by Libby Balke | Budgeting, Saving
For the past two years, my husband and I have survived on a threadbare budget. We’ve said no to dinners out, to new clothes, to unnecessary trips across town. Whenever faced with the decision to spend or save, we always opted to put money away for a rainy day...
by Libby Balke | Uncategorized
Take a look at that title again – and please note the lower-case “g” on the word “god.” There’s a reason for that. As a Catholic gal – not just one of those Christmas & Easter Catholics who take up the front pews during...
by Libby Balke | Budgets, Debt Repayment
I have a friend named Sam. Right now, Sam’s finances are in big trouble. He’s buried in debt, and wondering how to get out of it. I’m hoping all of you can help him when it comes to managing debt with some practical advice. Sam’s Situation...
by Libby Balke | Personal Finance
Each year around this time, people start to ask me what I’m giving up for Lent. It’s a standard question for a Catholic gal living in a heavily Catholic part of the country. Unfortunately, I rarely have a good answer for them. Over the last several years...
by Libby Balke | Invest, Invest, Invest
As we sit here today, I owe roughly $14,500 in student loans. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s a paltry sum compared to the gargantuan amount of debt I racked up during my five and a half years in college and grad school – I did go to...
by Libby Balke | Maximize Career
Some people look forward to their yearly raise; others aspire to the corner office. Not me. My favorite workplace “incentive” is paid time off – sick days, vacation days, personal days, holidays. The roughly 17 days of paid leave I get every year is...
