To ensure you don’t stray from the financial plan you’ve developed, don’t do any heavy drinking. Only drink water when you go to the bar with friends. That way, you’ll make smart financial decisions, rather than having a big mess to clean up later.

When you are trying to build wealth, you absolutely must spend less money than you bring home. People who spend it all or borrow frequently typically have to spend everything they make, so they’ll never be rich. Calculate your total earnings, then spend below that mark.

Small daily savings will quickly add up. Instead of purchasing the same things over and over again, try to buy things that are on sale, mix it up! Do not hesitate to take advantage of what is on sale.

If obtaining credit has been difficult for you, consider reviewing your credit history. There can be outdated information that lowers your score. You can clear up any mistakes with a phone call or letter.

Choose in a smart way. Are you interested in realizing savings of 100 dollars or more each month? This may be hard to do but try cutting out the coffee you buy every day! Expensive coffee drinks can set you back up to five dollars each, but homebrewed coffee can taste great if you dress it up with a flavored creamer and a little whipped topping. Just get your own reusable cup and do your pocketbook and the planet of favor!

If you absolutely do not have to borrow money or open a credit card, you should not do so. Credit is often a necessary evil; however being debt-free is much better. Try not to use credit except for emergency needs. Some things you must borrow money to get, like homes or cars.

A good health insurance policy can save you from financial strife. Even when you take precautions, there’ll eventually be a situation that requires you to need a doctor. Start with a good health insurance that corresponds to your needs. Bills for medical care can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Bills of this nature can ruin you financially without health insurance.

Try to make early bill payments monthly to stay on top of your finances. Make sure to budget for each expense so that you can still save some money at the end of the month. That way, even if you have unexpected expenses, you need not worry about your next bill right away.

In this economy, it’s best to have multiple savings plans. For example, don’t put all of your funds into a savings account. Put some funds into checking or into stocks. The more diverse your investments, the safer your money is. By using some of these ideas, or even all of them, you’ll be able to safeguard your money.

Be careful to think about your ability to repay when considering a large student loan for your education. Going to an expensive private school while unsure of your major or what career path you’re going to take, may mean that you end up in permanent debt.

With your new understanding of personal finance, you should have far less fear than before. Apply these tips to improve your financial situation, and be sure to continue learning new ways to manage your finances. Soon, you will be free of debt and putting money in the bank on a regular basis. Savor it.

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Work on boosting your credit score prior to purchasing a car or a house. You can get a credit card and pay the balance on time, or you can get a micro-loan and repay it quickly. Always if you can make the more than the monthly minimum payments on your credit cards.

If you’re a parent, and if you’d like to send your children to college, you should open a college fund as soon as they’re born. College is very costly and if you wait until later on you will not be able to send your kids to school.

When obtaining student loans, make sure that you will be able to pay them back when all is said and done. If you go to a private college, you should be sure of what you want to do as a career.

Writing down your monthly expenditures can help you understand where your money is going. A notebook that is easily set aside or lost is probably not the best method, as it is often soon forgotten. A good idea is to get a large whiteboard for use in your office or home as a reminder to keep listing your expenditures. By seeing it frequently, you will be reminded to stay faithful to it.

If you find yourself short on money, consider selling unnecessary items instead of charging expenses to a high-interest credit card. When electronics are working, or you can repair them, they sell for better money than broken. Even broken electronics can have value, even if it is just enough for a tankful of gas or a some other necessity.

One way to take care of your personal finances is to get a good health insurance policy. You never know when you will need a doctor. For this reason, it is vital to have good health insurance. In quick order you can run up a huge amount debt with doctor and hospital bills. This will leave a huge hole in your pocket if you do not have insurance.

Do not arrange for more credit than you really need if you are concerned with a sound personal finance picture. You’ll end up with a lower credit score and paying higher interest rates if you take out more credit than you really ought to.

Learn to live without ever sliding a credit card. Look for ways to avoid paying interest at all, whether it is on a loan, for your car, or for your home. Spending money on interest is wasteful, and by living more frugally, you can get rid of interest payments altogether.

One way to save money is to cut off your cell phone. This may be an unpopular suggestion, but keep in mind that until recently, people survived just fine without cell phones. Cell phones feel like necessities, but they are really more of a convenience. If you can not live without your phone, look at ways to save on your current plan.

Even if you aren’t working at your dream job, try to remember that a low-paying job is far superior to no job at all. Understand that maintaining any form of income is very important in the current state of the economy.

Use the leftover dollars accumulated throughout your day for building your savings. Put the single dollars in a piggy bank, home safe or even your savings account for an easy savings plan. Using the dollar bills and buying lottery tickets with them is a fun way to possibly have much more money than was spent on the tickets.

Use tax planning and take advantage of it so you can get your personal finances back into shape. Take advantage of all the investment opportunities that are offered by your job. Put aside some pre-tax funds for medical bills. If your employer has a 401K match you should take advantage. Using your money wisely and allowing it to work for you makes good sense, financially.

It can be a good idea to create an emergency fund while paying off your debts, especially if the use of credit cards helped to create the debt. To decide how much you should put in your emergency fund, make a list of common household and medical problems you might encounter and their estimated costs.

Never sell when you aren’t ready. If the stock you own is doing well, then let it continue to do well and not sell. Stocks that are performing poorly can be ousted from your portfolio.

You can control your property by managing cash flow. Monitor your expenses and income, and evaluate your property’s performance at least once a month. Make sure to have your budget in control at the end of the month and use it as a guide for future months.

Use cash or debit cards for small purchases. Try not to rely too much on your credit card. Credit card providers are starting to impose minimum dollar levels for purchases, so have some cash or a debit card available.

Give some serious thought to your feelings on financial issues. You are not going to be able to improve your overall personal financial situation until you understand different choices you’ve made about money. Make a good list of what you believe about material possessions and money, and think about what has triggered that from your past. By doing this, you can move on and form better feelings about money.

After you finish reading this, you should have a better understanding of how to save money. Do not be concerned if it takes some time to get your finances in order. Just like losing weight, success doesn’t come overnight. Just do it one step at a time and you’ll eventually see changes.

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Choose what you purchase wisely. If you are careful, you can probably save about 100 dollars every month. It might be difficult, but ditch your daily trip to the coffee shop, and brew your own. Coffee from Starbucks can cost in excess of $5 a cup, but homemade coffee can deliver the same taste for much less, especially if you use some whipped topping and flavored creamer. Pour it in a travel mug and take it with you to work.

If there is no reason to get a credit card or get a personal loan, then avoid doing it. Credit may sometimes be necessary, but live debt-free and save your money for unavoidable expenses in your future. A few of the things that take borrowed money are cars and houses.

Set aside a specific allowance for personal treats so that you aren’t tempted to splurge from your savings. You can use your cash allowance to treat yourself with things like eating out, new shoes or a book you want, but limit yourself to your allowance. This is a way to allow yourself small treats without spending outside your budget.

There are new, specific rules that regulate how individuals under the age of 21 can get credit cards. In the past, college-aged young adults could get approved for credit cards very easily. Now credit card companies want you to have a verifiable income or to get a cosigner. Ensure you meet the requirements before applying.

It is a good idea to always file your personal taxes when they are due. Instead of waiting until the last minute, file your taxes as soon as possible to get your return even earlier than usual. If you owe money, then you may want to file your taxes closer to the April 15 due date.

Do not think of thrift shopping or second hand items as something for the needy. There are some serious discounts on things like furniture, books, and clothing at any area thrift store. Children also enjoy going to these places to search for new clothes and shoes that they find interesting. The best selection is often available earlier in the day!

Clearly, people who have dependents must be much more concerned about their personal finances than those who do not. You can make your income go further and take better care of the people who rely on you by making use of good personal finance advice whenever you come across it.

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Just before payday determine how much you will allow yourself to spend that weekend to avoid overspending. Your paycheck on Friday can then be left untouched. This ensures that you still have money after the weekend, which is when you would otherwise be most tempted to spend it irresponsibly.

Dedicate a minimum of one day of each month to pay bills. You do not have to spend a whole day paying bills, though paying your debt is huge and should be given a lot of thought. Schedule the date on your own calendar and make it a habit you always keep. If you miss the day, it could be horrible for your finances.

Even if circumstances are very difficult, it is unwise to sacrifice your retirement savings to solve a short-term problem. There are many other ways to deal with any financial situation. Don’t mess up your future to repair the present situation at hand!

The most logical way to get rid of debt is to pay down the debt with the highest interest rate first. Although it may see sen sible to make even payments on all your debts, the savings over the long term is greater when you target the high interest card first. It is important pay off your credit card debts first because credit card interest rates are rising.

Make wise choices. If you are careful, you can probably save about 100 dollars every month. That can be painful, but just get rid of that daily mocha or latte and make your coffee at home. Instead of paying five dollars for your daily coffee, brew at home and add your own flavors and toppings. Pour into a travel mug and you’ve got your own personal coffee to go!

Your education is directly linked to your finances and your income. Those with a college degree make quite a bit more money than those without one. Throughout your entire adult life, your degree can more than double your total wealth and earn a significant return on your investment in tuition.

If you don’t want to spend like a drunken sailor, it’s a good idea to eliminate the “drunken” part by not drinking. Stick to water when you are out, so that you can make clear-headed decisions that you will not regret later.

When you need to improve your credit, clear up debt first. Do this by paying off your loan and credit card debts by making some cutbacks. Go out to eat and part less to save some greenbacks. Packing your lunch can save you big bucks. If you want to get out of debt, you’ll need to reduce the amount you spend.

Consider your feelings about money. If you would like to better your own personal financial situation, you will only be able to do so once you understand the money decisions you’ve made so far. Write down your feelings about money, and consider your choices that you have made in the past. You’ll be able to move on and cultivate more positive feelings in the future.

You should now have a clearer vision of your personal financial state, where you are now and where you want to be. You should also have an understanding about how to get there. If you couldn’t understand a particular tip or two, research it more to ensure you completely understand it.

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If someone would like to make a purchase but the cost is too high to buy immediately, it might be possible to involve his or her family. When the purchase is for something the whole household can enjoy, like a new television, try convincing everyone to donate towards the purchase.

Make wise choices. Want to save a lot of money–even $100–every month? Even though it may be difficult, you should try to substitute homemade coffee for overpriced coffee purchased in a restaurant or coffee shop. When you purchase specialty coffees, you could spend as much as $5.00 a pop. If you brew your own coffee, you can add flavorings, whipped cream and so on for a great deal less. You can even put coffee into a Styrofoam cup to bring to work so that it looks just like the store-bought coffee you love.

Always look over your monthly statements. Do this in order to make sure rates or fees haven’t increased. So many times people will not look over their bank statements and are not aware how much they are paying in monthly fees. Carefully inspect every statement.

Do not borrow money or start new lines of credit unless you have no other option. Credit may sometimes be necessary, but live debt-free and save your money for unavoidable expenses in your future. A few of the things that take borrowed money are cars and houses.

Be sure that you set a day aside each month to pay the bills. You may not be cutting down all your bills on bill day, but it does warrant your focus. Schedule the date on your own calendar and make it a habit you always keep. Skipping a scheduled bill paying day can lead to lax behavior down the road.

Save up those extra dollars. Buying lottery ticket with a spare dollar offers the opportunity to win a much greater amount than was expended.

Work on improving your credit score prior to purchasing a vehicle or home. Apply for a small loan that you can pay off quickly, or get a couple of credit cards so that you could make some on time payments. You should also pay more than the minimum amount, on all your bills.

Save small amounts of money every day. For instance, search weekly circulars for sales at the supermarket, even if the supermarket with the best sales is not the closest to your home. Be willing to substitute food that’s on sale.

Consider your many complicated feelings about money. You can’t begin to improve your situation until you fully understand the financial decisions that you’ve made. Take the time to write down how you feel about money and why you feel that way. You’ll be better equipped to get past this and get into better habits in the future.

Try to save by buying bedding at discount stores. This can save you a bunch of money and time every year, but you’ll still get the same quality. Researching your purchases may help better your finances.

If you’re a parent, and if you’d like to send your children to college, you should open a college fund as soon as they’re born. College can be very expensive, so if you wait too long to save the money you may not be able to pay for their education.

Re-evaluate your checking account options. Familiarity can make people hang onto a checking account for years and years, even if it starts to burden them with needless fees every month. Take a good look at the extra fees you are paying and explore other options to see if you can save money by switching to a different bank.

To maintain control of your money, avoid incurring debt at all costs. Though certain debts are hard to avoid, including those for home and education expenses, it is important to stay away from incurring expensive, unnecessary debt such as credit card debt. If you borrow as little as possible, you can avoid paying costly interest charges.

To get your finances in better shape, use tax planning to its fullest advantage. If your employer offers you the opportunity to invest in certain plans with pre-tax money, do so. Keep pre-tax dollars apart from your other money, so you can afford unexpected medical expenses. Sign up for any employer-matching 401K programs offered at work. It is good for your finances to use your earned money in a wise manner.

As was mentioned previously, many people have some issues when it comes to dealing with their personal finances. Now that you have learned this, you probably won’t have to deal with what they have to deal with anymore. Remember the advice you have read in order to improve your financial situation and reduce your stress levels.

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Talk to your friends when it comes to your financial situation. If they’re aware you’re having money problems, you won’t need to worry about them inviting you out for events you can’t afford. Failing to inform others of your situation may cause them to wonder why you do not want to take part in their lives. Keep your close relationships strong by letting friends know about your financial challenges.

Your insurance plans are an important component of your personal finance. Are you paying more than you should for insurance? There may be cheaper alternatives out on the market that you can use or there might be unnecessary options that you’re paying for. Take a closer look at your policy to see if you could be saving money.

Utility bills are an expense that you must stay on top of to improve your credit rating. Sending in payments late can severely harm your credit score. In addition, late fees will end up costing you an arm and a leg. You will lose money by making late payments, so pay your bill in a timely manner.

Credit card rules have changed recently, be wary if you are below the age of 21. Traditionally, credit cards were provided for students who are college aged for free. You have to have a cosigner or be able to prove your income. Figure out what the card’s requirements are prior to applying.

You can open an automatic savings account. Every month a certain sum or percentage of your income will be put aside for rainy days. This is an excellent strategy which helps you to manage your money much better each month. It’s extremely helpful if you have an expensive life event that you’re saving money for, like a vacation or a wedding.

If you want to better manage your finances, you need to rid yourself of any outstanding debt. You’ll need to pay off what you owe first. Consider cooking your own food or limit hanging out on weekends. Packing your lunch can save you big bucks. If you want to get out of debt, you’ll need to reduce the amount you spend.

Buy generic brands instead of national brands. Much of the cost of the name brand is because of funding advertisements. A more affordable option is to try products from a generic label. Most of the time there really is no difference between the two, so you won’t even notice.

An overdraft protection with your bank will protect you from hidden fees if your monthly budget is tight. Though it costs a few dollars, it may save you from 20 dollar fees here and there.

Credit scores are substantially impacted by the balances on credit cards. The closer you are to your credit limits, the worse the impact on your score is going to be. Paying the balance down can make it go back up. You should keep your balance at 20 percent less than what your limit is.

Watch the global market by viewing the world news. Many people concentrate solely on domestic news, but those with investments that can be affected by global changes need to take a wider view. When you’re aware of what’s going on globally, you’ll be able to make smart predictions about the market and choose your financial strategies wisely.

By getting the information right for you and using it for your money situation, you can be more ready than you were before. Over time you will be able to have better finances and rid yourself of any stress that debt can cause.

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If your income is less than your monthly expenses, consider finding other ways to earn more money. There are a lot of options here, including working as a waiter or freelancing online. Over time, the impact made by increasing your weekly income can really add up.

Make a large wall calender that maps out all of your fixed monthly payments, due dates, and billing cycles in one easy place. This way, you will still make all of your payments on time, even if you do not receive an actual paper bill in the mail. This can help you budget better and avoid late fees.

Cut off your cell phone if you want to save extra money. While many people may bristle at this idea, in truth, they all managed perfectly well without a cell phone in the past. Cell phones are more about convenience than necessity. Start this process by taking a look at how many minutes you use and switch to a less expensive plan.

Pay your debts and don’t entertain the possibility of new debts. It’s easy to do, even though we have become trained to think it is impossible. Whittle down your debt gradually, and never incur new debt. Keep working constantly, and you are going to be debt free and financially free.

Try to stay away from getting into debt when you can so your personal finances can benefit. While some debt is inescapable, such as mortgages and education loans, you should work hard to avoid toxic debt like credit cards. Loans and credit cards charge interest and fees; therefore, it is important to try not to borrow unless it is absolutely necessary.

Help get your personal finances in order by getting a good health insurance policy. Everyone gets sick during their lifetime. This is why it is imperative to make sure you have quality health insurance. If you don’t have insurance you will be looking at healthcare bills that could add up to thousands of dollars. Paying for proper medical care is not possible without a good insurance plan.

Take some time to think about everything before you purchase it. If you are careful, you can probably save about 100 dollars every month. This may be hard to do but try cutting out the coffee you buy every day! Expensive coffee drinks can cost around five dollars, but brewing your own is much cheaper. Take it with you in portable cups and bring it with you to work.

Set aside a specific day to pay bills. It won’t take you all day to pay them, but your bills need their own special day. Mark it on the calendar and cling to it with fervor. Missing this day could cause a bad domino effect.

If a person is always ending up with single dollar bills left in their pants pockets from getting change they can use them in a fun way to possibly increase ones personal finances. Use them to buy lottery tickets that can possibly win you the jackpot.

Regardless of the difficulty of your situation, you must protect your retirement plan. There are many other options to which you should turn first in order improve your financial situation. When you jeopardize your future in a gamble to alleviate your current situation, you can expect to wind up in a losing position.

You should have changed the way you view your finances after reading this. With all of the information you just read, you have the knowledge necessary to manage a promising financial future. Now, just stay motivated and do not allow anything to bring you down.

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You must gain an education to be especially successful with your personal finances. Those with a college degree make quite a bit more money than those without one. A college degree is a great investment in your future that can double your income over your lifetime.

Create a budget and strictly stick to it. You might think your expenses don’t exceed your income, but chances are you are wrong. Keep a written record of where every dime you earn goes. Once a month, look at everything you have bought. You will easily be able to see what you can cut back on.

Establish priorities for your finances. If you want better finances, you have to understand your money strategy. Write down your feelings about money, and consider your choices that you have made in the past. You can move on and work on building positive feelings later.

When you control your finances you ensure that you have a well-controlled property. Track both income and expenses, and assess property performance at the end of each month. Make sure you get a property budget that is firmly established so you have a guideline to follow.

Get rid of your cell phone to cut back on spending. Many people don’t want to do this, but it’s not a necessity to have one. While these phones may feel like essential parts of our lies, in reality, they are just a convenience item. Look at your plan and see if it is possible for you to cut some of the costs, at least.

Consider buying store brand foods. Much of the time, you cannot tell the difference. Many of them even contain similar ingredients. Don’t be afraid to give these foods a try because they can save quite a bit of money.

Believe it or not, purchasing a house will save you a substantial amount of money. Yes, you’ll have to pay the mortgage and utility bills each month; however, you’ll eventually pay off the home In renting, you are paying a monthly bill for something that never becomes yours.

When you’re thinking about moving somewhere to get a job be aware of the higher living costs which can offset a higher paying job. You need to find out how much your necessary expenses, such as food, utilities and shelter, cost on average in the new area in order to avoid financial problems after you move.

Those with children, who want to send them to college, should start saving money right away. If you wait to save, you may not have enough for them to go to college.

Buying a car is an extremely large financial decision, and you should not approach it lightly. Shop around for the best car prices, then pit each dealer again the other. Also, use the Internet to see if there are nearby towns that may offer better prices. This can save you time and money when you are ready to make your purchase.

It can take more distance and effort, but you may save tons by just using ATMs that are associated with your credit union, bank, or thrift. It is common for banks and other financial entities to charge substantial ATM fees, which can grow to large sums before you know it.

Tax planning strategies can improve the personal financial situation of most everyone. You may want to take your employer up on offers to invest your pre-tax dollars in retirement or health care plans. Pre-tax income should be allocated for any upcoming medical expenses. Take advantage of any 401K matching programs that are provided by your employer. This will help you to make your money work for you, and an effort to maintaining a solid financial position.

By writing down a budget that keeps you from spending more than you earn, you can avoid piling up debts and unpaid bills. Use these tips to avoid any of your accounts going into collections.

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Have you thought about a credit card with rewards? If you pay your balance off every month, this is good for you! Reward cards reward cardholders for their purchases by giving out cash and airline tickets, and other items. Look for cards that offer appealing rewards and see what works best for your own financial situation.

Have periodic yard or garage sales to get rid of unused items and earn some additional money. You may even want to consider offering your neighbors the opportunity to consign their unwanted things that you could sell at your yard sale for a small portion of the price. Get creative with your garage sale.

If you’re married, the spouse who has the best credit history should apply for any loans. If your credit is poor, build it back up with a new credit card account that you use and pay off each month. After you have achieved a solid credit score, you will be in line for the loans that you need in the future.

Go over your bank statements carefully. This way you can keep an eye on any increases in monthly rates or fees. Many people choose to overlook their statements and end up paying significantly more money in fees than they should. Carefully read all of your statements to avoid this.

Start a savings account to use when unforeseen expenses arise. You may want to save money to purchase a large ticket item such as a TV or a relaxing vacation. Also consider your retirement and saving some responsibly for your future. Regardless of your goals, saving money is an important part of every successful personal finance plan.

Put money into your IRA on a consistent basis. This will increase your personal financial balance for the future. Those interested can open up IRAs with a brokerage firm, mutual fund company, bank, or credit union. Regular contributions will make sure that your retirement is comfortable and secure.

If you want to keep your finances in check and balanced, it is best to approach your money that way the banks do. You will have to sit down and write up where your expenses are and where your income is coming from. Estimate the cost high, so you can take the money you have set aside to pay it and deposit any extra amount into a savings account.

Can purchasing a home, rather than renting, save you money? You will have a mortgage payment, but the interest is tax deductible, and eventually the house will be yours. When you rent, your money goes to your landlord, not towards your future financial stability.

Consider that a job that pays better somewhere else may pay better because the standard of living in its area is higher. Moving to be closer to such a job doesn’t always pay off. Be certain you research prices of rentals, houses, utilities, groceries and other things so there are no surprises.

Overdraft protection is a valuable tool to have if you are always on the brink of a zero balance. Although you may have to pay a little extra each month, the fee for overdrafting could be as much as $20.

Your vehicle is a large and important purchase that you will have to make. Make sure that you do not spend too much on a car by shopping around at more than one dealership. If you do not find any good prices, you can try the Internet.

If you have kids and want them to attend college, you should start saving right after their birth. College costs rise each year and if you wait too long to start saving, you will not be able to meet your goal.

Consider your circumstances when filing your taxes. If you want to get the money quickly, you’re going to want to file as soon as you can. On the other hand, if you know you will have to pay the government additional to cover your taxes, filing as close to the last minute as possible is a good idea.

As you know, many people are insecure with their personal finances, leading to eventual money problems. You will not have to be one of the many if you stick to the tips in this article! Use these tips to help you deal with your finances the right way.

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Keep a record of your expenses during a certain time period to determine exactly what your money is spent on. Armed with the facts of how your money comes and goes, you will be able to devise a plan to eliminate unwise purchases and maximize savings.

You’ll find that your FICO score is heavily affected by the amount of money you are carrying on your credit cards. When you maintain a large balance from month to month, your score will be lower than it should. As your balances drop, your credit score will increase. Keeping a balance of 20% or less of the credit maximum is something you should try to do.

To fix your credit issues, the first step is to get out of debt. You must cut back on your spending, save some money and pay off your loan and credit card debts. There are a variety of ways to save money, like making your own meals. Packing your lunch can save you big bucks. If you want to get out of debt, you’ll need to reduce the amount you spend.

Use a brand from the store instead of the more well known ones. A large part of the brand name price tag stems from the cost to advertise and market those products. Pick the generic option instead, which is always cheaper. Usually, there is no difference between these items.

If you are planning on going out on pay-day weekend, it is a good idea to put some money aside on Thursday and not spend anymore than that. When you get paid Friday, just leave it alone. If you do this, your entire paycheck will still be there on Monday instead of spending it on excesses and unwise purchases.

Consider your circumstances when filing your taxes. To get your money faster, file your refund as early as you can if you are expecting a refund. If you owe the IRS money, file as close to April 15th as possible.

Order your credit reports if you’re having trouble qualifying for a loan. It is possible to have old information that reduces your score. If you identify mistakes, then send letters to the appropriate credit bureaus and ask that the situation be rectified through removal.

Full-time employment can be combined with secondary employment to maximize your earning potential. You can find a job at the local grocery store or coaching a little league team. Over time, the impact made by increasing your weekly income can really add up.

Now that you’ve learned what to do about your finances, life should be getting good again. We hope that this article has been helpful to you. With a new sense of hope, share this material with a friend who may be in need.

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