So, the good news is my husband is working again!  Whoo hoo!  Talk about a weight off our shoulders! The bad news is we have a little digging out to do after about three months living on only one income.

I have found that having my bills paid automatically through my main checking account is very convenient.  I no longer need to worry about forgetting to pay a bill. I also know exactly where I sit financially every month after the bills have gone through.

With technology moving ahead, and thanks to direct deposit and automatic debit, there is a lot of interest in automating your finances. Automation can be a great thing for your finances. It means that your money goes where it is supposed to - and you don't have to remember to pay your bills. 

For years, my long-haul flights have been largely in business class - for less than the price of economy tickets. Here are 13 frequent flyer mile strategies to help you do the same.

It's a morning routine that we have welcomed. It forces us to talk about our finances on a daily basis, ensuring we're always on the same page.

I must admit that I was a holdout for a long time, arguing that I would never engage in such "high tech" financial dealings because I wanted to have full control of my money.  Way back when, I felt that if I set up an automatic withdrawal, I was somehow giving control of my money to someone I didn't even know.  

I was able to set up auto payments for my student loans via the lender's website, which actually knocked off 0.25 percent from my interest rate. My car payment is on auto pay, knocking 5 months off my repayment time. My Netflix, Sunday Times, and dog medicines are on this system. And of course my DMP payment is on auto pay. 

The goal of the debt movement is to pay off $10,000,000 of debt in 90 days. But the goal is just the beginning, we really want to get people talking about and doing something with their debt. Supporters of the debt movement are sharing their debt stories, giving financial advice, and providing tools you can use on your journey to debt freedom.

February brings Valentines day and unexpected expenses are bound to crop up to make your loved ones feel, loved. Dinner, flowers, chocolates...they all add up! This year make Valentine's day guilt and debt free by entering our CareOne Gives Back Giveaway! 

Frugal living and budgeting are not the same thing. I want to separate those ideas in your mind. They are two different things. You can do them at the same time. Budgeting may lead to frugal living. But they are not the same. Period.

Did you ever hear the phrase, "You are your own worst enemy."? I subconsciously fall prey to this all the time. I beat myself up for things beyond my control, sabotage diets, and yes bust my budget all without realizing I am in control of my own destiny.

It is not secret that where you live can influence different lifestyle different lifestyle habits. Regional factors can influence your employment, housing and even retirement. Our CareOne customer bloggers are spread out across the states and bring that unique regional view to their debt stories.  

Thanks to the new transaction fee rules that took effect January 27, 2013, for both Visa and Mastercard credit and charge transactions you may now be charged up to 4% just to swipe your card.   

I believe in this statement, and really have no trouble putting money into the savings account.  What I have trouble with is taking money back out of the savings account.

What do you do to make life on a budget more enjoyable, easier, and just plain better? How do you manage fun and your money at the same time? Enter our monthly Share the Wealth contest, and tell us your solution to some of life's challenges. Each month, we'll post a new question and look for your innovative answers. You could win a $250 gift card! 

Which are the most valuable online tools for supporting your dreams? Here are some favorites from my friends and myself.

Renting  to own, is this a good financial move or you basically burning money like a 19 year old NBA rookie?

I've noticed that this way of life causes a lot of anxiety, which I'm sometimes not even aware of until after I pay a bill.  Since I began the DMP, I've become more aware of my bills and expenses and have realized that I will feel a lot better if I don't ignore my bills-this might make me feel less overwhelmed by them. 

I sat down and was able to create a budget for my son that would have him back out of credit card debt by May, have his airfare saved up by July, and his cruise paid off when it is due in October.  I was also able to make it work so that he could have over $1,000 in an emergency fund by the end of this year.  I told him that I wanted his budget, as it was much more simplified than my own.

When I left the company, I lost touch with him, but through mutual acquaintances I had heard that he too left the company to pursue another interest that did not pan out...and then 9/11 hit. When 9/11 hit, the industry that he was so successful in, like so many other industries, took a huge hit and he could not find work. His wife filed for divorce not long after that and for a period of three years, he was out of work and struggling, to say the least. 

Here are 11 tips to recover from your holiday spending spree and get your finances back on track.

It was three years ago yesterday that I sent a private message to a CareOne employee in response to a post in the community looking for customers willing to share their journey while enrolled in the DMP. We had only been enrolled in the DMP for six months, and everything about it and how our lives had changed was still new and fresh, and scary. 

Sure, many things in life are inescapably complex: calculus, automatic transmissions, human relations, the federal tax code. But even these can be broken down into parts and addressed one item at a time. Which means that pretty much everything can be made simpler. So when life gets too complicated, take yourself back to the basics.

The New Year brings a fresh start for many of us. It may mean a dedication to your health, finally paying off your debt, or maybe filing for divorce. 

Chances are that you've heard that you should "give every dollar a job." This is the case when it comes to your savings as well. Sometimes, it's hard to get excited about saving up money when you don't have a purpose for your money. As you arrange your finances, and plan for the future, don't forget to give your savings a job.