Budget and Money Talk

We are entering the second quarter of 2011 today. Have you been on top of your budget?  Have you reached any of your financial goals for 2011? I can honestly say that my budget has slipped just like the spring weather has disappeared for the past week! It is rainy, sleety and snowy here in the Washington DC area.  I know that my calendar said it was spring on March 20, 2011, but the weather does not. 

courtesy of http://www.deborahowens.com

Back to budget and money talk. How are you on staying on budget? If the answer is yes-Congratulations!  If the answer is no-don't worry there is time!   The best part is that you can start your budget any day of the year. There is no rhyme or reason. 


This past weekend I attended the Get Radical Conference in Washington DC that featured the wonderful Deborah Owens, Rhonda Britten, Ali Brown, Jillian Michaels, Niecy Nash as well as Doreen Rainey.  The day was filled with so many a-ha moments, resonating thoughts, and words of wisdom.  Deborah Owens, is a wealth coach and has "A Purse of Your Own" financial program. She is empowering women to be financial empowered on their journey to being financially wealthy.  I am very excited to begin this program.  

courtesy of http://frugalfabulousfinds.blogspot.com 

While I am in the beginning stages of reading Deborah's books and getting set up, I wanted to share with you all a blog that I have found useful.  Frugal Fabulous Finds is a blog that shares Couponing 101, and Budgeting 101. Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well.  She has some great deals for couponing.   What I found today was her tips on budgeting and using the envelope system.  Pretty much everyone knows that Dave Ramsey is known for his envelope system, and I even shared some about it before.  Well Wendy shares her envelope system and how she used her rewards from Staples to help get her started. I am setting up my own envelope system this weekend based on her budgeting posts.  



I am attaching three links to Wendy's posts on budgets-how to create one, her financial goals for 2011, and the envelope system update.   (click on the line to be taken to the post)

TIPSTER TUESDAY - SIMPLEST WAY TO CREATE A BUDGET FOR BEGINNERS

FINANCIAL GOALS FOR 2011-MY PERSONAL LIST-HAVE YOU MADE YOURS?

ENVELOPE SYSTEM BUDGET UPDATE-MONTH 2 ACCOUNTABILITY 

The internet is a wonderful place where tons of "free" resources are available.  We all have our style of learning and doing.  By utilizing the internet to read and research things we are able to formulate the best "program" that will help us achieve our goals -financially, personally and professionally.  

I don't think I have found the "perfect for me"  budgeting system but I can't wait to explore Deborah Owen's "Purse of Her Own" and start making financial goals for the 2nd quarter of 2011 based on the suggestions from Wendy. 

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Smartphones, Toddlers, Teens and Money

I am one of the development team members of Regarding Nannies and each Friday I bring our readers "Financial Friday".  I love sharing various things about "financial" aspects that occur in our lives.

Here are two of my past Financial Fridays

Do you need a Smartphone?

Money Skills from Toddlers to Teens

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Want to see Matthew McConaughey for $6?

Then you need to make sure you head over to Groupon and grab one of the movie tickets for "The Lincoln Lawyer" before tomorrow  when they end the giveaway. I am going to pick up two of these tickets for my Grandma and my Aunt to go see this movie. My Grandma loves Matthew McConaughey!

The Fine Print

• Limit 2 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Valid for a single ticket to any showing of "The Lincoln Lawyer" available through Fandango. Not valid for IMAX or 3D showings.Not valid with other offers. No cash value. Use is subject to Fandango'sterms of use. See the rules that apply to all deals.

this post does contain affiliate links

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What "financial" choices will you make?

I posted over on Regarding Nannies today for the Financial Friday post, here is a little snippet of it...

There it was staring me in the face “Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It? I really enjoyed doing that post.  Remembering that “financial, wealth, and money” doesn’t necessarily mean “money” but can be something “non materialistic” or “emotionally” fulfilling.   What is even better was that I was questioning my time earlier tonight as I was “tweeting” in a chat with some bloggers.  I was “procrastinating” writing the article for today’s post, but what I ended up finding was an incredible blogging connection with a blogger that will be able to help guide me in a direction that I was searching for some answers to.  Technically I was “wasting time” by not doing my blog post, but I didn’t “waste time” finding connections for things I needed assistance in.

To read the rest of the article visit:  Time, Money, Scholarships and Choices

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Charlie Sheen, Medical Deductions and Taxes?

Did you know that rehab services are tax deductible medical expenses?   I ran across this post from Don't Mess with Taxes  titled:  Tax note to Charlie Sheen: rehab costs are a deductible medical expense.  It is really a good take on medical deductions along with a few laughs. 


This brings up the fact that it is tax time and most people still haven't filed their taxes yet.  I wrote an article last year on Medical Expenses and how I used them for my 2009 taxes.  Do you itemize your medical expenses?  Did you know that you can ask your pharmacist to run your "2010" expenses. This helps greatly when figuring out your prescriptions.  I have "reports" from my dentist, chiropractor and pharmacy.  I also have my receipts from my eye exam and my new glasses I had to buy.    

The other evening a friend's husband had asked me about using Turbotax for my taxes. They had always used an accountant, but wanted to try online this year.  I have been using TurboTax for the last 6 years probably.  Twice I used an accountant because I was involved in the direct sales business, and wanted assistance.  I reminded the husband that medical expenses are deductible like the hospital expenses for their child that was born and dental expenses that they had incurred in 2010.  I gave him the link to the IRS publication 502.  He was thankful for the advice and the links.   The great thing I was sharing with him was that I have found that Turbotax asks the various questions and you answer them and input your numbers.  Turbotax does all the work for you internally.   You also don't have to pay until you file your taxes with the version I use from my credit union, which is fantastic. 

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