Fabulously Frugal
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About this ebook
Want to repair bad credit? Start saving money? Find out how to live frugally without making sacrifices? This eBook will give you the strategies to make it all happen. Fabulously Frugal will help you solve your money problems and get you started on building up your savings!*Learn strategies for saving money for emergencies, how to spend less on h
Dawn Colclasure
Dawn Colclasure is the author of five books, among them BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents and 365 TIPS FOR WRITERS: Inspiration, Writing Prompts and Beat The Block Tips to Turbo Charge Your Creativity. Her articles, essays, poems, book reviews and short stories have been published in regional and national newspapers and magazines, as well as online. She lives and writes in Oregon with her husband and children.
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Fabulously Frugal - Dawn Colclasure
Contents
Copyright Page
Dedication
Introduction
Part One
(Chapters 1-3)
Part Two
(Chapters 4-13)
Part Three
(Chapters 14-16)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Recommended Books
Bibliography
About the Author
Fabulously Frugal
How to Manage Your Money, Live for Less and Build Up Your Savings
by
Dawn Colclasure
All rights reserved
Copyright © May 14, 2015, Dawn Colclasure
Cover Art Copyright © 2016, Charlotte Holley
Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.
Lockhart, TX
www.gypsyshadow.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.
ISBN: 978-1-61950-414-1
Published in the United States of America
First eBook Edition: June 20, 2017
Dedication
For my friend Julie
Introduction
Do any of these situations sound like you?
You want to get control over your finances and figure out how to manage your money, but you don’t know how.
You want to be able to enjoy life without spending so much money, but you don’t know how.
You want to be able to live without the stress of worrying where your next paycheck will come from or if you’ll be able to afford any surprises this month, but you don’t know how.
If one or all of these apply to your current situation, then this book is for you. This book will show you how to make those things happen so that your life will be more financially sound without having to make any major sacrifices.
Fabulously Frugal will give you the tools and information you need to figure out your finances, live more frugally without acquiring the label of being cheap
and keep that money coming in without sacrificing time with friends or family. Reading this book will arm you with the know-how in tackling major hassles like home repairs or how to be smart with your utility bills. You’ll also learn how to use coupons, as well as some great tips to put them to bigger use, be a smarter consumer and get the things you need without spending so much money for them.
Additionally, you will find tips on how to start saving money for things such as emergencies or a vacation.
If you have ever wanted to know how to gain control over your money and keep an eye on your budget, Fabulously Frugal will guide you in achieving those goals and creating a financial comfort zone so that you can enjoy the more important things in life.
Part One: Manage Your Money—Chapter One
Take Stock of Your Financial Situation and Get Out of Money Trouble!
You want to live a frugal life and build wealth. But before you can do anything with your money or change your financial situation, the first thing you should do instead is take stock of where you stand financially. Are you secure as far as insurance goes? Do you have bad credit? What’s your worth? By answering these questions and sorting through your finances, you’ll have a better handle on your money and resolve any unfinished business. This process will also allow you to be prepared for financial crises such as your final arrangements and legal situations.
Taking stock of your financial situation is not as daunting as it may sound. You may feel that this task is too time-consuming or overwhelming, but if you manage this process correctly and allow yourself extra time to do it, the emotional relief will lift a burden from your shoulders. You won’t have to worry about your financial situation anymore because now you’ll have a better idea of where you stand. Take the time to work on the suggested areas of your financial situation included below in order to feel a greater sense of financial security. If you still feel it is too big of a job for you to handle on your own, ask a spouse or financial adviser to help out.
Steps to Taking Stock of Your Financial Situation
There are certain areas you will need to cover as you take stock of your financial situation. These areas will help you determine your net worth and figure out what sort of financial problems you’ll need to deal with now. As you work through these areas, write everything down, so it will be easier to figure out your situation at the end.
These are the seven items you’ll need to evaluate to determine your current financial situation.
Your Credit Score
What is your credit score? This score number, also referred to as your FICO score, will determine your creditworthiness. This score helps you to secure loans, buy property or obtain insurance. More on determining your credit score in Chapter 2.
Your Assets
Your assets are anything you own. These things have value in the case of bankruptcy or financial liquidation.
What do you own? Take some time to think about this and write it all down. Do you own your car or is it worth more than the remaining loan? Do you own or have equity in your house? Do you have a checking account as well as a savings account? You will need to include some other things in determining your assets. For example, if you have a CD or investment accounts like a mutual fund, this counts towards your assets. Be sure to make a list and include their current market value.
Your Liabilities
Your liabilities are amounts you owe. Some examples of liabilities include a mortgage, car loan, credit card debt and repayment on lines of credit. If you have other bills to pay, such as medical or student loans, include these and their amounts as well.
Your Expenses
How much money do you spend in an average year? You may need to go through old bank statements or credit card receipts to get this amount. Figuring out your annual expenditures will help you understand where your money is going and how to manage it better. You should start keeping track of all your expenses now. You’ll find out one way to do this in Chapter 3.
Your Insurance
Do you have insurance? If not, take care of that now. Medical expenses can be astronomically high nowadays—they even charge patients to ride in an ambulance. Having health insurance can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars in medical bills. Look into what kind of insurance plan you qualify for. Talk with your doctor or ask friends what insurance plans are out there and how you can find one that is right for you. By ensuring you have insurance, you can feel confident that you won’t run into financial problems should a medical situation come up. Also, don’t forget other forms of insurance you need to stay financially secure, such as car, renter, housing, business.
Your Legal Documents
Have you drawn up a will? Have you selected a beneficiary? Who will have power of attorney in the event you become bedridden or can’t communicate? These are all items you should include when taking stock of your financial situation. You should make sure everything is legal, current and notarized. Additionally, keep all your legal documents, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, safely in one place. Having all of this together will help you avoid delays as well as costly legal problems later.
Your Net Worth
Your net worth is basically how much you are worth financially. In order to assess your net worth, compare the total of your liabilities to the total of your assets. If the amount of your assets is higher, then you have a positive net worth. If the liabilities are higher, you have a negative net worth. Don’t be alarmed if your net worth is negative. This is the case for a lot of people. Be happy that you know