Does it seem the “add to cart” reflex feels hardwired into your brain? Popular wisdom once said that a new habit takes 21 days to become a permanent fixture in life. Although, according to one study, it’s closer to 66 days. But don’t let that discourage your financial goals. You might be holding the secret…
Nearly half of Americans report being broke according on a recent study. We can assume these Americans also live paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings. It’s a stressful situation but it’s not impossible to escape. If you’re new to saving, are a notoriously bad saver, or even if you’re a pro at saving…
Warren Buffett is arguably the most successful investor of all time. While he’s worth more than $140 billion today, his first investment was buying three shares of a company called Cities Services for $114.75. Sure it was 1942, but it still shows us the power of compounding if you start early. If you invest regularly,…
Here are 12 money moves to make before 2024 comes to an end. As we approach the end of 2024, now is the time to make any last-minute money moves. For me, many of the financial decisions I make have tax implications. But this time of year is also ideal for reviewing the past year…
Opening a bank account is normally painless. Either in person or online, the process takes less than an hour. After entering personal information and setting up an initial deposit, you’re done. Sometimes, however, things don’t go according to plan. If you’ve had a bank account closed in the past because of overdraft fees or a…
Everyone, regardless of income level, needs a budget. Businesses survive and thrive with budgets, and it’s no different for personal finance. While business budgets might be complicated, your finances don’t have to be. Budgeting can be smooth sailing and even fun when you choose the proper budget for your goals and personal style. Managing personal…
When you think of everything you wish you were doing on a Saturday afternoon, I’m confident the first 5,000 or so ideas would not include “What a perfect day to review my budget!” For too many, creating a budget is unpleasant but unbelievably important if you want a healthy financial life. Even more important is…
Rules of thumb are loose “rules” that apply broadly to many situations. We talk about rules of thumb a lot here on Dough Roller. Regarding personal finance, the key word is “personal.” There are no one-size-fits-all rules for running your budget, savings, retirement planning, or other aspects of your financial life. That said, some general,…
My husband and I have used many budgeting tools, including Rocket Money and YNAB. We still use (and love!) YNAB, but it left us with a gap: cash flow planning. Unfortunately, we’re still not accustomed to YNAB’s month-ahead spending goal. That means our checking account ebbs later in the month, and we must be more…