Personal Finance

Tried putting together a budget for the first time this week and it’s left me feeling a bit flummoxed. Anyone else found it harder than they expected or is it just me? I’ve always been a bit of a spendthrift, you know, the kinda person who buys a coffee every morning instead of brewing at home. So I thought I’ll get my act together, start adulting properly and plan my finances (new year resolution and all that). But oh boy, trying to figure out where to start has been a headache. How do you sort through your expenses and prioritize? I’ve looked at some apps and tools online but they feel so impersonal, like they don’t really understand where I’m coming from or what m…

So, here’s the deal, I’ve got this old PC from the ’90s I found in my grandparent’s attic and I’m thinking of restoring it. Just for the nostalgia, you know? The specs are pretty outdated obviously, but it’s a heartwarming thing ya know. Feeling like I’m 12 all over again, blowing the dust off the old floppy disk drive. I’m reasonably tech-savvy, but when it comes to these vintage machines… well, they’re a whole other beast. I’m looking for anyone who might’ve been down this road before and could give me some advice. I mean, I know this thing’s never gonna play Cyberpunk 2077, but I’d love to get it running some of those old-school DOS games like Duke Nukem or Jazz Ja…

So here’s the thing. I’ve been thinking a lot about my personal finances lately especially with all this pandemic stuff going on, you know? I mean, with job security pretty much up in the air for a lot of folks and all these lockdowns, it’s never been a better time to buckle down and take control of where I’m at financially. Mostly, I’ve been looking for ways to cut my spending without feeling like I’m sacrificing a lot. I’ve already done the obvious stuff like eating out less (not that there’s much choice there with restaurants being closed and all!). But what about the not-so-obvious stuff? For example, I was reading about how some people save tons on their bills by…

Ever had one of those months where everything just seems to go wrong financially? I recently found myself in that pickle. First, my car broke down, then my phone decided it was time to take a permanent nap. It felt like a never-ending cycle of unexpected expenses. What saved me, though, was having a little 'rainy day' fund. I know, I know, everyone talks about it, but it's seriously a lifesaver. Even if it's just a small amount, setting aside money regularly can really cushion the blow when life surprises you. Does anyone else have tips or experiences on managing these surprise costs? How do you stay prepared without feeling like you're constantly saving for a disaste…

So, I’ve been freelancing for a couple of years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how unpredictable income can really throw a wrench in budgeting plans. When you can’t count on a steady paycheck, it’s crucial to have a flexible budget that can adapt to those leaner months. I’ve started by identifying my non-negotiable expenses (like rent and bills) and made sure to cover those first. Then, I set aside a percentage for savings whenever I have a good month. One trick that’s worked for me is to live on last month’s income. It gives a buffer and helps avoid the panic when a payment is late. I've also picked up some side gigs that provide a more regular ca…

Been thinking about this a lot recently and thought I’d throw it out there to the collective brain trust here. How do you guys balance spending on fun stuff and saving money? My paycheck isn’t huge, but it’s decent. I’ve been trying to follow the 50-30-20 rule (you know, 50% essentials, 30% discretionary, 20% savings) that I’ve seen discussed here, but there’s an issue. I know it’s important to save, like really, actually important for that “life-happens” scenario, a rainy day or even retirement (seems far off now, but not as far as before). But it’s also equally important to live life, right? I mean, what’s the use of working so hard and not enjoying the present …

So, a few months ago, I realized I was spending way too much on stuff I didn't even need. You know how it is – a coffee here, a quick lunch there, and suddenly you're wondering where all your money went. I decided to take control, and here's what actually helped. First off, I started using an app to track my spending. I won't plug a specific one because there are tons out there, but find one that works for you. It was a bit eye-opening to see how much those little things added up. I also set up a 'fun money' account. It's a separate account where I transfer a set amount each month for guilt-free spending. Once it's gone, it's gone, but at least I’m not dipping into my s…

Is anyone else feeling completely overwhelmed by personal finance? I swear, they should’ve taught this stuff in high school, right? It’s frustrating for me ’cause I’ve reached the point where I know I don’t want to stay embedded in this perpetual loop of not getting this right - not knowing where my money is going or how to save up for something important. I’ve started trying to build up an emergency savings fund - you know, the one we’re all told we should have. That’s going quite slowly though. I sometimes feel as if I’m feeding a starving piggy bank with coins, when it really needs a banquet. Anyone else feel this way? What are your secrets, if you’ve managed …

So, I’ve been trying to stick to a budget for a while now but gosh, It’s a lot harder than I initially thought.. It’s almost like everything I want to do or need to buy just doesn’t fit in my budget plan. It’s a constant battle and unfortunately I’ve found myself on the losing side lately. Anybody else having this issue? On top of that, it seems like prices just keep rising, yeah? From gas to food to attempts at having a social life after this whole pandemic mess… it all adds up real quick! I get that inflation and recovering economies require some adjustment period but seriously, it’s hitting hard. I recently had to dip into savings just to keep my head above water,…

Just thought I’d pop in here and see if someone could share some insight on managing personal finance. This is fairly new territory for me. You know, the old ‘learning-on-the-go’ routine. This is something we didn’t really take time out for back in school although now I’m realizing it’s something quite essential. I’ve already had a poke around the forum and found some super useful info about budgeting, managing expenses and saving for retirement. But there’s still big chunks missing in my knowledge. I mean, I wanna know more about how investments work, how to manage taxes efficiently, and maybe even some advice on dealing with debt and loans too? I’ve started work…

So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about getting more serious about my personal finances. I’ve always been pretty good at saving - I remember getting my first part-time job at 15 and shovelling most of my little paycheck right into my rusty tin money box. But lately, with all the talk about inflation in the news and the never-ending cost of life, I feel like it’s high time I started doing more than stashing away cash in my savings account at the bank. To be honest, the whole business of personal finance feels a bit like trying to walk through a maze blindfolded. There’s just so much I don’t know. Tax-efficient investing? Building a diversified portfolio? Heck, words …

Hey guys, so I’ve been going through a bit of a tough time recently financially and I was just wondering how you all stick to your personal budgets? I mean, I start off with good intentions, writing everything down, buying only the bare essentials but then suddenly it’s mid-month and I’m back to square one again. Even worse, my savings account isn’t looking too happy. I guess I’m just not disciplined when it comes to money, and especially with the whole pandemic thing it’s been more difficult than ever. Do any of you have hacks or tips on how to stay disciplined with personal finances? Maybe there are budgeting apps you’ve found helpful? Or something psychologica…

Yo guys. So, struggling a bit here with this whole personal budgeting thing. Wondered if there are any budgeting ninjas among us who could offer some wisdom? I’ve tried a couple of those budgeting apps but they’re just not cutting it for me. Not sure if it’s because I struggle with consistency or maybe I’m just missing something. Or could be that I’m a bit old school and would prefer more of a pen and paper style approach, just without the actual pen and paper (if that makes sense ha). More like an easy-to-follow method that I can apply daily. To give you a little bit of backstory here, I had a decent saving habit in the past but then the pandemic hit and like man…

I really don’t like YNAB, and ideally don’t want to be paying a lot either for a budgeting tool either. Ideally a solution that connects with my bank and cards etc, any suggestions and/or recommendations?