How to Save Money

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Saving money is one of those tasks that’s so much easier said than done. There’s more to it than spending less money (although that part alone can be challenging). How much money will you save, where will you put it, and how can you make sure it stays there? Here’s how to set realistic goals, keep your spending in check, and pay yourself first.

Steps

1. Set savings goals. For short-term goals, this is easy. If you want to buy a video game, find out how much it costs; if you want to buy a house, determine how much of a down payment you’ll need. For long-term goals, such as retirement, you’ll need to do a lot more planning (figuring out how much money you’ll need to live comfortably for 20 or 30 years after you stop working), and you’ll also need to figure out how investments will help you achieve your goals.
   • Kill your debt first. Simply calculating how much you spend each month on your debts will illustrate that eliminating debt is the fastest way to free up money. Once the money is freed from debt payment, it can easily be re-purposed to savings.
2. Establish a timeframe. For example: “I want to be able to buy a house two years from today.” Set a particular date for accomplishing shorter-term goals, and make sure the goal is attainable within that time period. If it’s not attainable, you’ll just get discouraged.
3. Figure out how much you’ll have to save per week, per month, or per paycheck to attain each of your savings goals. Take each thing you want to save for and figure out how much you need to start saving now. For most savings goals, it’s best to save the same amount each period. For example, if you want to put a $20,000 down payment on a home in 36 months (three years), you’ll need to save about $550 per month every month. But if your paychecks amount to $1000, it might not be a realistic goal, so adjust your timeframe until you come up with an approachable amount.
4. Keep a record of your expenses. What you save falls between two activities and their difference: how much you make and how much you spend. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it’s wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Assign each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Car insurance, Car payments, Phone Bill, Cable Bill, Utilities, Gas, Food, Entertainment, etc.
   • Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
   • Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.
5. Trim your expenses. Take a good, hard look at your spending records after a month or two have passed. You’ll probably be surprised when you look back at your record of expenses: $300 on ice cream, $100 on parking tickets? You’ll likely see some obvious cuts you can make. Depending on how much you need to save, however, you may need to make some difficult decisions. Think about your priorities, and make cuts you can live with. Calculate how much those cuts will save you per year, and you’ll be much more motivated to pinch pennies.
   • Can you move to a less expensive apartment or house? Can you refinance your mortgage?
   • Can you consolidate your debts so that you’re not paying as much interest?
   • Can you save money on gas, or give up a car altogether? If your family has multiple cars, can you bring it down to one?
   • Can you get a better price on insurance? Call around and make sure you are getting the best price you can. Consider taking a higher deductible, too.
   • Can you drop a land line and either only use your cell phone or save money by calling over the internet for free with services such as Skype?
   • Can you live without cable or satellite TV?
   • Can you cut down on your utility bills?
   • Can you restrict eating out? Buy food in bulk? Start using coupons? Cook more at home? You might be able to save a lot of money on food.
6. Reassess your savings goals. Subtract your expenses (the ones you can’t live without) from your take-home income (i.e. after taxes have been taken out). What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals? Let’s say you’ve decided you can definitely get by on $1500 per month, and your paychecks amount to $2300 per month. That leaves you with $800 to save. If there’s absolutely no way you can fit all your savings goals into your budget, take a look at what you’re saving for and cut the less important things or adjust the timeframe. Maybe you need to put off buying a new car for another year, or maybe you don’t really need a big-screen TV that badly.
7. Make a budget. Once you’ve managed to balance your earnings with your savings goals and spending, write down a budget so you’ll know each month or each paycheck how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is especially important for expenses which tend to fluctuate, or which you know you’re going to have a particularly hard time restricting. (E.g. “I will only spend $30 a month on movies/chocolate/coffee/etc.”)
8. Stop using credit cards. Pay for everything with cash or money orders. Don’t even use checks. It’s easier to overspend when you’re pulling from a bank or credit account because you don’t know exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you can see your supply running low. You can even bundle up the predetermined amount of cash allocated for each expense with a label or keep separate jars for each expense (e.g. a bundle/jar for coffee, another for gas, another for miscellaneous). As you pull money from a jar for that particular expense, you’ll see how much remains and you’ll also be reminded of your limit.
   • If you need to have credit cards but you don’t want the temptation of having them available to use day-to-day, restrict that section of your wallet with a note or picture reminding you of your savings goals.
   • Credit cards are not inherently evil; it’s all about your self control. If you use them responsibly (i.e. completely pay them off every month), you can benefit from them. But the reason most credit card companies make money, however, is because people end up spending money that they don’t have. Unless you are one of the people who can religiously pay off the balance in full every month, you’re better off foregoing the promotions that credit card companies use to lure you in (cash back, introductory APR, airline miles, and so on).
9. Open an interest-bearing savings account. It’s a lot easier to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. You can also usually get better interest on savings accounts than on checking accounts (if you get interest on your checking account at all). Consider higher-interest options such as CDs or money-market accounts for longer savings goals.
10. Know where your money is. And how much of it, too. If you accidentally overdraw your bank account, you will incur hefty bank fees; worse yet, the place you paid with that check may slap a bounced check fee on top of that, and send the check in again, resulting in a second overdraft fee from the bank! So just a few cents missing to cover that check could result in over $100 in fees. To avoid that, you should always know how much money you’ve got in your account(s), so you never cut a check for more than what you have.
    • Look into checking and savings accounts that pay interest. Also, consider CDs (certificates of deposit) for longer-term savings with low risk.
11. Pay yourself first. Savings should be your priority, so don’t just say that you’ll save whatever’s left over at the end of the month. Deposit savings into an account (or your piggybank) as soon as you get paid. An easy, effective way to start saving is to simply deposit 10% of every check in a savings account. If you get a check or sum of cash, say 710.68, move the decimal point one place to the left and deposit that amount: 71.07. This works well and requires little thought; over several years, you’ve a tidy sum in savings. Over decades, you’ll be a millionaire.
    • You can set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account.
    • Many employers allow you to deduct savings from your paycheck. The money is directly deposited in your savings account so you never even see it on your paycheck.
    • You can also have investments for retirement taken directly out of your pay, and the taxes may be deferred with this option.

Video

Tips

• Always OVER estimate your expenses and UNDER estimate your income.
• If you can afford to share things you have, from food to living space to appliances, try to do so. What goes around comes around when it’s between close friends, soon enough, you’ll find your friends doing the same, and everybody benefits.
• Have a professional shopper go through your closet before you hit the mall. They will help you assess what you already have and what timeless items you can invest in to create more looks from those you already have. There are services that do this (e.g. Visual Therapy in NYC and TimePros in Los Angeles). Remember that this service can cost a pretty penny. Don’t use this method unless you have a tendency to make $250 - $400 shopping trips!
• Have a hobby? Match your funds. One important habit for saving is if you have a hobby, such as model airplanes, scrapbooking, dirt biking, scuba diving, etc., set a hard and fast rule that whatever you allow yourself to spend on your hobby, you match those funds to your savings. For example, if you buy yourself a $45 pair of riding gloves, another $45 goes to your savings. Serious about saving? Try doubling your matched funds! These savings plans will do two things: Save money regularly and quickly, and really show you how much you are spending on your hobby, when it costs you twice as much.
• If you receive unexpected cash, put all or most of it into your savings, but continue to set aside your regularly scheduled amount as well. You’ll reach your savings goals sooner.
• If you vacation normally, use the web to search for affordable vacation deals instead of paying full retail price. Some sites offer very discounted vacations by partnering with resorts across the country. Essentially, you are required to go on a 90 minute sales-pitch to buy a timeshare at the resort, and in exchange you receive an extra cheap luxury vacation and often freebies like theme park tickets, gas, or dinner certificates.
• Make purchases with paper money, not exact change, and always save the change. Use a piggy bank or jar for your coins. Coins and change may look insignificant but when accumulated over time they can help you save. Some banks now offer free coin counting machines. When you redeem your coins, ask to be paid by check so you won’t be tempted to spend your newfound cash.

Warnings

• Do not go out “window shopping” with any money on you. You will only be tempted to spend money you cannot afford to lose. Only shop with a predetermined shopping list.
• After a long week of working, you may want to indulge in some luxury, telling yourself, “I deserve this”. Remember that the things you buy are not gifts to yourself; they are trades, products for money. Say, “Of course I deserve this, but can I afford it? If I can’t afford it, I’m still a worthy person, and I still deserve to meet my savings goals!”
• Unless you’re in truly desperate financial straits (like 10 seconds from eviction and your three children are starving) don’t try to cut corners connected to health. Basic preventative care for yourself, your family, and your pets might cost you a $60 office visit or a $30 heartworm pill today, but the skipping it will contribute to expensive problems and heartache down the road.

Related wikiHows

• How to Buy Nothing
• How to Retire in Your 30’s
• How to Teach Your Child About Budgeting
• How to Wake up from the American Dream
• How to Save Loose Change
• How to Start Saving Using a CD Ladder
• How to Reduce Expenses

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save Money. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

personal finance

I haven’t yet, because I’m still waiting for our accountant to complete our 2008 income tax returns.  Hopefully he is done soon, because the quicker we fill out & file Cody’s FAFSA, the better I’ll feel.  (And then I can finally tick that off my spring to-do list!)

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) takes a bit of time, but is usually worth the effort.  “Most people underestimate their eligibility for financial aid,” says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid (a financial aid web site.)  And to qualify for almost any financial aid package … federal, state, or scholarships & grants from private schools … the student must have filled out a FAFSA.

Here is a checklist of documents needed to fill it out for 2009/2010 -

• 2008 federal tax return.
• W-2 forms.
• Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security, welfare payments and tax-exempt interest income.
• Bank statements.
• Mortgage statements.
• Brokerage statements.
• Student’s Social Security number and, if available, driver’s license.
• For business owners, the company’s financial statements or corporate tax returns.
• Records of any child support paid to or received by former spouse.
• Records of medical and dental expenses paid in 2008.

You’ve probably rounded up most of these for filing your income tax anyway …

So why not give it a shot and file a FAFSA for the college student in your house?

You just never know -

It might end up saving some money on 2009 fall / 2010 spring tuition this school year.

And wouldn’t that be SWEET!

personal finance

It’s taken me awhile to digest the whirlwind of activity from last week.  Especially since my traveling companion (who also happens to be my sister) lives in a very different income bracket than me …

She is quite wealthy.  In fact a self made millionaire.  Which is not usually an issue between us.  Seriously.  Because to me she will always be my-baby-sister no matter how fat her bank account is.

But …

It’s weird traveling with someone with a lot of money.

We had a $400 meal one night - a $400 meal.

She treated, obviously.   But oh my, it was hard for me to handle her spending on one meal, what is one month worth of groceries for me and Craig.  It truly was a lovely meal in a lovely restaurant … but $400 … oh my!

I think I’m still dizzy from the whole experience.

Here I was worrying if Craig had remembered to use the $6.98 in CVS reward bucks that were set to expire while I was out of town and she’s throwing down $400 for dinner.

It was weird to say the least!

So where do you stand on the whole “Very Spendy” meal spectrum?

Would it be something you would relish and savor?

Or would it freak you out - like it did me?

personal finance

You’ve got to act fast if you want this one …

Because it is only available until 10:59 am EST, on Saturday March 14th.  You will be prompted to become a member of Oprah dot com before being allowed to download the book.  Personally, I think it’s worth the effort.  Here is the link and you check it out for yourself.

Yesterday as I was opening the mail, and it happened, my first panic attack.  The trigger was a benefits paid  statement from our health insurance - But there were no paid amounts to be found.  All I saw were denials for payments on my recent surgery, to the tune of $22K.

YIKES …

My heart started racing.  My face felt warm.  And the room started to feel really small.

A panic attack …

Luckily the problem solver in me managed to surface, even through the flood of panic.  I found the insurance company’s 1-800 number and called it.  The woman on the other end of the line talked me through the problem -

An overzealous claims processor had closed the claim too early - before they had received some necessary paperwork.

Damn, I hate this insurance company! 

Don’t get me wrong -

I’m grateful we have any health insurance at all. 

But this company aggressively tries not to pay legitimate claims. 

They mail paperwork dated 10 days earlier than you receive it, with a-must-return-by-date that is usually the very next day. 

It is so nerve racking!

personal finance

To say, “I can’t afford it!”

To which I reply, “Thank goodness!”

My dad and my husband Craig both have the tendency to live by the motto - I deserve it.  Which in theory I stand by them 100%.  But theory needs to be balanced out by reality.  Which boils down to - Can you afford it? 

To which the answer varies.

For example, yesterday Craig and I were grocery shopping together.  We enjoy this time together - most times.  But yesterday was different.  Craig was crazy nuts on some of the items he was wanting to buy.  Our allotted grocery budget would have been shot.  We would’ve ate like kings for three days … and peasants for four of them.

It’s all about choices and consequences.  I want to eat healthy for all seven days!  (And I know so does Craig.)  He just sometimes gets in those moods where he wants what he wants. 

But he is getting much more open to me saying, “We can’t afford it.“  He realizes, that by us staying within our budget, we have been able to accomplish much more with our money.

It’s not easy to stay on budget.  Sometimes we get real pissy with each other.  But we recover fast. Because we actually do want the same things in the long run. 

Crazy doesn’t even begin to cover how messed up our lives would be if we didn’t live within our means …

(Now my dad - he’s a whole other story.  I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get him to behave with his money!)

personal finance

“Sticking to a budget and monitoring nutrition both require a certain level of discipline.” says Kevin Martin, executive vice president of personal financial services for HSBC Bank USA.  “The rules for both are the same:  Set targets for yourself; decide where you can cut back; recognize, then try to break bad or excessive habits; be organized; have patience; and reward yourself when milestones are reached.”

Do you agree? Or not?

Personally, I agree with Mr. Martin.  When I’m staying on top of my personal fitness and health habits - I am usually  making good choices in other areas of my life, including finances.

Here are some terrific healthy habits that may improve your physical (& fiscal fitness)

• Start dinner with a first course -  Always begin with either a big salad or bowl of vegetable soup.  Which are low in calories but fill you up because they contain so much water.  (Research from Penn State University has shown that this technique can cut your total calories at meal time by 20%.)
• Enjoy unlimited snacks -  Unlimited foods are nonstarchy vegetables like peppers, carrots, celery, and cucumbers.
• Walk off cravings - A recent British study found that chocolate lovers had reduced cravings after taking a brisk 15 minute walk.
• Avoid trigger foods - Identify your personal trigger foods (Foods you just can’t stop eating once you’ve begun.) and avoid them at all cost.
• Get your head in the game -Success starts in the head, moves to the heart, and lastly involves the mouth and stomach.
• Double up on the good stuff - Eliminate 1 cup of starch every night and double up on nonstarchy veggies.
• Eliminate extras - Don’t nibble … every bite counts!
• Cut back on sweets, real and artificial - Some studies suggest that even diet soda and artificially sweetened foods can lead to weight gain.  (Maybe because fake sugars keep sweetness on our taste buds and minds.)

Tips excerpted from “Joy’s Life Diet” by Joy Bauer.

personal finance

If your answer is yes - All you have to do is write an essay.  Which could possibly win you one of six houses located in Cassville,Wisconsin.  The contest started February 1st, 2009 and they are accepting essays until March 15, 2009.  Click here to check out their website and download the official rules.  (I’ve always wanted a house along the Mississippi River!)

Now for some must reads …

Personal Finance

1. 91 Ways to Save on Almost Anything 
2. 52 Ways to Make Extra Money 
3. 7 Ways to Make Extra Money 
4. Coupon Websites: Never Pay Full Price Again?
5. How to Earn Passive Income Using The Internet
6. Top 100 Personal Finance Blogs

Blogging Related

1. Grow a Blog - Market,Promote,Drive Traffic,Find Readers,and More
2. RSS - Blog Directories (TopRank best list of directories to submit your blog feed.)
3. bloggerunited,blogerella,Sited and Blogged (Check these out … they look cool!)
4. How To Sell Ads On a New Blog

Very Interesting Websites

1. ScrapbooksEtc.com
2. YouCanMakeThis.com
3. DollarSurveys.net

Until Next time,

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Photo Credit: Cody

personal finance

I had an interesting conversation with Dillon the other night.

He’s kind of going nose to nose -

With one of his fellow co-workers over the topic of spending money locally.

Dillon works in a relatively small shop that has 4-regular, and 1-guest artist, on a daily basis.

And they all tend to discuss everything from religion & politics -

To whether it’s ethical to spend your money supporting large corporations.

Dillon’s co-worker is adamant, that it’s totally disgusting to spend a cent at a place like Walmart.

Now you know -

I kind of admire the co-worker’s economic theory of “shop local…”

But is it truly feasible for the average person or family?

(That was the point Dillon was trying to make with him.)

Dillon does try to buy local as much as he can.

Yet he’s not going to avoid the larger chain stores -

If there’s something he needs and it can be purchased significantly less there.

If he can get his laundry soap and toilet paper cheaper at Walmart …

I say more power to him!

This whole conversation, got ME thinking about where I stand on the whole shop local & support your community topic.

I guess I’m basically on the same page as my son.

Craig and I try to shop local as much as possible.

We shop weekly at our local farmer’s market in the warm season.

We use local small businesses as much as possible -
Like the local heating and cooling guy when we had to replace the furnace at our last rental house.

Or, the auto mechanic that replaced the head in hubby’s pickup truck engine, last summer.

But -

I don’t think I can give up getting the deals on household supplies and groceries, that I get at the larger chains.

I’m just not ready to convert to the small-local-health-food-markets we have in our community.

I’m really curious what you think about this?

Do you shop local small businesses?

Do you try to avoid the larger corporation chain stores?

What do you think is the ethical thing to do?

PHOTO CREDIT: CODY

personal finance

• Protect Your System ~ Have it inspected by a professional.  A furnace that works correctly will be much more efficient.  (Remember to ask the service professional for advice on maintaining your system.)  Don’t forget to change the furnace filter regularly to ensure proper air flow.
• Turn Down The Heat ~ For every degree you lower your heat … you will lower your heating bill by up to 5%.
• Program The Temperature ~ Using a programmable thermostat will make adjusting the temperature settings automatic.  (So it’s easier to lower it when you are away during the day, or asleep at night.)
• Save Hot Water Energy ~  Turn the temperature on the hot water heater down to 120 degrees.  This can help you save up to 10% on water heating costs.  If your unit is located in a cool area … you need to think about installing an insulating jacket.  Maybe insulating the first few feet of pipe that transport the hot water from the heater as well.
• Insulate, Insulate, Insulate ~  Go around your home and find the drafty spots where cold air can enter … which usually are doors and windows.  Install weather stripping and door sweeps if necessary.  Some other areas that can cause problems are locks, outlets, air conditioning units, and recessed light fixtures.  The Energy Star program has a free guide to home insulation.  Click here for more information.
• Shop Around ~ If you happen to use fuel oil … compare prices to find the lowest rate.
• Take a Tax Credit ~ In 2009 homeowners who add certain energy efficient measures can take a tax credit of up to $500.  For more information click here.

personal finance

Don’t you just love a fresh start?  Or a new beginning?  Especially after the bummer-of-a-year that 2008 turned out to be …

Here are some really good articles and blog posts -

To keep your 2009 New Year’s motivation inspired:

1. An article by MSN Money’s own MP Dunleavey - called How Our Money Secrets Can Cost Us. (She totally hooked me with her first line … It’s time to come clean!)
   
2. I’m kind of new to the Marc and Angel Hack Life blog.  (Which features practical tips for leading a productive life.)  But already I am ridiculously impressed!  It’s a blog that everybody should be reading daily in 2009 - I’m not kidding!  Start with this post called Be Who You Were Born To Be.
3. Have you heard of The One Dollar Diet Project?  (I hadn’t until I saw them on Fox and Friends one morning.)  Basically it’s about two social justice teachers who decided to eat on a dollar a day.  This is a pretty cool blog, because it speaks to us on so many levels!  Click on the link to be inspired … I dare you!
4. I love books.  Always have and always will! Shaefer’s Blog had an interesting post where he listed his top 10 all-time favorite books.  Can you guess what the number one pick was???  Check out the blog to see!
5. Meet the family of 7 who live on $44K a year -  debt-free!  These people are awe inspiring in their money management skills.  Click here to read their story.
6. It never ceases to amaze me, the wealth of inspirational information, available FOR FREE  on the web!
   

I hope you had a good New Year’s Eve …

And I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2009!!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

I guess the frugal apple doesn’t fall too far from the frugal tree.  My oldest son Dillon, who moved out East last August, had some incredible news for his old mom.  He has managed to save after expenses, almost 10K in the 4 months he has been out there.  THAT’S SO FREAKIN COOL!

Saving money was his goal - When he chose to move out there for  this particular job opportunity.  (I believe that is why he is achieving savings success even during such difficult economic times.) 

And the fact the boy has his financial head on straight:

1. He established early on after moving out of our home - The habit of saving first.
2. Then paying his living expenses.
3. Then fun.
4.  He made paying off his student loan debt his main priority - Within 6 months of graduating college he had it paid off.
5.  He owns & drives a 1993 Chevy S10 pickup - Paid for and very inexpensive insurance.
6. He is not focused on consumerism.  Translation … not that impressed with ‘STUFF’.  (But he definitely couldn’t live without his Ipod!)

Right now he definitely a man with a mission - Building his nest egg.  With the goal of eventually opening his own shop.  Which he knows, I know, and almost everyone who knows him - Knows he will do!

A Proud Momma Post …

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

I’ve only recently started to explore an awesome blog called My Super-Charged Life.  The site is  filled with tips, motivation, and resources for living life to the fullest … it’s really TRUE!

Today I want to focus on the incredible information Jeff has posted on personal finance.  He is running a back-to basics series that’s a must read for all of us.

Here are a few posts that truly impressed me:

• Jeff’s been busy!  He’s written a blog post containing 79+ personal finance & budgeting resources … which totally rocks!  Here is the link.
• Jeff continues his back to basics series with a post called … “Stop Whining And Frugal Up Your Finances.”  He challenges that we can conservatively cut $300 from our monthly budget by following this advice.  Here is the link.
• The series also includes a post called … “Debt-Free Is The Path To Financial Success.”  It lays out the advantages of being debt-free.   And the lies and myths of debt.  It’s solid information we all should read.  Here is the link.
• Probably even more necessary than ever before … Jeff writes about the importance of establishing an emergency fund.  Here is the link.

Really …

If we want to let go of some of the stress  over our personal finances - we’ve  got to get to know Jeff over at My Super-Charged Life.

He’s got some wonderful resources - to teach us how to take charge of our money and live our lives to the fullest!

Have a terrific day!

iowahippiechick 

Now days it seems we are all searching for more personal finance knowledge.  For some of us it is to increase our wealth.  For many more it’s guidance in debt reduction.  An easy an economical way to get started on your quest for knowledge …  is to visit the websites of some renown financial experts.

There really is no shortage of “financial expertise” out there.

These experts all have different personalities & styles and best of all a ton of excellent information & ideas.  What’s really cool is you should be able to connect with at least one-out-of-the-bunch that fits your situation.  And he or she will hopefully inspire you on your personal financial journey!

The Financial Experts:

• Dave Ramsey is probably the most well known in inspiring debt reduction.  His book The Total Money Makeover  has changed the lives of many, many, people.  He is known for coining the phrase gazelle intensity when speaking about working towards eliminating personal debt.  I think a lot of people like him  because he has such a no situation is hopeless attitude … which gives many inspiration to start moving forward.
• Jean Chatzky is a busy lady!  Most of us would probably recognize her from her appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show.  But as her website states … she is also a best-selling author,  award winning journalist,  and a motivational speaker.  Jean has a common sense approach that many of us need to hear.  Which gets us out of denial & on the right path.

• Larry Winget is one of my favorites because he is just a big old reality check … they call him the pitbull of personal finance.  He is incredibly smart with a stop making excuses and do-it style. Larry can be seen on the television programs Big Spender & The Millionaire Inside.  He is also a motivational speaker and best-selling author.  Here is a partial list of some of his books:  You’re Broke Because You Want To Be,  It’s called Work For A Reason  and his latest one - People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It!
• Suze Orman was the first personal finance guru that caught my attention.  She motivated me to get my family’s financial budget in order.  I like that she has a people first … then money … then things … way of looking at life!  She has a ton of books out there that could probably be found at most public libraries.  She also has a nightly show on CNBC in which people ask her personal finance questions.

So there’s a short list of some of the financial experts we have to guide and teach us.

There are lots more … a Google search of financial experts brings up 10,700,000 hits.

The thing is to find a source that inspires YOU!!!