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Your Monthly Bookkeeping Cheat Sheet To Spend Less Time Getting The Job Done

Posted on October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Are you tired of your monthly bookkeeping TAKING FOREVER to get done? That is the number one complaint I hear from small business owners I work with – it takes forever to get done!

The next complaint I hear is how they are unsure if the numbers being inputted are even right – which category do you choose, what if I invested my own money this month, what if I used my personal card to buy something, and so on.

Honestly, that’s where I come in. I have systems in place to make sure your bookkeeping is getting done right and in a timely manner. That way you have results back fast so you can make any adjustments needed to the next month – marketing tactics, raise prices, cut expenses, or whatever the case may be so you can make a profit. I also love teaching business owners how to read the monthly financial reports so they can run their business more efficiently.

But how do you get there when you’re not ready to hire a bookkeeper? Simple! You learn how to DIY your bookkeeping for now. I’ve decided to pull back the curtain and share the steps I take with my monthly clients (and my personal bookkeeping) to help you learn a better system.

In today’s video I’m sharing my four-step process to tackle your bookkeeping tasks in less time. You can watch the video online or down below:

Tweet this video.

See, it’s not that hard when you have a system in place. That’s usually my first step with new clients is creating a personalized system based on my four steps mentioned in this video. I have a free Bookkeeping Checklist that breaks down the tasks you should be doing each day, week, and month. But sometimes it’s nice just to remember the 4 R’s and move on.

If you need more help with QuickBooks Online for your business, then register for my FREE masterclass. It’s going to be full of step-by-step tutorials in QBO and tips on how to use it to run your business so you can start making money and stop feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Ready for more trainings? Watch my latest videos:

THE MOST OVERLOOKED TAX DEDUCTION

HOW TO PRICE YOUR SERVICES SO YOU ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY

Chores For Toddlers {How To Know What Jobs To Give and Ways To Introduce Them}

Posted on January 17, 2018January 17, 2018 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Does your little one help around the house? We have a few ‘chores’ around the house that our little guy helps with. Recently I sat down to answer your questions about what chores specifically he does.

You can watch the video of Chores For Toddlers online or down below:

Here’s the chores our little guy does to help out:

Laundry

He helps with taking the wet clothes from the washer and puts them in the dryer. Sometimes he misses and we end up picking we clothes up off the floor or from hanging half-way out. There are even times where he’ll take wet socks into the family room to show Daddy what he’s doing. But he tries and that’s all that matters.

Feeding the Dogs

We also have him help with feeding our dogs. J usually helps fill the measuring cup and then Dent puts the food in each dog’s bowl. Some nights it’s a struggle to get him to stop. He loves filling the bowls up and wants to keep doing it after the dogs already have the right amounts.

Putting the Dogs Away

With three dogs we have found it’s best to put the bigger one (he’s also the youngest one) in a kennel before we leave. The other two get a treat as we’re walking out the door. Dent’s job is to take a treat and put Bud in his kennel. Then as I latch the door he gives a treat to the other two dogs. They’re patient with him because sometimes he wants to give it to them in the kitchen other times he wants them to be in the family room.

Putting Away Toys Before Bed

With a little guidance our son can help put away his toys. He’s not perfect at it and sometimes he just gets them near the container, but he’s trying.

Sweeping and Swiffering the Floors

The broom and swiffer are his favorite toys in the whole house. So it’s no surprise that he loves to push the broom around. We prefer if he pushes the Swiffer because at least he can get some dog hair picked up.

How to introduce new chores

This part is always a little tricky for me. It really has two parts and they both have to deal with you as the parent, not the child.

First – be patient

Second – don’t expect perfection

Our little boy surprises me daily with the things he helps with, picks up and brings to us. He really does love helping others, it’s so apparent. So for us, it’s all about being patient to teach him what we want and the outcome. Then it’s about being okay with mistakes.

Do I like having dog food spilled on our kitchen floor? Of course not. But he’s learning. Some days are better than others, but with each spill we teach him patience to make sure the job gets done right.

When we think he’s ready for a new “chore” we contemplate how to break it down. For instance, with feeding the dogs. The first step we did was fill the measuring cup and take it over to the right bowl. As we were over the bowl then we handed the cup to our son to fill, but our hands stayed on it. As he got more stubborn and able to figure it out, we handed the cup to him to fill the bowl once we brought it over. Now, he’s able to take the bowl from the container and fill the bowls (or mostly fill) them all on his own.

It’s all about progression, not perfection.

So if you have something you want your toddler to help with or learn then figure out how to break it down into steps. Start with the easiest step first then work your way backwards. If they make mistakes, then take a deep breath and know it will be okay. Like I said in the video – if the mess is big enough then we’ll sweep or mop afterwards. But for the most part we just let it happen.

What chores does your little one do? Leave a comment letting me know! I would love to add a few more to his list.

How to Rock Your Job Like a Boss

Posted on January 27, 2016January 23, 2016 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

With over 10 years of experience, I’ve learned how to rock your job and help you stick around for the long haul.

Between high school, college and now I’ve had a number of jobs. Now, don’t start thinking that I’ve job hopped over the years. That’s not true. I typically stick at a job for well over a year, but I sometimes add 1 or 2 jobs on top of my main one. You see, I don’t like to sit still and I like to make money. So I’m willing to bust my butt to reach my goals, which I have to say, are mighty big!

Over the years I’ve seen co-workers come and go. I’ve seen bosses get agitated with some characteristics of my fellow co-workers. I’ve created a list and I want to share it below with you. There are certain things that we all know we shouldn’t do on our job – steal, lie to our boss, procrastinate, etc. But do we know what we should be doing? What qualities do we need to possess to be a standout employee? Well, I’m here to help.

I’ve always tried to put my work first. Now, don’t get me wrong – if my family or friends really need me then I’ll be there in a heartbeat. But I like to think that my strong work ethic at the office has helped my bosses to be more understanding when I do need to take off. I also try to not make a habit of it.

A few years ago I was working in a small attorney’s office. At the time, it was just the attorney and me. Now, years later, the attorney has expanded well beyond the two-man operation from when I first started. That has nothing to do with me, other than the fact that I was willing to help out and was honest when I couldn’t take on more. Anyways… back to my story…

A few years ago, one of my closest friends lost someone very important to them. Now they never asked me to attend the funeral. They knew I was working and had school, they also knew the 6 hour round-trip car ride wasn’t going to be easy with everything else going on. But I knew in my heart that I needed to be there. This girl meant the world to me and she still does. So I asked my boss if I could have 1 ½ days off. He asked why and I could tell he was thinking – this isn’t even a family member why should I give it to you. But I said one thing that really helped – I understand this is short notice, I will work late the next few days to get caught up and I do not expect to be paid for vacation time. He looked at me and said if it’s that important then you need to be there. I can manage for a day without you, but be prepared to work when you get back. So I left. I drove 3 hours home, went to the funeral, sat by my best friend and was just present.

At the end of the day, I drove back and showed up to work on time the next day. I worked my tail off getting caught up and none of my work slacked in the least. I proved that I was worth having. But what I never admitted and was hoping that I wouldn’t have to is that I knew in that moment how valuable I was. I knew that I was replaceable, but I also knew my friend wasn’t. So I was willing to take that risk, but by being granted a little freedom and understanding, I was willing to prove him that I was worth keeping. That’s what you have to do. You have to be willing to give more than you take.

Let’s face it – employers are looking for key characteristics of a good employee.

If you have a few qualities that’s good, majority then that’s great, but if you have all of them then you are going to be in a golden position to work your way up.

Here’s what I’ve noticed over the past ten years as the qualities employers are craving for in their employees:

clock

SHOW UP EARLY – I understand rare mornings happen and your alarm doesn’t go off or the baby was sick and you just couldn’t get there on time, but the majority of your mornings you need to show up early. I’m not talking an hour early, but a few minutes or so. I know when I get to the office, I have to turn my computer on, get some water and set my purse down. By getting there a few minutes early, I can take care of all of that without rushing around. That way when 8:00 am hits you’re already at your desk ready to work.

STAY LATE – If the work isn’t done then be willing to stay a few minutes late. It won’t happen every day and it will really show your employer you’re committed.

I had a job once I loved. It was hard and challenging, but I loved it. My boss was great, my co-workers were wonderful and I went to work everyday loving what I was doing. So on the rare occasion a client’s documents weren’t completed or a client needed a late appointment, I was willing to stick around. I didn’t do it because I was hourly and liked the extra 30 minutes of pay – that wouldn’t be worth it. I did it because I thoroughly enjoyed what I did and liked helping. That’s how it should be.

BE POSITIVE – No one likes Negative Nancy. Don’t be a naysayer. There is nothing worse than someone who complains all. the. time. Stay upbeat and you will notice how easy it is to hit your goals or how much more willing your co-workers will be to help you out. You never know – you’re day may actually go by faster, too!

Ask for more work – Once you’ve completed your daily, weekly or monthly tasks don’t just sit around on Facebook. Reach out to get more. Try to learn as much as you can because you never know when it’ll come in handy. Plus, if you’re willing to take on more work to help out then that might cut back the nights you have to stay late. Just a thought…

TAKE THE INITIATIVE – This quality goes with the one above it – asking for more work. If you see something that needs to be done then do it, even if it’s not your assigned task. It’ll keep you busy, help the office and you might just prove yourself a bit, too. Plus, taking the initiative means not putting something off until the last minute. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a co-worker be assigned a task to complete by the end of the month. Here we are on the last day of the month and they are just starting the task. Then you find out that they can’t complete their assignment because they don’t have all the pieces. If they would have started 3 weeks ago when it was first assigned, then they would have noticed what all they needed and it could have been ordered.

Here’s another example of taking the initiative. I had a job once where the receptionist was suppose to clean while she had free time. If we were extra busy one week then the cleaning would slack because she would have less free time. So if I went to the bathroom, I would just grab the cleaner and wipe everything down when I was done. It took less than 2 minutes and the bathroom was clean for the next person. Plus, it really helped out the girl at the front desk who was swamped with calls and appointments. She was instantly my best friend because I was willing to help her.

GO ABOVE AND BEYOND – again, show them you’re worth it. I am a huge believer in NOT doing the bare minimum. If I want my job to last and I want to prove that I’m irreplaceable then I am willing to take on more work, work harder than anyone else and commit to the company.

In one job I had worked my way up to be the office manager, which meant I was writing everyone’s paycheck, balancing books, paying our payroll taxes, ordering supplies, managing and training the staff. However, the office needed more. The staff was behind and we needed help with drafting documents. So instead of saying, “sorry, that’s not my job anymore.” I figured out a way to help. I took the smaller cases aways from the paralegals so they could spend more time on the bigger, more complicated ones. It was hard and I was stressed some days, but being able to help out was so much more important to me.

BE WILLING TO LEARN – The first thing you have to realize in any job that you take on is that you don’t know everything. With that in mind, you have to be open. You have to be willing to try new ways of getting the job done and finding better solutions.

BE WILLING TO TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM – I used to be the first one to become defensive when I just felt like I was going to be criticized. It’s a hard pill to swallow to find out that the work you did isn’t good enough or right. It’s rough. But to grow as a person you have to be willing to take criticism. Now, I am NOT talking about destructive, down-right mean criticism. I’m talking about listening and learning from someone that is willing to help you grow.

One really standout way to take constructive criticism is by taking notes. In the moment, I may not be thinking clear because I’m trying to still defend why I completed those actions. So by taking notes then I can process everything on my terms. Plus, it’ll help me the next the situation comes up because I can refer back to what was suggested to me. It shows the boss (wo)man that you’re really invested in getting better and are willing to learn.

BE OKAY WITH GRUNT WORK – Let’s go back to the time I cleaned the bathroom to help out. Now, it wasn’t the only time I helped clean that office nor was it the only job I had that I cleaned at. I remember working at Office Depot my first few years in college. I liked it for the most part, but my least favorite task was cleaning the bathrooms. Disgusting. But it was a task that rotated between staff members so when it was my turn, I would roll up my sleeves and do the best job I could.

I knew that job and that task wasn’t forever. And I also knew that I wasn’t too good to scrub a toilet. I was not raised to think that something was beneath me, so I gave it my all. You have to be will to scrub a few toilets (figuratively or literally speaking) to get ahead. What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.

BE A TEAM PLAYER – you have to be willing to put the company’s well-being above your own. Now I’m not suggesting you lie, cheat or steal to help the company, but what I am saying is pitching in to help out. At my current career (I say career and not job here, because this is what I will be doing for the rest of my life) we have quotas to hit. So, as a team we help each other reach our individual quota. If I’ve hit mine then I ask who needs help and vice versa. That’s they way it’s suppose to be. If we each hit our quota then we win individually (a nice little bonus!), but if we help the office reach the overall goal then the office does better, which we will see a benefit from in the long-run.

Like I said earlier, you have to have some of these qualities to be successful at any job. I used a lot of office-type jobs in my example, but I’ve done most types of jobs. The only one I haven’t done is food. Well, I worked at an ice cream shop and snow cone stand one summer, but that’s the closest I’ve come to food. I’ve worked at several different types of retail stores and office jobs, but they all have one thing in common to be successful.

You can check out my other career tips here.

You have to be willing to work hard, show up and get the job done. This is how your rock your job like a boss!

Talking To Your Boss About Leaving Your Job :: My Experience

Posted on February 3, 2014January 27, 2014 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

If you read my last post about knowing when it was time to leave a job then you know what decision I made. I have been with this company for over 5 years and have worked my way up from a part-time receptionist to full-time office manager and bookkeeper and then came full circle to a full-time paralegal. I had signs that showed me this job wasn’t the one for me, but when I realized that then I also knew it was time to talk to my boss.

It’s hard to sit down with someone that you’ve gotten to know over the past few years to have a hard discussion with. Luckily for me, I can have a pretty open conversation with my boss and walk away feeling that it was productive. Here’s how I went about talking to my boss about wanting to leave:

1) start the dialogue and letting him know that you want to talk.
2) be honest with how you are currently feeling. Some may say that the workplace is not the place for feelings, but when you know someone for over 5 years and he’s seen a lot from you then it’s okay.
3) do not back down from what you want.
4) tell him the issues you are having – some may be personal and some may be the office procedures.
5) be flexible about leaving.

For me, there were some cases that we needed to finish up. Yes, I could have left him without any help, but that wouldn’t have been very nice. Plus, he’s been there for me in the past and the least I could do was be there. I sat down and had this conversation about a month before wanting to leave. That way we both had a specific date in mind and the chance to wind up some cases.

It’s never easy to start a new chapter in your life, but sometimes it’s a necessity. Do not let being miserable at your job make you an unhappy person. Life is too short to be angry and sad. Only you have the ability to make change happen.

If you dream of having a different life or a different career then realize that you might be standing in our own way. I had so many supportive people around me telling me it was okay to make a switch, but I had to finally believe it to make it happen.

Signs It’s Time For A New Job :: My Experience

Posted on January 13, 2014December 11, 2013 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

The end of the year has come and I can finally make a big announcement that I’ve been keeping from you. The title probably gave it away, but I have decided that I want to change jobs. It’s been a long time coming and a pretty hard decision. I don’t love my job, but I am absolutely crazy about the people I work with. It makes it so hard when you dread going into the office each morning, but know that you are making a difference with the people you work for.
What happens when you think you are ready for a career change? There has to be some signs that lead you along your way, right? Well, I had a few signs it’s time for a new job:

1) I dreaded going into the office. I am never one to dread talking to people and helping people. So when I started to hate it, I knew I was in the wrong field.

2) It’s not where I saw myself in 5 years or even 1 one year from now.

3) I want to own a business some day and there was no potential for me to own a part this one.

4) I was tired of complaining.

A few simple and direct signs is all it took, well that and about 3 months. The next step was talking to my boss. I’ll go more into that in another post.

Image via behappy

Mini DIY Office Makeover [Photowall Review]

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Photowall was kind enough to send me this wallpaper for my project in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% authentic and my full opinion.

My style is pretty simple and clean. I don’t love a mix of patterns or designs in any of my rooms, especially one where I have to concentrate and focus hard in. I prefer clean lines, neutral colors, and classic styles. So I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I decided a few months ago to do away with a separate playroom for our son and convert it (partially) into my home office.

I didn’t want anything oversized or cluttered. It’s a small space and my home office is only taking up about 25% of the room – the rest is designated for my husband and I’s dressing room/closet and a few stray toys that didn’t fit in our son’s bedroom. It needed to be professional, but not overwhelming. I needed a place that I could focus in while getting a ton of work done and still have it zoom-call ready at all times.

Prior to make the transition, whenever I would schedule a call with a client I would have to scramble to hide things in the background, move pictures around so that it looked nicer and stash my papers on the floor so that I didn’t look to overwhelming and cluttered. I hated it. I wanted something that looked polished, professional and was ready at a moment’s notice.

I found an old desk at my office and decided it would work just fine. It was the perfect size and it was free! I also grabbed an old waiting room chair from the office. It’s actually really comfortable and the style fits my personality. I wouldn’t mind if the fabric was a different color, but only one project at a time for now.

I decided after bringing home the desk and chair that I need to start with the wall directly behind me. I didn’t want to face the wall while I worked, but I didn’t have a big, beautiful window to face either. So I picked a nice small corner where I could easily design a wall that worked for me. I toyed with the idea of painting the wall, but honestly that seemed like a big job for such a small wall. Then I thought about wallpaper and honestly, I had never hung wallpaper before.

I do remember being a little girl and my mom attempting to hang it on our home. I don’t think it was a pleasant experience at all and then fast forward a few years when it was time for an update and I spent days taking that paper off our family room walls. It was awful. But I couldn’t get the idea of wallpaper out of my head. It was such a small wall that I convinced myself it wouldn’t be that terrible to do. Plus, I wasn’t looking for a crazy pattern so hard could it be to hang…?

That’s where Photowall came into the picture. They have so many different designs, prints, and even photos that you can choose from to create your space just as you want. I knew I wanted to go with a neutral gray color, but wanted something a little more interesting than just a solid color. So I went with a watercolor version. The ordering process was so easy – I measured the wall in inches and then headed over to site to add them in. From there it allowed me to select which portion of the piece I wanted. I chose one that was bit lighter in the middle.

I ordered the design and within a few days the shipment arrived. It was packaged perfectly in a long cardboard box with the glue, the pieces and directions perfectly inside. I was shocked by how fast it came!

Now before I share just how easy this whole process was, let me share with you a cringe worthy picture of how it looked before. It was just so boring. It lacked any creativity, any thing. My hangings just looked and felt out of place. And below you can see a nice after picture – the hangings are back, but with the colored background they just don’t feel out of balance any longer.

This project was just so easy to tackle. It took me less than 2 hours from start to finish – it probably could have taken even less than that, but I was doing it by myself. I’m not the tallest girl in the world, so even on the step ladder I struggled to reach the top of the wall. Plus, every time I turned around a dog was under my feet or laying on a tool or trying to carry a tool off so that added time.

Photowall made the whole experience super simple. Inside the box was the numbered sheets for the wallpaper so I knew exactly which piece was next and which direction to put it on the wall. The glue was easy to make – they send it in powdered form, you mix with a gallon of water and let sit for 5 minutes then voila – you can get started. I didn’t even tough 1/10 of the glue that it made. Then the directions were easy to follow and they have a video on Youtube I found that made it look really simple.

I did purchase a wallpaper kit off amazon, but Photowall does sell them. I had this for another project that I didn’t end up doing so I just used what I had.

I even added an art piece I had ordered from GraceLaced and a knit creation I made with some yarn I ordered from Hobby Lobby and this gold circle off Amazon. I was tired of having piles of paper on my desk from current projects, upcoming projects, and just endless to do lists (you know what it’s like) so I found this great fabric drawer chest from Amazon for under $30! I also have one more piece to add, but it is still at the framers and I could not wait to share my final space with you. So I’ll do an update once that gets in.

For someone who has never hung wallpaper before, I have to say it turned out great. You can’t even see the lines between two pieces. Every speck and piece of watercolor art lined up perfectly. It was easy to trim off the excess and the quality is outstanding. I have to give a huge thumbs up to Photowall. Not only was the ordering process super simple, but the customer care has been fantastic. I highly recommend working with them on your next project! I’m already planning my next wall (hint hint – the master bedroom), too!

They even were kind enough to send me a discount code for you, too! You can use merelynne25 for 25%off your order until July 31, 2020. So as you’re staying home these days, now is the perfect time to work on some DIY makeovers to those tired rooms you’ve been staring at.

Let me know in the comments which room you’re going to makeover first!

Learn How To Tackle Your Bookkeeping In Under 30 Minutes [Grab My Year-End Tax Planning Guide for FREE]

Posted on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Being a business owner is probably one of the most rewarding jobs you can have, but it’s not always the easiest job in the world. We have dreams of working for ourselves and never having to answer to a mean boss again, but in reality it’s pretty challenging. Especially when we have to stretch ourselves thin when it comes to client projects, deadlines, creating content, sourcing out new clients, doing admin tasks and so much more. We start our business because we have an idea and we know our idea will transform the lives of others, but we don’t always realize the challenges that come along with owning a business.

We put ourselves out there, we open up shop and then we wait. Sometimes we have to wait a long time before we start getting momentum in our business. Sometimes we have to kiss a few frogs to discover our ideal client type. And sometimes we have to spend time on tasks that we aren’t crazy about because they have to get done.

That’s bookkeeping for a lot of business owners. They don’t really like it. They don’t really understand it. But they know it needs to get done. They know they have to have something to give their tax preparer each year, but they have no clue if their doing it right.

Sometimes, as a business owner you might even be spending HOURS inside your bookkeeping each month because you’ve been told numbers are difficult. You may be wasting time making it harder than what it should be. You aren’t sure what buttons to click inside QuickBooks, what reports to run, or even how to code some of your expenses.

You don’t even know what services are actually making you a PROFIT – not just bringing in money, but making you a profit at the end of the day.

And let’s not even get you started on tax time. You may even be missing out on some tax deductions because you aren’t including all of your expenses or are coding them wrong. Be honest, does the thought of taxes send your anxiety through the roof?

Well what if I told you there was a better way? One that only required 30 minutes a month and did not strike fear or overwhelm when you sit down to do it each month…

It’s not a dream. There is a bookkeeping method that you can use to spend LESS time inside your bookkeeping, which means you could have MORE time to spend on income-producing tasks each month.

You would know exactly what services were creating a profit and which ones were costing you month-after-month.

You would have a beautiful color-coded bookkeeping routine for each month that told you exactly what tasks to do and when to do them.

You would have the confidence to know how to do the right tasks inside your bookkeeping program so you know your numbers are accurate.

You would be able to sit down in November or December to create a year-end tax plan so there would be no surprises during tax time. You would be able to confidently reinvest YOUR money back into your business and not have to pay a huge tax bill.

If you’re interested in learning my 3-Part Framework To Tackle Your Bookkeeping In Under 30 Minutes A Month then I would love to invite you to my FREE workshop. I’m going to dive into how I create a system to know what tasks to do, how to do them and then how to use that information to make better, more profitable business decisions to grow.

You can register for my free training HERE.

As a thank you for signing up for the workshop, I will send you my year-end tax planning guide for free. This guide will help walk you through all of the major areas inside your business that you should review before December 31. That way you can head into tax time with less stress and know exactly what your tax bill will look like, which is a pretty great feeling.

How To Start A Budget (Budgeting Tips For Beginners)

Posted on April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Are you ready to finally start a budget?

So many families go through life living paycheck-to-paycheck, never taking the time to create a budget because they think it’ll be too hard.

Well it’s not. You can create a budget in less than an hour just by following my proven steps.

The best part?

These steps are not hard. They are not complicated. They are direct, to the point and simple. So what are you waiting for? Another bill to come in to send you in a panic?

How about we make a few changes BEFORE that happens so when you get that next unexpected (medical, car repair, appliance repair, or something else) bill, you’re ready.

In today’s video, I’m sharing how to start a budget so that you can FINALLY start conquering your money woes and start making progress towards your goals. You can watch the video online or down below:

Tweet this video.

Please remember one thing when creating your budget –

Budget mistakes will happen. You will under budget, overspend, over budget and not plan perfectly. It’s okay. It’s all about how you bounce back from financial mishaps that’s the key.

In today’s video we talked about a few steps to creating your budget (which is perfect for you budget beginners that need a few tips on the basics)…

Look at your income and your expenses. Pull up the last three months worth of spending from your bank statements and your credit card statements. Next, pull up the last three month’s worth of income and if you don’t know how to read your pay stub so that you can start planning your income – you’re missing out!

Categorize your expenses and income. Next, you need to grab a few different colored highlighters so that you can quickly categorize your spending. In the video, I mentioned a few different budget categories to consider, but you can always come up with your own that fit you best.

Create your financial goals. You probably know by now that I am a huge fan of financial goals. Having a target can really help keep you motivated and focused when it comes to money management. It’s important you sit down with your spouse to create these money goals, too. That way you both can be on the same page, working together.

Use a zero-based budget. Have you ever heard of a zero-based budget before? If not, they can be amazing tools when learning how to budget. Basically, you want your income to match your expenses each month so that no money is left over. The goal is that if you spend on paper first and assign a job to each dollar then you can make sure to have your money working for you. This part of creating a budget is what usually trips people up so be sure to watch the video where I share what to do when your income isn’t enough to match your expenses.

Tweak and review. Tweak and review. The final step in creating a budget is vital. A budget is not something that you create once and forget about it. You have to constantly review it, constantly tweak it and constantly be willing to make changes when life happens. Some months you will be able to put more money than planned in savings, other months you’ll have a car repair bill that eats away at most of your savings category. It happens. So you need to be prepared. The best way to be ready for what life throws your way? Review your budget on a weekly basis and track your spending each week. That way you can make adjustments as needed to not spend more than your income.

How To Get On The Same Page About Money + Stop Fighting With Your Spouse

Posted on February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

One of the hardest parts of my job (budget strategist for families) is listening to couples fight about how the other one saves too much and never has any fun OR spends too much and doesn’t plan ahead.

It’s really tough to hear – especially the private conversations I have with a lot of wives who are seemingly afraid of making their husband mad (not because he’s abusive, but because they don’t want to have the same conversation AGAIN when it comes to their budget or lack there of).

Most marriages that end in divorce can trace their strain back to finances.

Let’s face it – no two people are alike, so why are we assuming that a husband and wife will look at finances the exact same way?

We need to stop. Right now. We need to face reality. We need to work together.

In today’s video I’m sharing some great tips on how to talk to your spouse about money so you can FINALLY get on the same page. You can watch the video online or down below:

Tweet this video.

Are you ready to get your budget in shape?

Grab out Budget Success Checklist to help you create a workable budget the fits YOU.

How To Teach Kids About Money – While Making Them Respect It

Posted on February 18, 2019February 16, 2019 by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Curious how to raise money savvy little ones in today’s world? Well, in today’s post I’m going to share with you some great tips that you can incorporate to help you teach money skills to your kids. Because if you really think about it – who are they going to learn this stuff from? If it’s not you – then who?

Most schools are no longer teaching basic money management to children, which means if the parent isn’t teaching money skills at home then our kids are having to figure it out for themselves. Just imagine your child never learning the value of a dollar, how to balance their bank account and why in the world a credit card could be so dangerous if they don’t know how to use it. If we don’t take the time to teach our kids simple money management then we’re doing them a disservice.

None of these concepts are going to be new, but if you take a combination of these approaches and apply it to your kids then that’s where the magic happens. The goal is to teach our kids how to control their money so they don’t end up being controlled by it someday. I was raised by an accountant and financial planner, so I learned very early on the value of saving, giving, and spending. I hope that we are able to pass those same money skills on to our son and I know the earlier we start, the better chances he will have to have a strong relationship with money.

SAVE, SPEND, GIVE

Kids should understand the value of saving, spending and giving their hard earned money. By use separate jars or piggy banks for each category children can start to learn what portion of their money goes into each.

The idea behind this concept is so much more than what it seems. By teaching our little ones to save a portion of their allowance each and every week, we have a hope they will continue this skill forward through every job they have. By saving 10% of your income you can easily have a fully funded emergency fund or be further along in your journey to retirement.

Another benefit of this skill is teaching math to your little ones. Almost any young age can easily learn the math needed to figure 10% to savings and 10% to giving with each allowance. Even younger than 5 can learn this skill – you may have to use round numbers or quarters or dollar bills to keep it simple, but it is possible. As your child gets older then they should be able to calculate 10% without the use of a calculator.

So each week your child should be dividing their allowance between three jars – 10% for savings, 10% for giving and 80% for spending.

MAKE THEM USE THEIR OWN MONEY

When you go to the store with any child, you probably hear over and over how badly they want or need some new toy.

“Mommy, I just have to have Spider-Man!”

Instead of saying no and starting a war inside of Walmart. You can simply ask, “Did you bring your money with you? If so, let’s take a minute to see if you have enough.” If they don’t have their money then say, “Let’s take a picture of it so we can remember to look at home to see if you have enough money and if so, we’ll come back.”

By making them use their money then they will gauge whether or not they really need it. Plus, if they don’t have enough then you’ll teaching them an even more valuable lesson – save for what they want.

SAVE FOR WHAT’S IMPORTANT

As an adult you probably learned that money doesn’t grow on trees and just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s going to magically appear. You have to work. You have to save. You have to sacrifice.

By having separate categories – save, spend, give you can also teach your kids the importance of saving for something they want. When they see something they just have to have then you can sit down with them to create a savings goal.

You can use sticker charts to represent how much money they have saved to show their progress. That way when they finally reach their target they will be beaming with pride because they did it on their own. That toy, game, stuffed animal will be so much more valuable because they know that they paid for it.

BE THE BEST EXAMPLE

Let’s be honest, we probably learned most of our money management skills from our parents – either by following their example or by choosing to be in better control of your finances. The best way to teach your kids financial responsibility is by setting a good example.

Don’t be afraid to have tough money talks with them. My parents were never afraid to share bill information with my sister and I. They didn’t do it to scare us or worry us, but they wanted us to understand how we kept our lights on and food in the fridge. It was important for them to be transparent with us and I think that has served us well.

READY FOR MORE?

Do you need a bit more guidance when it comes to your own budget? Grab our Budget Success Checklist to help you. This nine-step guide is the perfect tool to help you learn how better your money management skills.

If you need more help with QuickBooks Online for your business, then register for my FREE masterclass. It’s going to be full of step-by-step tutorials in QBO and tips on how to use it to run your business so you can start making money and stop feeling overwhelmed by it all.

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You can watch the video of Chores For Toddlers online or down below:

Here’s the chores our little guy does to help out:

How to introduce new chores

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With over 10 years of experience, I’ve learned how to rock your job and help you stick around for the long haul.

Let’s face it – employers are looking for key characteristics of a good employee.

You have to be willing to work hard, show up and get the job done. This is how your rock your job like a boss!

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Photowall was kind enough to send me this wallpaper for my project in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% authentic and my full opinion.

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In today’s video, I’m sharing how to start a budget so that you can FINALLY start conquering your money woes and start making progress towards your goals. You can watch the video online or down below:

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Most marriages that end in divorce can trace their strain back to finances.

Are you ready to get your budget in shape?

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SAVE, SPEND, GIVE

MAKE THEM USE THEIR OWN MONEY

SAVE FOR WHAT’S IMPORTANT

BE THE BEST EXAMPLE

READY FOR MORE?

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