Dear Chuck, When it comes to our finances, we live with good intentions but put off budgeting and planning until we face another crisis. My husband and I want to break our cycle of procrastination, crisis, firefighting, and then back to procrastination. We need help to stay focused. Painful Procrastination Dear Painful Procrastination, You […]
Dear Chuck, My wife and I are finally living on a budget! What are some key steps in our financial plans that we should aspire to achieve now? Getting Our Act Together Dear Getting Our Act Together, Bravo! I read some years ago that about 60% of people say they need or desire to live […]
Dear Chuck, I hear you say spend less than you earn. I’ve tried, but I can’t. I really want financial freedom, but how do I get it when I don’t make enough money? Seeking Financial Freedom Dear Seeking Financial Freedom, I am sorry for the pain you are experiencing. The reason I emphasize the […]
Dear Chuck, We tried to live on a budget when we first got married but didn’t stick with it. Now that we have children and are feeling the pain of rising gasoline and groceries, etc, etc., we need to get disciplined with money! Can you help us? Budgeting for Inflation Dear Budgeting for Inflation, […]
Dear Chuck, My husband and I have good intentions when it comes to using money wisely, but we just don’t follow through. We need help! Stuck Without a Budget Dear Stuck Without a Budget, In my years of counseling couples about their finances, I have met many just like you who want to have […]
Dear Chuck, Covid set me back financially this year. As a result, we’re having a very frugal Christmas. Can you offer any tips on setting financial goals for next year? I want to be better prepared for what may lie ahead! Getting Ready for 2021 Dear Getting Ready, I am so sorry for the […]
Dear Chuck, I wasn’t ready for the pandemic. My health has been fine but my finances have not. How can I get ready if we are faced with another crisis? Prepping for Another Pandemic Dear Prepping, I am sorry you were not ready for the pandemic but I am grateful that your health is […]
Learning how to budget can be challenging! For some people, it comes naturally, but for others, it takes an extra dose of discipline to develop the habit. But knowing how to budget when you have inconsistent income can be especially challenging. An increasing number of professionals are working for themselves, creating their own businesses, and […]
Hi Chuck, I am part of the ‘Gig Economy’ and work full-time as a freelance graphic designer. Some months I am slammed with work and make a great amount of money. But then other months are really slim. I’ve found it’s really difficult to budget for these major ups and downs – I end up […]
Have you been waiting to make a budget until you make just a little more money? Maybe you have good intentions to start saving for retirement, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Debt has a way of accumulating quickly while we work to develop a plan to pay it off. Can you identify with any […]