25 Smart Tips and Advice on Budgeting for the Big Stuff with Tonya Rapley
PHOTO COURTESY OF MY FAB FINANCE
We are pretty sure that you will admit that your financial life can be a little better. Right? Ours too. We reached out to Tonya Rapley, Financial Expert and Educator, and Founder of My Fab Finance for a chat on 'Budgeting for the Big Stuff'.
Getting financially fit and smart is a challenge for many of us and through this chat, Tonya shared some of the best tips, advice and proven ways of saving towards and budgeting for our short-term and long-term goals.
Key Takeaways
“Saving smart means making it a priority in your life.”
“Once you identify your spending triggers, it can help you to find ways to cut back and save towards your goals.”
“Saving smart will take sacrifice to get to where you want to reach financially.”
“Determining why a specific financial goal is important. Knowing your why helps you to keep focused on the end goal.”
“Build multiple income streams, identify ways in which you earn additional income.”
“There are no secrets to saving, it requires sacrifice and discipline.”
“Audit your daily finances. ”
“Financially empowered makes their own rules, ALWAYS.”
“Don’t buy non-necessities to compensate for the negative feeling associated with living paycheck to paycheck.”
“Living Paycheck to paycheck can be a costly spending trigger in and of itself.”
“Really assess your spending & stop buying things you can live without.$20 here, $15 there, another $15 here. Little stuff adds up.”
“I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck. The biggest things I did was stop wasting the money and earn more outside my paycheck.”
“I do believe until you learn to manage what you have you will never have enough. BUT don’t be afraid to earn what you are worth.”
“Every month I was crying broke.I went on a “dining out fast” and only cooked my meals. “Found” an extra $200 in my budget.”
“I made saving for trips and big goals a priority. I’ve realized that most of us have issues because of what we prioritize.”
“Most of us at least have a surplus during tax or bonus time. Save that money for something big, not a series of shopping sprees.”
“Look for travel deals because they are out there The Flight Deal is amazing.”
“I didn’t travel abroad until it became a priority. Mind you I was making the same amount of money! I had to shift my priorities.”
“Having separate savings accounts to help with saving for big goals is a must! You might even want to put that money in a CD or a Money Market fund so that it yields more interest.
You do not need to access the money for your big goals until the opportunity arrives. Forget about that account until then.”
“Consider asking people to help with your goal.If people can do GoFundMe campaigns for All Star weekend, you can too.”
“Big goals are going to be scary. Don’t let fear stop you from achieving and being who you always wanted to be.”
“I don’t believe in deprivation as a savings strategy. Treat yourself to something small but not everything small.”
“Always be on the lookout for contests or specials. Dont be ashamed to use coupons.”
“Remember a sale isn’t a sale and a treat isn’t a treat if you can’t afford it.”
Resources shared
- Articles:The Easiest Way to Build Your Savings, Getting Your Financial Life in Order with Tonya Rapley
- Website: This Is Why You're Broke
- People/Brand to Follow on Social Media: Dave Ramsay (best-selling author, A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness and host of the Dave Ramsey Show)
- Apps for tracking and managing your finances: My Fab Finance 'Financial Planner,
- Books: The Richest Man in Babylon
Join us for our Twitter Chats every 4th Tuesday of the month at 9 PM (ET). Do you have any topic in mind you would like to explore? Or would you like to be a Twitter Chat guest? Send us your suggestions.
