January 12, 2000
Do It, Fool!
Do It, Fool!
Do It, Fool!
Compare and Contrast
January 13, 2000
Ever wonder if you're saving more than the family down the street is? What about your budget compared to someone's in a similar financial situation? Is your spending typical? We wonder if we could be saving more, or spending more carefully, compared to those around us. Diligent Fools that we are, we've found a website that allows you to plug in variables to describe your current situation and compare yourself to other people in similar situations. It can be helpful to see how other people set up budgets on the same amount of money, and with the same constraints, as yourself. Have a look, and learn something.
Do It, Fool!
Think About Your Insurance
How much do you really know about your insurance situation? Are you paying for unnecessary life insurance? Lots of people are, thinking that it's an investment. You heard it here, first, Fool -- it's not. Think about how much you really need. Don't overbuy. Do you have disability insurance? If you don't, you might want to consider it. Disability insurance, while more expensive than life insurance, makes more sense often times. Cutting out unnecessary life insurance, and adding on disability insurance, may cost you a bit more now. In the long run, though, if you or your spouse were to become disabled and unable to work, all that life insurance you're paying for wouldn't do you a lick of good. Think about it.
Do It, Fool!
Take a Good Look at Your Current Bank
January 11, 2000
Are you getting all you can from your bank? As part of figuring out your budget, we'd like to suggest you give your bank a once over, Fool. Could you be spending less on fees if you switched to another bank? Have you thought about online banking? Are you getting any interest on your checking account? Is your bank's carpeting really shaggy and orange? (That's enough reason right there to switch. Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea.) The Fool has an extensive area on banks and banking. We can help you figure out exactly what you need from a bank and how to find the right one. Don't settle for less. It's your money, after all.
Live Within Your Budget
January 10, 2000
By now, we just know you're figuring out your budget. You've eliminated those thrice-weekly trips to Xeno's Specialty Hot Dogs (you can make do with good old Oscar Mayer franks, can't you?), and you've made up your mind that you can indeed live without ordering Jawbreaker for a fifth time on pay-per-view. Living happily with a budget can be challenging. We know it's tough to find places to cut back. Take heart and a few lessons from your fellow Fools who are thriving on budgets -- and who are striving to find ways to live even cheaper. You can find these Fools on our message boards, and they can provide you with inspiration and an abundance of ideas to help you live with and on your budget. Check 'em out.
Set Up a Budget
Visit the other Fool Year's resolutions.
If you haven't already done so, Fool, now would be a great time to set up a budget for yourself, or your family. Start by writing down estimates of what you think you're spending every month for broad categories such as food, clothing, and entertainment, as well as fixed expenses such as rent or mortgage payments. Then, keep a notebook to write down each and every dollar as it leaves your wallet. The discrepancies between what you'd like to think you're spending and what you're actually spending may surprise you! Look for places to cut expenses, and then for heaven's sake start paying yourself -- as in saving some money each month. The Fool offers several resources to help you create and stick to your burgeoning budget. Trust me, you'll thank us 30 years from now.