MittenKitten
Well-Known Member
Home of the Circus
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:12:58 GMT -5
Posts: 1,070
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Post by MittenKitten on Sept 10, 2011 19:54:35 GMT -5
I don't want a coffee to mess up my no spend day. Interesting that my best lesson is quite the opposide (thanks Phil). The latte factor might get a lot of press, but it doesn't even change the rounding of the digits I use in yearly planning. While that may be so for you for me it was a big deal. Basically to go from a $4.00 habit 4 days a week $16 a week aka $832 a YEAR does in fact make a big difference in my life. Add that to savings with interest (if we ever see that again....) I didn't have any cute names for it just being honest with myself and changing things...
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startsmart
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 12:45:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,447
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Post by startsmart on Sept 11, 2011 12:31:29 GMT -5
Clever Username- it's a personal question i asked because this board has meant many things to many people and there is not one "right" way to change your finances. Feel free to add your own revelation so everyone can learn more about your yearly planning method.
Let's keep this a positive thread and avoid arguing about the overall best lesson.
The question once again is What is the single most important tip you've received from the WIR?
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mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,958
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Post by mizbear on Sept 12, 2011 10:08:39 GMT -5
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Post by notasbadasithought on Sept 21, 2011 14:34:39 GMT -5
My most important tip learned from WIRR?? The "snowball" way of paying off credit cards! I know it's a Dave Ramsey thing, but I learned about it here. What a concept! I added to it by paying anything extra (and I mean anything!) -- bonuses, tax refunds, awards from work, etc. -- to the CCs. I paid off an almost $16,000 CC total in just over two years. And the encouragement of my Western Racers was AWSOME!!!! I think the second most important thing was the auto-savings. Especially with the yearly things like...home insurance, property taxes, car tags and registration, timeshare yearly maint. fees...how awesome it felt to add them all up, divide by 26 (# of pay checks I get), and have that amount automatically deposited into a savings account. No more scrambling for anything! It was already there. Wow!
I was doing some major decluttering last week, shredding stuff from before my start in WIRR in 2007...it was eye-popping and scary!!! CCs out of control, late charges, 29.99% interest rates, late payments on everything, most of my CC payments going to INTEREST charges, savings (what little I managed to squirrel away) raided almost as soon as I put them away, etc. etc. We were a financial MESS!!! But I am here to tell you, it was worth all the hard work I put into it! It is absolutely awesome living with NO debt. I still use my CCs but never more than I can pay off when the bill comes - or sooner! I have money left over in my checking account! A while back, I went back and added up all the savings I managed to squirrel away the last couple of years -- it amounted to over $30,000!! I was astounded - THAT is what being debt-free got me. So I wanted to encourage all of you...if this former financial mess can make it, you can also! It's hard, it's frustrating but the rewards are so worth it. Keep going and keep posting...that was my biggest form of support...the ladies on this board. I will forever thank you.
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dancinmama
Senior Associate
LIVIN' THE DREAM!!
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 20:49:45 GMT -5
Posts: 10,659
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Post by dancinmama on Sept 21, 2011 14:57:08 GMT -5
I remember when I first saw that; I laughed my ass off. The funny thing is that that's just about the best tip anyone can follow.
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dancinmama
Senior Associate
LIVIN' THE DREAM!!
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 20:49:45 GMT -5
Posts: 10,659
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Post by dancinmama on Sept 21, 2011 15:16:04 GMT -5
I came to WIR with no consumer debt (besides a mortgage), but wanted to see what they were all about. I found the Grocery Challenge - a group of women who were interested in doing what they could to spend less on groceries, household items, and well...almost anything. Since I had been shopping the ads, stockpiling, and using coupons for over 20 years, I felt right at home. I soon came to know a most excellent and dynamic group of women. They come from all walks of life and live all over the country. They will bend over backwards to help anyone - even a total stranger - all anyone has to do is ask. The interesting thing is that this continues year in and year out (for almost 5 years now) and regardless of who the "regular" posters happen to be at any given time. Thank you Grocery Challenge gals. You are the cream of the crop!! My favorite tip: If you don't ask, the answer is "no".
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