Category: Q&A

Are We Having More Kids? How Old Am I? What Was My Major? | Answering Your Questions

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

deciding to have more kids, how to create content online, meredithrines, merelynne

This month’s Q&A is going to be a bit different.  I wanted to take time to answer some of the more personal questions I have been receiving from you.  Back in December I sent out a four question survey and I offered a spot for you to ask any questions you have – no limit.  So, I’ve been working through those questions last month and now today I decided to lump together the more personal ones.

You can watch the video online or down below:

Here are some of the questions you can find an answer to:

  1. How old am I?
  2. How  many kids do we have?
  3. Are we planning on having more kids?
  4. What do I do for a day job?
  5. What was my major in college?
  6. Why did I start creating a blog and videos about budgeting?

If you’re looking for some of my older budget Q&A’s, take a look at the past months.

SEPTEMBER 2017 – SPENDING $100 PER PERSON ON GROCERIES, EATING OUT BUDGET, HOW OFTEN DO WE MEAL PLAN, WHAT DO WE ORDER FROM AMAZON

OCTOBER 2017 – HOW MUCH DO WE MEAL PLAN, BUDGETING WITH INCONSISTENT INCOME, GETTING READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

NOVEMBER 2017 – HOW WE STAY MOTIVATED, CHORES FOR OUR TODDLER, AND BUDGETING FOR CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 2017 –  PLANNING A NEW YEAR, REVISING YOUR BUDGET, AND SETTING NEW GOALS

JANUARY 2018 – HOW WE SCHEDULE OUR MONEY DATES, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT AND HOW WE MAKE SURE OUR BUDGET IS ON AUTOPILOT

 

Posted in Q&A

Planning For A New Year, Revising Your Budget, and Setting New Goals | December Budget Q&A

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Planning For A New Year, Revising Your Budget, Setting New Goals and Planning Your Year, meredith rines, merelynne

This month’s Budget Q&A was too important to skip. With the end of December and 2017 just a few days away I realized I needed to get this months answers to your questions done.

This month has flown by, with trips to see family, holiday parties, Christmas, and so much more I’m just surprised I let this month’s Q&A slip by.  I started trying to find a time to post this month’s video and realized I needed to just do it.  So that’s why I’m coming at you on a day outside my normal posting schedule.

This month’s Q&A is all about how to plan for a new year to make sure your family is off on a good foot – I’m sharing with you tips on how to plan your year in advance (we do ours in 3 month intervals), why you should revise your budget, and make sure you’re on track to meet your short-term and long-term goals.

Make sure to check out this month’s Q&A online or down below:

For more help, check out these posts:

How We Plan Our Life 3 Months At A Time

How We Use Google Calendar To Stay Organized

The Easiest Budget Template Ever!

Need More Help?

If you’re looking for a great tool to help keep your family on budget, then check out out my budget spreadsheet.  Each month is laid out right in front of you where you can keep track of what you budget and what you actually spend. Now you’ll know in real time how you’re doing each month.

How We Stay Motivated, Chores For Our Toddler, and Budgeting for Christmas | November Budget Q&A

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

How We Stay Motivated, Chores For Our Toddler, and Budgeting for Christmas, meredith rines, merelynne, budgeting for christmas

Can you believe how close we are to Christmas? I have to admit I was feeling pretty proud of myself on Black Friday because of two things: One – I stayed home all day and didn’t step foot into one store.  And two – I finished 98% of my Christmas shopping while sitting on my couch.  

The best part of my Christmas shopping is I am way under on our budget for gifts, which is awesome! That means the money we saved on gifts can be put towards debt or savings or anything else we want/need.  It’s a good feeling to have a plan and stick to it.  Now I just have to sit back and wait for the gifts to start arriving.  

Once the gifts arrive I have a few craft projects in mind to make them even more personal, which is the whole goal of Christmas (in my opinion).  Don’t get me wrong, I love giving gifts, but I love the idea of giving something one-of-a-kind that actually means something to the recipient.

In this month’s Q&A video I’m going in depth on how we stay motivated with our budget – what our number one tip is for other couples. 

I’m also talking about chores for our little guy. At 19 months there are a few things we let him help us with around the house. It takes a lot of patience, which I talk about in the video below.  

Finally, I‘m talking even more about how we are budgeting for Christmas and just how I make it all possible.  You can watch the video online or down below:

Check out September’s Budget Q&A and October’s Q&A.

For more help with your budget check out these posts:

How To Create Your Budget

easiest budget template, create your own budget template, budget template, download budget, budget spreadsheet, what to put in my budget

What We Use Our Credit Card Rewards On

how to use credit card reward points, Credit Card Reward Points, using credit card cash back, budgeting for credit cards, how to use a credit card

How Much We Spend On Gifts

how much to spend on birthdays, how much to spend on birthday gifts, birthday budget, budget for birthday gifts

 

 

How Much Do We Meal Plan, Budgeting With Inconsistent Income, Getting Ready for the Holidays | October Budget Q&A

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

How Much Do We Meal Plan, Budgeting With Inconsistent Income, Getting Ready for the Holidays |

Friends!

It’s time for October’s Budget Q&A!

Last month was my first every Budget Q&A and it was a huge hit!  I answered your questions about how we spend only $100 a person for groceries each month, how much we spend eating out and how we meal plan.  The Budget Q&A was so popular and I received a ton of questions from you.  So I decided to make it a monthly theme. 

Today I’m answering a few of the questions I’ve received lately from you.  With the Holidays coming up, now is the time to get your budget in check.  Budgeting doesn’t have to be perfect every single month, so please do not let the fear of mistakes stop you from creating a budget.  This time of year is absolutely perfect to get to work on a new money plan for your family.  The holidays are always the time of year people tend to overspend, use credit cards too often and not put money back into savings.  So by starting your budget today you can at least have a good starting point before we get into the chaotic Christmas season.  

Watch the video online or down below:

If you’re looking for a specific answer check out the time stamps:

How Much Do We Meal Plan At A Time: 2:10

Budgeting With Inconsistent Income: 5:55

Getting Ready For The Holidays: 8:52

For more help with your budgeting problems and to get your ready for the BEST Christmas ever check out the posts below:

How We Meal Plan to Save Money

how i meal plan, free meal planner template

How to Create a Simple Budget

one tip to create a simple budget, how to create a simple budget, budgeting made easy

How To Do Christmas On A Budget

Christmas on a budget

If you have any questions you would like answered, please send them to me.  You can leave a comment below or email me at meredith@merelynne.com. 

Spending $100 Per Person On Groceries | Eating Out Budget | Budget Q&A

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Do we really spend $100 per person on groceries, What is our eating out budget, Do we meal plan every night, What do we order from Amazon to save money, budget questions, budget Q&A, meredith rines, merelynne

We have been enjoying the cooler temps that have started to reach Southeast Missouri.  My family and I have played at the park, went for walks, and enjoyed every moment outside.  So we’ll be headed to the pumpkin patch to play in the kidzone (well our son will play) and to make our way through the corn maze.  I tried talking J into going last weekend, but he turned me down.  Apparently it just didn’t feel enough like fall to him.  I guess I would have to agree, but I so love the pumpkin patch!

I wanted to pop in and share with you my first attempt at a budget Q&A.  I have received a few emails, messages, texts and DM’s from readers asking a few questions.  So I sat down to answer your questions that seem to surround about groceries, order supplies for our family and eating out.  I am going deep in to each question to make sure I get it all covered.  Let’s. Do. This.

Here are the questions I’m answering just for you – you can check the time stamp to fast forward to what you’re interested in:

Do we really spend $100 per person on groceries each month? 0:37

How much is our eating out budget for the month? 3:47

Do we meal plan every night? 9:07

What do we order from Amazon? 11:57

You can watch over on youtube or below, but make sure to keep reading for more helpful tips.

How To Save On Groceries?

how to save without walmart price matching, walmart price matching, how to save money on groceries, how to save on groceries, budgeting help for groceries

How To Set Your Perfect Grocery Budget

How To Set The Perfect Grocery Budget, how to set your budget, grocery budget help

What do we order from Amazon each month?

amazon is mom's best friend

Meal Plan To Save Money

how i meal plan, free meal planner template