May day, Pay day!

Here’s something I wasn’t prepared for: I am in the process of closing out an account with my old bank (TCF Bank) and opening an account with my new bank (WaMu). I just switched over my direct deposit from payroll, but couldn’t make it in time for the December 15 pay date at my work. [...]

The Per-Use Theory

Budgeting is generally a matter of prioritizing purchases. Once I’ve set aside savings and paid monthly bills, I must decide how to spend disposable income. Most items are built into my personal monthly budget, such as groceries and my gym membership. However, each month, certain items become a painful exercise in prioritization – particularly clothes, [...]