Debt – The Broke Budget

Why We Ditched Our Credit Cards

You may have read a previous article about how I locked mine and my husbands credit cards in a safe. We were trying to break the habit of overspending. However we wanted to keep the credit cards for emergencies and to build our credit score. Ultimately our goal was to stop living paycheck to paycheck by paying off debt. My view has slightly shifted since that last article and I will explain why. We are often told that we need a credit card to keep up with our credit score. What if that isn’t true? I was challenged on my […]

How To Solve Money Problems In Marriage

If you clicked on this article you most likely have money problems that are coming between you and your spouse. Today I will provide some practical steps to help you stop money fights, get on the same page, gain traction towards financial goals, and be content with where you are at now. According to market watch the number one predictor that you may end up divorced is if you are having arguments with your partner about money. 48% of couples living together argue about money. Of those who argue about money 41% of Gen-Xers and 29% of Boomers end up […]

Should You Pay Your Student Loans That Are In Forbearance?

This is a question I asked myself when student loans first went into forbearance. At first I wasn’t sure if I should continue paying the minimum payments, stop paying them all together, or attack them with a vengeance. I wanted to get the most value out of the situation but I wasn’t sure what option would provide me with the best result. After a few weeks of considering the advantages and disadvantages I came up with the plan that was right for me. Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of all the options to get a better understanding of […]

It Is Tax Refund Time!

Around this time of year everyone gets excited for their tax refund. When you receive a refund it is because you were charged too much for your taxes. Thus it is like receiving your own money back at a later time. However, most people do not see it or treat it like that. People tend to treat it as a bonus that they can use to buy the extra things they have wanted all year long. That is the recipe that brings them right back where they started financially. Sure, maybe they have one or two things that brought them […]

Our Debt Free Journey Update From 2020

We first started to get intentional with paying off our debt in April of 2020. Now as we approach the end of February 2021, I want to look back over the past 11 months to recognize the accomplishments. We may not be finished but we have made great progress. When we started we were living paycheck to paycheck. Barely making it to the next time we got paid. We were even using credit cards to supplement our income. Today we no longer need to use credit cards. Today we actually have some savings set away for small emergencies. We no […]

Develop A Budget & Stick To It

If you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, find debt freedom, build wealth, and give generously without worrying about your finances then you need a budget. Really everyone needs to make a budget but it sounds like such a scary thing to do. Not only does it seem overwhelming to do but if you actually look at your finances you might find negative balances, massive amounts of debt, and overall poorly planned financial decisions. However, I don’t want you to think of it as something that is negative. I want you to think of this as your starting point […]

Credit Cards Belong In A Safe, Not In Your Wallet

Having a credit card can be beneficial for many reasons. It can help in emergencies, it can build reward points for future purchases, gain airline miles, and most importantly build your credit score. The downsides to owning a credit card though can outweigh the benefits. At the end of the day if you count all those late fees and the interest charged over time it adds up to costing you more than you get in benefits. Even if you are making on time payments! Credit card companies want you to use the cards frequently so that they get more money […]

I Had To Be Broke To Start A Budget

Making a budget is not an easy or very fun thing to do. Most people refuse to do it for various reasons. My reasoning was I thought I could make all the calculations in my head. I thought I could know an average amount of what we spend on regular bills and an average of what we spend on food. I figured with some self discipline both me and my husband would only spend money on essentials with very few wants in between. I am not too proud to admit that I was wrong, very wrong. Me and my husband […]

Cancel All Those Video Streaming Apps & Subscriptions

I love watching movies, I mean LOVE it! If I am given a day off I can sit in front of the tv all day. I can watch my favorite movies and shows without getting sick of them. Nowadays watching movies is even easier with subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. With a few clicks of the remote I can move onto a new show or movie. I don’t even have to move off the couch to put in a different DVD. However with this convenience also comes consequences and downsides. I can sit there all day watching show […]

The Broke Budget Financial & Lifestyle Plan

This video is the introduction to the Broke Budget lifestyle and financial plan. I talk about who this program is for (broke people) and what the program contains. Plus a few different financial tips are buried throughout the video so be sure to watch until the end. Give this video a like and subscribe to the Broke Budget YouTube channel for more FREE content!