I receive comments on my blog everyday. Some are happy, some are angry, and some just hit my heart like a ton of bricks. Today, I received one of those comments. A reader came across our story of how we survived on $14 an hour. In that post, we break down the exact budget we used to live on $14 an hour during our first year of marriage. It was a tight budget, but we made the most of it, and even saved a little money at the same time. Marie dropped by in the comments section to tell me her story. It weighed on my heart, so I wanted to post it here, and my response to her to try and … [Read more...]
February 4, 2016 27 Comments
January 21, 2016 4 Comments
Download – Budget Spreadsheet With Video Tutorial
Welcome to iHeartBudgets! First thing's first, if you haven't already, grab your FREE copy of our budget template so you can start on your journey to financial freedom! You'll get a copy of the spreadsheet we use, as well as access to our exclusive iHeartBudgets newsletter for tips and trick son managing your money and keeping more of it! Tons of you have recently downloaded this spreadsheet, and I have received a few questions on how to use it. Instead of emailing everyone back individually, I decided to put together a video tutorial walking through each section of the budget and how … [Read more...]
December 21, 2015 12 Comments
Financially Stressed? Give Yourself This Gift
As we near Christmas, we finally start wrapping up the last of our holiday shopping. Gifts are purchased, wrapped and put under the tree as eager family awaits Christmas morning. In a flurry of wrapping paper, red bows and cardboard boxes, we get to enjoy gifts from those we love, and experience the joy of giving to our loved ones as well. But most people neglect to get themselves a gift. So I'm going to let you in on a little secret about the best gift that you can give to yourself this Christmas. It's a simple gift, but can have a profound impact on your financial future. What Is … [Read more...]
November 18, 2015 14 Comments
3 Best Sites To Get The Most Cash For Your Old Cell Phones
Does anyone here have an old cell phone lying around, collecting dust and generally being an annoying hunk o' junk? Well I have scoured the world wide web and put together a short and sweet list of the BEST places to purge your old cell phone(s) and get a decent pile of CASH in exchange. We're talking hundreds of dollars for these tiny pieces of USED technology that you no longer need in your life. And yes, there are only 3 places to do this. First, Where NOT To Sell Your Cell Phone Craigslist. Well, you can if you want, but the risk of being ripped off or worse might offset any … [Read more...]
November 11, 2015 12 Comments
Step By Step Guide To Your Holiday Shopping
They hype. The hysteria. The holidays. Yes. We're right in the thick of it. 'Tis the season to hook a drain tube up to your wallet and watch your cash flow disappear faster than a Kardashian marriage. But, it's ok, because it's all in the name of "SAVING MONEY" People Love To Save Money One Day A Year In the day and age of "ONE DAY DEALS", there's more hype than ever over saving a TON of money buying your loved ones the "perfect gift." Just Google the term "Black Friday deals" and you'll be hit with a barrage of news articles, store websites with dedicated shopping sections, and … [Read more...]
October 30, 2015 4 Comments
Want To Get Out Of Debt? Start Here
Debt. Everyone seems to have it. It's almost a familiar friend at this point. Except it's the kind of friend who borrows your sweater and never gives it back. And then comes over and eats your leftovers without asking. And after borrowing your car for a week, returns it with a dent on the front bumper…AND DOESN'T EVEN MENTION IT! Yes, debt is a burden and a problem that nearly everyone has to deal with, but sometimes the hardest part of getting yourself out of debt is knowing where to get started. So I've put together a handy guide below to show you how to start your journey to get … [Read more...]
October 9, 2015 12 Comments
Kitchen Remodel On A Budget: Part 5
Welcome back to the Kitchen Remodel On A Budget series. Make sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 to see how things kicked off! After finally getting the new countertops installed, the entire kitchen started feeling different. We now had the new design permanently installed, and we immediately felt the difference in adding twice the counter space to our small kitchen. And though we were enjoying the new feel immensely, there was still plenty of work to do. Free Dishwasher! Coming off our ridiculously awesome WIN with our free French-door stainless fridge, we also scored … [Read more...]
September 24, 2015 15 Comments
Paying Off Student Loans With Credit Card Rewards!
Disclaimer: Credit cards can be a dangerous tool that helps dig you into massive debt at a high interest rate. I NEVER recommend anyone using the below strategies who has been in massive credit card debt AND who is NOT on a budget plan. It took us 3 years running a cash-only budget before we could dip our toes into credit cards, and I recommend anyone starting out take at least 1 YEAR on a cash-only budget to build good money habits before attempting to get credit card rewards. Yup, you read that right. I'm getting into debt to get out of debt! Ok, not exactly. But we ARE using … [Read more...]
