Women in Red Savers 2018

[seriousthistime]

January update

Stars	Name	Amt. Saved	Goal	% Saved	Roses	Smilies
	azucena	$1,715	$25,000	6.9%
	chiver78	$61	$910	6.7%
	finnime	$38	$3,775	1.0%
	forwardwego	$6,780	$30,000	22.6%
	ilovedolphins	$0	$13,000	0.0%
	Jaguar
	megaptera	$0	$6,500	0.0%
	minnesotapaintlady	$1,310	$21,500	6.1%
	nidena	$2,910	$33,280	8.7%
	nikiz628	$4,766	$9,300	51.2%
	plugginaway22	$9,095	$16,800	54.1%
	Poptart
	Saving4Norway	$1,500	$16,500	9%
	sealy	$1,000	$25,000	4%
	seriousthistime	$2,437	$20,498	11.9%
	shanendoah	$100	$2,500	4%
	snapdragon	$11,981	$18,350	65.3%
	teachermom	$4,184	$100,000	4.2%
	tobinikui	$7,663	$41,538	18.4%
	trimatty471	$679	$17,300	3.9%

Nice job, Savers!  In the dead of winter, we already have a few blooms in our rose garden, and those clear, crisp nights have brought out a few stars.

[finnime]

Savings Goal

Weekly Penny/Dime/Dollars Savings

Month	Week	Goal	Total saved	Percent of Weekly / Monthly Goal	Goal Met
1		30.38	38.25	125.91%	Y
	5	10.57	12.00	113.53%	Y
	Annual	3,778.06	50.25	1.33%

Finnime 2/3/2018: $50.25 (Goal $3,775)

Basis:

Daily: .01 x day of year + Weekly: (.10 x day of year) + 1.00 x week of year + Monthly: 10.00 x month of year


Spending Goals Q1 2018

Category	Goal	Amount	Spent
Sinking	pay attorney	10000
	car	2500
	dog	500
	dentistry	2000
	mortgage	7000
	taxes	11000
	mattress	2000
	debt repay	8500
	house	3000
	Phone	500
Survival	EF	2500
Security	nest egg	500
Totals		50,000

 
 Will know more within the next few days about savings goals for the quarter.

[forwardwego]

Shoutouts Part 1 of 2 (and borrowing from Hollywood, January's shouts are being done in order of members' appearance on the new 2018 saver thread):

seriousthistime Hola SaverFriend! I agree, the dust never is fully settled. Good job laying out your preliminary goals even with the dust still floating or flying. Your line items are a good representation of learning from the past, planning for the future, and creative methods. (I think I'll adjust my weekly savings using the $10 bump up strategy too, heck yeah, an extra $520 at the end of the year.) Congrats on $2437 saved! 

Jaguar Thanks for your contributions to the WIR as an administrator, and as someone who reaches out and acknowledges all efforts of WIR members! Looking forward to seeing your 2018 plans. 'Til then maybe you could just carry over your last from 2017? 

trimatty471 Welcome to your 2nd year of WIR Saving! Congrats on $679 saved, eager to see you go get your second !! 

nikiz628 Welcome back for year 3, or is it year 4 for you as a WIR Saver? Good job carrying over from 2017 and growing that already in 2018. And nice work reining in the eating out!  
RE the retirement funds, have you checked out VanGuard? They have very low expenses. Also they and others have created programs to let people get started with small initial deposits. Also nice use of the signature line feature. It helps me keep up with you , and must help you a lot too. Time for me to try that out. 

snapdragon Nice work with carrying over your savings and goals too! Love that you have a "destination to be determined" vacation in the making! And isn't it great that your brother can pay you back in a way that pleases him and you?... a real win/win!!  Congrats too on the over $200K on retirement account 

shanendoah Good job getting on the board quickly with a  ! Thank you for sharing your personal experience and perspective to give ourselves credit for all our savings achievements. Hard fought wins are sweet, and creating the saving habits and strategies are valuable!! Also like your strategy of having both a goal and a stretch goal 

Poptart Welcome back! You have the heart of a saver  , and you WILL get there. I'm glad you reached out to share your challenge/struggle of paying down while simultaneously building savings. Teachermom and Seriousthistime gave good info. I would add "never ever give up" and when plan A doesn't work, then plan B followed by C, D, E, and on. Last year Shanendoah was enduring huge challenges to her cash flow and she battled it with auto saving a small amount. Maybe start a small automatic savings amount? Keep posting, and keep asking, and keep trying 

sealy Excellent start with $1000 EF! That safety net is so important for so many reasons. That is a solid foundation. Guard it and protect it while you continue with more savings, and it will guard and protect you back!! 

teachermom Good job building another $1400+ in the month of January! Thank you for sharing your perspective and experience so readily, thoughtfully, and thoroughly. You have the heart of both a saver and a teacher (of course  )   

megaptera Just so excited to have you on the board, and ready to go  Love your categories, and thank you for detailing what each item is. You crack me up with the bike category description 

[forwardwego]

Shoutouts Part 2 of 2:


finnime Good work getting your savings organized and rolling. You are on the board and building momentum. Good job also having goals lined up and waiting for your upcoming windfall. 

plugginaway22 Welcome! You are absolutely right, you've found the place for being focused and accountable in saving!! It's an amzing place for sharing and learning. The Savers' thread is the best (Okay, I'm biased ).
My first year WIR Saver goals looked similar to yours. With time you'll branch out and fine tune. Congrats on your solid base of $8330 and adding another $765 in January  

tobinikui Hola! Glad you swam on over to 2018! (Wish I had a fish to insert here.)  You are doing a great job of evaluating and laying out your savings plans!! Congrats on $7663 saved. Paying a month ahead will be awesome. I have never accomplished that, but those who have love it. So glad you caught & corrected the car payment snafu in time. When our kiddos were little I was paying bills late at night, prepared the deposit and entered it in check book register, then when I actually made the deposit the next day entered it again. I didn't catch it and bounced 4 checks. Yes, being a saver with margin for these boo boos is priceless 

azucena Congratulations on $1715 saved. And excellent work paying off the student loans!! So glad we are here to celebrate you on that, since yes in real life people don't get it, or will use the information wrong. $25K-$35K is a nice hefty goal...you can do it! I'm glad the goals include a vacation. You've had a lot of changes, and even though they are mostly good changes like a new home, and workplace advancement, big changes and series of changes can be stressful.     Take care saver friend.

minnesotapaintlady Nice work on your plans and on looking ahead. You pay bills a month ahead, a year ahead in ROTH savings, and though it sounds very challenging, you have at least one plan to be ready for reduced CS in 31 months. Congrats on $1310 saved!! 

ilovedolphins Welcome to the Savers! That is so fun to find money hiding in your checkbook...quick put that into savings cause it seems you hadn't missed it  . Nice goals for $13K for the year, saving half every other week. I'm looking forward to watching you amaze yourself with what you can do  
 
nidena Good work with $2910 saved already! And good for you making use of the no spend thread and the organize/declutter thread, as well as racing away debt!!! 

chiver78 Loving your weekly challenge. I think you've found a method that speaks to you. Every time you see a deck of cards you are going to remember to do weekly savings!! Nice start!


Saving4Norway Welcome to another year of saving. Thank you for your intro, It's very helpful to hear of your experience of growing as a saver. Congrats on $1500 and 9% to goal!! 

Happy saving in February!

Shoutout to bankergurl movinonup regecko shopaholic814 and TheHaitian, we'd love to have you join us!




 

[forwardwego]

Good morning WIR Savers 

Welcome aboard new members ilovedolphins and plugginaway22 !
FYI seriousthistime keeps us organized with monthly update/smileys, then I follow with Shoutouts. 
Scanning the updates I am trying to remember who was new last year. Thinking it was
finnime  nidena  Poptart and trimatty471 , & regecko whom I don't see yet this year but I believe/hope we will see soon. Welcome back to these "seasoned newbies" and to all!   
Sooooo, how about while I work on shoutouts,

Here's a fun challenge for all to get us acquainted and get a sense of how we can help each other with support, experience, and lessons learned:

Introduce yourself!  Possibly include...How many years as a WIR Saver? If you are new or newish, what drew you here and what do you hope to learn and gain? Serial Savers, what have you learned so far? What have you learned even after being a WIR Saver for a while? Whatever you'd like to share...

This challenge is also extended to our friends who follow the saver thread but don't post their savings!  (These folks often cheer us on with a thumbsup, a question, or an answer to a request for help or input. I appreciate them and I'd love to get to know them better too... debthaven dee27 Blonde Granny lund NastyWoman and others I can't think of at the moment...I'm no spring chicken y'know )

[debthaven]

That's sweet forwardwego but no active savings going on these days (apart from automatic retirement deductions). We have major house issues so the priority is dealing with that huge expense.

[forwardwego]

Hola! Automatic Savings, the good decision that keeps on giving 

[debthaven]

One day I hope to join this thread, but with our last child in college and the house expense, I don't expect it to be anytime soon.

[plugginaway22]

I've been reading these boards for years, seldom post, mostly in declutter thread. DH and I are 58/57 empty nesters with a too big but paid off house. Part of our retirement plan will be downsizing. We are focused on retirement so most money going there.


We got a late start with savings due to me working very part-time while raising 3 kiddos. Thank you for encouragement.

[nikiz628]

Hello Savers! 
I have been posting on WIRS for 3 ish years now. I think last year was the first year I really set goals for myself for the board though. I have been posting on WIRR on and off since 2008, but have been back full time since 2013. I became a SAHM in 2010, which is also the year we filed bankruptcy (13). It was such a learning experience for my H and I. We were only 24 years old and apparently, liked learning our lessons the hard way. Our debt was 50/50 medical and consumer. As much as I hate that we had to go through that, we learned SO MUCH and were able to not only complete the bankruptcy but we have thrived since it was over. It finally dropped off our credit report last year and we have GOOD credit for the first time in 8 years. In the last 8 years, we've been mastered making budgets. We've prioritized saving money for emergencies and paying off debts quickly. We don't always make the best choices, but I would say 95% of the time, we are financially responsible. Life is short.   I share our financial story with anyone because if even one person learns something from it, then I feel like it was for more than just saving our home. I reallllllllly wish they required high school seniors to take a "basic financials" course before graduating. Our parents never taught us about budgets, credit cards, savings, taxes, meal planning, balancing checkbooks, etc. You know, the important things adults need to know! 

I am looking forward to reading more "intros" here! There are definitely unfamiliar "faces" on the board, but I love that everyone is here! 

[teachermom]

Hi Savers......I have been on WIRR and savers for years off and on with really targeting savings since 2016. It has been an up and down journey for sure! I am not 100% debt free....still have student loans I am working on and my mortgage but no credit cards or vehicle loans. My student loans were deferred for years and years and years due to raising 3 kids on my own. They are now all in college or graduated and time for me to pay them off. It will be years....but I needed to get my savings and retirement built up.

I have learned tons and continue to learn and get better at it every year. My savings goals include a lot of "sinking funds" as well as long term goals. I definitely won't complete it in 1 year but that is ok with me. Also, originally I was single and had been for 20 years.....I am currently in a long term relationship....over 2 1/2 years....long term plans are being made but he still has kids at home and no plans for anything to change until after they are out of high school....another 1 1/2 years....so in the meantime....I am proceeding with my savings goals and we will see what happens.

Welcome to all the newbies....find a plan that works for you and do it!

Teachermom

ETA: I am a 18 yr teacher also from the NW.

[forwardwego]

Jan 29, 2018 22:53:00 GMT -5 Saving4Norway said:

To re-introduce myself... I have enjoyed so much success at planning and executing significant savings here on the Savers thread over the years that I want to be on board for this year, as well.

A little about me, I'm a 26-year veteran teacher in the Pacific NorthWet. DH and I are DINKs, who recently lost our dear fur baby. The only debt that we have is our mortgage. I first started with the Savers to save $1000 for a basic Emergency Fund. Once I got that rose, I raised it to $7,500 (3 months expenses). That's been so long ago that that fund's value is now over $25,000! I automatically fund my retirement, investments, and maximize my Roth contributions so I don't track them here. That's why you might notice that my savings categories are mostly "fun" things.

Happy Savings to all, new and old friends!

(Bringing Saving4Norway's intro over from a previous page) 

[snapdragon]

Hello All, 

I was reading the money boards back in the MSN days before we packed up and moved over here. I didn't get the nitty gritty of personal finance for me until I was in my 20's and attempting to buy a house and I couldn't until some debt was paid off. (I had at least 15 store and CC's. All of them had balances.) That took about 4 years until I was really ready -- in that time housing prices rose rapidly in the PNW (WA) houses that I had been looking at that used to be on the market for $90 - $100 K were now double or more in price and I ended up being outbid about 9 different times until I found my condo. This was in 2005 so I just turned 29 when I bought. I am still there because prices are so insane I would be unable to find a rental for the same cost as my mortgage. 

My parents (especially my Mom) really made me want to make sure that I could take care of myself as I got older. I am single and eventually I want to move to the middle of the country but I need to wait and plan until my Dad passes. (I hope not for several more years though. He's a tough old bird and I like his company.  )   

I was first in the WIRR thread but I decided that I wanted to do a multi prong strategy on my finances and I wanted to be able to travel so I needed to plan this in advance instead of expecting to put things on the CC and pay it off later. So that is when I really joined on this board. Though I had stuck my oar in every once in a while with a suggestion or idea before that. 

[teachermom]

snapdragon Didn't know you were in Washington too. I think that Norway is as well. Hardly a place more beautiful than the PNW but prices are definitely out of control, especially if you are in the Seattle area. Did that for 4 years and decided I needed to go back to Eastern WA if I was going to survive with 3 kids alone.

Teachermom

[forwardwego]

In 2009, my employer offered an early retirement which I couldn't take because of my finances. Feeling very lowly, I started lurking on the WIRR Board. I joined in March 2010 w/ $9559 in CC debt, having waited to join until I owed under $10000. (That's like cleaning for the cleaning lady ). Finished that off, and a 2nd race for vehicle loan debt, and then transitioned over to the Saver's Thread, which has been the key to maintaining. I still falter, but get back up quicker. This is @ my 5th year as a WIRSaver.  I have learned a ton from my successes and my mistakes, and those shared by fellow WIRs.  The missed opportunity in '09 was my wake up call, and WIR helped me turn it around. One big help is posting updates, makes it REAL! And creates a more objective perspective because I'm trying to make sure what I'm saying is clear for my fellow WIRs and it ends up being clearer to me too! 

Would love to hear some more intros.
Welcome aboard Newbies, so happy for you. 

[snapdragon]

Feb 6, 2018 16:55:39 GMT -5 teachermom said:

snapdragon Didn't know you were in Washington too. I think that Norway is as well. Hardly a place more beautiful than the PNW but prices are definitely out of control, especially if you are in the Seattle area. Did that for 4 years and decided I needed to go back to Eastern WA if I was going to survive with 3 kids alone.

Teachermom

Lived here my whole life and I work in Seattle. The prices/taxing and the attitudes of people are some of the reasons for me wanting to leave. There are other things which I find hard to articulate, but WA hasn't felt like "home" for a very long time. I just don't feel as though I can be really comfortable or prosper. I am not in the tech industry and I don't want to be so I don't have the huge paycheck job that would make the difference on my wanting to stay here. I am actually amazed that I have been able to keep my condo this whole time. I just feel/know that this is not the state for me when I decide to stop working full time and try something else. Plus I really don't want to attempt to retire here. I would have a heck of a time attempting to find a place to move to that wasn't completely out of my budget.

Snap~

[NastyWoman]

For me saving is quite easy because I (a) have a reasonably good salary, and (b) don't like buying stuff. I have way too much already. So I create an annual cash flow budget which includes my savings ( Roth plus regular) at approximately 50% of my take home. 
In a year I have known high expenses that gets budgeted in, like the expensive lenses I want this year but which are not paid for by my insurance. That means less into savings this year. My travel budget will not be adjusted for this 

To keep on track though really the critical tool is that budget. It is simple: forecasts incoming and outgoing and has columns for actuals and delta/variation. That, curiosity about finance in general, and missing the shopping gene is what keeps me on track

[idlechatter]

Hi Savers!  I'm new(ish?).  I used to participate/lurk with the Savers many moons ago (2008, maybe?).  I recently rejoined WIRR as well, and I'm so thrilled to be back in both places as I am so much more financially disciplined when I'm here. This is the first year in a long time I feel I can focus on savings in tandem with debt paydown. I still have quite a bit of debt to paydown so I'm considering my savings goals stretch goals for this year. 

I'm also starting "late" because we don't receive our compensation numbers for the year until mid-February, which has made it difficult at best to create a budget and goals for 2018.  I do have a good idea of what I'll be looking at and think I've put together a somewhat successful plan to balance everything. It also means that the bulk of it will come with my first and second updates, and it will be a slow trickle thereafter.  I am giving myself until 1/31/19 to achieve my (stretch) goals considering my start date, but I will certainly celebrate with all of you at year's end and will hopefully still be on plan myself. And even though it's automatic, I've included my 401K.  Whether or not I have a little extra money will dictate whether or not I can contribute more to that.

A little bit about me: I'm 35 and working finance/banking after a career change 5 years ago. I have a DBF who has a DS (he's 5!) and between us we have two dogs and two kitties. We live separately in suburban NYC with me renting (alone) and him living in a family home (alone) and have discussed moving in together. In my spare time, DBF and I ride our motorcycles with friends and I have several volunteer commitments.  I am on the BOD of my local running club (it's a very big club and all money raised goes to local charities), I volunteer with our local animal shelter, and I volunteer with the soup kitchen in my town. 

Savings Account	Interest Rate	Goal	WIRS Start 1/31/2018	Remainder to Save
Emergency	0.100%	$5,000.00	$4,019.49	$980.51
Car (Sinking)	0.995%	$1,400.00	$1.11	$1,398.89
Gifts	0.995%	$1,200.00	$0.78	$1,199.22
House	0.995%	$1,000.00	$0.47	$999.53
Other	0.995%	$1,000.00	$0.30	$999.70
Olivia	0.995%	$1,000.00	$701.08	$298.92
Dad	0.100%	$5,000.00	$904.60	$4,095.40
401K	0.100%	$12,750.00	$875.42	$11,874.58
Total		$28,350.00	$6,503.25	$21,846.75

[seriousthistime]

Hi there.  I'm Serious This Time.  I'm glad to meet you.

I began to follow the Women In Red when it was part of MSN, and MP Dunleavey was the moderator.  She wrote columns for MSN about debt and finances.  Eventually she had a finance column in the NY Times and wrote for other publications.  Back then, MSN and Dunleavey were following 6 women who had different financial situations who were trying to get out of debt.  Chances were good that others could relate to one of the 6 women.  The format was like a blog where the 6 women could post, and the rest of us could only comment on their posts.  That was around 2005 or so.  It was pretty motivational.

When they moved to a message board format, I was on board.  Then MSN shut us out, we moved to Proboards, and I followed again.  

I believe I publicly started my debt-free race as a WIR Racer in 2008.  At the time I still had kids in college, was reeling from the financial effects of a divorce, and was trying to "hold my own" financially. If you also read the WIRR, you can see I'm on Race #5. I have paid off well over $100k in debt.  Also around that time, I got serious about contributing to my 401(k). When I joined the Savers I tracked my 401(k) savings.  That year, it looked like I really knocked that one out of the park!  After that, I just tracked the more immediate/useful categories and my goals became more "relatable."  I know other Savers are contributing to a 401(k) or other retirement in addition to the savings goals they post here. 

So now I'm an empty-nester. A couple of years ago I accepted a higher-paying job and moved (at my own expense) 2,000 miles away to a location where I believe I was always meant to be.  It's a VHCOLA.  Financially, I knew it could work, but it was adjustment to say the least. Like snapdragon, I have to figure out where I'll live in retirement.  I think that my wonderful location may be unaffordable in retirement. But I'm going to stay here as long as I can. 

First with the WIR Racers, and then with the Savers, I have learned that financial stability isn't something that just happens for most of us.  You have to plan, deal with it directly, and be mindful.  Finances don't just taken care of themselves. At times, you may read something that is a "lightbulb" moment for you, an obstacle you didn't know you had, and a solution you can put to work for you.  Post your goals, update us on your challenges, and find support here.  No one is going to tell you what a dumb thing you might have done; chances are good you've already beat up on yourself for it. What you'll find is a lot of Savers who have "been there, done that, and lived to tell about it."  

Like the original six women in the Women In Red, there is someone here in the Savers who is in a similar financial situation to you.   There will be many who aren't.  We have people with lots more income than you, and people who've considered (or maybe even succumbed at one time) to a payday loan. It's okay.  All are welcome.  Set your goals, feel free to adjust them, and start with baby steps if you need to.  

So glad to see all the new faces here!





 

[plugginaway22]

We have returned to reality from a wonderful getaway to Florida.  Left 80 degrees and now back to 18 degrees and ice.  Will review the past week's spending and get us back on track for the remainder of February.  Hope winter is on the way out!

[finnime]

Savings Goal

Weekly Penny/Dime/Dollars Savings

Month	Week	Goal	Total saved	Percent of Weekly / Monthly Goal	Goal Met
1		30.38	38.25	125.91%	Y
	5	10.57	12.00	113.53%	Y
	6	12.76	14.00	109.72%	Y
	Annual	3,778.06	64.25	1.70%

Finnime 2/10/2018: $64.25 (Goal $3,775)

Basis:

Daily: .01 x day of year + Weekly: (.10 x day of year) + 1.00 x week of year + Monthly: 10.00 x month of year


Spending Goals Q1 2018

Category	Goal	Amount	Saved	Spent
Sinking	pay attorney	10000
	car	2500
	dog	500	300	300
	dentistry	2000
	mortgage	7000
	taxes	11000
	mattress	2000
	debt repay	8500
	house	3000
	Phone	500
Survival	EF	2500
Security	nest egg	500
Totals		50,000

 
Now I know the size of the funds to be available within a few weeks, and can plan out the quarter and year more  effectively. I will say I'm glad I had retained my attorney rather than pay him on contingency.

[debthaven]

forwardwego are you retired now?

Yesterday we accepted an offer on the studio we have been trying to sell for 14 months. So we will have the funds to repair the house. Maybe once we close (about 4 months here) I will join this thread.

[seriousthistime]

Update

	Goal	Amt. Saved 2/9/18	% Saved	Roses
Survival fund	$6,000	$1,001	16.7%
Property tax	$5,000	$962	19.2%
Household Exp.	$1,000	$150	15.0%
Weekly Savings	$1,898	$338	17.8%
Gifts	$2,600	$409	15.7%
EF increase	$2,600	$300	11.6%
Pet care	$600	$152	25.3%
Misc. Exp.	$800	$129	16.1%
Total	$20,498	$3,441	16.8%

Seriousthistime, 2/9/18, $3,441 (Goal $20,498)


Weekly Savings chart:

$11	$12	$13	$14	$15	$16	$17
$18	$19	$20	$21	$22	$23	$24
$25	$26	$27	$28	$29	$30	$31
$32	$33	$34	$35	$36	$37
$39	$40	$41	$42	$43	$44	$45
$46	$47	$48	$49	$50	$51	$52
$53	$54	$55	$56	$57

[forwardwego]

Feb 11, 2018 15:38:54 GMT -5 debthaven said:

forwardwego are you retired now?

Yesterday we accepted an offer on the studio we have been trying to sell for 14 months. So we will have the funds to repair the house. Maybe once we close (about 4 months here) I will join this thread.

Yes, I retired April 28, 2017.  I hope the sale of your studio goes smoothly, and that you join us soon! 

[shanendoah]

shanendoah: 10-Feb 2018 $150 (Goal: $2,500/stretch $5,000)

Hello all. I also live in the Seattle area. I joined WIRR on Dec 30, 2009 (I think - I think it was the year we lost our Moree dog, and we've had Junebug, the Beagle we got after him for over 8 years now). 
I joined WIRS seriously a little over 2 years ago, when we were out of debt and I was really thinking about saving lots. Then life went sideways, and I'm back in debt, and trying to figure it all out. But, I've got automatic savings going on. Sometimes it doesn't stay in the savings account very long, but that's okay. I'm using it where it's needed. And I plan to have myself back out of debt by the end of this calendar year, at which point I'll be back to saving seriously.

[Blonde Granny]

Hi all.....I feel like an honorary member as my story is so different. Married to the same guy for 51 years when he passed away in Dec. 2015. and I'm 73. Even though expected, it was still a blow losing $3700/mo income when he died. As prepared as I was for that to happen, it's still a shock the first time I redid my budget in YNAB living just on SS and VA disability. I don't take money from investments to live.

I have no debt and own my house free & clear. But.....I started hanging out around here and Smart Spending to get a better idea of how to manage my emotions and spending. Spending just for emotional reasons I discovered was costing me hundreds of dollars a month. Fortunately for me, everyone talking about their decisions of spending was the turning point for me about 9 months ago.

I'm so grateful and happy that all of you share your financial life with others on this forum and can't tell you how much I appreciate the help everyone has given me.

BG

[chiver78]

welcome to the new names and faces!

I forgot to play cards on Saturday, and didn't have much for cash on me this morning. so I went with the Ace of Clubs for $4. new total at the bottom.

Card	Spades (1x)	Diamonds (2x)	Hearts (3x)	Clubs (4x)
A		2	3
2	2	4	6
3	3	6	9
4	4	8	12	16
5	5	10	15
6	6	12	18	24
7	7	14	21	28
8	8	16	24	32
9	9	18	27	36
10	10		30	40
Jack (11)	11	22	33	44
Queen (12)	12	24	36	48
King (13)	13	26	39	52

total for 2018 = $910

chiver78 $65

[azucena]

Feb 2, 2018 14:21:47 GMT -5 azucena said:

Jan 12, 2018 8:48:02 GMT -5 azucena said:

No update for the last couple of paychecks of the month.  New kittens needed shots and check-up $250, termite bait stations and annual fee $400, $300 down payment for spring break trip to Destin which is desperately needed for my mental health.

Also have managed to skip allowance for the past two weeks.  Will pay them today, but I no back pay since they didn't even remind me.  And handing it to them all at once kinda negates the savings principles that I'm trying to help them learn.

2/2/18 Azucena $1,715 of $25,000 (stretch $35,000)

Not a true update, more like just maintaining.  Still not on track with allowances - really not sure how to make this more habitual.  It shouldn't be that hard.  I tried taking out $100 in small bills but that only lasted a few weeks.  It was too easy to pull from that envelope for all of the one off school requests - pizza day, new spirit shirt, cheer camp, etc.

Will be lots of financial review this month as we find out my bonus and raise, re-adjust 401k to continue maxing, etc.  We are also considering our pledge for building a new Lutheran school.  Currently thinking $5000/yr for the next 3 years.  Lutheran education is a priority for our family and both DDs will be attending next year.  Not sure if these funds will reduce savings, come from annual bonus, or squeeze from less frivolous spending.

2/15/18 Azucena $1,715 of $25,000 (stretch $35,000)

[azucena]

My introduction...I joined WIR savers mid-2016 for a final push to save a down payment.  I've been on YMAM since before move to this site, but only started posting the last few years.  I've learned a ton on this board - in real life no one I know talks about money this openly and I definitely didn't get included in money discussions growing up.  What I have learned here makes me a better parent - my 9 yo can tell you about a 401k and understands how we save for retirement now while we have a job - a concept I didn't encounter until I had my first real job.

The key to savings for me has been to not increase our lifestyle as I earn more money.  Or at least consciously consider ongoing increases like the new house.  Another huge savings point was when I started using mint to track our bills and moving 'extra' money directly to savings each pay period.  My husband teases that I'm making us appear poor.  But, he's seen how much that method controls our spending.  If the cash were still in checking account, it would be easy to spend.

We still need to be better about what we put on credit cards.  Even though we pay them off each month, there's still too much extra spending there.  I should start posting monthly balances here to see if that helps me be more accountable.

Besides saving, I want to concentrate on paying off our mortgage by the time our girls get to college 10-13 yrs from now so we can mostly cash flow tuition for them.  Debating whether to join WIR racers to track this goal more closely.

[shanendoah]

azucena - If you are worried about controlling your spending, you might want to join us on the No Spend/Controlled Spend thread. Just like here, everyone tracks a little differently - I put my spending plan for the week up and see how well I stick to it. Others just post generalities, but it can help create accountability for daily spending, and gives you a place to talk about daily spending and the situations that lead to unplanned spending or over spending.