Vote for Rebeca in the Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest 

Q: What are your financial goals? Short-term? Long-term?

My short-term goals are to live a comfortable and happy life. Now that includes being able to travel to see loved ones across the country, eat out occasionally, and do activities I enjoy. My medium-term goals include saving to buy a house and being financially secure enough to provide for children. My long-term goals include paying off my school debt and having a secure retirement fund.

Q: What is your biggest budgeting challenge?

Balancing saving, paying off student loans, and planning for a long-term financial future all at once. There are always unexpected expenses that come up and that can be a challenge to address and prioritize.

Q: What was your biggest money mistake?

I put a semester of graduate school classes on credit cards and it took me years to pay that debt off due to the high interest rates associated with the cards and being underemployed.

Q: What has been your biggest money success?

My biggest money success was paying off my credit card debt and building up substantial savings again.

Q: Have you had an “A-ha!” moment with your finances? How has that changed the way you handle your finances?

I have lived through some difficult financial periods and I now work actively everyday to add to my savings and “what if” fund. Having been underemployed and unemployed before, I know that can happen again and so having savings feels important now and not later.

I have set things up so that my bank account automatically puts a certain amount of money into my savings every month. That way I don’t even think that I have that money to spend. Tricking myself like that has helped me to make saving into a monthly habit vs. a “once in a while” activity.

Q: How did you learn what you know about mone? An example in your family? A finance expert? Books?

I learned about saving and living modestly from my parents who worked hard to give us a comfortable life that was rich in quality experiences. They’ve always said that their goals for our family were to be able to provide great education and health care and that all the rest was a bonus. I’ve also asked the advice of people in my life that I respect and admire about how they have managed their money. And I highly recommend Ilyce Glink’s book, “50 Simple Steps You Can Take To Improve Your Personal Finances.”

Q: What is the number one money lesson you want to pass along?

Besides avoiding credit card debt at all costs, the number one money lesson I would share is that it is possible to save and pay off debt while also having a high quality of life (check out our video to hear some ideas). I’ve been able to make certain lifestyle choices that involve my community and household, which not only feel good because they are in line with my values, like not living in excess and having a lower environmental impact–but they also have put me closer to achieving my financial goals. By doing so, I’ve made more room in my life for other things that matter to me.

Find Rebeca at www.rebecabeeman.com

Vote for Kaity R. in the Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest

Q: What are your financial goals? Short-term? Long-term?
We are a family of 3 living on one non-profit salary. In the short-term, we are focused on being resourceful and finding creative ways to pay the bills and have fun on the cheap. We’re working towards our main long-term goal of total debt freedom and after that, hope to finally take the honeymoon trip we never had!

Q: What is your biggest budgeting challenge?
We have an old car and an old house, and unexpected repairs often exceed our monthly budget, so we end up having to dip into our emergency fund more than we’d like.

Q: What was your biggest money mistake?
Not keeping a budget, so not really knowing where our money was going.

Q: What has been your biggest money success?
As a couple, getting on the same page about our finances. It’s a relief to know exactly where we stand and what our strategy is for meeting our goals on any given day. We can talk things through if one of us is worried about money. Plus, there are no bills to hide!

Q: Have you had an “A-ha!” moment with your finances? How has that changed the way you handle your finances?
Buying our first home a few years ago was the biggest financial commitment we’ve ever made, and it was more than a little scary. We realized we needed to get serious about tracking our expenses and having a plan for our money going forward. The birth of our daughter last year only made this more important.

Q: How did you learn what you know about money? 
I’ve learned a lot from my own mom and from other moms online about cutting costs and DIY. We also listen to the Dave Ramsey show on the radio for inspiration.

Q: What is the number one money lesson you want to pass along?
It’s important to know where your money is going and to have a plan, but don’t forget that the best things in life are free! (seriously)

Vote for Justin in the Equifax Family Money Matters video contest

Follow Justin on YouTube

Q: What are your financial goals? Short-term? Long-term?
Provide for my family and have enough to live comfortably.

Q: What is your biggest budgeting challenge?
Deciding how much to spend on debt vs savings.

Q: What was your biggest money mistake?
Building up credit card debt when I was younger.

Q: What has been your biggest money success?
Paying off above mentioned credit card debt!

Q: Have you had an “A-ha!” moment with your finances? How has that changed the way you handle your finances?
Some of our close friends set a great example for us about how to live frugally yet still comfortably. They encouraged us to pay down our debt more aggressively and start thinking about our financial future in earnest.

Q: How did you learn what you know about mone? An example in your family? A finance expert? Books?
Our parents for sure.

Q: What is the number one money lesson you want to pass along?
Balance saving and spending — make sure you have enough to live comfortably throughout your life and in retirement but don’t forget to spend it! There is no use being the richest person in the cemetery.

10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries

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Tips on How to Deal with Family Money Matters

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Read the official rules for the Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest

Money Saving Exchanges (or Tips) from Portland Oregon

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Family Tips for Budgeting Food Expenses – Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest

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Family Money Matters with Melissa, Bethany & Katie

Voting is closed. Thank you for all of your votes, and the winner of the contest will be announced October 30 and all of the finalists will be contacted to receive their prize.

Read the official rules for the Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest

Does this sound like you? Managing your family’s finances can be difficult, but recording a video highlighting your best money-saving tips won’t be. The Equifax Finance Blog wants to hear your best tips for managing your family’s money and we’ll give prizes for the best budgeting advice.

Are you a mother of three with grocery shopping advice?

Or a bachelor with tips on reducing utility bills?

How about a recently married couple with advice on creating a budget together?

If you have a great money-saving tip, the Equifax Finance Blog wants to hear it. The top five finalists win a one-year subscription to an Equifax credit-monitoring product and the grand prize winner will win a $1000 Discover gift card.

$1,000 could really help, couldn’t it?

How do you make a video?

Chances are, you can record a video with the device you’re looking at right now. Many smartphones, computers and tablets are equipped with video cameras. Uploading the video will be simple, too. YouTube is a free service with an easy registration process and helpful advice on uploading videos.

While you don’t need to be a film director, some attention to lighting and background is important. Try to find a well-lit and interesting room in your house—the kitchen usually works well. Take some time to plan out what you want to say. Bring props to illustrate your strategy and rehearse until you feel comfortable. Once you’re recording, remember to slow down and speak clearly.

You can record your budgeting tip by yourself or have a friend hold the camera for you. You can share personal examples and you can get a little creative with your story. How you decide to explain your tip is up to you. Submissions are judged on relevance, usefulness and quality most of all.

Just remember to keep the video between 30 seconds and 5 minutes in length, and don’t use copyrighted music, images, or mention specific products and brands. Read here for more information on rules and regulations of the contest.

Lights, camera, action, submit!

Remember to submit your video to the Equifax Family Money Matters Video Contest by Sunday October 7th. We’ll work our money-managing video magic to narrow down the best tips and you can vote on your favorites on Monday October 15.

Here are a few examples videos to get your budgeting brains going:

Everyone at the Equifax Finance Blog looks forward to watching your submissions and learning from your saving strategies.

ENTER THE EQUIFAX FAMILY MONEY MATTERS VIDEO CONTEST HERE