Weekly Topic Inspiration: Creating a Functional Family Budget

1. 87

   Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

   Establishing a functional family budget isn’t easy- in addition to working with what are typically tight resources, families have to learn to reconcile different approaches to spending, organizing finances, saving, dealing with debt, and establishing what is “necessary” and what is “nice to have”.
   
   What have you learned from your experience with family budgeting that you could share with the world at large? Do you have a good template that others could use, or some tips on working on a communal budget while reducing strife and conflict? I’d love to see what you have to share!
   
   Some tips on creating successful financial advice Hubs:
   1. Research your competition and choose titles that reflect people searching for advice on your subject would type into Google
   2. Keep your Hubs simple, streamlined, and attractive: break your Hub into multiple Text Capsules and make use of bulleted and numbered lists (not to mention Table Capsules) for sharing multiple tips and facts efficiently
   3. To help illustrate what are sometimes abstract concepts, consider explaining your advice within the context of a personal story (e.g. start by giving your major tips, then explain how you utilize them in your own life)
   
   Don’t have a particular Hub in mind? Here are some search-friendly titles to consider using:
   A Wedding Budget Planner for Practical Couples
   A Monthly Budget Planner for Busy Families
   Money Saving Tips for Families
   Tips on Saving the Family Money
   How to Overcome Common Home Budget Issues
   Home Budgeting for Beginners
   A Budget Planning Worksheet for Families
   How to Budget Money with Your Spouse
   A Simple Family Budget Plan
   Budgeting Money as a Family
   Money Problems in Marriage
   How to Address Money-Related Relationship Problems
   
   To create search-friendly titles of your own, follow the steps outlined in this Learning Center guide.
   
   If you'd like to join in on this week's topic by writing a Hub, follow these steps:
   
   1)    Stop by this week's Weekly Topic Inspiration Question.
   2)    Click the green button "answer this question".
   3)    Click the gray button below the box (leave that empty) that says "make a Hub about it."
   4)    Give your Hub a very specific title, like Easy Summer Gardening Projects for Kids or Challenging Summer Activities for Teens
   5)    Create good quality original content that hasn't been covered before.
   6)    After you publish your Weekly Topic Inspiration Hub, come back to this forum thread and post a link to your Hub with a brief description of what you wrote about and why.
   
   For more information on the Weekly Topic Inspiration program, check out the Learning Center guide.
   
   To give your Hub a better chance of becoming a Hub of the Day make sure the images are legally used and properly attributed!

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   1. 54

      zhuzaoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I know

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2. 84

   daisydayzposted 11 years ago

   Here is my hub: 5 easy ways to save money on your household bills
   http://daisydayz.hubpages.com/hub/5-Sim … old-Budget
   
   I had been thinking about doing this one for a while so your topic spurred me to actually get it down on (virtual) paper! Thank you!

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm glad that this week's theme served as the tipping point! Love the Hub, and learned from it, too! I didn't even know that it was possible to shop around for different utility providers.

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3. 77

   Mom Katposted 11 years ago

   Here's my hub on saving money on your heating bill during the winter.
   With the economy so snug, it's important to save money where you can.
   
   Money Saving Tips: Avoid Winter Wasting
   http://momkat.hubpages.com/t/33e4ef

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I love the seasonal approach you've taken- there certainly are ways to keep down those extra expenses that crop up in the wintertime!
      I especially love your tip on heating the home by baking/cooking more. I do that all the time, and it also makes things smell GREAT!

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      1. 77

         Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Simone.  Quick question.... if I want to write more than one hub on this can I go to the question and click "answer as a hub" more than once or do I just come here & post more links?

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         1. 87

            Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            If you find that you can't submit more than two Hub Answers, feel free to just share additional links here.

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   2. 77

      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Here's another one:
      
      Frugal Living: The Edible Yard ~ http://momkat.hubpages.com/t/33ee96
      
      With the price of everything going up, it's nice to be able to have access to food without even needing to leave your own yard!  Saves money & makes your yard look great.

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      1. 77

         Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Here's another: Water Bill Super Saver
         http://hub.me/aei53

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            zhuzaoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I like that way of life

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         2. 77

            Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Here's one I wrote a while ago on how to balance your budget:
            http://momkat.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-B … our-Budget

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4. 57

   ITcoachposted 11 years ago

   Simone Smith,
   
   You have a great information about the house wives and for the working as well. You hubs almost covers the home debts, home finances and home capital. I think you may launch a profitable blogs for earning. How you got these all fruitful ideas?. The topics you discussed are really impressive. Have you some ideas about the IT hubs?

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks ITcoach! One of the best ways to get ideas is to see what people are generally searching on by visiting the Google AdWords Keyword Tool. We have tips on using it in this Learning Center entry. Do check it out!

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5. 93

   Helena Rickettsposted 11 years ago

   I LOVE this topic and have never participated in any of the Weekly Topic Inspirations before so it's time to jump in!
   
   I'm going to claim the title Dos and Don’ts of Lending Money to Family because I've done this many times with mixed results. 
   
   I'll be back when it's finished to post the link in a day or two! 

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hurrah! I am so excited that you'll be joining in for the first time. Great title choice (I've removed it from the list to be on the safe side). Can't wait to read the Hub!

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6. 61

   magdaleneramiposted 11 years ago

   I love the topic. It is a great idea for people to share the useful tips and information. Thanks.

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm glad you think so, magdalenerami! I hope you'll be joining in.

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7. 0

   KDuBarry03posted 11 years ago

   Here's my offering for this week's topic! I decided to go with a budget I have to watch myself along with some money saving tips on making soup for the family or even for one person.
   
   http://kdubarry03.hubpages.com/hub/Savi … emade-soup

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8. 86

   Denise Handlonposted 11 years ago

     Simone,  I love the use of the words 'functional family' budget.  I suppose that leaves out all of the 'dysfunctional' families, hee hee.

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      Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I want to hear about the dysfunctional family budget!   That sounds fun!

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         Denise Handlonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         

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9. 71

   Ruchiraposted 11 years ago

   My thoughts about budget esp for the newly married
   http://ruchira.hubpages.com/hub/Budget- … -Newlyweds

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      zhuzaoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      good , I love

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10. 95

    Glimmer Twin Fanposted 11 years ago

    http://glimmertwinfan.hubpages.com/hub/ … eting?done
    
    My hub for the weekly inspiration.  I used this method when I first got out of college, but families may be able to use it for budgeting too.

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       KDuBarry03posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Wow, very interesting and very well detailed!

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11. 54

    zhuzaoposted 11 years ago

    good , I  like .

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12. 74

    chrissieklingerposted 11 years ago

    http://chrissieklinger.hubpages.com/hub … s-a-Family
    
    Here is my article on budgeting money as a family.

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    1. 54

       zhuzaoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Do what thing to have a plan, so that life can in an orderly way

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13. 87

    Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

    Thanks for sharing your great budgeting tips with us, everyone! This week's new theme is cleaning. We all have to clean, so why shouldn't we share our advice on keeping things as neat, sanitary, and organized as possible?

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14. 88

    Gary Holdawayposted 11 years ago

    I would have posted this last night had I realised the topics didn't close
    
    http://garyholdaway.hubpages.com/hub/Ma … mily-money

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       Denise Handlonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       REad it and  commented. 

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          Gary Holdawayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          just noticed, thank you

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15. 93

    Daughter Of Maatposted 11 years ago

    I'm a bit late, but at least I got it done before the next Weekly Topic of Inspiration! lol
    
    http://daughterofmaat.hubpages.com/hub/ … p-Problems

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16. 93

    savingkathyposted 11 years ago

    Here's my hub: Family Finances: How to Save More Money
    
    http://savingkathy.hubpages.com/hub/Fam … More-Money

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