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Nifty Thrifty:  Household Budget  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 8:50:35 PM
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Hi Ladies!
Any one do an indepth budget or cash flow forecast? I use Microsoft Money to help me organize my budget and somedays I really like to go over my accounts knowing that even though we are broke we are paying on debt each month but then again there are days like today where I just feel discouraged. *grr*
I must confess. We had some unexpected expenses come up this month and for some reason the unexpected expenses made me lose my head and I spent WAY more than I should have. UGH. I hate that!
We had to get the fuel filter in our car changed, the oil changed and the Nora and I got sick. We ended up having to buy a pharmacy worth of medicines it felt like plus the extra $100 of car maint. Ugh. So basically we spent an extra $200 on necessities and for some reason I spent about another $100 on non necessities! ACK!
I wonder why that happens? What is it about knowing it's going to be a tight month anyway that makes me spend MORE! UGH.
Anyway...here's to watching the budget more closely for the next 3 months!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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mrsamy
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Amy
Milwaukee
WI
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 04:46:09 AM
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Oh, Alee. I have had months like that, too. I'm so sorry you're feeling in a bind. A budget is like a diet and sometimes we splurge when we should scrimp, but don't beat yourself up. At least you HAVE a budget and the knowledge of where your money is going, even if it sometimes seems to go there without permission.
Took a great class at church a couple years ago, Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. Google him...it's pretty awesome straightforward stuff and encouraging, too. We, too, are working to pay down our debt and are aching for the day when we can be debt free.
We have two boys, one with LOTS of special needs and sometimes I splurge on things for the older one to "make up for" the extra attention spent on his brother. That, a car that quit, and too many "therapeutic coffees" from starbucks/alterra have made me want to ignore my budget altogether.
Thanks for your post! I'm going to do our budget today and call our monthly "budget meeting" tonight. We meet to go over the budget (even my older son) so we are all on the same page throughout the month. Keeps everybody on track, but I've got to keep the ball rolling.
Prayer costs nothing, but is worth the most. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 07:40:32 AM
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I hear ya, Alee...This month will be better because there are more pay periods, so I have an opportunity to spread things out a bit. I'm also taking advantage of more pay periods to pay off some things a little more so I won't have to worry so much about them later. I have been formulating my menu for a couple of days to go to the grocery, so we will be happily fed and not want to go out to eat.
It always happens that way, though...when things are especially lean, you always seem to have to expend more money!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 2:06:44 PM
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Alee - I'm the exact same way. My husband has been laid off since September. We had a cushion that lasted us through the middle of January but a couple weeks after that ran out I had a panic attack about not having any money and went and bought a bunch of non-essential food at the import store. Is that a logical reaction? No I think not, still haven't figured out how not to do it though. Sigh....when I have money I don't ever want to spend it, go figure.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 2:50:39 PM
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My hubby's work is unstable at best. I make some money working from home a few hours a week. So we are very tight.
I filed bankruptcy while I was pregnant with my daughter. Hubby wasn't working and I lost my job at the hospital. So we try to use only cash for everything. I have a very small limit Visa for emergencies.
It is very frustrating.
I hope things get better for you.
Hugs
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 6:04:55 PM
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Alee, is it possible for you or your hubby to do your own minor auto work? If not, what about a barter with someone? Also, except for perscription meds ( they have the $4.00 persciptions), wal-mart has "equate" brands that are exactly the same as namebrands for cold/flu meds for adults and children. They are about a 1/4 the cost of the namebrands.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 9:46:33 PM
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Hi Teresa-
Unfortunately I haven't found anyone around here that will do the barter system and the work that has to be done on our car has to be done by a trained professional. It has lots of on-board computer stuff that is easily messed up and that can then affect system/engine performance. Otherwise- yes! I would be happy to crawl under the car and do an oil change. I miss my old 1971 VW Bug! That I could do all the work on and it got excellent gas mileage!
We always buy the generic brand of medicine but we had already done our food shopping when we got ill and suddenly nothing was edible (super sore throat) so we were buying medicines and things that we don't normally buy like Jello and popscicles. Normally I would do homemade stuff but I was sick and didn't have the energy.
It's a bummer but luckily it won't jeopardize our living situation- it just makes a month that would have been really productive to paying off debt less productive. Grrr. And I only have myself to blame. That really stings! LOL
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 08:24:12 AM
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Don't beat yourself up. It is only natural to do these things. It will be ok.
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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phonelady
True Blue Farmgirl
323 Posts
Carla
Loveland
Colorado
323 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 6:39:24 PM
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Overspending is a control issue thing. It's just like binging on food. Then it sets us up for guilt and self punishment and all that.
Don't let the cycle get started.
And Dave Ramsey is GREAT!
His setup is very positive and there is a brace of others that are very supportive.
Listen to part of his radio show, then poke around on the site. It's uplifting!
http://www.daveramsey.com/radio/home/#listenlive-tab
Smiles!
Carla
"You shot it Tarzan-
You eat it."
Dave Ramsey |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 7:00:59 PM
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I understand Alee, I have the best intententions but things come up. We try to save my husbands salary which is not much since he works part time but it is something. I had to have dental work that took a couple hundred dollars a month for about 3 yrs out of our budget. So life happends...So it is going to take another 6 months to rent the farm we are on before we can buy it. Now instead of this coming Jan. it is going to be Aug. now....We will continue to save and do things not to over spend.
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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Nifty Thrifty: Household Budget |
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Household Budget
