Most people I know spend a lot of money. In fact, they spend more than they make, charging purchases on their credit cards like they had less than a week to live. Making matters worse, they don’t save money. So, they have nothing from which to draw in the event of an emergency. That amazes me.

I’m a planner. Always have been. I can’t stand going out to dinner without having a reservation. And I haven’t gone to a grocery store without a list in several years. I’m the same way when it comes to money. If you’re not saving and budgeting your money carefully, you’re vulnerable to life’s curve balls. Here’s how you can use the Envelope Plan to manage the rocky financial terrain…

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“I need to have it now!”

How many times has that thought skipped across your mind when you’re in a buying mood? When we see something we want, we don’t want to wait to get our hands on it. We want it now. For some people, it’s clothes. For others, cars. Still others feel their hearts race with desire for the latest gadget. Each of us has our respective vices. Sadly, a lot of folks willingly rip their credit cards out of their wallets before the store clerk can even mutter, “cash or charge.”

That’s called the pursuit of instant gratification. And it can devastate your budget and your personal finances. Here are its two biggest dangers…

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