Image Source Right now, many of us are looking ways to cut costs in our lives. We’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis, as the price of near enough everything is on the rise, while wages remain stagnant and we struggle to convince our workplaces of a pay rise. This is problematic.…

Many things in our world today can cause us stress and worry. Most of these problems are hard to fix, so we have to learn how to live with them. Money is the most obvious and important problem that almost everyone will have to deal with it.  Photo by Alexander Mils: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-100-us-dollar-banknotes-2068975/ Despite what many…

For the last year and a half, I’ve been working for a company that you can invoice whenever you want. I could invoice after every event I work, if I wanted to. That seems a bit crazy, but I do invoice weekly. Which is the most often I’ve ever been paid. (I mean… weekly income…

Learning the basics of financial responsibility is key. However, while many people learn these through lessons they’ve either had to figure out the hard way or advice they have gotten from others, there are plenty of young people who go out into the world with no preparation or any idea that they need preparation. These…

If you’re just getting started with your finances, you may be looking to set up a checking account for the first time. Or you may have a checking account that you’re not very impressed with and looking for some options. I thought I’d spend a few minutes today writing about how I chose the checking…

Cost effective living is simply living within your means, but there are a few things available to people who work in the performing arts that can make this easier. To do this, you need an idea of what money is usually coming in and what your expenses are. Even with wildly variable income, you can…

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about my new budget limitations and how I work under the assumption that I have $24.36 a day to get me through, after spending on essentials and hitting some, but not all, of my savings goals. Fortunately, this based on my salary and not any side hustling,…

With my spending varying widely and the knowledge I won’t get a regular, full paycheck till towards the end of February – everything financial has gotten a little wish-washy. And I have been a little unsure of whether I’m doing ok or still living that tour life mentality. So I fell back on an old,…

I think everyone gets some lucky breaks in life – there’s something others struggle with that you just genuinely don’t. For me, I’ve usually laughed at Fear of Missing Out, in part because I’m a largely anti-social dork who usually doesn’t want to hang out or dance or go to clubs or drink super heavily…

The is a sponsored post. Please be aware that I have been compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own. How often do I rave about the fact that tracking my net worth has made a major difference in my finances? Well, if it’s been a while, tracking my net worth has made…

Saving is tough for young adults and those with new families. A combination of high rent, expensive necessities, and supporting family members means there’s little to spare. Add the fact 26% of people cite inadequate income as their reason for an inability to save and it’s easy to see you’re not the only one struggling. Budgeting is…

Starting a business might be easier today than it used to be, but that doesn’t mean that becoming an entrepreneur is simple. One of the biggest challenges you’ll need to face involves figuring out how to get the cash you need to run your company and keep it running smoothly. From finding the right source…

Guys, it has been almost six years since I spent a month writing out my Budget 101 series. SIX YEARS.  I think that’s pretty exciting but it also made me think it’s time to revisit the idea. I was recently at a symposium of stage managers, talking about personal finance, and a few of them questioned my…

Budgeting is one of those things that most people are put off by but if you get the hang of it, it’s very easy and helps keep you on track with your expenses month to month. Your budget should be prepared each month before the budget month starts. If you’re budgeting for May, you should…

One of the most useful things I did when I was trying to pay off my student loans and figure out how to get by with what was left was to start budgeting. But I’ll admit, budgeting wasn’t super exciting. I still don’t think it is – but I also don’t do it very often…

A friend of mine gave me this candle called 2econd Life – it’s in a concrete, recycled holder and it’s silly but it’s got me thinking a little about how life feels like it had different “parts.” I mean, the Mel I was in college or grad school is probably still there somewhere in me,…

You’re starting a home renovation project and have realized you have a problem—you have high-end tastes, but a low-end budget. It’s hard not to be dazzled by the gorgeous home renovations in magazines and on television, only to find that many of the elements are beyond your (and most people’s) means. Don’t lose hope—getting the…

The holiday season is here already and you’ll need to go out of your way to buy gifts items for friends and family, pamper yourself for a productive year, and allow yourself the indulgence of eating better stuff than instant ramen. Interestingly, when the holidays end and the New Years come around, you might be…

Here’s something I don’t feel like we talk about much in the personal finance sphere – you don’t need to budget ALL the time. Let’s compare budgeting to learning how to play an instrument. When I was 8 years old, I dragged home a trumpet from school and started being forced to practice 20 minutes…