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Joined: 09/05/2005 Posts: 29111
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First, know where your money is going and how much of it is going where

We have used Mint to help aggregate all of our financial information into one place. It allows you to import all your online accounts and then manage them from there. At the least, you can see how much cash on hand you have, how much you have tied up in a work 401k or IRA, you can get an approximate value for big assets like your vehicles or house (imported from Zillow, so take it for what it is) and you can see a rough approximate net worth.

The most you can do with it is set a budget for all items you spend money on. Categorize all of your spending so you can see what you are spending the most on, or if you are getting out of hand on certain areas. You can then get alerts about nearing your budget, or overspending for the month. It will also show your net income for each month.

There are several services that do this. Your bank might even have one. I've found Mint's to be very user friendly and easy to access.

(In response to this post by JKHokie-RunFor32)

Posted: 02/18/2021 at 09:42AM

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Current Thread:

Need to become better at managing money and install better money habits. -- JKHokie-RunFor32 02/18/2021 09:30AM

Don't know the exact Jack White quote/track, but about money. -- HWA 02/18/2021 12:19PM

I sent an email to one of VT's former presidents asking him to consider... -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:40AM

That would probably be more useful at the high school level... -- Freddyburg Hokie 02/19/2021 12:57PM

Frankly it should be taught at every level... -- EDGEMAN 02/19/2021 3:12PM

Lots of good options mentioned below. -- GreenvilleVT 02/18/2021 11:09AM

The one thing to keep in mind with Dave Ramsay is that his method -- jmanatVT 02/18/2021 10:48AM

Bigger thing to keep in mind with Dave Ramsey -- Tafkam Hokie 02/18/2021 2:56PM

Right, it's true of everything, not just his debt management advice. ** -- jmanatVT 02/19/2021 1:09PM

Which advice do you think is questionable? -- GretnaHokie 02/18/2021 3:44PM

Two things in particular -- Tafkam Hokie 02/18/2021 7:37PM

Good post. Thanks for the reply -- GretnaHokie 02/18/2021 8:04PM

Ramsey is good for getting out of debt. That's the first step. -- TechMomof2 02/18/2021 10:32AM

I read 'Personal Finance for Dummies' when I was in my 20's and it was ... -- vt90 02/18/2021 10:24AM

I would say living BELOW your means is the key ** -- Hoke 02/18/2021 12:19PM

Yeah - that's why I said 'pay yourself first' but same concept. Definitely -- vt90 02/18/2021 12:40PM

But Tom Selleck swears the AAG Reverse Home Mortgage is the way to go ** -- OXVT 02/18/2021 10:29AM

And it's not his first rodeo ** -- Hokerer 02/18/2021 11:11AM

There are situations when it might be but for most it is a bit of a scam. ** -- vt90 02/18/2021 10:34AM

Eh. An offer is made, an offer is accepted (or not). Not really a scam. -- HWA 02/18/2021 12:07PM

I wonder if Rush had an AAG reverse home mortgage? 🤔 ** -- OXVT 02/18/2021 10:39AM

Just give up the hate OX, it's a bad look ** -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:07AM

Nah, no hate - just lounge poking ** -- OXVT 02/18/2021 11:11AM

FanDuel. Easy (Free) money!!!! Or so I've heard. -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:02AM

Try Online Poker Around Lunch Time. The rooms are full of -- jdkhokie 02/18/2021 10:19AM

LOL! Between that and DraftKings' free money, I'll be rich in no time!!! ** -- reestuart 02/18/2021 10:05AM

Fan of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover -- DallasHokie98 02/18/2021 09:55AM

Just bought the paperback on Amazon. Thanks! ** -- JKHokie-RunFor32 02/18/2021 4:21PM

My wife doesn't like it but I give it as a wedding present (in addition) ** -- DallasHokie98 02/18/2021 5:41PM

Second This^^^. We quickly paid off a few credit cards and some student -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 09:58AM

Ramsey is good common sense but at times you have to live a little. And -- VTMONEY94 02/18/2021 10:01AM

Agree. Money has been so cheap lately, that you can do a bit of both. -- reestuart 02/18/2021 10:07AM

Yeah, I have read his matertial, listened to his pod casts and -- VTMONEY94 02/18/2021 10:15AM

If one is in that kind of situation, maybe skip the vacation that year -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:20AM

It kind of sux when you realize a potential vacay is not a good choice. -- reestuart 02/18/2021 11:05AM

When I look back at my spending habits when I got married (at 22 yrs old) -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:22AM

I learned my Credit Card lesson when I was a college student -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:23AM

I have a good feeling about my 11 year old. That boy is cheap as crap. -- reestuart 02/18/2021 11:08AM

Haha. Same. Except my daughter wants US to buy it for her. ** -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 11:10AM

Yeah, I think he's gamed the system. Part of his problem is he gets such -- reestuart 02/18/2021 11:32AM

That's OK. Hopefully she keeps that "mindset" into her adult life. -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:25AM

Sidetrack....so you joined Hokie Central when you were 20? I'll admit -- Late 80s Hokie 02/18/2021 10:35AM

Yes. Graduated HS in '97, joined in '99. I believe there was a tiny bit of -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:38AM

Budget. Budget. Budget. -- GretnaHokie 02/18/2021 09:52AM

Agree. A budget is a huge part. Making sure each dollar you make has an -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:00AM

Why did that make a difference? -- hoosnowahokie 02/18/2021 10:07AM

It hurts more to hand over cash for purchases versus swiping a card. ** -- GretnaHokie 02/18/2021 10:18AM

It's funny for me, I see it nearly the opposite. I'm so used to tracking -- jmanatVT 02/18/2021 11:09AM

Like Dave says, it's a lot harder to spend your money when you actually -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:13AM

Intercept inside stock tips in transit, then make killing while putting -- statmanfromHCyrs 02/18/2021 09:48AM

First, know where your money is going and how much of it is going where -- hoosnowahokie 02/18/2021 09:42AM

You really don't need to buy a program...just build your own Excel charts -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:18AM

Mint is a free product. ** -- hoosnowahokie 02/18/2021 11:39AM

Remember than anything that's "free" is getting paid somewhere -- EDGEMAN 02/18/2021 11:41AM

If your single stay single if married get a divorce and above do not have -- jdkhokie 02/18/2021 09:42AM

Two people can live as cheap as 1 - if 1 doesn't eat ** -- bigbadbird 02/18/2021 09:44AM

LOL ** -- jdkhokie 02/18/2021 10:08AM

Motley Fool has lots of guides. Fool.com ** -- UTPr0sim 02/18/2021 09:41AM

It's not for everyone, but the Dave Ramsay class is pretty good. It's -- reestuart 02/18/2021 09:38AM

We were amazed at how much we were spending on things like eating out and -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:07AM

We've strayed some, but we do stay ahead of spending. We could certainly -- reestuart 02/18/2021 10:11AM

Yep. We have a Vacation savings account. I remember the days when we would -- HokieGator 02/18/2021 10:18AM

I probably can get you a one year old tundra -- GreenvilleVT 02/18/2021 11:10AM

Your wife is wrong!!! ;) ** -- reestuart 02/18/2021 11:02AM

1. Get money 2. Spend wisely 3. Invest more wisely -- PhotoHokieNC 02/18/2021 09:36AM

And my investment advice. Buy Low, Hold, Sell high.... ** -- UTPr0sim 02/18/2021 09:42AM

The folks on r/wallstreetbets could use that advice. =^) ** -- Freddyburg Hokie 02/19/2021 12:58PM

As opposed to my habits: buy cheap, hold, sell low. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 02/18/2021 09:48AM

You forgot- Spend less than you make ** -- bigbadbird 02/18/2021 09:40AM

There is a woman out there that will manage it for you ** -- bigbadbird 02/18/2021 09:34AM

Then your money will be Ms. Managed! ** -- Kudelski 02/18/2021 10:11AM

First, know where your money is going and how much of it is going where

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