Tag Archives: credit cards

MOOLAH MONDAYS: 4 Things You Should Do to Support Your Budgeting System

debt, list, drafts, tithe
Hello all those who want to better manage their money! This week, before this series wraps up next post, I have a few various bits of advice to support your budgeting system and financial efforts:

1. Make paying off debt a priority. Overpay your car or student loans (against the principle) as you have extra money. Implement debt consolidation if you need to. I agree with Dave Ramsey, and it just plain makes sense: Pay off your debts in order of which has the highest interest rate (not the highest balance due.)
2. Keep a document on your computer or Google Drive listing your 1. Donation amounts (or values, in the case of items) to charities; 2. Out of pocket health expenses you’re your co-pays on prescriptions and expenses for dental work after your benefits have run out for the year; and 3. Mileage to doctor or dental appointments. This information will help you complete your tax return when it comes time.
3. Keep a list of all the automatic drafts to your bank account or credit cards. This helps when reviewing your statements each month or if you have to change your credit or card number. You can have this list include how you receive payments from certain sites. For example:
• Airbnb.com earnings – Checking Acct
• Amazon sales – Paypal
• Car Insurance – checking account
• Dental insurance – Mastercard
• ebay invoices/fees – Mastercard
• ebay sales – Paypal
• Netflix – Mastercard
• Paychecks – direct deposit to checking account
• Security System – Mastercard

4. Finally, if you’re a Christian, you should tithe 10% on your earnings. Not only is this covered in scripture (Prov 3:9, 11:25; Mal 3:10), but I believe God will bless and provide for you if you do so. That has definitely been the case for me.

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Credit Cards (and rewards!) during job transition

Acropolis Athens Greece
Did you know most credit cards can earn you points? These points can be traded in occasionally for merchandise or airfare. I bring this up because being on top of your finances is a key part of managing your job search.

Many people follow special introductory offers regarding interest rates or balance transfers when signing up for a credit card. Ask your friends, and surf around. See if the card you choose can earn you points (and make sure the interest rates are still good AFTER the introductory period). If the card doesn’t earn you anything, find one that does. Skip those with an annual fee. Put your credit card to work for you!

As you spend on the card, you can also look forward to getting yourself something like a new flat panel TV, restaurant gift certificates, or even airfare for a vacation. If you’re like me, you’ve worked diligently and very hard on your search, so you deserve this.

For example, I had enough points in 2012 to get airfare for 2 to Europe for free! And my April 2014 airfare to several cities in Mexico only cost me $69 (to buy a few make-up points since I was a bit short.) I took the photo above of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

As much as possible, pay off your full balance monthly, and only spend on the card what you’ll have in a few weeks. This way you can avoid snowballing debt, stress, and paying the credit card companies any interest.

You can compare different credit cards at creditcards.com. I’ve been very happy with the customer service, perks, occasional bonus point programs, and concierge services that come as a part of the Mastercard I have, (the Citi ThankYou Preferred Card). And there’s no annual fee. Scroll through the options at this page, and check it out.

No, I’m not getting a kick-back from Citi–I wish–but a friend encouraged me to share my technique for using a credit card to your advantage. Enjoying some relax time or a goodie for yourself occasionally is a nice self-reward and healthy addition to your job search. What’s the coolest thing you’ve gotten with your credit card points?