Take a look at your screen time, how much time do you spend on your phone? In many cases I’m sure it’s significantly more than you thought possible. But what do you do when you are stopped at that red light, waiting in line to check out, or sitting at an appointment? In this episode, I will discuss the importance of having self-control in terms of your connectivity.

When buying a vehicle, consider the intangibles. When purchasing a vehicle, consider the following; insurance costs, average maintenance, the amount you drive, gas mileage or range, depreciation curve, utility and use. In this video, I go over the 10 categories to consider when purchasing a vehicle.

We all need to have a plan for our transportation, which for most people can be the second most-expensive purchase made. Making sure that you write down the essentials of what makes the vehicle the right fit then following these 5-steps will help in your decision-making process.

It’s an obvious statement that clothing is essential and a necessity in most settings, so why would it need to be something to discuss when it comes to planning for your budget? Much like food, the costs for keeping stocked or staying full can be justified based upon the so-called need. Whether you are frugal or a heavy-spender, it is important for you be purposeful in what you deem as essential in your clothing budget category.

It’s obvious that food is essential, but because of this known fact it can be easy for people to not budget for their specific dietary needs. Figuring out how this aspect factors in to your regular budget will help you to prioritize the essential food needs you have. Looking first at the what you would ideally like to spend then comparing it to what you actually spend.

Determining what is essential, to you, in your home will ensure you don’t hold onto, have to maintain, move, or be distracted by what is not. For all of us, home should be a sanctuary, safe haven, and where we invest in and cultivate what matters most to us. So figuring out whether your home aligns with what is essential to you will make a significant impact on the order areas of your life.

It’s so important in life to know what is and is not essential for you. In this theme we will be covering how to determine this and what to look at and for. Now you may be thinking immediately of what is essential for survival—food, shelter, transpiration and clothing, but looking beyond this to what you actually need and what adds the most value to you in particular will help you figure out what to prioritize.

In the theme on housing we have covered everything from how to find your ideal home, when to buy, how much to spend, how to renovate, and a number of other topics. Summarizing this theme following 5 steps to help you in your decision making to navigate the largest purchase most people make!

If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably experienced being inundated with salespeople trying to sell you all kinds of products and services for your home. Some are better than others and come with legit savings, but making sure to use a filtering system in order to figure out whether the system, rebate, or efficiency improvement is worth it. Reviewing the key components of your home and applying this to the needs you currently have or foresee will be especially important.

Looking at a scenario of a family purchasing a home based on a household income and what they can afford to spend on housing will provide additional clarity on how much to spend on a mortgage. Looking at a specific scenario of gross income equaling $80k and then showing what typically will reduce that income providing you with your actual take-home pay, will help you determine what you can spend. Looking at typical percentages of mortgage debt, it may be best to consider buying a home with an attached unit like a duplex to prevent having too high of a mortgage in relation to your income.