Yes, we all love them, but did you ever stop to wonder how much extra money you spend on movies per month? That's right, go ahead and add up all those ticket receipts, with overpriced theater food, Block Buster receipts and cable On Demand movie charges, plus taxes of course. Then, go to the library. Yes, the good 'ol library. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, many of us forget that such a place even exists, and more so, that for most of us, we pay to keep those places going.
Recently, I've resorted to getting movies there, rather than paying anywhere from $.99 to $3.99 to rent just one video. And if you order through your cable service, it's likely that you'll only be able to to view your movie for 24 hours. It's true that some libraries have short lists, or that if you happen to be a huge movie buff, that no matter how big the selection, you've seen everything they have, or have you? And in many cases, there are not very many new titles available, but it wouldn't hurt to look, would it?
In the past two weeks, I've watched at least ten movies for the first time that I picked up from the library. Yes, I know, I have too much time on my hands. But consider that escapism through a well told story, which I don't have to actually read, is better than the alternative. And I keep my money in my pocket at the same time, so it's double the reward.
Best Savings...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Preventive Measures
Yes, we hate to do it, and it often feels like a waste of time, but get those scheduled tune ups and oil changes. Because, in the end, I'm sure you'd appreciate losing 20 minutes, an hour here and there, rather than anywhere from $500 - 2,000 for repairs. And even after getting repairs, sometimes vehicles never really recoup. And frankly, most of us can't afford to lose that kind of money, let alone even consider it as extra. Not to mention, I know there are people out there, who will drive their vehicles into the ground, then wonder why the repairs would be more than the car is worth.
And while on the subject, consider cleaning out your computer and defragmenting every 6 months to a year, dumping all that junk you don't need or no longer use. It may not save you money if you don't use it for a home business, but it can load your computer down. And really, you don't necessarily need a schedule. If you notice that your computer's moving a bit on the slow side, then it's time.
But if you're forgetful like me, then it might be a good idea to mark it on your calendar. And if you have teens living at home, it might be a really good idea. Kids like saving stuff they know they'll use only once, especially music downloads. And for moms, that's always automatic extra work, cause, let's face it, kids think it's your job to clean up after them anyway.
Think of your tune ups and such as doctor visits, because basically your body is a biological machine. And if you can afford check ups, you get them, as a preventive measure, before something goes wrong. And if you don't, any issues are liable to only get worse, and cost you much more than if you had checked it out earlier. Most machines are the same, but not all. If your stereo broke down, most of us would simply replace it, because it'd probably be cheaper. But for bigger purchases, please do save yourself some cash, and strife by taking them for their check up!
Best Savings...
And while on the subject, consider cleaning out your computer and defragmenting every 6 months to a year, dumping all that junk you don't need or no longer use. It may not save you money if you don't use it for a home business, but it can load your computer down. And really, you don't necessarily need a schedule. If you notice that your computer's moving a bit on the slow side, then it's time.
But if you're forgetful like me, then it might be a good idea to mark it on your calendar. And if you have teens living at home, it might be a really good idea. Kids like saving stuff they know they'll use only once, especially music downloads. And for moms, that's always automatic extra work, cause, let's face it, kids think it's your job to clean up after them anyway.
Think of your tune ups and such as doctor visits, because basically your body is a biological machine. And if you can afford check ups, you get them, as a preventive measure, before something goes wrong. And if you don't, any issues are liable to only get worse, and cost you much more than if you had checked it out earlier. Most machines are the same, but not all. If your stereo broke down, most of us would simply replace it, because it'd probably be cheaper. But for bigger purchases, please do save yourself some cash, and strife by taking them for their check up!
Best Savings...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Glorious Food?
We all know it's faster than cooking at home, but is it really worth it? I'd have to say no. And even though I'm a thin woman, I still feel guilty after consuming fast food. Why? Simple, all the meat tends to be 'mystery meat', and I've shelled out my cash when I have food already paid for at home.
But, when I do go, I usually say, split a large fry between the kids and I. Get a $1 chicken sandwich for myself, then give them half a $1 cheese burger, and maybe some nuggets too. Sounds like a lot, but I lean toward the dollar menu, and individual kids' meals don't fill them up, and actually cost more. --If I were to get those, they'd cry, "Mom, I'm hungry !", an hour later.
Besides, that means two less toys I have to trip over in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom. But I do have to say, I only go in this direction at most, 4x's a month. When, a few years ago, we used to get fast food about 3x's per week on average. It might cause some pouting, but they have to settle for McMommy's for the most part. And they're actually learning that no means no. Yeah, it's easier to give in, but if I always gave in, or did it a lot, then we'd loose out on more important things, and I think they wouldn't respect me as much if I were a push over.
And I tend to cook healthier meals, and know exactly what's in them.
Best Savings...
But, when I do go, I usually say, split a large fry between the kids and I. Get a $1 chicken sandwich for myself, then give them half a $1 cheese burger, and maybe some nuggets too. Sounds like a lot, but I lean toward the dollar menu, and individual kids' meals don't fill them up, and actually cost more. --If I were to get those, they'd cry, "Mom, I'm hungry !", an hour later.
Besides, that means two less toys I have to trip over in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom. But I do have to say, I only go in this direction at most, 4x's a month. When, a few years ago, we used to get fast food about 3x's per week on average. It might cause some pouting, but they have to settle for McMommy's for the most part. And they're actually learning that no means no. Yeah, it's easier to give in, but if I always gave in, or did it a lot, then we'd loose out on more important things, and I think they wouldn't respect me as much if I were a push over.
And I tend to cook healthier meals, and know exactly what's in them.
Best Savings...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Don't Feed the Trash Can
I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure some of you have too. Cooking a specific meal for the whole family when you know half won't be touched. The possible solutions can take more time and some can even save time, either way, you're less likely to feed the trash can. You can cook separate meals, and try to get the kids to eat what they claim they hate only every once in a while. Or you can even change dishes slightly, and that will make all the difference between a battle you can't win, and a full little tummy.
There are a number of routes I had to go through with mine. Sometimes I wanted something different, and cooked just enough for me, and made them what they liked. And some things just grew on them. In the toddler years, they loved hot dogs and cheese burgers, sans the bun. (They still like them, but now they eat them with the buns, and complain if on regular bread.) And actually, when I did it this way, they ate more, and got full. At three and five-years-old my son and daughter could inhale 3 or 4 dogs no prob, it's a surprise they're not overweight.
I made cheese burgers, no bun, and they both scarfed down two, sometimes three each, when I could barley handle one on bun. I also found out that they liked salisbury steaks just as much. But things like onions, my son grew to like, and for years, neither would touch any type of beans except green beans. It's taken eight years for my daughter to appreciate the goodness of baked beans, eight whole years! Veggies and side dishes in general depended on who really liked them, thus the other automatically decided they didn't, except for macaroni. So, I gave them double servings of what they do like.
Also, I use the power cheese has over them to mine and their benefit. Eating broccoli, cauliflower, even brussel sprouts became non-issues once I added cheese. I can even manage to get them to eat raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with ranch dressing, a little fattening, but they burn it off quickly and get the vitamins which would normally get cooked out. Also, when they were little, some foods ended up mostly on the floor, then into the trash. So I got a little creative.
I started making communal meals. I would pretend to make something just for me, and not feed them. And naturally, they looked at me like, "So, where's mine?" Call it child psychology. Naturally, as all kids do, they think whatever you have is much better than anything you give them, even if it's the exact same thing. So, they two, would hover around my plate or bowl like little birdies begging mom for the worm. And in fact, much more food went into their stomachs this way.
Eventually, the bowls got bigger and bigger, until they reached a point where they wanted to eat on their own. I usually did this with one dish meals like spaghetti (saves a lot of cleaning time), cream of wheat (everybody got their own toast) and even oatmeal. Yes, oatmeal. It seems that around half the population hates it. I never understood why, until I found out how most is prepared.
Many serve it plain and or cook it until it's mushy and resembles something from a horror movie.--Ew. I, as most in my family do, cook it just enough to absorb water, maybe the consistency of cooked rice, but with a little more water. Then, add a bit of brown sugar and butter, the kids like a little milk added after it's prepared too, as I did when I was a kid.
As I like to say, don't make life more difficult then you have to, for most of us, life is hard enough by itself. Make it easier, don't sweat it, they'll come around eventually, and you can save in the meantime. And if you still feel like it's not enough, there are always vitamins to fill in the holes.
Best savings...
There are a number of routes I had to go through with mine. Sometimes I wanted something different, and cooked just enough for me, and made them what they liked. And some things just grew on them. In the toddler years, they loved hot dogs and cheese burgers, sans the bun. (They still like them, but now they eat them with the buns, and complain if on regular bread.) And actually, when I did it this way, they ate more, and got full. At three and five-years-old my son and daughter could inhale 3 or 4 dogs no prob, it's a surprise they're not overweight.
I made cheese burgers, no bun, and they both scarfed down two, sometimes three each, when I could barley handle one on bun. I also found out that they liked salisbury steaks just as much. But things like onions, my son grew to like, and for years, neither would touch any type of beans except green beans. It's taken eight years for my daughter to appreciate the goodness of baked beans, eight whole years! Veggies and side dishes in general depended on who really liked them, thus the other automatically decided they didn't, except for macaroni. So, I gave them double servings of what they do like.
Also, I use the power cheese has over them to mine and their benefit. Eating broccoli, cauliflower, even brussel sprouts became non-issues once I added cheese. I can even manage to get them to eat raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with ranch dressing, a little fattening, but they burn it off quickly and get the vitamins which would normally get cooked out. Also, when they were little, some foods ended up mostly on the floor, then into the trash. So I got a little creative.
I started making communal meals. I would pretend to make something just for me, and not feed them. And naturally, they looked at me like, "So, where's mine?" Call it child psychology. Naturally, as all kids do, they think whatever you have is much better than anything you give them, even if it's the exact same thing. So, they two, would hover around my plate or bowl like little birdies begging mom for the worm. And in fact, much more food went into their stomachs this way.
Eventually, the bowls got bigger and bigger, until they reached a point where they wanted to eat on their own. I usually did this with one dish meals like spaghetti (saves a lot of cleaning time), cream of wheat (everybody got their own toast) and even oatmeal. Yes, oatmeal. It seems that around half the population hates it. I never understood why, until I found out how most is prepared.
Many serve it plain and or cook it until it's mushy and resembles something from a horror movie.--Ew. I, as most in my family do, cook it just enough to absorb water, maybe the consistency of cooked rice, but with a little more water. Then, add a bit of brown sugar and butter, the kids like a little milk added after it's prepared too, as I did when I was a kid.
As I like to say, don't make life more difficult then you have to, for most of us, life is hard enough by itself. Make it easier, don't sweat it, they'll come around eventually, and you can save in the meantime. And if you still feel like it's not enough, there are always vitamins to fill in the holes.
Best savings...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
A Job for Your Money
I was just on forum, it's not called a forum, but that's basically what it is. I was delving out advise on things I know about like I normally do. The question posed was about where one should put their money, stocks weren't mentioned, so it was easy for me to answer. And it occured to me that my answer was something I haven't covered here.
I don't really know much about stocks, so I'll leave that up to the experts or those who do know. But I do know about savings accounts and the like. First, I'll cover everything else here. I don't do bonds, yes the interest rate is more, they're usually the safest way, but by the time they've matured, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Keep in mind that the cost of living goes up every year, and the dollar depriciates in value along with it.
I've yet to open a CD, but as far as I know, you're stuck with the original amount, so I suppose you'll know exactly how much you'll get before you get it. I won't claim to be non objective in this area, but who can be all the time? My savings spot of choice are MMA's aka Money Market Accounts. True, with most, you have to open these accounts with 5K, and in most cases, the opening amount is also the minimum balance to avoid fees. Some have an introductory rate of maybe .00325 per month for the first three months, then goes down to .001 in the fourth month. But there are lots of upsides.
You can add as much as you want, and earn interest on every single cent from the day you deposit it. You can watch it grow each month even if you don't have constant access to a computer. And in many cases, the rate rises at certain amounts, for example, 10K, 20K and so on. The rate might not look so hot, but when you multiply 5k times .00325, you get $16.25. Which, no matter what, is more than what you had to begin with.
Then imagine if you won the lottery for let's say, 5 mil, and started out at that rate. That would be $16,250 per month minimum! The little cents do indeed count.
Best Savings...
I don't really know much about stocks, so I'll leave that up to the experts or those who do know. But I do know about savings accounts and the like. First, I'll cover everything else here. I don't do bonds, yes the interest rate is more, they're usually the safest way, but by the time they've matured, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Keep in mind that the cost of living goes up every year, and the dollar depriciates in value along with it.
I've yet to open a CD, but as far as I know, you're stuck with the original amount, so I suppose you'll know exactly how much you'll get before you get it. I won't claim to be non objective in this area, but who can be all the time? My savings spot of choice are MMA's aka Money Market Accounts. True, with most, you have to open these accounts with 5K, and in most cases, the opening amount is also the minimum balance to avoid fees. Some have an introductory rate of maybe .00325 per month for the first three months, then goes down to .001 in the fourth month. But there are lots of upsides.
You can add as much as you want, and earn interest on every single cent from the day you deposit it. You can watch it grow each month even if you don't have constant access to a computer. And in many cases, the rate rises at certain amounts, for example, 10K, 20K and so on. The rate might not look so hot, but when you multiply 5k times .00325, you get $16.25. Which, no matter what, is more than what you had to begin with.
Then imagine if you won the lottery for let's say, 5 mil, and started out at that rate. That would be $16,250 per month minimum! The little cents do indeed count.
Best Savings...
Friday, June 27, 2008
Round Em Up!
I can't do it now, (I'll let you guess why). But I used to make it a point when I made entries in my checkbook, to round purchases up to the next dollar, and deposits down. Your reason to do so may be to save money. My original reason was to cover my butt just in case I lost a receipt or forgot to list a check I wrote. Remember, I've over drafted before, and I was terrified to do it again.
It can be extremely helpful if you don't touch it, and just let it build. And quite frankly, amazing to watch how quickly it grows. It might even save you a lot of headache in the long run should you have an unexpected expense. It's an easy way to save, but also it makes balancing your checkbook much easier. So, from doing something very simple, there are lots of benefits.
Best Savings...
It can be extremely helpful if you don't touch it, and just let it build. And quite frankly, amazing to watch how quickly it grows. It might even save you a lot of headache in the long run should you have an unexpected expense. It's an easy way to save, but also it makes balancing your checkbook much easier. So, from doing something very simple, there are lots of benefits.
Best Savings...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Yummy Dollars
Some of us do it without thinking about it. We go on our usual grocery trip and get those cute little multi packs of chips for the kids' lunch. They're convient, and everybody's happy, except your wallet. Resist the temptation. What you get in volume is usually about half of what you'd get in a regular sized bag, and costs nearly, if not, twice as much.
Block the whining out of your head, (half the time when you say something they do it to you, so I'm sure you can manage). Go for two or three regular sized bags, a box of sealable sandwich bags and some chip clips. It may take a few extra minutes when packing lunches, but, you can always have the kids prepare their chips themselves. For the little ones, the excitement of helping pack their own lunches the night prior often can outweigh the idea of the prepackaged little bags.
Best savings...
Block the whining out of your head, (half the time when you say something they do it to you, so I'm sure you can manage). Go for two or three regular sized bags, a box of sealable sandwich bags and some chip clips. It may take a few extra minutes when packing lunches, but, you can always have the kids prepare their chips themselves. For the little ones, the excitement of helping pack their own lunches the night prior often can outweigh the idea of the prepackaged little bags.
Best savings...
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saving the Clear and the Green Stuff
This is especially for those of you who still wash your dishes by hand. I never understood putting dish detergent in the dishwater. Maybe it's just me, hopefully not. I also don't understand letting water run straight down the drain while washing dishes. And for some strange reason unbeknownst to me, the way I wash dishes seems to irritate a few. Maybe because it's different, people in general, don't welcome change.
I put the soap on the rag or sponge, simply because soap in water is very diluted. I start out with only dishes in the sink, making the water do double duty. --A: Since I can stand it, the water's always really hot, thus soaking the dishes sitting in the sink. B: Also because it's hot, I can rinse with only a thin spray of running water. Scrub, rinse, drainer, but once the water gets about halfway up to the top, I change it up a bit. I shut the water off, scrub the dishes and set them on the counter, suds still intact. And when I run out of counter space, I begin rinsing those, and continue this pattern until either the sink gets full or I run out of dishes.
True, this requires a bit of available counter space, or a double sink. You have to wipe the counter down real good to catch all the water, but you'd have to clean the counter anyway. Some may think this way is a waste of time, but really, it's about the same or faster then the way most people I know do it. And with the water running mostly when rinsing dishes, it not only serves it's purpose, but also saves money, and is better for the environment.
Best savings...
I put the soap on the rag or sponge, simply because soap in water is very diluted. I start out with only dishes in the sink, making the water do double duty. --A: Since I can stand it, the water's always really hot, thus soaking the dishes sitting in the sink. B: Also because it's hot, I can rinse with only a thin spray of running water. Scrub, rinse, drainer, but once the water gets about halfway up to the top, I change it up a bit. I shut the water off, scrub the dishes and set them on the counter, suds still intact. And when I run out of counter space, I begin rinsing those, and continue this pattern until either the sink gets full or I run out of dishes.
True, this requires a bit of available counter space, or a double sink. You have to wipe the counter down real good to catch all the water, but you'd have to clean the counter anyway. Some may think this way is a waste of time, but really, it's about the same or faster then the way most people I know do it. And with the water running mostly when rinsing dishes, it not only serves it's purpose, but also saves money, and is better for the environment.
Best savings...
Sunday, June 22, 2008
New for You
The subject of the day is consignment or by another name, second hand clothing. Some people avoid these types of stores like the black plague, but believe me, it's not half as bad as it sounds. For some, such as myself, it can be just as exciting as buying new clothes. When you take this route, you have every excuse to spend hours and hours in the store, because in effect, you're treasure hunting.
There have been a number of times when I've found clothes with the tags still on them, which as far as I'm concerned, that makes them new. You wouldn't believe how many pieces you can find that people bought, and never even wore. As a matter of fact, I personally know a few. I'm sorry, but you won't find anything like that in my closet. I made a strict rule for myself a long time ago. If I don't love it, I won't buy it, new or used, that also includes clothes for my kids too.
Another rule, wash or dry clean before you wear, even the ones with tags still on them. They stay in the bag until they go into the wash. I'll have say, sometimes the stores smell funny, I'll let you guess why. And others still, please take no offense if you're of the older persuasion, smell like old peoples' houses. But a deal is a deal. There are even a few that have a discounted section, and sell by the pound rather than on racks.
At first, I wondered why that was, but then I thought about it. It benefits both you and the store. These are the new arrivals. So you get first dibs and a cheaper price, while the employees don't have to spend any time sorting and stocking these items. They don't have to tag them, hang them or separate into men's, women's, children's, sizes, colors, seasons or name brand.
And in these sections, when you can find name brand, you get the best deals. If stocked, these clothes can cost about as much as a cheaper similar brand bought new. But in the back, just a fraction. When you go, make sure you have about three hours to spend, because most of your time will be spent moving unwanted items out of the way. It's best to know what you want before going.
Check for holes and stains and try out zippers and buttons. And most important, make sure you know what sizes you're looking for, since many of these places don't have changing rooms. And personally, I wouldn't recommend it anyway. But don't think because something's not new, that people will know, even your most fashion forward friends.
I've been asked many a time, where'd I get this or that, and with a mischievous smile, I can say Salvation Army or the Village Thrift Store, leaving most with a shocked look on their face. Most of my favorite pieces were bought second hand. Lastly, if you think you've found half of a suit or two-piece outfit, keep looking. Sometimes they get separated. I once found a two-piece pin stripped suit that fit perfectly. I did the math, and at most it cost me $2, who knew?
Best savings...
There have been a number of times when I've found clothes with the tags still on them, which as far as I'm concerned, that makes them new. You wouldn't believe how many pieces you can find that people bought, and never even wore. As a matter of fact, I personally know a few. I'm sorry, but you won't find anything like that in my closet. I made a strict rule for myself a long time ago. If I don't love it, I won't buy it, new or used, that also includes clothes for my kids too.
Another rule, wash or dry clean before you wear, even the ones with tags still on them. They stay in the bag until they go into the wash. I'll have say, sometimes the stores smell funny, I'll let you guess why. And others still, please take no offense if you're of the older persuasion, smell like old peoples' houses. But a deal is a deal. There are even a few that have a discounted section, and sell by the pound rather than on racks.
At first, I wondered why that was, but then I thought about it. It benefits both you and the store. These are the new arrivals. So you get first dibs and a cheaper price, while the employees don't have to spend any time sorting and stocking these items. They don't have to tag them, hang them or separate into men's, women's, children's, sizes, colors, seasons or name brand.
And in these sections, when you can find name brand, you get the best deals. If stocked, these clothes can cost about as much as a cheaper similar brand bought new. But in the back, just a fraction. When you go, make sure you have about three hours to spend, because most of your time will be spent moving unwanted items out of the way. It's best to know what you want before going.
Check for holes and stains and try out zippers and buttons. And most important, make sure you know what sizes you're looking for, since many of these places don't have changing rooms. And personally, I wouldn't recommend it anyway. But don't think because something's not new, that people will know, even your most fashion forward friends.
I've been asked many a time, where'd I get this or that, and with a mischievous smile, I can say Salvation Army or the Village Thrift Store, leaving most with a shocked look on their face. Most of my favorite pieces were bought second hand. Lastly, if you think you've found half of a suit or two-piece outfit, keep looking. Sometimes they get separated. I once found a two-piece pin stripped suit that fit perfectly. I did the math, and at most it cost me $2, who knew?
Best savings...
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Lights Out
Many don't think about all the extra energy they use, or in many cases waste, along with their hard earned pay. I do. I've recently started using the energy efficient bulbs and all, can't say much about it just yet. But, there is something I have done for a long time, which not only saves, but in effort, only takes a few seconds to do.
When I leave a room, I shut off the lights. Now, I'm not over the top about it. If I know I will be returning to that room within fifteen minutes or less, I leave it on. Or if it's nighttime, there has to be at least one burning if I'm not going to sleep anytime soon. But in all other cases, I shut them off. I've been trying to get the kids to do it too, but with everything else in life, they're a hard sell.
Quite few years back, I had moved into an apartment in either October or November. Thing was, I've lived in the Midwest my whole life, and as I like to put it, I'm allergic to the cold, plus I had an electric stove. So then, I really couldn't tell what or how much I was saving since I rarely left when I didn't have to work. But, ah, then summer came. I was working 40 hours a week and sometimes more. The point is, I always found somewhere to be during the warmer months rather than at home, as many of us do.
When I got that first late spring, early summer bill, I couldn't believe it. Now, the month before, it was kinda on the low side, and in a way, I figured it was just a fluke. Nope, not at all. My first May or June electric bill was no more than $35! While living there, I even had one as low as $19. Of course, shutting off everything else in the house helps too. --That means fans and air conditioning people, not set to low, but completely off.
Yeah, I know, you hate to come in from the summer heat into a hot house, but that's what refrigerated drinks are for. --Besides, going in and out between the two extremes can actually facilitate summer colds. So, just remember, the next time you walk in the door to instant comfort, think about how much money you could have saved while you were working for it!
Best savings...
When I leave a room, I shut off the lights. Now, I'm not over the top about it. If I know I will be returning to that room within fifteen minutes or less, I leave it on. Or if it's nighttime, there has to be at least one burning if I'm not going to sleep anytime soon. But in all other cases, I shut them off. I've been trying to get the kids to do it too, but with everything else in life, they're a hard sell.
Quite few years back, I had moved into an apartment in either October or November. Thing was, I've lived in the Midwest my whole life, and as I like to put it, I'm allergic to the cold, plus I had an electric stove. So then, I really couldn't tell what or how much I was saving since I rarely left when I didn't have to work. But, ah, then summer came. I was working 40 hours a week and sometimes more. The point is, I always found somewhere to be during the warmer months rather than at home, as many of us do.
When I got that first late spring, early summer bill, I couldn't believe it. Now, the month before, it was kinda on the low side, and in a way, I figured it was just a fluke. Nope, not at all. My first May or June electric bill was no more than $35! While living there, I even had one as low as $19. Of course, shutting off everything else in the house helps too. --That means fans and air conditioning people, not set to low, but completely off.
Yeah, I know, you hate to come in from the summer heat into a hot house, but that's what refrigerated drinks are for. --Besides, going in and out between the two extremes can actually facilitate summer colds. So, just remember, the next time you walk in the door to instant comfort, think about how much money you could have saved while you were working for it!
Best savings...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Every Drop Counts
A few hours ago I was washing dishes, and was doing something I've done for as long as I can remember, even when I was a teen. I had taken two half bottles of dish detergent and combined them. Now, I'm no mathematical analyst, but common sense tells me that it saves me money. Call me frugal because I save mere change per bottle, but not cheap.
As, I stood there, washing away, I watched as the upside down bottle's contents drip into the other. And it is not the only thing I do that with; clothing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, I'm sure there's more, but nothing else comes to mind. I've been up and down over the years, and it's never mattered how well or poor I've done financially, I always do it.
It's become a habit that I don't even think about doing, I just do it. That's what budgeting and saving is about, forming good habits so they become second nature. Each and every cent you save stays in your pocket, until you spend it. Make each one count, because remember, $1,000,000,000 starts off at $.01.
As, I stood there, washing away, I watched as the upside down bottle's contents drip into the other. And it is not the only thing I do that with; clothing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, I'm sure there's more, but nothing else comes to mind. I've been up and down over the years, and it's never mattered how well or poor I've done financially, I always do it.
It's become a habit that I don't even think about doing, I just do it. That's what budgeting and saving is about, forming good habits so they become second nature. Each and every cent you save stays in your pocket, until you spend it. Make each one count, because remember, $1,000,000,000 starts off at $.01.
Best savings...
Dilute it!
I've been away for a while, but I'm still alive and kicking. Today, we're gonna talk about diluting. I admit, I'm guilty, but not until recently, did I realize it's probably saved me more money than I think. I started doing it years ago, but at the time, it had nothing to do with money, but with sugar. And I'm not gonna lie, I don't do it often now, though I should. And for those you that just never really thought about it, it can help.
When my kids were toddlers, and didn't know the difference between fruit punch and fruit juice, I always bought juice, the real thing, not the 5 or 10% stuff or whatever. I like juice myself, especially apple juice. I always noticed it was a little too sweet for me, not so much to them of course, cause let's face it, kids love sugary foods and drinks, no matter how sweet or terrible they may taste. At first, I chalked it up to my tastes were just changing.
Then I thought back to when my brother was little. We're 12 years apart, and I spent a lot of time waiting on him hand and foot, actually, we were practically attached at the hip until he was about 6 or 7-years-old. Anyway, I used to dilute nearly everything I gave him except for milk, and would even talk my younger sister into distracting him while I added the 'special ingredient'. That way, he wasn't having a fit, and I felt better about it. After a while, he caught me a few times, and it didn't really bother him. As a matter of fact, if I forgot, he would even ask me to add water.
Anyway, so I started doing that with my own kids. Made it real simple, I let the first bottle get about 1/3 to 1/2 way empty, and filled the empty space with water and shook it up, all the while, when I did give them some juice, I would add water to each cup. Then, when that bottle was empty, I rinsed it out, and added juice from the new bottle, then added water to both. From then on, I could add water by the bottle, rather than by the cup.
This way, not only was I lowering their sugar intake, but saving money also. Besides, I figured they got more vitamins from an actual apple than from the juice anyway. One thing is, with orange juice, best you can do is 1 part water to 3 parts juice, otherwise, it doesn't taste so great. And if something doesn't taste good to me, I won't give it to them, unless they like it, ew. One thing to keep in mind, start with small amounts of water, like 1 part to 7, so they're less likely to notice the change, especially if your kids are older.
Best savings...
When my kids were toddlers, and didn't know the difference between fruit punch and fruit juice, I always bought juice, the real thing, not the 5 or 10% stuff or whatever. I like juice myself, especially apple juice. I always noticed it was a little too sweet for me, not so much to them of course, cause let's face it, kids love sugary foods and drinks, no matter how sweet or terrible they may taste. At first, I chalked it up to my tastes were just changing.
Then I thought back to when my brother was little. We're 12 years apart, and I spent a lot of time waiting on him hand and foot, actually, we were practically attached at the hip until he was about 6 or 7-years-old. Anyway, I used to dilute nearly everything I gave him except for milk, and would even talk my younger sister into distracting him while I added the 'special ingredient'. That way, he wasn't having a fit, and I felt better about it. After a while, he caught me a few times, and it didn't really bother him. As a matter of fact, if I forgot, he would even ask me to add water.
Anyway, so I started doing that with my own kids. Made it real simple, I let the first bottle get about 1/3 to 1/2 way empty, and filled the empty space with water and shook it up, all the while, when I did give them some juice, I would add water to each cup. Then, when that bottle was empty, I rinsed it out, and added juice from the new bottle, then added water to both. From then on, I could add water by the bottle, rather than by the cup.
This way, not only was I lowering their sugar intake, but saving money also. Besides, I figured they got more vitamins from an actual apple than from the juice anyway. One thing is, with orange juice, best you can do is 1 part water to 3 parts juice, otherwise, it doesn't taste so great. And if something doesn't taste good to me, I won't give it to them, unless they like it, ew. One thing to keep in mind, start with small amounts of water, like 1 part to 7, so they're less likely to notice the change, especially if your kids are older.
Best savings...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Lending Woes
Ah, personal loans, one of the major enemies of good budgeting. I could practically write a book on the subject alone. Now, it is one thing to lend every once in a while, especially if who you lend to tends to pay you back in a reasonable amount of time, preferably the agreed upon one. Don't get me wrong, I lend often, in small amounts, to one person, who has a long history of paying me back every cent, usually on time.--
But, about six, maybe seven years ago, an ex of mine had nicknamed me The Bank. At first, this unwanted title raised my blood pressure, which is hard to do, but after a while, I took a closer look at what I was doing. In fact, I had become an enabler. At the time, I thought I was making descent money, and technically, should have been dirt poor except for the fact that I was good at budgeting.
I have one relative in particular, who made it a point to 'borrow' money from me at least once a month. Borrow, to her, meant 'forgetting' she ever borrowed anything, and at times, outright denying any of my hard earned cash went from my hand into hers, never to be seen again. Being that over the years she had looked out for me, I took it in stride, and decided it was best to set aside a certain amount, and if she needed more, "I didn't have it". I had left out the "for you" part, but it was all I felt I could do to not burn bridges, of all things, over money and still keep my budget in order.
For the longest I felt guilty about hating this arrangement, and that I owed her in some way. But later, you could say the truth set me free. Everyone has choices in life, and she could have always said no to me. Anything that someone does for you is out of choice, and when you do something for someone without stipulations, well, you can't hold that over their head, else it just breeds animosity. I hadn't realized I could have said no.
And who was she to come to me? She was much older, made more than me, bills were a little more than mine, had half as many children to take care of, ( I have two, both were in diapers then ). If I borrowed a single bank note from her, she would track me down, early no less! She was getting free money just because we were family. She could go out, while keeping her own money in her pocket. She could slack off on bills, because I was making up the difference. All in all, dealing with her and others along the way, taught me great lessons...
A: Never loan what you can't afford to lose on the street.
B: Strike one, you're out. ( Didn't pay me back? From here on out, the answer is no, no, double no! )
C: Never allow someone to know how much you make or how much you have in the bank, blood relative or not. Except for your spouse, it's nobody's business anyway, anyone who asks is likely making plans with your money already. If you do well with what you have, or tend to be somewhat giving, someone will always find a way for you to spend your money on them. And even if you're not so great with money, you're still at high risk.
D: If it doesn't feel, look or sound right, it probably isn't.
E: Should you choose between lending and paying a bill on time, go for the latter. Sacrificing you or your childrens' livelihood for others is never a winning gamble. That includes, but is not limited to, buying two used cars to bail your friends or relatives out, rather than buying yourself a brand new car with a 10 year warranty. Should one of those cars become yours, what you spend on both, along with repairs will end up costing about the same as a new one, and both are likely to end up junked within two years.
F: To save yourself a lot of trouble, you can avoid all the above altogether by never loaning anyone anything in the first place. --Thus never forming the habit, or sounding like you're making excuses when you don't want to lend to Jamie, and Jamie knows you lent Mike $20 last week, and you got paid today.
Till next time...
But, about six, maybe seven years ago, an ex of mine had nicknamed me The Bank. At first, this unwanted title raised my blood pressure, which is hard to do, but after a while, I took a closer look at what I was doing. In fact, I had become an enabler. At the time, I thought I was making descent money, and technically, should have been dirt poor except for the fact that I was good at budgeting.
I have one relative in particular, who made it a point to 'borrow' money from me at least once a month. Borrow, to her, meant 'forgetting' she ever borrowed anything, and at times, outright denying any of my hard earned cash went from my hand into hers, never to be seen again. Being that over the years she had looked out for me, I took it in stride, and decided it was best to set aside a certain amount, and if she needed more, "I didn't have it". I had left out the "for you" part, but it was all I felt I could do to not burn bridges, of all things, over money and still keep my budget in order.
For the longest I felt guilty about hating this arrangement, and that I owed her in some way. But later, you could say the truth set me free. Everyone has choices in life, and she could have always said no to me. Anything that someone does for you is out of choice, and when you do something for someone without stipulations, well, you can't hold that over their head, else it just breeds animosity. I hadn't realized I could have said no.
And who was she to come to me? She was much older, made more than me, bills were a little more than mine, had half as many children to take care of, ( I have two, both were in diapers then ). If I borrowed a single bank note from her, she would track me down, early no less! She was getting free money just because we were family. She could go out, while keeping her own money in her pocket. She could slack off on bills, because I was making up the difference. All in all, dealing with her and others along the way, taught me great lessons...
A: Never loan what you can't afford to lose on the street.
B: Strike one, you're out. ( Didn't pay me back? From here on out, the answer is no, no, double no! )
C: Never allow someone to know how much you make or how much you have in the bank, blood relative or not. Except for your spouse, it's nobody's business anyway, anyone who asks is likely making plans with your money already. If you do well with what you have, or tend to be somewhat giving, someone will always find a way for you to spend your money on them. And even if you're not so great with money, you're still at high risk.
D: If it doesn't feel, look or sound right, it probably isn't.
E: Should you choose between lending and paying a bill on time, go for the latter. Sacrificing you or your childrens' livelihood for others is never a winning gamble. That includes, but is not limited to, buying two used cars to bail your friends or relatives out, rather than buying yourself a brand new car with a 10 year warranty. Should one of those cars become yours, what you spend on both, along with repairs will end up costing about the same as a new one, and both are likely to end up junked within two years.
F: To save yourself a lot of trouble, you can avoid all the above altogether by never loaning anyone anything in the first place. --Thus never forming the habit, or sounding like you're making excuses when you don't want to lend to Jamie, and Jamie knows you lent Mike $20 last week, and you got paid today.
Till next time...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Go Easy on Yourself
As always, the subject hasn't changed. Now, if you don't have a software program, write it out on paper. My sister and I live together, and she thinks I'm crazy because I re-write out my entire budget almost to obsession, on paper. ( I know, it's wasteful. ) Over and over I rework the numbers, pulling this from here, that from there.
I'm not in any way suggesting I'm a math genius, I only got as far as Algebra II, whatever that's supposed to mean. I love math only up to that point, but in this case, you only need the basics. And if you're like me, making a new one every week or two, is no big deal, as long as no one bothers you. I am what is known as a one-track mind.--
My advise, don't let it stress you out. They are only numbers, and they can't hurt you. I learned long ago, the more tired I am, the more irritated I am, and the more mistakes I will make. So do it when you're not stressed out, and when there are no time restrictions. When you rush, you're more likely to make mistakes or forget things.
And better still, pretend you're doing some else's budget. That way, there is less emotion involved. And before you even put down that first digit, make a list of your bills, but also include ALL the extra things you pay for. --Something a lot of people forget, then wonder, well where did that $20 go? It could be lunch last week and or coffee everyday, those nail appointments every two weeks, anything. So include everything! Leave nothing out or to chance.--
And whenever possible, pay in cash. I know, it can be a hassle, but it makes what you're spending more concrete. As a matter of fact, the stipend I set aside for myself is always in cash, that way, I know I'm not overspending on me personally. --Learned that one the hard way. Sliding that plastic is so easy to manage, until you get the bill.
I'm not in any way suggesting I'm a math genius, I only got as far as Algebra II, whatever that's supposed to mean. I love math only up to that point, but in this case, you only need the basics. And if you're like me, making a new one every week or two, is no big deal, as long as no one bothers you. I am what is known as a one-track mind.--
My advise, don't let it stress you out. They are only numbers, and they can't hurt you. I learned long ago, the more tired I am, the more irritated I am, and the more mistakes I will make. So do it when you're not stressed out, and when there are no time restrictions. When you rush, you're more likely to make mistakes or forget things.
And better still, pretend you're doing some else's budget. That way, there is less emotion involved. And before you even put down that first digit, make a list of your bills, but also include ALL the extra things you pay for. --Something a lot of people forget, then wonder, well where did that $20 go? It could be lunch last week and or coffee everyday, those nail appointments every two weeks, anything. So include everything! Leave nothing out or to chance.--
And whenever possible, pay in cash. I know, it can be a hassle, but it makes what you're spending more concrete. As a matter of fact, the stipend I set aside for myself is always in cash, that way, I know I'm not overspending on me personally. --Learned that one the hard way. Sliding that plastic is so easy to manage, until you get the bill.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saving Money is Budgeting
You may not believe that clipping those coupons or buying in bulk does much. In that case, I would be obligated to disagree. And if you happen to live alone, or with only one person, the savings can be quite noticeable. For example, if you buy trash bags in bulk, they will sit and sit for months and months before they run out.
Initially, more does cost more. --But if you took a calculator with you on your next shopping trip, and compared price per unit in bulk versus smaller sizes, you'd see the difference. The difference is small-scale. Then multiply that difference over the course of a year, I'm sure you'd go for the bulk.
Growing up, my home was always busy and we were always running out of something all the time. Why, because as I mentioned before, my mother almost always left behind the coupons I cut out, and she rarely bought anything but food in bulk. So me being me, I expanded greatly on the idea of buying in bulk.
It's one of the first things I did once I ventured out into the world, even when I lived alone. I buy everything I can in bulk, that means trash bags, paper products and soap. That also means family size chicken and beef, $10 packs of cheese singles, dry foods such as rice, oatmeal and noodles, and even bread. Yes bread.
Bread is one of those things people make a point to buy by the loaf, fearing that dreaded M-word. But completely by accident, since my two kids eat a lot of sandwiches and toast, I found out that I could buy four loaves at once. Now you're thinking, don't the waiting three loaves get moldy? The answer to that would be no. --Shocking, I know.
The trick is to freeze them. Yes, freeze, hopefully you have room for this. As you get to the last two or four slices, take a new loaf from the freezer to thaw on it's own. Better still, it could take up to three weeks of sitting out before the formally frozen bread starts to mold, even during the summer. Now, I have to warn you, it does taste a bit different, but not by much. Most people don't notice the taste until you tell them it's been frozen, unless they eat plain bread. I also freeze the cheese and butter, I put one pack of cheese and one stick of butter in the fridge, and sit one stick out, since we use entirely too much to begin with.
As far as coupons, yes, it can be a daunting experience, if you hate cutting them out, as with the coins mentioned before, find someone who likes to do it. If you keep them in good order, even if you don't deal with the process of rebates, you still can save on average anywhere from $10 -30 per shopping trip, maybe more. I'm sure an hour going through the Sunday paper or online is worth the savings. And remember to only cut out what you normally use, otherwise you're wasting time or end up adding to your grocery bill.
Also, buying store brand products can easily cut your bill, I'm not saying buy everything store brand, we all have our favorites. But things like canned goods, bread, milk and juices are perfect for this. I rarely buy name brand canned goods, except for tomato soup. --Bet you can guess which one! But there is one staple that this doesn't apply to, and that's dish detergent. I've found that in general, cheap detergent is not worth the savings.
Till next time....
Initially, more does cost more. --But if you took a calculator with you on your next shopping trip, and compared price per unit in bulk versus smaller sizes, you'd see the difference. The difference is small-scale. Then multiply that difference over the course of a year, I'm sure you'd go for the bulk.
Growing up, my home was always busy and we were always running out of something all the time. Why, because as I mentioned before, my mother almost always left behind the coupons I cut out, and she rarely bought anything but food in bulk. So me being me, I expanded greatly on the idea of buying in bulk.
It's one of the first things I did once I ventured out into the world, even when I lived alone. I buy everything I can in bulk, that means trash bags, paper products and soap. That also means family size chicken and beef, $10 packs of cheese singles, dry foods such as rice, oatmeal and noodles, and even bread. Yes bread.
Bread is one of those things people make a point to buy by the loaf, fearing that dreaded M-word. But completely by accident, since my two kids eat a lot of sandwiches and toast, I found out that I could buy four loaves at once. Now you're thinking, don't the waiting three loaves get moldy? The answer to that would be no. --Shocking, I know.
The trick is to freeze them. Yes, freeze, hopefully you have room for this. As you get to the last two or four slices, take a new loaf from the freezer to thaw on it's own. Better still, it could take up to three weeks of sitting out before the formally frozen bread starts to mold, even during the summer. Now, I have to warn you, it does taste a bit different, but not by much. Most people don't notice the taste until you tell them it's been frozen, unless they eat plain bread. I also freeze the cheese and butter, I put one pack of cheese and one stick of butter in the fridge, and sit one stick out, since we use entirely too much to begin with.
As far as coupons, yes, it can be a daunting experience, if you hate cutting them out, as with the coins mentioned before, find someone who likes to do it. If you keep them in good order, even if you don't deal with the process of rebates, you still can save on average anywhere from $10 -30 per shopping trip, maybe more. I'm sure an hour going through the Sunday paper or online is worth the savings. And remember to only cut out what you normally use, otherwise you're wasting time or end up adding to your grocery bill.
Also, buying store brand products can easily cut your bill, I'm not saying buy everything store brand, we all have our favorites. But things like canned goods, bread, milk and juices are perfect for this. I rarely buy name brand canned goods, except for tomato soup. --Bet you can guess which one! But there is one staple that this doesn't apply to, and that's dish detergent. I've found that in general, cheap detergent is not worth the savings.
Till next time....
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Penny A Day Keeps The Bill Collector Away
Ah, so we've made it to entry number two. Actually, I was going to skip today, but, obviously, someone somewhere out in computerland is reading this, so here I am. Anyway, to the subject at hand. Budgeting, my best friend, where would I be without you? --Oh yeah, living on the street!
There's something I neglected to mention in the last blog, another reason why I have to budget is because I have a notoriously bad memory. My mother used to say, "If your head wasn't screwed on, you'd lose that too." --I suppose she's right. Anyway, where were we?
Budgeting is basically a requirement in life, if you don't like financial surprises and don't want to kick yourself in the butt later. Doesn't matter if you make $20,000 or $20,000,000 a year, the difference in zeroes are of no consequence. Any kind of savings has value. Hence, a major rule, avoid fees whenever possible. Sometimes they can't be avoided, and you must cough up the cash. But consider this, if you budget, meaning pay your bills on time whenever possible, if not, early, those two or ten dollars stay in your pocket where they belong.
Then imagine something else. --Say for example there were no checking accounts, no internet, no credit or debit cards, and every transaction you had to make was cash only? Then, on top of that, the bill collector personally came to your door and all your bills had to be paid to him, AND there was only one company? --And Mr. Bill Payment Guy says, "By the way, since you didn't pay us last week, you owe us the total bill and an extra twenty-five dollars to keep all of your services."
Okay, so that's a little on the extreme side, point made. In reality, we often willingly chuck over extra money all the time without a second thought, mainly because it's on paper, and we know we can pay it later. The weight of it doesn't really sink in as much as it would in my hypothetical situation or if it had to be paid in cash. Many times, we don't pay our bills on time or pay partial amounts so we can go out Saturday night, and wonder where those extra bucks went so fast, that's where. It goes into the pockets of multimillion and multibillion dollar companies, which only amounts as a few cents to them.
Then there's another related item of wasted cash, change, --that's right, change. By now, you've probably figured I'm one of those people who pick change up off the ground. And ding-ding-ding, that's right, I sure do! Long as it's not laying in something no more gross than mud, I will pick it up. Call me crazy if you want to, but change still spends.
I find it nearly every time I take a walk, regardless if I've walked the same route numerous times. People actually throwing it on the ground is a major pet-peeve of mine. Yes, change can be cumbersome, noisy, ugly and even frustrating to search for at the bottom of your purse or center console. --But it is money every day of the week.
So let's say you can't stand the sight of it. Okay, get an opaque jar or tin to throw it in, and when you want to get rid of it, just throw it in the jar. When it gets full, don't even bother, have your kids roll it up for you. Don't have kids, or they're not old enough? Find someone else to roll them up for you, or if you're lucky enough, maybe there's a counting machine at your bank. There are very few that still have these machines, but some do.
Maybe you're thinking, "I'll take it to Coinstar." --Nope, not a good idea. Why? Because they charge you like 7% and most of them require you to spend it online. Guess what? Most people don't, and that's what they're betting on, that's how they profit. Simply find someone who'll do it for you, out of five people, probably less, you'll find someone willing to do it for the fun of it. Yes, I said fun, some people are like me, and actually like counting money, even if it's not theirs.
Yeah it sounds like a hassle, but it's not. Why do I know this, because I was a waitress for two years, ( apparently not upscale ). I hated taking a load of change whenever I made deposits at the bank since back then I didn't have the time or patience. So, I started throwing my change into a big plastic novelty Pepsi bottle.
Then, whenever it looked like I had over $30, I'd roll them up all at once, and deposit them along with my check and tips. Funny thing is, before doing that, I'd never realized that it was that much. I had devalued it simply because it was change. Then I learned small amounts can add up quite quickly, same with earning interest. And I'm willing to bet that the haves pay much more attention to the small cents then the have nots.
Till next time...
There's something I neglected to mention in the last blog, another reason why I have to budget is because I have a notoriously bad memory. My mother used to say, "If your head wasn't screwed on, you'd lose that too." --I suppose she's right. Anyway, where were we?
Budgeting is basically a requirement in life, if you don't like financial surprises and don't want to kick yourself in the butt later. Doesn't matter if you make $20,000 or $20,000,000 a year, the difference in zeroes are of no consequence. Any kind of savings has value. Hence, a major rule, avoid fees whenever possible. Sometimes they can't be avoided, and you must cough up the cash. But consider this, if you budget, meaning pay your bills on time whenever possible, if not, early, those two or ten dollars stay in your pocket where they belong.
Then imagine something else. --Say for example there were no checking accounts, no internet, no credit or debit cards, and every transaction you had to make was cash only? Then, on top of that, the bill collector personally came to your door and all your bills had to be paid to him, AND there was only one company? --And Mr. Bill Payment Guy says, "By the way, since you didn't pay us last week, you owe us the total bill and an extra twenty-five dollars to keep all of your services."
Okay, so that's a little on the extreme side, point made. In reality, we often willingly chuck over extra money all the time without a second thought, mainly because it's on paper, and we know we can pay it later. The weight of it doesn't really sink in as much as it would in my hypothetical situation or if it had to be paid in cash. Many times, we don't pay our bills on time or pay partial amounts so we can go out Saturday night, and wonder where those extra bucks went so fast, that's where. It goes into the pockets of multimillion and multibillion dollar companies, which only amounts as a few cents to them.
Then there's another related item of wasted cash, change, --that's right, change. By now, you've probably figured I'm one of those people who pick change up off the ground. And ding-ding-ding, that's right, I sure do! Long as it's not laying in something no more gross than mud, I will pick it up. Call me crazy if you want to, but change still spends.
I find it nearly every time I take a walk, regardless if I've walked the same route numerous times. People actually throwing it on the ground is a major pet-peeve of mine. Yes, change can be cumbersome, noisy, ugly and even frustrating to search for at the bottom of your purse or center console. --But it is money every day of the week.
So let's say you can't stand the sight of it. Okay, get an opaque jar or tin to throw it in, and when you want to get rid of it, just throw it in the jar. When it gets full, don't even bother, have your kids roll it up for you. Don't have kids, or they're not old enough? Find someone else to roll them up for you, or if you're lucky enough, maybe there's a counting machine at your bank. There are very few that still have these machines, but some do.
Maybe you're thinking, "I'll take it to Coinstar." --Nope, not a good idea. Why? Because they charge you like 7% and most of them require you to spend it online. Guess what? Most people don't, and that's what they're betting on, that's how they profit. Simply find someone who'll do it for you, out of five people, probably less, you'll find someone willing to do it for the fun of it. Yes, I said fun, some people are like me, and actually like counting money, even if it's not theirs.
Yeah it sounds like a hassle, but it's not. Why do I know this, because I was a waitress for two years, ( apparently not upscale ). I hated taking a load of change whenever I made deposits at the bank since back then I didn't have the time or patience. So, I started throwing my change into a big plastic novelty Pepsi bottle.
Then, whenever it looked like I had over $30, I'd roll them up all at once, and deposit them along with my check and tips. Funny thing is, before doing that, I'd never realized that it was that much. I had devalued it simply because it was change. Then I learned small amounts can add up quite quickly, same with earning interest. And I'm willing to bet that the haves pay much more attention to the small cents then the have nots.
Till next time...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
First Post
Well, for starters, I know nearly all the applications of good budgeting. I was a born budgeteer, that's right, budgeteer, make it part of your vocabulary. I watched my mother struggle to raise us, all the while out-right refusing to write out a budget, and leaving coupons I cut out for her on the kitchen table. So naturally, that was the one of the first things I set out to do once I moved out.
Also, that fact that I was good with numbers helped a great deal. Even as a kid, I liked counting money, even if it wasn't mine. It seems to me, for many people, the reason or excuse for not budgeting is because they hate math. Why even associate your hard-earned cash with bad experiences in school? --Especially in today's economy, when a small mistake could mean the difference between having just enough money in your bank account to tide you over, or owing the bank, let's say $150 and counting until you can off-set it?
I've over drafted before, and the experience was a lot less enjoyable than a picnic. So where do you begin? Well, first, being fearful of owing the bank could be a great motivator over the fear of numbers. Second, there are those out there that always seem to earn more than their bills and usual expenses, but still fall short. So, I'll start there.
Budgeting, in general is easier than it seems. If you are lucky enough to make more than the total of your bills and usual expenses, but still fall short, this first blog is especially for you. This may be common sense to many, but still for some, there may be a click that just wasn't there before.
1. Add up all your monthly bills that are the same every month; car payments, housing etc.
2. Then the bills which tend to change month to month, use the highest amount, that you can recall over the last year, or if you happen to save everything, go find it now. Or you can always use the average between the highest and lowest. Also, don't forget to include average grocery bills, fuel( which you may have to raise each month ) and the like.
3. Subtract everything from your net earnings, now what do you have left? The next step is very important, and that is where most people mess up.
4. Let's say you started off with $3000 after taxes, and after the bills you're left with $600, what do you do? The answer is NOT to run out and spend it, at least not all of it. Put half that into a savings account. 10% is what you want to shoot for, if you can do more, more power to you. Sure, there's a $700 outfit and shoes or suit that you've been eyeballing for a week, but really, once you've worn it a few times, the novelty is sure to wear off. You'll thank me later.
5. The half that goes into your pocket, divide it among the weeks in the month as your weekly or biweekly stipend.
6. But here's the trick, when you actually write out or key out your budget, every week, the amount you set out for yourself should be listed first. That way, you're paying yourself first, even capitalize for your ego. Also, try to make your budget out over 3 or more months, that way, you get a real idea of where you are. And please, please, please, if you over-spend somewhere, just take that out of your stipend. Why pay the electric company EXTRA money when you don't have to?
Week of Apr 25
Ex: Balance $ 55
Check +1500
1555
Me - 75
1480
rent - 700
780
groc - 75
705
gas - 75
630
So that was kind of a crappy example, but you get the point. I noticed it's easier to do if you start your budget according to payday, or a day or two after rather than say Sunday or Monday. Also, if at the end of the month there is more left over, take only half, and put the other half into your savings account. That way, you're really paying yourself instead of the drive-thru or nail shop. Then, once your account holds enough to earn interest, get it changed over or into something that will make your money work for you. I don't know much about the stock market, and currently, I personally wouldn't take my chances. But there are interest bearing savings accounts, Money Market Accounts ( checking accounts that bear interest ) and CD's ( certificates of deposit ), it's not much, but free money is free money.
And whatever you do, leave it be, the more money you have staved away, the better, a penny saved is truly a penny earned. Most people who touch their savings accounts never put it back, and for everyday that money is not there, you are losing interest on it. Also, this can be a life -saver should something unexpected happen, such as car trouble or the washing machine gives out on you. I know there are many people out there that don't have these options and don't have enough to cover the bills. I will get to that, I'm just covering the above since I was in a similar financial situation, and fluffed it up.
My only excuse is that I was young, and knew no one who could guide me in the right direction. I had money, while everyone else around me made me into their personal bank. --And not that it was a lot either. I was living 'above' my financial means in a sense only because I knew how to finagle and pinch pennies where needed. I lived middle class, but I was actually just below the poverty line, didn't even have a credit card at the time.
Just so you know, and understand where I was so you don't make the same mistakes and take a dive because you think you have it all together. I was hanging by a thread that broke.
To be continued...
Also, that fact that I was good with numbers helped a great deal. Even as a kid, I liked counting money, even if it wasn't mine. It seems to me, for many people, the reason or excuse for not budgeting is because they hate math. Why even associate your hard-earned cash with bad experiences in school? --Especially in today's economy, when a small mistake could mean the difference between having just enough money in your bank account to tide you over, or owing the bank, let's say $150 and counting until you can off-set it?
I've over drafted before, and the experience was a lot less enjoyable than a picnic. So where do you begin? Well, first, being fearful of owing the bank could be a great motivator over the fear of numbers. Second, there are those out there that always seem to earn more than their bills and usual expenses, but still fall short. So, I'll start there.
Budgeting, in general is easier than it seems. If you are lucky enough to make more than the total of your bills and usual expenses, but still fall short, this first blog is especially for you. This may be common sense to many, but still for some, there may be a click that just wasn't there before.
1. Add up all your monthly bills that are the same every month; car payments, housing etc.
2. Then the bills which tend to change month to month, use the highest amount, that you can recall over the last year, or if you happen to save everything, go find it now. Or you can always use the average between the highest and lowest. Also, don't forget to include average grocery bills, fuel( which you may have to raise each month ) and the like.
3. Subtract everything from your net earnings, now what do you have left? The next step is very important, and that is where most people mess up.
4. Let's say you started off with $3000 after taxes, and after the bills you're left with $600, what do you do? The answer is NOT to run out and spend it, at least not all of it. Put half that into a savings account. 10% is what you want to shoot for, if you can do more, more power to you. Sure, there's a $700 outfit and shoes or suit that you've been eyeballing for a week, but really, once you've worn it a few times, the novelty is sure to wear off. You'll thank me later.
5. The half that goes into your pocket, divide it among the weeks in the month as your weekly or biweekly stipend.
6. But here's the trick, when you actually write out or key out your budget, every week, the amount you set out for yourself should be listed first. That way, you're paying yourself first, even capitalize for your ego. Also, try to make your budget out over 3 or more months, that way, you get a real idea of where you are. And please, please, please, if you over-spend somewhere, just take that out of your stipend. Why pay the electric company EXTRA money when you don't have to?
Week of Apr 25
Ex: Balance $ 55
Check +1500
1555
Me - 75
1480
rent - 700
780
groc - 75
705
gas - 75
630
So that was kind of a crappy example, but you get the point. I noticed it's easier to do if you start your budget according to payday, or a day or two after rather than say Sunday or Monday. Also, if at the end of the month there is more left over, take only half, and put the other half into your savings account. That way, you're really paying yourself instead of the drive-thru or nail shop. Then, once your account holds enough to earn interest, get it changed over or into something that will make your money work for you. I don't know much about the stock market, and currently, I personally wouldn't take my chances. But there are interest bearing savings accounts, Money Market Accounts ( checking accounts that bear interest ) and CD's ( certificates of deposit ), it's not much, but free money is free money.
And whatever you do, leave it be, the more money you have staved away, the better, a penny saved is truly a penny earned. Most people who touch their savings accounts never put it back, and for everyday that money is not there, you are losing interest on it. Also, this can be a life -saver should something unexpected happen, such as car trouble or the washing machine gives out on you. I know there are many people out there that don't have these options and don't have enough to cover the bills. I will get to that, I'm just covering the above since I was in a similar financial situation, and fluffed it up.
My only excuse is that I was young, and knew no one who could guide me in the right direction. I had money, while everyone else around me made me into their personal bank. --And not that it was a lot either. I was living 'above' my financial means in a sense only because I knew how to finagle and pinch pennies where needed. I lived middle class, but I was actually just below the poverty line, didn't even have a credit card at the time.
Just so you know, and understand where I was so you don't make the same mistakes and take a dive because you think you have it all together. I was hanging by a thread that broke.
To be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
