked financial coaches and mature parents how you can help financially prepare your child for college. From having relatives contribute to a 529 plan to considering studying abroad at a cheaper cost, there are several practical ways that parents may get their wards well-prepared financially for their time in college. Financially Preparing Children for College Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options Consider Studies Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan I have a young daughter, and we have a 529 plan started for her. When family and grandparents ask about getting gifts, we tell them they can also contribute tax-free to the 529 plan. This is a great way to increase the college fund even further. It's not the most exciting gift for a child, but when they are ready for college, they will be very thankful for the small gift contributions that family members gave and how much it grew over those years. - Evan McCarthy, SportingSmiles Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Parents of teens should require them to set aside most of their earnings and put them in a savings account. Teens don't need to pocket more than 25% of their earnings as they don't have rent to pay or any other significant costs. That money should be set aside for when they are faced with steep costs. When the time comes to pay for textbooks and other costs associated with college, that saved-up money should cover them. - Chris Riley, USA Rx Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Learning to budget with a credit card is an important skill your child should learn before leaving home. New college students have to budget for books, meals, and other expenses for perhaps the first time, and many of these expenses are typically paid for by credit cards. If your child is new to being responsible for a credit card, this financial freedom can quickly put them into debt. Teach your child to budget and spend only what they can pay off on a credit card. By learning to use a credit card responsibly, your child will have the skills to be financially prepared. - Brett Estep, Insured Nomads Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Deposit a lump sum into their accounts at the beginning of every month so they can practice budgeting. This will teach them how much they should spend each week to have enough money to last until the month's end. If they express no difficulty with this, you could always make it more challenging by depositing only once every two months or once per semester. Aside from encouraging consistent and healthy spending habits, this method promotes discipline, responsibility, and forward-thinking. - Eric Ang, One Search Pro Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Encouraging their kids to get a job and pay some share of their costs (transportation, entertainment, etc.) is an excellent way for parents to help prepare for college. Beyond expanding their financial literacy, employment will show teenagers how authority and management structures work. The lessons of autonomy and how to budget properly are essential benefits of having a job and its associated responsibilities. - Thomas Yuan, Sanebox Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options One way parents can help their children financially prepare for college is by ensuring they take advantage of all the student aid options available to them. College students can get financial aid from many sources, including federal and state governments and private organizations. Students should fill out the FAFSA form every year to see what types of aid they qualify for. - Chad Rubin, Profasee Consider Studying Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Studying abroad is rarely discussed or even considered. However, international degree programs are highly recognized and respected. For example, attending a university in Argentina will cost a student $5,000 a program compared to $26,000 in an American university. The costs are significantly cheaper than studying within the United States. In addition, a prestigious foreign degree program will have plenty of opportunities for scholarships, and financial aid programs, to help students from all over the world. Completing the program means less debt and stress of paying back thousands of dollars and gives young adults financial freedom upon graduation. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT

Have you ever come home from work and thought, I need to find a new job? Is the stress level of your job causing you to feel drained at the end of the day? If so, there are a few low-stress jobs that you can consider that also pay well. To help you identify the best low-stress jobs with good pay, I asked recruiters and business leaders for their best job recommendations. From Instructional Coach to Research Analyst to Astronomer, there are several good-paying jobs that are considered to be less stressful. Low-Stress Jobs with High Pay Instructional Coach Roller Coaster Painting Art Director Chemical Engineer Research Analyst Editing and Proofreading Statistician Orthodontist Astronomer Instructional Coach Instructional Coaching is a low-stress job that can pay well for former teachers. You can do this job independently as an entrepreneur or for a local school district. Most positions require experience in the classroom to instruct, train, support, and coach other teachers. As an Instructional Coach, you would be able to support other teachers and provide intervention methods for students without having to work in the classroom or directly interact with students. - Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching Roller Coaster Painting I recently read that painting roller coasters is a lucrative career. Employees can earn up to $75,000 plus extra when they have to travel for work. You're in amusement parks, get to enjoy the outdoors, and can listen to your own music all day long. Unless you fear heights, that sounds like a relatively low-stress environment to work in! - Logan Mallory, Marketing VP, Motivosity Art Director If you've got an eye for art, impeccable taste, and want a stress-free job, the career of an art director is what you should consider. You'll be able to work in every creative industry, like TV production, video game development, or even advertising. You'll be able to do what you love and occupy positions that won't take a toll on your mental health. All you will have to worry about will be making every project you're involved in eye-catching and aesthetic. - Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager, PhotoAiD Chemical Engineer This will depend somewhat on the person - different people have unique stress and anxiety triggers, and the only way to identify those is through good old-fashioned self-awareness. I generally think of a low-stress job as one that has relaxed or long-term deadlines, a relatively independent and autonomous work environment, and little to no responsibility to determine or meet client expectations. By those standards, I would put chemical engineers among the least-stressed professionals. They're more likely to work in behind-the-scenes laboratory settings on the R&D side of companies, which is important and valuable work but often has less expectation for a fast turnaround than other roles in these organizations. Regarding the pay, the median salary for chemical engineers is around $100,000 and can often be much higher. - Jon Hill, Chairman & CEO, The Energists Research Analyst Analytical jobs are generally low-stress jobs – and they're lucrative. Operations research analysts, for instance, rely on their math skills to take on complex issues. They crunch numbers, analyze trends, and present their findings to business leaders, who usually make all the decisions on strategies. Analysts are holed up in an office with little interaction and are generally left to their own devices. You would need to meet deadlines, but otherwise, the job comes with little stress. A lot of education is required, but once you make it as a research analyst, the job offers will keep coming. - Alan Ahdoot, Founder & Partner, Adamson Ahdoot Law Editing and Proofreading Proofreading and editing content are low-stress roles. Typically, as an editor, you are assigned several documents to look over per day. Most tasks have a flexible timeline, and the projects that require a quick turnaround can be prioritized over the others on your to-do list. Depending on the hours required of the role, you may be working full or part-time, but either way, the roles are paid well. You can get raises or higher initial salaries depending on your experience and if you specialize in a particular type of editing or if you are proofreading specialty documentation. - Torrey Hogan, Executive Assistant & Proofreader, Find My Profession Statistician The best role to take on if you are looking for a low level of stress but a high payout would be a Statistician. If you are a lover of numbers and facts but maybe not so much a lover of selling and communicating with customers and buyers, this job is perfect as you can crunch the numbers in the safety and peace of your home or office. - Tracey Beveridge, HR Director, Personnel Checks Orthodontist Orthodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting jaw and teeth irregularities. In practice, they fix not only misaligned teeth and bad bites but also—if not primarily—self-esteem. The average annual pay for an orthodontist in the United States is $304,842. That's a lot. At the same time, it is not a stressful job. After all, an orthodontist's primary goal is to give a patient a beautiful smile. Sounds positive, doesn't it? - Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, Resume Now Astronomer Observing the stars and studying exoplanets with ground-based equipment is a clear job choice. An astronomer leaves all the intense studies and stress in university. Instead, math, science, and research are the focus. With this career yielding a salary of 110k to 150k, this profession can land you a high-paying position at NASA. Secondly, researching and documenting data makes this job stress-free and a breath of fresh air from all the intense studies to obtain a doctoral degree. Finally, having the opportunity to embrace the darkness and silence of the night sky is a rewarding and fulfilling career if you prefer a calm work environment. - Benjamin Earley, CEO, HOLT

I was on vacation in Mexico and noticed that I couldn't find my credit card. I asked my husband if he had seen it, and he said no. We tore our hotel room apart looking for the card, and neither of us could locate it anywhere. So, we decided to retrace our steps and realized that the last place we saw it was at a restaurant while we were on a tour. We were devastated but decided to take action immediately to eliminate any unauthorized charges on our credit card. Here's what we did. I Logged into the Credit Card App I didn't have a computer nearby, so I pulled up my credit card app to see if any charges had been made. There was one that stuck out, and it occurred the same day that I lost the card. It was to a jewelry store, and the charge was over $800. Well, we didn't go to a jewelry store while we were on the tour, so this immediately set off a red flag for me. I took action immediately and called the credit card company. Calling the Credit Card Company - Reporting Fraud It was in the afternoon, so I couldn't get in touch with anyone. I was asked to go through a few prompts and finally got to the section where I could report that my card was used fraudulently. My card was canceled immediately, and I was notified by the recording that I would receive a new card for my authorized users and I within three to five days. The only other authorized user on my account was my daughter, so I immediately told her that she couldn't use her card any longer. Related: 4 Ways to Protect Yourself from Credit of Debit Fraud Could My Authorized User Have Made the Charge? Yes. So, before calling the credit card company, I investigated the charge myself to see where the card had been used. It was summer, so my daughter was school shopping with her grandmother. I reviewed those charges, and yes, some were a little high, but they were all from clothing stores. However, she was in Florida then, and the charge occurred in Mexico. So, that ensured me that she didn't make the purchase. Calling the Credit Card Company - The Charges Were Reversed When we arrived back home, I called the credit card company to speak to a representative. The charge was still on my account, so I wanted to ensure that I called within the appropriate timeframe to get the charge reversed. I spoke to the representative and told him my story, and he immediately reversed the charge. He also looked into the account and saw that I had already reported it as lost or stolen and ordered the new cards. He told me that the charge would be investigated and that I would be notified of the final result once the investigation was complete. It was an unfortunate and stressful situation, but I'm glad it could be resolved and that I didn't have to pay the $800 charge. See my feature in: Are Americans Afraid of Their Credit Card Debt?

If you're renting, you have no control over the price increases that the landlord may impose. It may cause you to have to move, or you might pay the rent increase. If your income hasn't changed, this can make it challenging for you to make ends meet. To help you save money on rent, I asked real estate agents and business leaders for ways that you can save money on rent. From paying annually instead of monthly to choosing a location outside the city, there are several tips that may help you find the best ways to save money on your rent. Tips to Save Money on Rent Pay Annually Instead of Monthly Make Money Back by Renting When You're Away Rent Your Garage Out for Storage Parlay Excellent Tenant Behavior into Rent Reductions Arrange to Make a Refundable Pet Deposit Rent Closer To Your Work or School to Save on Commuting Cost Know The Market and Negotiate Appropriately Choose a Location Outside The City Pay Annually Instead of Monthly If you know you will be occupying for a considerable amount of time (and you have the funds to do so), see if your landlord will cut you a discount if you pay rent for the entire year. I recently saved some money for my small business by paying rent for a small office annually. I proposed the idea to my landlord, who agreed to offer me a discount. It ended up saving my business hundreds of dollars. - Tate Meagher, Meagher Law Office, PLLC Make Money Back by Renting When You're Away Rent out your place when you're gone. If you have travel planned, you can make some money to put toward your rent by doing a temporary rental. While many listings on sites like Airbnb are full-time rental properties, they are not required. You can still list yours as available only on the dates you'll be gone. While this idea is not likely to cover your rent in full—unless you are a frequent traveler—it can help defray rent costs. - Lisa Odenweller, Kroma Wellness Rent Your Garage Out for Storage If you have extra space in your garage, offer to rent it out on websites like spacer.com and neighbor.com. It's an excellent way to subsidize your rent without taking on a roommate. At the same time, it helps community members save money on expensive storage units. - Jae Pak, Jae Pak MD Medical Parlay Excellent Tenant Behavior into Rent Reductions Raising the bar on being a model tenant can lower your rent. Bad tenants are such emotional and financial nightmares for landlords that a landlord may be amenable to rent-related perks to keep excellent tenants. When my husband and I rented an old house in the Boston area from an elderly gentleman, we offered to take care of the substantial lawn and minor issues for a $100 monthly reduction in rent. After both parties lived up to the deal for several years, my husband was laid off. We asked our landlord to reduce the rent so that we could stay temporarily. Since he considered us excellent tenants, he agreed. - Karen Condor, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com Arrange to Make a Refundable Pet Deposit Pet owners occasionally have to pay pet rent for the privilege of cohabitating with their furry friends. Rather than pay a non-refundable fee for your dog or cat, if you have an individual landlord rather than a property company, you may be able to negotiate a pet deposit instead. You can agree to pay a certain amount upfront, and then as long as your little buddy doesn't wreck the place, you can get back the money when moving out. If you go this route, then be sure to document the apartment's condition before and after your pet settles in and the way you leave it, just in case your landlord is not as honest as they appear. - Carly Hill, VirtualHolidayParty.com Rent Closer To Your Work or School to Save on Commuting Cost Calculate your commuting expenses as part of your overall rent cost. Conventional wisdom tells you to pick less expensive neighborhoods when you're looking to save some money. But if you must commute to work or school regularly, that cost should be part of your calculations. A higher monthly rent in an area closer to where you need to be may work out to lower expenses once you factor in gas prices or public transit. Lower rent is good, but not if it forces you to spend more in other areas of your budget. - Rachel Reid, Subtl Beauty Know The Market and Negotiate Appropriately One way to save on rent is by knowing the market where you are renting. By gaining sound knowledge of the area and knowing what kind of demand exists, you may be able to negotiate a rate with a landlord. This is especially true when you agree to a longer lease than normal. Offering a lower rate for rent but for a longer term can put the landlord in a comfortable position, knowing their rent will be guaranteed for a longer period. Another option would be offering to pay for several months upfront to the owner, giving them more cash flow immediately and the peace of mind of knowing that the following months are already paid for. - Johan Hajji, UpperKey Choose a Location Outside The City No one has to mention that living in the city is more expensive than living outside it. You can save money on rent by choosing a location that's out of the city but not far from your workplace or school. Find a more affordable housing option there while paying attention to transportation costs. Make sure you're spending less than you would in the city, even after adding in the transport cost. - Mike Stuzzi, Online Entrepreneur What are a few other ways that you've saved money on increasing rent prices? Leave a comment below.

Women have come a long way in dominating the workforce. But there's still work to be done to close the gender pay gap. A survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that women earn 82 cents for every dollar a man earns . The pandemic has also changed how the labor force looks and disrupted family income. Here are a few money moves that women can make today to get pay equity back on the right track. Be Proactive About Your Financial Health Being proactive about your financial health can help you plan for your financial future. Understanding your current financial situation can help you prepare for future goals such as purchasing a home, retirement, a car, or other major purchases. Even if you are married, relying on a spouse to plan for the future and manage your finances can leave you in financial ruin if the relationship ends. Having money set aside for emergencies or life-changing situations can help reduce the strain in times of turmoil. Make Smart Money Moves Start the side-hustle  that you've been putting off for years. Budget your monthly income and expenses. Have a conversation with your significant other about your future goals. Save at least 10% of every paycheck in a savings or investment account. Ask for a raise  if you feel that you deserve it and can justify it to your employer. Discuss with your children about money to help them understand personal finance. Organize your closet  to reduce spending on items you already have and sell or donate unused items. Learn From The Pandemic The pandemic may have caused you to look closely at your finances. The money you spent on clothes, eating out, gas and even family entertainment may have drastically reduced while everyone was home. You may have even reduced your spending on non-essential items and invested and saved your money instead. If any of these happened to you, continue incorporating these actions into your financial future. Create a Vision Board Create a vision board   (Ad)   of what you want your future to be. A vision board is a visual representation of your life's current and future goals. Of course, it can change, but having that reminder can help you save faster and put some parameters around your future spending and saving. Do you find managing your finances challenging? Book a complimentary consultation to discover the benefits of financial counseling.

Being a victim of fraud can happen to anyone. When you least expect it, you may get a text message that your credit card has been used fraudulently. You might even log in to your bank account and notice that there are transactions that you didn't make. You can take a few steps to protect yourself and your family from being victims of fraud. 4 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud Use Your Credit Card Instead of Your Debit Card Sign up for Email or Text Alerts Report Fraudulent Activity Immediately Monitor Your Accounts Use Your Credit Card Instead of Your Debit Card Using your credit card instead of your debit card to protect your financial information when making purchases online or at the gas pump is wise. If you are ever the victim of identity theft, online banks do not provide the same guarantees as credit card companies. Some banks may require you to prove that you have not made the reportedly fraudulent purchases, and you may be subject to a waiting period while the bank investigates the charges. Most credit card companies will cancel the fraudulent charges immediately and eliminate the need for you to pay for these purchases. Sign up for Email or Text Alerts There are time requirements involved with reporting fraudulent charges. If you don't report the fraudulent activity within 60 days, you may be liable to pay for any charges. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to protect your credit and financial information is to sign up for text or email alerts. Signing up for purchase alerts can notify you of charges that exceed a specific dollar amount or for charges that look suspicious. You can set the limit and receive immediate notification when you or your family make purchases. Report Fraudulent Charges Immediately The timeline for reporting fraudulent activity varies for credit card and banking institutions. The amount that you can be reimbursed also varies. For banks, you have between two to 60 days to report fraudulent activity. If you wait longer than 60 days, you may not receive any of your money back. Unauthorized use of your debit card at a bank can also cause you to lose between $50 to $500. So, you must report charges as soon as you notice them. With a credit card, charges can be reversed if you report the fraudulent activity within the required timelines. For most credit cards, reporting fraud within 30 days can result in reversed charges. There is also a limit of $50 that you could be charged for fraudulent activity on your credit card. In addition, if charges occur in countries outside of where you live, the financial institution can cancel or put the charge on hold. Monitor Your Accounts Being diligent about monitoring your credit card and bank accounts can aid in identifying any fraudulent activity and keep your financial information safe. Checking your accounts at the minimum monthly can help you track your charges and identify any potentially fraudulent charges. Monitoring your accounts also ensures you meet the required timeline for reporting financial fraud. This can reduce the risk of you losing your hard-earned income. Need additional guidance? See my feature in: The CFPB safeguards consumers against unfair and abusive practices by financial services companies.

Saving for a home can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Part of the preparation requires a planning strategy that can help keep you on track. Using creative ways to stay motivated and save can help you achieve your goal of homeownership faster. Here are a few key saving strategies and unique tips to save. Setting Up A Budget Spend less than your monthly income. It's essential not to spend more than you earn monthly or rely on credit to help you pay your bills. Writing down your monthly income and expenses can reduce a negative monthly cash flow. Plan your monthly budget before the next month begins. Pre-planning your monthly budget by estimating your future expenses can help determine if you need to cut back on your current month's expenses. At least a week before the end of the month, ensure your monthly expenses are accounted for and record your expected income and expenses for the next month. Cut back on your expenses. If your monthly cash flow is negative, find ways to cut back on your monthly expenses. This could include cutting your cable bill, eating out less, or installing a programable thermostat in your home. Pay down debt. If you have a positive cash flow, save the surplus or pay down debt. A positive cash flow can help you save for emergencies, retirement, a needed car purchase, and even pay down debt. Staying on Track Save automatically: Setting up your savings to automatically transfer to a savings account reduces the urge to spend the money when it's in your checking account. Set short-term goals: Most of us have long-term goals, but it takes a long time to achieve them. Setting short-term goals on the path to achieving long-term goals can keep you motivated to stay on track to goal attainment. At each checkpoint, you can reward yourself for achieving your goal. Rewards don't have to be expensive and can be as easy as taking a bubble bath. Have an accountability partner: Whether it's your significant other, a best friend, or a parent, tell someone about your budgeting goals. Your accountability partner can help keep you on track and remind you of the goals you set for yourself or your family. Creative Budgeting Tips Do-It-Yourself Repairs: YouTube is one resource that can provide you with ways to fix your car, ceiling fan, and even your garbage disposal. YouTube is a free resource, and all you need is the time and effort to find the video that can guide your repairs. Purchasing the items required to make repairs and using YouTube experts as a resource can save you hundreds in labor costs. Bake or make gifts: Baking or making gifts are more valued and used than items purchased from the store, especially during the holiday season. A couple of hours of your time can yield pastries and crafts that can last a lifetime. Thrift Shopping: Most people clean out their closets as the seasons change. Shopping at the beginning of a season can help you discover some great finds for children and adults alike. Items at thrift stores can be found for pennies on the dollar and donated again, especially if you have growing children. Using these savings and budgeting tips can help you achieve your dream of homeownership. There are also numerous other creative ways to save for homeownership. Leave a comment and share some of the ways you saved.

When going through a traumatic situation like the death of a spouse, there are multiple things that you should do financially that can help you control your financial situation. To help you control your financial situation when your spouse dies, I asked financial coaches and business professionals for things you should do when your spouse dies. From freezing unnecessary spending to creating and sticking to a budget, there are several pieces of advice that may help you take the right steps to secure your finances when you lose your spouse. Steps to Take After the Death of a Spouse Freeze Unnecessary Spending Check Obligations and Deadlines Take Inventory of All Assets Right Away Create and Stick To a Budget Freeze Unnecessary Spending Ideally, before you experience an emergency or traumatic situation, you would have taken steps to build an emergency fund that covers 3 to 6 months of expenses. Unfortunately, for many, these preparations are not in place. If you find yourself unprepared for a tragedy that impacts your finances, it's important to freeze unnecessary spending and take stock of all expenses you cannot pause. Make a list of your essential expenses and determine how much is left to cover emergency expenses. Spending freezes reign in non-essential costs and creates a financial buffer. - Anna Caldwell, Beyond Finance Check Obligations and Deadlines When going through any abrupt situation that may impact finances, we must assess our obligations and timeframes for completing them. Knowing the cost of all the procedures and the basic rules relating to the legal matters we encounter can ensure we won't miss anything. Planning will allow for better decision-making and reduce the need to rush. - Michael Sena, SENACEA Take Inventory of All Assets Right Away One way to take control of one's finances during the aftermath of a traumatic event is to calculate one's total assets right away. By taking inventory of one's assets, they can see what is available to them moving forward. This is also necessary for handling future financial obligations and existing liabilities. If electing to work with a financial professional during the grieving period, it is also crucial to have a rough idea of one's assets to give them. - Kevin Callahan, Flatline Van Co. Create and Stick To a Budget One thing you could do to help control your finances when in a stressful situation is to create and stick to a budget. A budget can help you track your spending and ensure you're not overspending on unnecessary things. It can also help you save for important goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house. If you're unsure how to create a budget, plenty of online resources and templates can help you get started. And if you need more assistance, plenty of personal finance coaches can help coach you through the process. - Asako Ito, Divine Lashes

When military veterans decide to transition into civilian life after five, ten, or twenty years, it can be a challenging or scary experience. Interviewing for a new position, managing your finances, and understanding healthcare benefits can be an experience you haven't considered for a long time. I've compiled tried-and-true tips that can be helpful for you as you transition to your new normal. How do I prepare for civilian job-seeking? When preparing for a civilian job, you should first determine what career path you want. You must decide if you're going to continue with your current military job field or if you're going to transition to a new career path. Once you decide on your future career path, you can start building a resume geared toward your future career choice. When crafting your resume, it's important to translate your military skills into civilian terms. To help you with this translation O*NET Online has a military skills translator that can guide you in understanding how your MOS, Rating, or AFSC translates into civilian terms. You can also reach out to an experienced veteran resume writer who can assist you along the way. See my feature in What Does It Take to Transition to a New Career. How To Transition From Military to Civilian Life | Benefits What kind of job should I get after the military? The job you get after the military will depend on the career field you want to work in and the compensation you are looking for. Most military veterans try to obtain a federal job, but it's a long and competitive process. If you have time to wait for a federal job, the compensation and benefits are far better than most civilian jobs. See my feature in RealSimple 5 Questions to Ask When You Have to Choose Between Two Jobs. On the other hand, if a federal job is not for you, you may want to seek a civilian job. These jobs can range from private to public companies and city to state employment. City and state jobs may not pay as well as private-sector jobs, but the benefits are affordable. So, if you are looking to be compensated well, it may be beneficial to find a privately-owned or public company that can meet your financial needs. Advertiser Disclosure Transitioning Military Veterans & Financial Success See how military Veterans Can Build a Debt-Free Life After the Military. Is education necessary if I have the military experience to do my future job? Some civilian jobs require a college degree for you to qualify as a candidate. While you're still in the military, take advantage of your educational benefits. Your VA education and training benefits can cover up to a certain dollar amount of your tuition and fees. You may also qualify for other grants that don't have to be repaid, like the Pell Grant. I got three degrees while in the military and paid nothing out of pocket. Even after my military transition, I used the remaining VA benefits available to finish my Master's degree. So, as you research your future career and see that the position requires an Associate's or Bachelor's degree, prepare now so that you can meet the position's requirements when you decide to transition. See how I avoided student loan debt after obtaining nine college degrees (video). What resources are available for veterans looking for post-military careers? Onward to Opportunity is a career training program offered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. It provides free career training to help transitioning military veterans and their family members gain the necessary business certifications to give them an advantage when exiting the military and searching for a new career. Onward to Opportunity provides veterans with information on interviewing, resume-building, networking, and financial considerations of leaving the military. You get to earn a professional certification, but you are also exposed to employers actively hiring military veterans. As an alumnus and individual who gained my Senior Professional in Human Resources certification through the program, I can verify that it is a beneficial program that has helped me advance in my career.

Embarking on the journey of starting a business can be both thrilling and daunting. Often, it requires additional support and guidance to ensure that the business thrives. To assist business owners in achieving this goal, here are some recommended books that offer valuable insights for starting and maintaining a successful business. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz Entrepreneurs can learn how to make their business profitable from Profit First. Often, business owners spend their earnings on various expenses without paying themselves or saving for the future. In the book, Mike outlines the profit first approach, which involves setting up separate business banking accounts for profits, salary, taxes, and expenses. By implementing this method, you can see that your business is profitable, pay yourself a salary, and cover business expenses. See my feature in Top 8 Books for Small Businesses. 2. Working Moms How We Do It: Maximize Success at Home and Work by Rojan Robotham If you're a mom who's constantly juggling work and family life, things can get pretty hectic. That's where "Working Moms" comes in - it's a practical guide that can help you achieve your goals and manage your daily tasks in a more efficient manner. One of the key techniques the book introduces is the SOAR method, which stands for Support, Organize, Aspire, and Resilience. Through the experiences of real-life moms who've successfully implemented this method, you'll learn how to leverage support, organize your life, aspire to achieve your goals and be resilient in the face of challenges. "Working Moms" offers valuable insights into how successful women have found happiness and success both at work and at home by using the SOAR technique. See my feature in The Best Small Business Books. 3. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message, So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller As an entrepreneur, it's important to understand the "why" behind your business. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller is a helpful guide that can assist you in identifying your customer, the problem your product or service solves, and creating a plan for success. By determining what success looks like to your customer, you can transform their experience and showcase the benefits of your product or service. In addition, Story Brand can help you simplify your website and focus on what matters most to your customers. Instead of positioning yourself as the hero, it's essential to show your customers how you can help them achieve their goals. By understanding that your business is here to provide a solution, you can communicate the value of your product or service and how it can solve their problems. 4. Type Talk at Work (Revised): How the 16 Personality Types Determine Your Success on the Job by Otto Kroeger Type Talk at Work can help you understand your personality type and work collaboratively with others in a team environment. Even if you are a business owner, you should understand how to personality type your employees and customers. Discovering your personality type can be a powerful tool in enhancing your teamwork skills and collaborating effectively with others at work. It is equally important for business owners to understand the personality types of their staff and clients in order to invest in human capital and increase employee contributions. By cultivating adaptability, you can propel your career and business toward success. See my feature in 25 Entrepreneurs List Their Favorite Business Books. 5. Hustle Away Debt: Eliminate Your Debt by Making More Money by David Carlson Hustle Away Debt by David Carlson is an excellent book for building wealth and eliminating debt. David recommends ways that you can use your skills and talents to create multiple side hustles. Any side hustles can result in long-term passive income or income that can sustain you through hard times. These "side hustles" are not get-rich-quick schemes but enable you to build wealth from skills you have learned in your professional career or things you have learned to fix around the house. Carlson also encourages everyone to be active in the job market. You may be happy with your career, but no one will look out for your finances like you. With this in mind, he recommends that you continually seek opportunities for increases in salary as an employee. This can be accomplished with a free account on Glassdoor. Using Glassdoor, you can compare the wages of others in your field and present this to your employer if you find any significant differences. Finally, Carlson recommends keeping your resume up to date for the next career opportunity available to you. If you feel that your skills and talents are not valued or bored at work, it may be time to find another career opportunity or create a side hustle. What's Your Favorite Business Book? Leave a comment so that others can check it out and add it to their must-read list of business books for the year.

Military families face unique financial challenges when leaving the service, deploying, and constantly relocating. To help military families maintain financial stability, we asked financial coaches and veteran welfare managers for their best advice. From knowing how to budget their pay to developing several passive income streams, there are several things military families can do to help ensure financial well-being in and out of active service. Protecting Your Financial Well-Being Save by Living Below Allocated Budget Display Your Veteran Status On Social Media To Be Hired Establish An Emergency Savings Account Learn How To Budget Their Pay Use The Government-Sponsored Thrift Savings Plan Develop Several Passive Income Streams Save by Living Below Allocated Budget One thing military families can do to maintain financial stability is to create a budget and live below their means. It sounds so simple, but it truly is the best way to create realistic financial goals, save for the future, and save enough for unexpected expenses. - Becca Stewart, PCSgrades See my feature in Don't Be a Fool: Take These Simple Steps Today To Begin Saving Display Your Veteran Status On Social Media To Be Hired Putting your service veteran status on all social media accounts will allow you to interact with recruiters, employers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and many others interested in hiring veterans/service members. It also allows these strangers to get to know who you are as a person, and it will help them see what type of person they want their company to hire. - Gisera Matanda, WeLoans Establish an Emergency Savings Account Military families can better maintain financial stability by establishing an emergency savings account. Multiple bank accounts are not uncommon and one exclusively for long periods of uncertainty can be reassuring. Getting one started may be daunting, but even small increments can help. Many banks offer military discounts and can also customize a plan that is perfect for the family. - Sasha Ramani, MPOWER Financing Related: Military Life Lessons: Renters Insurance Learn How To Budget Their Pay Military families must separate their pay to maintain or gain financial stability. If possible, you can rely entirely on a military member's pay for ordinary household expenses and try to assign the military spouse's salary for items such as vacations, savings, and investments. This strategy of pay separation helps mitigate the instability in the spouse's career and the instability in the finances that comes with that. Some families can do that very well, and others are less able to do that due to the different situations that they're in. - Caroline Lee, CocoSign Use The Government-Sponsored Thrift Savings Plan Don't let an inability to purchase a home prevent you from making long-term investments for your retirement. Consistently moving can prevent investing in real estate. Still, thankfully military families have the option of the Thrift Savings Plan, which is similar to an IRA, that can help them prepare for retirement. Additionally, brokerage accounts based on consistently-performing index funds are a great way to build capital for the years before retirement. - John Jacob, Hoist Develop Several Passive Income Streams It seems a little backward from the American self-conception: "Buy properties other people rent and rent my home?" That's precisely what I suggest. This allows you to stay location independent, build assets, and develop several passive income streams. - Trevor Ewen, Southport Technology Group