Every March, aside from Mardi Gras, we also celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You will see people wearing green, eating green and drinking green.
I have actually participated in a Shamrock Shuffle at one point. It is a fun race held in Chicago every year. You get to wear green. Some people even wear complete costumes.
But anyways, who is St. Patrick?
Did you ever wonder who is St. Patrick, why are we celebrating him and why is the theme color green?
Well, here is a little bit of history. According to History, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures.
He was believed to be the one credited for converting Ireland into Christianity.
Fun fact, did you know that the original color for St. Patrick is actually BLUE, not Green?
How To Throw A St. Patrick’s Day Party?
St. Patrick’s Day was not actually celebrated the way we do today. It’s actually a religious holiday.
But anyway, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Party, your color theme should be green and you have to have symbols like a shamrock or a leprechaun.
Do not skip the drinks, try making your own Green Beer.
There you have it!
But that’s not all you need to rock a St. Patrick’s Day Pary. You have to entertain your guests. Talking and mingling would do but it will be more fun if you try out this 12 Hilarious St. Patrick’s Day Party Games.
So, that is how you throw a St. Patrick’s Day Party for less. A party does not have to be so expensive that it breaks your budget. The most important thing is for people to mingle and have fun.
How are you celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year?
List of best gift ideas that are under $25 for 3-year-old boys.
Now that good weather is just around the corner, I have a few of our friends’ kids who are having their birthdays soon. I am on a budget, so getting gifts for 3-year-old boy under $25 can be a little tricky.
I used to be a last-minute gift shopper when it comes s to kid’s birthday but now that I am focused more on managing our money better I try to shop way in advance and within our budget.
In this way, I will be able to get it out of the way, have time to find a more thoughtful gift and of course be able to save some money by shopping through cash-back portals like Ebates.
Below are some of the best gifts that I found for a 3-year-old boy, which are affordable, they are less than $25! And the best thing is you can order them from Amazon. You will get your item in just 2 days FREE if you are a Prime member.
There are seven reasons why you should not sign up for Grammarly.
I am sure you already heard about Grammarly, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about it. However, you’re here because you’re on the fence. Should you or should you not sign up for Grammarly?
So today, I will share with you some of the reasons why you should not sign up for Grammarly.
But first, let’s take a better look at what Grammarly really is.
What Is Grammarly
Grammarly is an online grammar checker app that you can use almost everywhere you are writing on, your desktop or your phone.
Aside from checking for errors in grammar, it also checks for other things like spelling, tone and more.
Wouldn’t it be great if there’s a tool that proofreads your writing?
I knew you’d like that too, however here are some reasons why you should not try it.
7 Reason Why You Should Not Sign Up For Grammarly
You are always grammatically correct.
If you are confident about your grammar, then don’t waste your time. You do not need this app.
You always know where to put the right punctuation.
I do not know about you but I always have trouble where and when to put my commas, colons, and semicolons. But if you think that you know all about punctuations then you can move on.
You have a lot of time to spare for editing.
I hate editing because it takes up a lot of my time. I have a busy schedule so I could use that time doing something else. But if you are not like me and have some time to spare for editing then you are good to go.
You are very good with spelling
It’s not that I am very bad with spelling but when I am writing I have the tendency to key in the wrong letter, especially when I type fast. Grammarly catches the wrong spelling right away by underlining it with a red line.
If this does not happen to you, you are very good with spelling or you already have an app that does this then you can skip trying this app.
You do not mind your work to be all passive voice.
Although writing in a passive voice is not wrong, but it is not always right either. Writing in the active voice makes your writing stronger and clear. If your writing style involves mostly active voice, then you are fine, you do not need this app.
You do not care about plagiarism.
Clearly, if you do not worry about plagiarism then you can move on.
You hate taking suggestions.
Grammarly is all about making suggestions and recommendations in order to make your material better. However, if you are not into this then you do not need Grammarly in your life.
Please note though that Grammarly does not do all the work for you, you still have to check your own work. You have to decide if you want to accept or reject the suggestions and recommendations.
There you have it!
Final Thoughts On Grammarly
I came across Grammarly way before I started blogging. I didn’t think I was a horrible writer back then, I was actually confident about my writing skills.
Then I saw an ad about Grammarly and decided to give them a try. I signed up for their free plan then started using the app.
It was then that I saw areas where I needed to improve on. It was a game-changer for me.
I have been using Grammarly for a while now and I am keeping it. It made improvements in my writing skills.
It saved me so much time editing and definitely made me more efficient in my writing.
Ibotta is a smartphone app that enables you to earn cashbacks from your everyday purchases. It is available for most IOS and Android devices.
It was founded by Bryan Leach and was launched in 2012. To date, Ibotta claims over 22 million downloads and paid out over $200 million in cash back.
Ibotta provides its consumers with the opportunity to earn cash backs through coupons, completing simple tasks, referring friends and more.
Benefits of Ibotta
It saves you money.
It saves you time.
The app is user-friendly.
You can cash out already even if you only have $20.
Ibotta works with over 300 participating stores.
You can be paid via Paypal or Venmo.
Offers are for commonly-used brands, not only specialty brands.
No clipping paper coupons involved.
You can earn by referring your friends.
Provides bonuses for completing tasks.
Who is it Good For?
Ibotta is good for people who want to save money with their everyday purchases but are too lazy to coupon.
This app is also good for those frugal shoppers who want to save even more. Ibotta offers can be stacked with paper coupons.
How to Get Started With Ibotta?
Getting started with Ibotta is easy and really not that complicated. All you need is your computer or your phone.
Oh, yeah, and ibotta is FREE. There is no monthly fee, no fee that you have to pay for ibotta or anything like that. It is absolutely FREE for you to use ibotta.
1) With the vast choices of offers available, it is easy to be tempted to buy things that we really need. If that happens, then it defeats the purpose of saving.
Therefore, it is good practice to make a list of what you need first before browsing the app.
2) Another thing, before you start shopping, note that offers have expiration dates so don’t forget to redeem them before they’re gone.
3) Also, some of the offers are exclusive to a retailer. It is best to double-check prior to shopping.
4) To make the most out of Ibotta, make sure to check the offer details and exclusions to make sure you purchase the correct item.
Final Thoughts on my Ibotta App review
Ibotta provides an easy way to save money on everyday purchases, especially if it is done right.
And honestly, if you are not using the Ibotta app, you are just leaving money on the table. It’s a free service. It does not cost you anything.
But don’t just take my word for it, go try it yourself.
Your definitive guide to budgeting using the cash envelope system.
If you are new to budgeting, check out How to Start a Monthly Budget to understand better how to start a budget and the envelope system for budgeting.
Before I started budgeting with Everydollar, I started first with the envelope system.
This system worked well for me back then when I didn’t mind carrying cash and didn’t care about credit rewards.
What is the Envelope System for Budgeting?
The principle behind the envelope system has been around for years, even decades. It has been made popular by the finance guru Dave Ramsey. Therefore it is more popularly known as the Dave Ramsey envelope system.
Label each envelope with the categories you want. For example, you might have an envelope for groceries, dining out, gas money, groceries, etc.
Fill the envelopes with the cash that you budgeted for each category. You will then use the cash for expenses that fall under that category.
For example, your budgeted $100 for dining out. Then take an envelope and assign a dining-out-category to it. When you go out and eat with friends, use the cash from the envelope.
Once the money in the envelope ran out, you are done. You will have to wait for the next paycheck before you can eat out again.
Who is it Good For?
Although the envelope system is simple and easy, it is not for everyone. It only works well with some people.
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE CARRYING CASH
Since this method is a cash-only, you will be required to carry cash all the time. This can pose a problem for loss or theft.
However, with better planning, you will be able to get around this. For example, if you are grocery shopping, bring only the amount you need and keep it in a secure place.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START BUDGETING RIGHT AWAY
The good thing about the envelope system is that you do not need a lot of cash or buy any special materials to start. I started with just plain white envelopes.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CARE FOR CREDIT REWARDS
I collect points/miles from using credit cards and I use them for travel. I also rack in enough points for cash backs.
But if you are not into that hobby, the envelope system will work well for you.
PEOPLE WHO CAN STICK TO A SUPER-STRICT BUDGET
The goal of the envelope system is to ultimately teach you discipline. If you have a Type A personality, it would not be a problem but it will be a struggle for those who need flexibility.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MIND MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE BANK
Using cash only means a few trips to the bank every month. It will not be a problem if your bank is just a few minutes from your house.
However, it will be a different story if you are not.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MIND NOT HAVING RECORDS OF TRANSACTIONS
Credit or debit card transactions will be recorded on your statement. This provides convenience when you have transactions that you will need later.
With the cash envelope system, all you have will be the receipts and you will be recording the transaction yourself.
PEOPLE WHOSE EXPENSES DO NOT FLUCTUATE SO MUCH
If your expenses fluctuate every month, the envelope system will be a little tougher for you.
Benefits of the Envelope System
Curbs Impulsive Spending
If you are someone like me who can be impulsive in buying things, the envelope system will help. There are some researches which shows that using cash makes you think twice before you spend.
Fights Overspending
Because you only allowed a specific amount on a category, you will not likely to overspend once it’s depleted.
Prevents Unexpected Credit Card Debt
Using cash only for spending will prevent you from using your credit or debit card. This will avoid overdraft fees and interest rates.
Encourages Discipline
The more we try to stick with our budget, the more we will be disciplined in managing our money.
Saves Money
Because we now know where our money is going, we will be able to adjust or trim our expenses to be able to save more.
Helps Tackle your Debt
The leftover money from your budget can now be used to pay down debts.
Provides a Clear View of Spending
Being able to see how much is left on your envelope every time you take out some cash will improve your awareness of how much you can spend.
Pro-Tip
My favorite way to keep track of our finances is by using Personal Capital. With Personal Capital, I can visualize our spending and savings, get insights into our cash flow, see the transactions we’re making, analyze our net worth, and more.
It is an absolutely FREE tool to use, and if you sign up through our link, you and I will get $20 each!
How to Start the Envelope System For Budgeting (Step By Step)
Getting started with the envelope system is simple and easy. Just follow these simple steps.
Whether you are paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly, figure out your monthly takehome pay. Doing this will give you an idea of how much your household can budget.
List All Your Expenses
You can use your bank statements to check what your expenses are. Include all your bills, student loan, credit card payments, eating out, groceries, etc.
Categorize Your Expenses
Categorize your expenses to fixed expenses and variable expenses. Fixed expenses are expenses that cost the same every month.
Examples of fixed expenses are those bills, mortgage, savings, investments, etc.
Variable expenses are expenses that vary every month. Things like groceries, eating out and entertainment
Figure out Discretionary Income
Discretionary income will be the amount left when you subtract the fixed income from the total income.
This will be the money that you will divide among your budget categories.
Determine Your Budget
Once you know how much money you need to budget, decide on your categories.
This may include groceries, entertainment, eating out, pet care, beauty, etc. Then determine how much money you will allocate for each category.
Below is an example of a budget with hypothetical numbers.
If you want to take your budgeting to the next level, try zero-based budgeting. This will help you get more control of your money.
Withdraw Cash
It is time to go to the bank and get your cash. We get paid biweekly so I only withdraw half of the amount I budgeted.
Label Your Envelope
Prepare your envelope by labeling each one with the categories that you decided on. Then stuff them with the cash allocated for each category.
