Money Tip Monday!

Welcome to my first installment of Money Tip Monday! Money seems to be a topic that everyone is interested in, so I thought I would share tips and tricks I have learned throughout my journey to being debt free. Not sure yet if this will be a weekly thing, but we will see!

Tip 1: Create a new budget each month. 
(or if you're crazy like me, each paycheck)

In the past when I created a budget, it would never work. My numbers were always off. It seemed like every month I would have different expenses, which would ruin my whole budget. When I started reading Dave's books, he mentioned doing a new budget every month. DUH. Why didn't I think of that? It seems a little daunting at first, but after you get the hang of it, it's really easy and doesn't take too much time. Since each month is so different (trips, birthdays, special events, etc.) it is VERY important to sit down and think about these things. If you don't, your budget won't work. I get paid every other Friday, so I have found it's easiest to do a new budget for each paycheck. If you get paid on the same dates each month you could probably do just a budget for the whole month. But since my pay days vary, so does what bills land on each paycheck.

So, each Thursday before I get paid (or sometime before payday) I sit down a think about all of the expenses that paycheck. Do I have any out-of-the-ordinary things happening? What bills are due during this paycheck? Sometimes I will also write out the next paycheck after that to start planning how I will split the bills up.

It will take some time to get the kinks worked out. Nobody's budget is perfect on the first try. Mine isn't perfect and I've been doing it for a while now. The main thing to keep in mind is to just do a budget. Try it. And try again. You WILL get better.

Click here to find some budget form templates. Make it a goal this week to try a budget.

Favorite Things Party - $10 and Under!

Today I am linking up with Erika and Andrea for the my favorite things party! This is a link up to your favorite thing at the moment that is $10 and under. I love this idea because if you find something really cool, you know you can most like afford to buy it! (only if it's in your budget, of course) :)

I love trying new makeup, and particularly drugstore makeup. Mainly because a. It's affordable and b. there is some good stuff out there! It's much more accessible to me because of the price. Don't get me wrong, I have my wish list of more expensive stuff...but most of it is just a wish list right now. (I have a few high end products thanks to family members!)

Today's favorite thing is my new Maybelline Color Plush Silk eyeshadow quad. Have you guys tried this stuff? I thought it was a regular shadow, but it's actually a creamish/powder shadow. Does that make sense? Yeah, it doesn't to me either...haha. You can tell I thought it was a powder because of the large fingerprint in the tealish color. I have found it is best to put this on with a brush (don't worry, it doesn't mess up your brush. It goes onto the brush like a powder). It is VERY pigmented and so pretty on my eyes. I can't wait to try the other color palettes as well. This is a limited edition palette called Olive Martini. I don't see it on the site anymore. :( but there are 12 options. 

Also, that teal color...yeah. It's actually brown. Really weird I know but it's so pretty! It's like a brown color with a teal sheen when you look at it from a different angle.

Here is a link to purchase if you don't feel like going to a store. Cause, hey, that requires lots of effort sometimes!

I hope you all try it out. And if you do, let me know what you think!