Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2011 18:55:45 GMT -5
IHOP aren't you also a CPA or something like that?
Seriously the thought of entering things into a spreadsheet makes my brain hurt.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 19, 2011 18:59:03 GMT -5
Tina you are good, I do find it funny how many accountants I know that can take care of their clients but they don't follow the same advice for themselves. I know lots of people in professions that give the advice but don't live by it. I was and am still guilty of that on many levels. LOL, I promise if I actually had to budget I would. I have no debt and very few bills (dh pays all utilities and real estate taxes on our two houses (we still haven't moved, eventually there will only be one). I basically pay for half the food, the gas for my SUV and whatever odds and ends might come up. I used to be extremely anal with my budgets and would go back to that if the need arose.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 19, 2011 18:59:39 GMT -5
I know that I always have money because I still have checks in my checkbook. LOL, you sound just like my mom
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2011 19:00:51 GMT -5
:Yup...I am a YM failure. I have credit card debt. I am a recovering shopaholic.: See with a budget you can make logical decisions beforehand of how much you want to spend on discretionary and how long you want to take to pay off that debt and you'll be loved by all. It doesn't have to be either/or. Ok I do have a snowball payment plan on some Internet website that I go by to pay off my cc debt. I just don't have OTHER categories and I don't send ALL of my extra money into the snowball. I just know that if I send it all in that I will relapse. Yes, I could give myself and allowance and I guess I sort of do, but I just don't have a line item on a written out budget. I look to see what is left and I think about what I would like to be able to do and/or purchase for that pay period that isn't necessarily a need. I don't usually take a big allowance. Just enough to get me through 2 weeks without feeling completely deprived.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jan 19, 2011 19:02:44 GMT -5
I have a spreadsheet for my outstanding balances, but not a written-out budget. I'm still in the red, though, maybe that will change when I'm no longer in the red. here's what I do: 1. all minimum payments for any creditors that report to the big 3 are taken automatically from my checking account 7 days before the due date. I did this to protect me from myself, between last-minute work travel and snowballing one balance more than I should and shortchanging something else. I do have the first snowball value programmed in to the automatic payments - I just finished off my SL, so the highest interest rate payment has been adjusted to add the SL payment to it. 2. the other stuff (utilities, cell, cable) I generally pay every other month when I get the threat to shut off service - this is a product of forgetfulness, not really caring since they aren't reporting to the big 3, and general laziness. I know I need to work on this....it's not like I can't pay it. 3. periodic windfalls - I participate in my company's stock purchase perk program, and use the "next day sale" feature since I'm still digging out. without getting into the details of how this works....quarterly, I will get a check for at least $3000, which I will throw at either the highest interest rate balance, or any balance whose promo rate is about to reset. I am currently waiting for a $5100 deposit to post to my checking account so that I can pay off a low-interest BT that will be resetting to 19.99% in March. 4. whatever's left - this is awful, but whatever's left at this point goes to "fun money" which includes everything from groceries to gas to going out about once a week. I'm pretty good about building up my pantry when things go on sale, so my weekly grocery tab tends to be about $25-30. if I want fish one night, I'll go pick up a piece of fish that night, but that's about it.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jan 19, 2011 19:14:31 GMT -5
I know that I always have money because I still have checks in my checkbook. When I was younger I was in banking. You would not believe how many people think that is how it works.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jan 19, 2011 19:16:27 GMT -5
Tina you are good, I do find it funny how many accountants I know that can take care of their clients but they don't follow the same advice for themselves. I know lots of people in professions that give the advice but don't live by it. I was and am still guilty of that on many levels. LOL, I promise if I actually had to budget I would. I have no debt and very few bills (dh pays all utilities and real estate taxes on our two houses (we still haven't moved, eventually there will only be one). I basically pay for half the food, the gas for my SUV and whatever odds and ends might come up. I used to be extremely anal with my budgets and would go back to that if the need arose. Yeah, but because of your anal ways when younger you will be rich and free from here on out. It's the BEST feeling isn't it?
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jan 19, 2011 19:45:51 GMT -5
I do keep a spreadsheet, but I just plug in how much we spend on bills, gas, and groceries each month. I really don't need to do it, but it keeps in perspective how much certain bills cost every year and it helps me remember the odd (quarterly/annual) bills! I don't put in my day-to-day discretionary money because I DON'T want to know how much I spent at the liquor, bars, restaurants, Dunkin Donuts, etc. That is my guilt-free spending money! I get paid every two weeks and I write on a business card what bills are paid during that pay period and what I have planned for spending in that period. It's very anal-retentive, but I have issues and list writing is actually relaxing for me. I will be paying off my final CC debt by May and while I do plan on upping my 403(b) contributions, I also intend on not feeling as guilty if I want to keep some money for personal consumption. If I want to eat out twice a week then I'm going to do it, damn it!
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jan 19, 2011 19:58:03 GMT -5
But I'm one of those weirdo types that balance their checkbook every month. Me too! But again, I love lists, so even though having a checkbook is so passe, I love adding and subtracting those numbers!
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jan 19, 2011 22:23:51 GMT -5
But I'm one of those weirdo types that balance their checkbook every month. Me too! But again, I love lists, so even though having a checkbook is so passe, I love adding and subtracting those numbers! Me too. Especially the adding part.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 20, 2011 0:06:24 GMT -5
I don't have a budget either, I just don't feel like spending money on anything since I'm trying to build. I just know that I don't spend more than I make, I don't waste money (I live pretty cheap) and try to save even more when I can. I don't worry about it, I know I've got everything covered I need to. I should be getting a few statements from the hospital before long and I'll just add them to my bill pay (I've only used it since this summer but now I pay everything with it--I probably won't have to buy checks for years unless my CU merges again). I know what bills are due every month and when the "extras" will come due (stuff I only pay once a year or twice a year like property taxes), but again, the money is there and it's covered. No debt though other than my land and mortgage, and soon I'll have the new house as debt as well, but so far that's been cash. Every now and then I'll get a bug up my ass and want to figure how much I'm adding to savings every month (because my checking account makes the most interest I leave most my money there, so with bills going out and paychecks going in it's hard to tell from day to day what I've saved--not like a savings account where you can just look at the balance). When I feel like that I'll just grab a pencil and paper, add my bill and my paychecks as well as a few dollars for groceries, etc and I figure the rest of it I'm saving--works for me so far.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 7:04:39 GMT -5
Exactly....I want to cry when I read Pat's posts...she and her husband are doing well financially but she just cant' seem to live a little and spend some of the money. I don't want that to be me. I do tend to be very tight with a buck, but I'm trying to loosen up and live a little at the same timeAre you talking about me? Good grief, DD and I are in S Padre with the motorhome and toad for a week enjoying ourselves. I am getting my kitchen painted and some trim work done and my handyman is sitting up my new home gym stuff while I'm gone. So if you think I'm not enjoying life, better think again. But we also are still cautious. My husbands project is ending the 27th and who knows if he will have another to go out on. Since he works out of the country he has no UE when off and COBRA will cost us over $800 a month so we have to be careful also. Oh, I wasn't trying to dis you Pat...I have told you before that you should enjoy life a little more.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 7:06:36 GMT -5
LOL, I promise if I actually had to budget I would. I have no debt and very few bills (dh pays all utilities and real estate taxes on our two houses (we still haven't moved, eventually there will only be one). I basically pay for half the food, the gas for my SUV and whatever odds and ends might come up. I used to be extremely anal with my budgets and would go back to that if the need arose. Yeah, but because of your anal ways when younger you will be rich and free from here on out. It's the BEST feeling isn't it? I'm still working on the rich part...but feeling free IS awesome.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 8:10:20 GMT -5
I have no clue what a Zero based budget is. Does that mean you leave absolutely nothing in your checking account and use it all to pay bills and send to savings?
I have never listened to Dave Ramsey. I did send the audio book to my parents because they are drowning in debt and I know we will be the ones expected to take care of them when they retire because my brother are part of the reason they are drowning in debt (they use my parents as their personal bank accounts).
I honestly have NO clue how to even work a spreadsheet. I don't know Excel at all. I have never had the need to use it so I never learned how to do it.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 8:16:05 GMT -5
I have no clue what a Zero based budget is. Does that mean you leave absolutely nothing in your checking account and use it all to pay bills and send to savings? I have never listened to Dave Ramsey. I did send the audio book to my parents because they are drowning in debt and I know we will be the ones expected to take care of them when they retire because my brother are part of the reason they are drowning in debt (they use my parents as their personal bank accounts). I honestly have NO clue how to even work a spreadsheet. I don't know Excel at all. I have never had the need to use it so I never learned how to do it. Angel, Excel is actually pretty easy to use...and I'm a techno idiot
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 8:17:58 GMT -5
Yeah...well I am a bigger techno idiot than YOU. {oh wait...that isn't something to brag about is it?}
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 8:18:58 GMT -5
Yeah...well I am a bigger techno idiot than YOU. {oh wait...that isn't something to brag about is it?} LMAO!
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Post by efco on Jan 20, 2011 8:21:48 GMT -5
I keep track of every penny I earn and spend.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 8:26:28 GMT -5
So you account for every single dollar? Do you use a cash only system?
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Post by efco on Jan 20, 2011 8:44:18 GMT -5
I have several credit cards I use that offer cash back. So I take advantage of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 8:47:49 GMT -5
I guess I am just too ADD or something to actually track every penny I spend. It just seems very time consuming and the thought makes my eyeball twitch.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jan 20, 2011 8:51:06 GMT -5
I tried to track every penny on a spreadsheet after I spent too much time at YM. I got frustrated with it pretty quickly. I'm trying again this year.
Most stuff is purchases on credit card, so that's easy to track. It's the ATM withdrawals that magically disappear.........
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 9:03:08 GMT -5
I tried to track every penny on a spreadsheet after I spent too much time at YM. I got frustrated with it pretty quickly. I'm trying again this year. Most stuff is purchases on credit card, so that's easy to track. It's the ATM withdrawals that magically disappear......... This is part of my problem as well. My husband swipes his debit card constantly and never gives me receipts. He makes ATM withdrawals and never gives me the receipt. I could track my spending just fine (although I still don't want to), but trying to track his down as well is mind numbing and not in a good way.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jan 20, 2011 9:12:25 GMT -5
I tried to track every penny on a spreadsheet after I spent too much time at YM. I got frustrated with it pretty quickly. I'm trying again this year. Most stuff is purchases on credit card, so that's easy to track. It's the ATM withdrawals that magically disappear......... This is part of my problem as well. My husband swipes his debit card constantly and never gives me receipts. He makes ATM withdrawals and never gives me the receipt. I could track my spending just fine (although I still don't want to), but trying to track his down as well is mind numbing and not in a good way. DH and I are both guilty of the ATM cash withdrawal disappearance problem. I spent $1.44 on tea at the gas station this a.m., and $5 on a Zumba class on Tuesday. I feel really stupid putting those amounts in a spreadsheet. ETA: I want face numbing, not mind numbing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 9:16:28 GMT -5
Yup Swamp that is us too.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 9:36:04 GMT -5
I don't have a MAC card (yes, I'm old enough to still call it that )....I keep meaning to get one, but since I rarely use cash it is rarely an issue for me. I charge everything for the cash back.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 9:36:55 GMT -5
What is a MAC card?
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The J
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Post by The J on Jan 20, 2011 9:40:18 GMT -5
I don't have a written budget -- I did with the ex, because without stricter guidelines we would've been (even more) in the poor house, because she was bad with money. Now, I'm back to my old system -- I have a set amount to save, my set monthly bills, and the rest of the money is available to spend as necessary.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 9:43:39 GMT -5
I don't have a written budget -- I did with the ex, because without stricter guidelines we would've been (even more) in the poor house, because she was bad with money. Now, I'm back to my old system -- I have a set amount to save, my set monthly bills, and the rest of the money is available to spend as necessary. This is me. I guess I could TRY to write out a budget and spreadsheet and ATTEMPT to keep track of things for the month of February. I might be really bitchy in February though.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 20, 2011 9:51:21 GMT -5
Bite me...you aren't that much younger than me MAC = money access card...what they called the cards in the late 80's/early 90's.
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