| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 11:15:51 AM
I was thinking the other night how there are so many smart resourceful farmgirls here. And so many that we all could learn from about money management practices. Like budgeting, saving, cutting corners, being frugal housewives. And how there should be a whole section devoted to money management.
I have been married almost 33 years now and I still struggle with money. My kids do too. So any help or suggestions would be so good to know.
Just a thought.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jan 05 2012 : 5:43:10 PM
I agree with Kris, a money management section would help many of the MJF. It would give us a lot of ideas, also.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| grammytammy |
Posted - Oct 17 2011 : 5:35:43 PM
Dave Ramsey does have a budget plan for those with irregular incomes.
http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/1611/26335/9h/dramsey.download.akamai.com/23572/daveramsey.com/media/pdf/forms/irregular_income_planning.pdf
FarmGirl 2495
God loved us so much He gave His only son to die in our stead. |
| Farmer Judy |
Posted - Oct 17 2011 : 07:02:51 AM
Being thrifty and saving/spending money can be totally separate things. I look at the Thrifty section and get great ideas but I have no one to work with me about my budget, bills, checkbook etc. I've been usinging an online checkbook www.mvelopes.com but cannot afford to anymore. Now I'm down to paper or an excel spreadsheet and I'm getng worried. A thread like this may realy help.
God bless,
Judy
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
| carolj |
Posted - Oct 17 2011 : 05:36:16 AM
I'm a bit behind on this post, but wanted to share what I learned at a quilt show in North August, SC (just across the river from here): I met a lady who was probably in her late 60's who had retired at age 59. When she was about 49 she decided she was ready to retire and needed to be serious about saving. Anytime she was tempted to purchase something, she said three times to herself, "I want to retire." In the amount of time it took her to repeat that mantra, she realized that she could live without the item in question. She then put that amount of money into savings. Each time she saved $1,000 over the minimum to keep the savings account open, she invested in a CD. She claims to have accumulated about $100,000 in ten years.
I was inspired. By the way the quilt show was fabulous! |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jun 27 2011 : 2:56:52 PM
bumping this to get some feedback
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jun 26 2011 : 5:43:20 PM
I know it has been a long time and this thread sort of went by the wayside, but I was looking for frugal ideas and found this. It is not like the Nifty Thrifty section as this is more of budgeting than repurposing and such. How does everyone make up their budgets, if you have one, in the first place? Does Dave Ramsey's info tell you how to do that? Have heard of him but have never read or heard any of his information. 
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 31 2010 : 8:47:58 PM
I forgot all about this post. Sorry. I did not mean to. I really appreciate all your great advice. We do like Dave Ramsey. My hubby listens to him i nhis truck alot. It's just so hard when we just don't know from one week to the next how much he will make. he drives a truck. So last week he was parked for 3 days waiting on a part for his truck. He finally got going in the middle of the week. So next pay check will probably be enough for all the deductions and insc. So it's really hard to save for the house payment. I should be keeping at least $250. a week but can't seem to do it. And I get paid sporadically and it's usually alot but by then I have to use it to play catch up.
Anyway, thanks so much for all the responses. I know there are so many out there struggling. It's hard all over right now. And we really are very fortunate that my husband is even able to work.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| peachy |
Posted - Oct 24 2010 : 7:34:33 PM
Kris, what a great thread to start...I wish we could "save" but it seems everything that comes in is "budgeted" to go out:( I'm not sure that I can help but loved reading everyones respones:) I've tried canning, freezing, etc. Dollar Store Recipe Queen...that "I am". With so many expenses...in our family I don't know how to even begin to save:(
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
http://bluejeancountry.etsy.com/
http://oldethymecountrybarn.blogspot.com/
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| MasterGardener |
Posted - Oct 17 2010 : 6:34:31 PM
Kris, I totally identify with what you said, "That's the hardest thing for me to do is save money. Every time I do save some something happens and there it goes. I had a gallon jug half full of change, not just pennies but dime, nickles and quarters, and I have to start rolling. It never fails. I had a few thousand dollars saved once and the transmission fell out of my Trooper in Atlanta. So there that went".
My husband and I have lived most of our entire married lives with much the same experience as yours, till we came across Dave Ramsey's financial program.
He jokes that people get so sick of hearing, "Dave Ramsey said..., but truly,listeneing to his program changed our lives. The way Dave talks about having an emergency fund makes perfect sense...and that not having an emergency fund makes every unplanned expense feel like an emergency. Having that money saved, helps keep you on budget if an unexpected expense arises.
It's Baby Step one...you can find his books @ the library. He doesn't say it's easy to get that money together...it takes some folks months to get that 1st $1000.00 together, but the sense of relief that comes from having it is so profound.
He has a great radio show, we listen here on Saturday's @ noon. I recommend it!
He explains why it's sooooo important to write out a budget, so you can know where every penny goes...and in doing this, it shows us where we've spent, over-spent, underspent, etc. This is vital, and shows where money can come from to create that emergency fund. Most folks are shocked when they realize how much they spend that they weren't really aware of (not every one has that experience, but we sure did). Anyway, it's a wonderful, Biblical program. I saw someone recommended Crown Financial also fantastic, and completely Biblically based information. You can do this and it's the most amazing experience to be in control of your money instead of the other way around...
.• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..• -:¦:- -:¦:- Chandra
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´Farmgirl Sister #64
Say to them, may the Lord bless you and protect you, May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace. (Numbers 6:23-26)
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| medievalcat |
Posted - Oct 17 2010 : 11:34:32 AM
I love the idea of saving money. We use to spend so much time being sucked into the TV. Money started becoming tighter and tighter. I was happy my husband agreed to get rid of our satalight tv service and we don't buy breakfast cereal anymore for our kids. Instead we take turns cooking breakfast (the schools food really is gross) and it's a small reduction in our food bill but everything helps.
Cynthia |
| monicarose |
Posted - Aug 03 2010 : 7:44:38 PM
Crown financial www.crown.org is great and so is Dave Ramsey's Peace University...http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/ they're both excellent sources and have free forms, etc..check them out..
Wealth of information....No pun intended!!! 
Living for today! aka: Paper Rose (Farmgirl# 1780) whoohoo! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 20 2010 : 07:43:20 AM
Angela, I know exactly what ya mean. I am trying to save my egg and milk money to take all 3 granddaughters (1 at a time) to get their hair cut and have a girls day out before school. Chloe's 11 and I wanted to take her to a spa and get the nails and feet and a facial done. Plus a few outfits for school. She's going to middle school this year and she's nervous. I want het to fit in but not be too much alike. So I want to spend a little extra on her. But of course I have already had to use the money I had saved for her for a bill. I will get it back this payday though.
I am so glad I had the money to get the car fixed though. It was going to be used toward the remodeling of the upstairs.
I just need help! A money manager. Or someone to take over my check book.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Jul 20 2010 : 06:30:08 AM
When that happens to me I just figure that's what it was there for. I just have to watch my tendancy to not want to wait for the things I'm savin for. I have caught myself usin my saved money to pay off a bill that I was makin payments on figurin if it was out of the way I could save up that payment money and get there quicker without that debt in my way. But then I usually apply that extra money towards some other bill or allow my family to 'get' something they've been waitin for reasoning that they've been waitin for so long they deserve it. Then I always wind up goin without and never makin it to the big ticket items I was startin for. I've been after a greenhouse for 2 years now in a serious fashion, of course I've always wanted one, just never had the property to put one on. I am determined to make it this time no matter what.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 7:46:02 PM
That's the hardest thing for me to do is save money. Every time I do save some something happens and there it goes. I had a gallon jug half full of change, not just pennies but dime, nickles and quarters, and I have to start rolling. It never fails. I had a few thousand dollars saved once and the transmission fell out of my Trooper in Atlanta. So there that went.
And I guess that's what the Nifty Thrifty is all about. But I was thinking more on the lines of this. Like just money matters.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 6:53:55 PM
Isn't that what the nifty thrifty section is supposed to be? I may be wrong. If I am then yes! By all means we need a section for money and saving tips! I am doing a ton of research and have found a lot of ways to help our family squeek by a little better.
I learned about the rounding thing in a book I was reading and decided to try it. You round up to the nearest dollar on all purchases and round down to the nearest dollar on all deposits. The book said to be sure to log each transaction acurately in the debit and credit column in the middle of the book, and do the rounded figure in the ongoing total column on the right hand side of the book. Otherwise you can't check your transactions agianst your bank statement. The book said you could painlessly put back $10-$20 dollars a month that way. I decided to start doing it and to keep an actual book as well to see the difference. I was amazed at a savings of a little more than $9 a week and it hasn't affected us at all! I even began keeping all my change from every cash transaction and have about three inches of change in an old gallon pickle jar under my night stand table. I have to keep it out of sight and not count it, otherwise I might be tempted to spend it or put it in the bank for bills. I am trying to save it up for my outdoor for real greenhouse. I am going to have one if I have to build it myself!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 4:41:57 PM
I like Dave Ramsey too. But it's hard for us to budget because hubby is a truck driver. One week is good then the rest of the month is not. I would love to be able to put back some for our house payment each week but it's nearly impossible. We have only one CC and it's Lowe's. So don't have debt. No car payments, just a HD sitting in the garage. But nothing for a "rainy day".
Hey Tina. Where have ya been? I have missed you.
Karla, I try to do that too. Like round up the change amounts to just dollars and forget about it. I hate a bounced check. I am the one that has to pay the bills and I don't do a good job at all. Until we're at the end of the rope.
Anyway, just thought there needs to be a specific place for this. Thanks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Especially For You |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 3:56:10 PM
Kris~ What a great idea!!!! I would love that.
Blessings,
Tina |
| Lessie Louise |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 2:59:19 PM
We are true believers in Dave Ramsey. Once we learned to stay on a budget, we really did notice how much money we really have. I am pretty frugal by nature and I am always looking for ways to save money. I would love hearing about frugal farmgirls, Carol
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Don't out smart your common sense!!
Farmgirl #680! |
| karla |
Posted - Jul 19 2010 : 11:57:31 AM
One of the things my husband & I do is to keep what I call a cushion in our checking accounts. It is money that is never spent but just to keep from bouncing checks! In my husbands account I don't even show it but in mine I just don't let the balance go down that far. Since we have been married he has not bounced a check! Otherwise if he sees it he spends it!Will post more as I think of them!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
