| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:34:07 AM
Ladies please forgive me! I am so excited. We just paid off almost $3,000 in late December, and now, due to Tuition Reimbursement from the college I am able to pay off another $2500 in high interest debt.
We are still financially a mess and don't really have any savings, but I am hoping by this summer that will be another story!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| nubidane |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 4:17:56 PM
Good for you Alee. Nice that you have a written budget and a long term plan. & there is nothing better than seeing that number go down, down, down! |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 3:54:49 PM
Angie- I agree but we have a long haul in front of use before we will actually be out of debt. It helps to really get it out there so to speak. It helps to see it and have some accountability! :)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| amomfly |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 12:53:39 PM
Way to go Alee!
It is a good thing to be out of debt.
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| bboopster |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 12:51:52 PM
Alee! WAY To Go!!! I am in the process of doing the same thing for the 2nd time in my life. Can not believe I got back into trouble. Spend too much on my children and grandchildren. I have to learn that they are adults and need to support themselves and their families. I am trying to open a business and have had to shave off expenses at home so I can prove to the bank I am worth the risk. I have taken a overnight sleep position at work losing $2.00 an hour but I get to keep my health insurance and sleep so I can work at the business during the day. I am hoping in the long run this will pan out for us too. I do not need to make a million but a $1000 a month would be good. Please send me you spreadsheet I would love to plug in my numbers. Congratulations!!!
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
Nana to 4 with 1 on the way.
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 10:19:37 AM
Thanks ladies! I appreciate it!
By the way I made a spreadsheet that I keep track of my budget on. If anyone wants it, I can email it to you.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| staci860 |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 05:27:26 AM
WAY TO GO, ALEE!!! Paying off debt is freedom!
 
Blessings, staci FG# 973
:o )
Joshua 24:15 - ...choose this day whom you will serve,...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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| wild daisy |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 5:16:12 PM
Hi Alee that is wonderful news. I can only see a bright future for you and your family. I know that going to school and working is draining but when it is all over just think of the possibilities.
Again way to go!!!
Madelynne
www.johnandmadelynne.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 09:49:40 AM
Oh, I forgot to mention that his garnishment should be over in the next 3 months with all of it paid in full! :) That will also help the monthly budget!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 09:48:39 AM
Elizabeth-
Well, we budget very very hard and really don't purchase much of anything. We do have a bit of an expenditure because of having our horse, but she is worth so much to me. She is my destress mechanism.
So because I work part-time I bring in about $600 every two weeks, and my husband brings in about $850 but we only see $600 or so because the difference gets sent to his student loans. Unfortunatly this is a garnishment which I DON'T recommend at all, but the upside is that it forces the payment and we just have to adapt.
So effectively we have $2400 a month to pay our bills.
I pay then in priority of what we can and can not do without should there be a problem. We also do not do the cell phone thing as that is a huge expense and really, no one needs to get a hold of me that bad! However, during the winter months we do use the Verizon pay as you go plan that you can buy at Wal-mart. For $15 a month I have a cell phone should I need it.
Expenses Balance
$2400
Rent= 700 $1700
Food= $300 1400 (We only buy fresh food and very cheap meat. We make $300 work for 3 people for 3 meals a day)
Gasoline= 200 1200
Horse 275 925
Preschool 600 325
Electricity 75-100 225
Natural Gas 20-70 155
Cable/phone 125 30
So as you can see we don't eat out often if ever. Any cleaning supplies (we usually make our own with baking soda and vinegar etc) are included in the grocery money. Also any spur of the moment needs such as replacement food storage containers or underwear. I am also going to school and while I know taking student loans inceases my debts, I couldn't afford to do it other wise, so I do take out student loans to the tune of about $20K a year and I get the residual amount of about 9k and about 4.5k from my work as tuition reimbursement.
Out of my extra money I have some expenses too-
Expenses Balance
13500
Books 1200 12300 (seriously! They are so expensive)
Farrier 400 11900
Car Maint. 1000 10900
Insurance 900 10000
etc....
So basically at the beginning and end of ever semester we have a bit of a flush of money that we get everything caught up on and/or prepaid (insurance and such.) Sometimes our electric and gas bills are pretty neglibile (summer) which gives a bit more leeway, but then that just means another bill gets paid. We have some pretty sizeable "bad debt" from several reasons and we are working on trying to get that taken care of.
I know taking more loans out isn't always the best thing to do, but what we are trying to do is shift our debt load from the bad high interest debt to my 0 or low interest student loans. We are hoping that with my degree (accounting) we will be able to continue to live very frugally and just pay very strongly against my student loans once I graduate.
We also are very fortunate that my husband worked for a business that paid in stock and we will see a return on that investment in about 2.5 years. We should be able to buy a house outright and maybe have only small mortgage on land. If I can put what we pay in rent into debt payment in addition to what we now pay in preschool to our debt (by that time Nora will be in Public Schools) then according to my *rough* estimations we should have my student loans paid off in 6 years at our current income rate which I of course hope will be increased by my degree!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| woolgirl |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 06:04:53 AM
That's great Alee! What has been the secret to your success?
Farmgirl #1947 |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 05:57:56 AM
Thank you so much ladies! I am looking forward to getting more of our responsibilities taken care of after this semester. In about 3 months my husband will be done paying off all of his student loans. That is going to be amazing. 2011 is going to be a good year for getting things done!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| classygram |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 11:25:23 PM
Oh Alee what a relief and lightness you must have in your heart. It's it just wonderful to not be so concerned about bills. Congrats! Hugs, Brenda
http:///www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 11:14:49 PM
You GO girl! You GO!! Congratulations, Alee! I'm SO happy for you! Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 8:51:53 PM
way to go! So happy for you.
marianne |
| pinkroses |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 2:55:45 PM
Good for you !!
Sometimes, it just takes a little while. hugs sheila
http://www.sheilascreativetouches.blogspot.com/
http://www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com |
| nitere |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 12:56:34 PM
That is great, Alee!
Farmgirl Sister #37
http://www.buraellen.blogspot.com |
| craftingram |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 06:57:41 AM
Congratulation Alee! It's a wonderful feeling paying off debt. It's hard work and I know you get tired of having to be so careful, but it's SO worth it in the end.
Karin |
| Montrose Girl |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 06:49:38 AM
Go Alee! It's always a good feeling to pay debt down.
Laure
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 4:26:47 PM
So happy for you Alee! Isn't it freeing getting out of debt.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 3:40:07 PM
That's awesome Alee!!!!
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 2:26:57 PM
Doesn't that feel so good? I am so happy for you! We are going to be paying off my hubby's Harley in a few weeks. I will be so glad to get that payment out of the way. It just feels so good to not have debt. Keep it up Ally. You will get there. We've been married 32 years and still don't have it all together. Maybe one day.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 1:53:18 PM
good job alee. it is a fine feeling for sure. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Penny Wise |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:57:47 AM
isn't is such a wonderful feeling????
unless you have been in the situation, you really cannot comprehend the joy!
i'm dancing here for ya, alee!!!!! i paid my last payment on my old school loan the other day-nobody but me was happy!!!!!
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:55:07 AM
Thanks Linda! It has been a long haul for us to get on our feet and we have had some major setbacks. Most paychecks we only have $20-$60 left over after our budgeted bills. It gets old after a while not having any safety net and no resources for emergencies. Now that we are getting these large bills taken care of we can put a little aside and continue to pay down on debt. In the next 2.5 years we plan on having property and a house. I can harly wait!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| prayin granny |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:43:11 AM
Alee, congrats! That is great for you!!!
Blessings, Linda
www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Country at Heart |
