Step 3 This is probably the easiest step! Using the form you downloaded or whatever you want, consider the following questions: What do you want? Retirement, repay debt or new car When would you like it? In 1 year, 2 years or 25 years How much will it cost? Estimate is ok Writing them down […]

Step 2 A good plan is worth writing down. Dear Piggy Bank has forms for you to use. Either excel or PDF format, whichever you prefer. Take a couple minutes to download one: Dear Piggy Bank Forms. If you have a couple more minutes, gather together some of your financial information including net pay, regular […]

Step 1 What will motivate you to start 2013 with a good plan to manage your finances? Understanding and acknowledging why you want to do something is a big step forward and can keep you moving in the right direction. Do you worry about day to day finances? Do you worry about your financial future? […]

2013 is just around the corner. The holiday season always goes so quickly and financial planning gets but a smidgeon of a thought. No one wants to spend their time crunching numbers and thinking about a budget but here are just a couple things on your list to do before the end of 2012 to […]

Without an army of elves, being prepared for the holiday season is a challenge and as time ticks by, it becomes more difficult to stick to a budget. It’s the old ‘supply and demand’. As shoppers and mailers get down to the wire, the prices go up! We pay more for convenience, we pay more […]

No matter how organized we plan to be, the holiday season has a habit of sneaking up on us and before you know it, there are events to attend and gifts to buy. A bit here and a bit there has a sneaky way of adding up and can be tricky to keep track of. […]

How are you doing? It’s almost impossible to become financially literate overnight but if you’ve taken the opportunity to put the basics in place, you’ll be well on your way. This doesn’t mean that it takes care of itself but I think you’ll find the amount of time you spend managing your financial affairs will […]

Once you know the ins and outs of your household finances it’s time to decide where you’d like to go, make a map, put gas in the car and get on the road. GOALS: Having a destination in mind may not be how everyone likes to travel but without specific goals, the probability of achieving […]

Who thinks you need a budget for Halloween? It’s a fun occasion whether you’re hitting the town or taking little ones on a Halloween adventure it’s celebrated with parties, costumes, tricks and treats. The question is … Is there room in your current budget to cover the festivities? It doesn’t have to cost a lot […]

Whether you’re saving for something special, something shiny and new or your future, here are a few are some tips to get you started. Do you work better with a goal? I do, I’m one of those people that likes to know where I’m going and typically I know what I want. I don’t always […]