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Give Yourself A Raise!

Try this exercise – multiply $15 x 5, then multiple that answer by 50.   Your total should be $3,750.00.

This is non-taxable money that can be put back into your family budget just by making a different decision.   How’d you like to have that much back in your budget?

George and Vanessa (not their real names) recently came to see me regarding their finances.  They were not happy.   It seems that in goiing over their finances, they should have more money saved  than they do.

In reviewing their budget, it seem that, yes, they should have more  money available to save.  So I decided to play “detective” and question them on their daily habits.  Guess what I found out!

George and Vanessa were spending money on groceries and then also buying breakfast and lunch while at work. On average they were each spending almost $15 day.  That’s $150 a week!  Even if they took a two week vacation, the additional spending would amount to $7,500.  That’s $7,500 that could be invested, be used to pay off or down debts, create a college fund, you name it!

As you can imagine, they were both shocked.  In fact they had thought it insignificant and had not even considered it as part of their budgeting.  They had a decision to make – stay the course or change their habits.

George and Vanessa decided to cut back extremely on their breakfast and lunch spending and begin to buy groceries that they could take for breakfast and lunch or took take “left-overs” from the previous night’s dinner.  This will probably save them $7,000 a year.  It’s like getting a raise without getting a raise.

(Of course, the food vendors will not be happy – you can’t please everybody.)

So take a look at your food and meals budgets and see if you can save, too.  Who would you rather have the money – your family or the food vendor?

To Your Financial Health,

If I can help you with your tax planning,  tax preparation, bookkeeping or marketing plans, give me a call.  I’d love to hear from you.

Written by

James Fleming is an accountant and Certified Tax Coach with over 40 years experience working in and with small businesses. His company, Fleming Financial Solutions offers tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, business and marketing consulting.