Category: Budgeting Basics

  • Personal finance for busy students: quick and practical money tips

    Personal finance for busy students: quick and practical money tips

    Why busy students need a simple money system, not a perfect one Between classes, part‑time work and a social life, most students don’t need a “perfect” budget – they need something that runs on autopilot. Over the last three years это стало особенно очевидно: по данным Federal Reserve, к 2023 году совокупный студенческий долг в…

  • Financial planning for car buyers: how to create a realistic budget

    Financial planning for car buyers: how to create a realistic budget

    Understanding Your Car Budget in Today’s Market Why Planning Matters More in 2025 Since 2022 автомобили резко подорожали, а вместе с ними выросли и затраты на владение. В США средняя цена нового авто держалась около 48 000 $ в 2022 году, затем немного снизилась до примерно 46 500 $ в 2024-м, но ставки по кредитам…

  • Saving for a rainy day: practical steps for everyday people

    Saving for a rainy day: practical steps for everyday people

    Why “Rainy Day” Money Matters More Than Ever We don’t live in a “$500 emergency” world anymore. According to recent data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, about 37–40% of adults would struggle to cover a $400 unexpected expense without borrowing or selling something. At the same time, surprise costs are getting larger: a minor car…

  • Save money and time with smart strategies to save more every month

    Save money and time with smart strategies to save more every month

    Why “Save” Became a Survival Skill, Not a Hobby Over the last three years привычка откладывать деньги превратилась скорее в средство выживания, чем в скучную добродетель. По данным Федерального резервного банка Сент‑Луиса, средняя норма личных сбережений в США упала с примерно 16–17% в 2020 до около 3–5% в 2022–2023, а в отдельные месяцы 2023 года…

  • Financial planning for nonprofit leaders: key strategies to manage mission-driven finances

    Financial planning for nonprofit leaders: key strategies to manage mission-driven finances

    Why Financial Planning Matters So Much for Nonprofit Leaders If you lead a nonprofit, you already know the mission is never the problem; money is. Over the last three years, that tension только усилилась. По данным Giving USA, общий объём пожертвований в США в 2022 году упал примерно на 3,4% в текущих долларах и более…

  • High-impact plans that drive results and accelerate your business growth

    High-impact plans that drive results and accelerate your business growth

    What “High-Impact Plans” Actually Mean When people hear “high-impact plan”, they often imagine a glossy slide deck or an overcomplicated roadmap. In practice, a High-Impact Plan is a decision tool: a focused document that links three things — the problem, the bet you’re making, and the measurable change you expect. It cuts out noise and…

  • Saving for a quiet retirement with low-cost strategies and smart investing

    Saving for a quiet retirement with low-cost strategies and smart investing

    Why “quiet retirement” really means “predictable cashflow” Quiet retirement isn’t about luxury villas; it’s about knowing your bills are covered without panic. In practice, that means building predictable cashflows: pensions, annuities, bond ladders, and systematic withdrawals from investment accounts. When you think this way, “savings” stop быть абстракцией and turn into monthly numbers: rent, utilities,…

  • Saving for a child’s future without sacrificing present joy and freedom

    Saving for a child’s future without sacrificing present joy and freedom

    Why Saving for Your Child Feels Different in 2025 Being a parent in 2025 означает жить в режиме «и сейчас, и потом». С одной стороны, хочется дать детям максимум впечатлений уже сегодня: походы, кружки, путешествия, нормальное жильё. С другой — стоимость образования и жилья растёт быстрее зарплат, и игнорировать будущее ребёнка просто опасно. Цель уже…

  • Saving for a home maintenance fund to protect your property budget

    Saving for a home maintenance fund to protect your property budget

    Why a Home Maintenance Fund Is Not Optional Anymore Owning a home without a maintenance fund is like driving an old car with no spare tire. Все вроде бы нормально… пока не хлопнет крыша, бойлер или кондиционер. За последние три года расходы на содержание жилья стабильно растут: – По данным отчетов Angi «State of Home…

  • Budgeting for new year’s resolutions: how to set financial goals that stick

    Budgeting for new year’s resolutions: how to set financial goals that stick

    Why most money resolutions collapse by February Most people write “save more” or “spend less” on January 1st and call it a plan. That’s not a plan, that’s a wish list. To make personal finance goals for the new year actually work, нужно разложить их на конкретные цифры, даты и действия. Например, вместо «выплатить долги»…