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A festive party calls for a little more makeup than your everyday swipe of lip gloss, and it’s surprisingly easy to liven up your look and still be out the door in a flash.
A festive party calls for a little more makeup than your everyday swipe of lip gloss, and it’s surprisingly easy to liven up your look and still be out the door in a flash.
Here are the first three steps toward keeping your heart healthy for years to come.
Here are the first three steps toward keeping your heart healthy for years to come.
We all want to firm up those tummies before hitting the surf this summer, but there’s much more to getting bikini-ready than just stopping by your favorite spin class three times a week.
We all want to firm up those tummies before hitting the surf this summer, but there’s much more to getting bikini-ready than just stopping by your favorite spin class three times a week.
Well-shaped eyebrows frame your whole face, but if you’ve tweezed out too much, don’t panic! Try these beauty tips and tricks to get your brows back in shape.
Well-shaped eyebrows frame your whole face, but if you’ve tweezed out too much, don’t panic! Try these beauty tips and tricks to get your brows back in shape.
Whether you’re working a desk job from 9 to 5, returning to college to get a degree or painting for a living, procrastination can deliver gold to you.
Whether you’re working a desk job from 9 to 5, returning to college to get a degree or painting for a living, procrastination can deliver gold to you.
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By Karen Goodfriend
Q: I wanted to cut back on credit card charges, but now I'm always at the ATM. How can I find a balance?
A: If you're prone to impulse purchases or surprised by high credit card bills, switching to cash is smart. Still, you need to set a budget to help limit your spending and provide you with enough to cover your needs. Sticking to a budget can also help cut down on ATM trips and any fees that apply.
Start by writing down what you buy every month, plus how much it costs. This includes groceries, gas, dry cleaning, shopping, entertainment and coffee runs, but not mortgage payments or other set bills.
Next, decide whether each purchase should be a credit or cash expenditure. In general, put non-negotiable costs like groceries and gas in the credit category and discretionary spending like shopping and entertainment in the cash group. But remember to take your spending habits into account when divvying up your list. If you have trouble sticking to your budgeted amount for groceries, set aside just enough cash and proclaim the supermarket a credit-free zone. This will force you to make smart choices so you stay on budget.
After tallying up what you need in cash each month, withdraw only a percentage of it each week. Then tell yourself you can't hit the ATM again until your next planned visit. You'll start thinking twice about what you buy -- and you should end up saving a bundle.
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Karen Goodfriend is a certified public accountant and personal finance specialist in Los Altos, Calif. She is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs' Financial Literacy Commission.