Budget Budge-it Budget

[Gemini Cricket]

Thanks for the tips so far. Makes a lot of cents.

I think one of the big problems is that my apartment is too expensive for me right now. I mean, I can handle the rent payments but it doesn't leave a lot of loot left to pay down my debt. I'm in a year lease right now, so there's not much I can do about it. I was thinking a room mate would be the way to go, but it's a one bedroom. One of us would have to sleep in the living room. I think it would be kind of odd. Unless I can find someone who doesn't care about that.

I thought about the spreadsheet thing, but I can't commit myself to anything. I can't get myself to write a journal, I can't get myself to read a whole book... etc. I do know that I would save a lot by bringing a home lunch. But for me, leaving the office is important and buying a lunch is a reward for making it to lunch.

I have never been good with money. It feels like it disappears.

I do get what iSm is saying, too. The more I stress about it, the more it seems to be out of control. But I get the GD thing too that if you don't pay attention to where it's going it's harder to control.

I do the coupon thing when I actually buy something at the store I can use a coupon on. I don't buy a lot of items at the store usually. I eat out a lot.

I did buy a 50 lb bag of rice from Costco, though. It should take me a year to get through it.

I haven't been buying a lot of CDs and DVDs. I've been curbing my spending on those things. I even stopped myself from buying the new South Park Season on DVD. It'll have to wait.

Worst news of all, my AP expires on 9/4. As it stands right now, I won't be renewing it for a couple of months. I need to save up for it.

Ugh. I hate dealing with money. (Maybe that's the problem.)

[MouseWife]

Oh, if you could find someone who needs a place enough to take your couch.

One thing I thought of, always keep your receipts. If you do buy something, and it doesn't work out, get your money back. I know a lot of people who just say f'it and keep the item. Well, that is your money. Get it back and re-apply it towards something else.

AND Uh, this shouldn't surprise you but, if you listen to the radio and try to win things....this has been an avenue of my entertainment forever. Movies, Disneyland, concerts, prize packages.

And, back to the lunch~ well, I've changed my thinking about that. I love to eat out. I love all of that. But, if you think about what is in the food, what you are actually getting. I've tried to be more aware of what I eat. I think if you flip your thinking around and think you are treating yourself to a more healthy lunch, and the rewards of such a treat {your hotness amplified} it might go over more easy.

Good luck!

[katiesue]

online banking helps me to keep track of things. It's not as detailed as keeping a journal or anything but I only have one account and use my check card for most of my purchases. It's easy to see vons $20, Target $40 etc to give you a basic idea of where the money's going. And I don't really have to do anything.

I do a spreadsheet every once in a while (I suck at money too). I have friends who are really good with money but their methods don't seem to rub off on me. I had one person who was helping me budget but she kept using my gross pay not my actual take home, then took taxes out. It's much easier for me to keep track of what my actual paycheck amount is and go from there.

And I hear you with the rent - mine is outrageous but I stay because I'm in Maddy's school district so I don't have to worry about transfers etc.

I'm trying to pay down some of the debt (I can't help it if Bloomingdales loves me) so that hopefully by next summer I'll have some saved for a down on a new car - or newer car doesn't have to be brand new.

I guess for me it helps to put in a basic spreadsheet what my expenes are - rent, gas, electricity etc to see what I've got left. Then add in for groceries, fun and put the rest toward the debt.

[BarTopDancer]

Eating out is my budget buster. I hate cooking for just me, so I eat out a lot.

But I've done some math on it and if I am going to Wendy's or McD's or Chipotle and not grocery shopping it works out about the same. If I am going out for $10 meals every day then my budget is shot.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Live beneath your means.

It's the easiest thing to say, but one of the hardest to do. I remember the first raise I got at my first job, I thought, "oh wow, I'll have all this extra money", and my boss (a good friend) said to me, "it doesn't matter how much of a raise you get, you'll find a way to spend it, and you'll be back in the same place that you are now". I didn't believe it at the time, but it sure seems to happen again and again. There are many smart people on this board who come up with good ideas. It's up to you to pick and choose the ideas that will best fit your situation.

For me, it's easiest if I don't see the money in the first place. If I can have a portion of my payroll deposited in another account (that's difficult to access), that helps to force me to save (sort of like a 401k withdrawal). It's amazing how well you will adapt to the spend only the money you have.

A friend of mine gave me a book, "The Richest Man in Babylon", which I found very helpful, and had a lot of good common sense advice told in an entertaining way.

You said that you eat out a lot. I used to too, but now I bring my lunch to work. Maybe you can strike a balance where you could eat out a bit (to appease the ISM on your shoulder), and bring your lunch ( to appease the DPR on your other shoulder).

Anyway, enough of my blathering. This is a situation we all have to deal with in our own ways. I'm sure you will strike a balance that will let you achieve your goals.

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm pretty good at cooking dinner for myself. It's lunches that get me.
I guess it's because when I get home from work, I become a toad and don't want to move from my bog.

[Ghoulish Delight]

This thread is going to make me feel guilty for not bringing my lunch today, especially since there's perfectly good salami, bread, and fruit sitting at home in the fridge.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I bet GC could save up enough money for an AP in a month, if he brought his lunch to work.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I was thinking a room mate would be the way to go, but it's a one bedroom. One of us would have to sleep in the living room. I think it would be kind of odd. Unless I can find someone who doesn't care about that.

Hence, a LOVER is the only logical solution.




* * * * * *

Sorry if I came off too strident against the spreadsheet option. I'm not desperately trying to convince GC not to take the advice of GD. But it's the kind of questionably-necessary step that I believe focuses too much attention on lack.

I admit that as a concrete step to track where your money is going, it's an ok tool. But it is any more useful than just thinking about it for a few moments. Is it really a mystery if you're spending more than you can comfortably afford on restaurants or gasoline to Anaheim?


But I don't want to get into an argument. I'll restrain myself from being adversarial. Sorry.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

I bet GC could save up enough money for an AP in a month, if he brought his lunch to work.

You know, I'll take you up on that challenge. I'll start tomorrow.