Your Saving $$/Budget tips

[A10CalGal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AQHARIDER Christa- that is awesome! I wish I was that disciplined. I guess I should start now!

If you are interested in starting a savings account w/ING, pm me & I will send you a referal email that will give you $25 for depositing $250 or more.

[Jackie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by host i think you sister is old enough to buy her own lunch ...at 17 i was paying for everything myself...i moved out of my house when iw as 15.

Yah, I'm like you to, I moved out at 16. And your right she should be able to pay for her own lunch. I just feel so bad, her life has been so traumatic that I want to give her the world, I dont want her to have to worry about money stuff. When my dad got really sick he used to always make me promise that I would take my sisters and we would stick together. I wish this all happened a couple of years from now when Ryan and I will be more stable. I just want to do everything right. Of course thats no possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDYTA Like many off you i cut out the coffee but one thing that I cant seem to cut out is the trashy magazines and the wedding magazines...I usually spend around $15 a week on them so that's the next thing that needs to go

Edyta, I gave up the magazines and it has saved me so much. 1. I can never seem to find really good stuff for DW's in those bridal magazines anyway. and 2. I dont need my US magazine anymore, I count on Tammy's celebrity gossip posts for all my latest gossip. Thanks Tammy!

[TammyWright]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryjaxs19 Yah, I'm like you to, I moved out at 16. And your right she should be able to pay for her own lunch. I just feel so bad, her life has been so traumatic that I want to give her the world, I dont want her to have to worry about money stuff. When my dad got really sick he used to always make me promise that I would take my sisters and we would stick together. I wish this all happened a couple of years from now when Ryan and I will be more stable. I just want to do everything right. Of course thats no possible.

this made me sad...makes me think of my mom...her father passed away and her mom remarried and abandoned my mom and her younger sister when she was just 12...she had to go clean houses to survive...

[JPMO]

FI and I have gotten rather frugal. All change goes to the wedding account...that adds up quickly.

• Don't eat out as often
• Keep travel to a minimum
• Use Ebay to negotiate pricing
• Use craigslist to negotiate pricing
• Coupons! Coupons! From grocery, to Michaels it all makes a difference

[Jackie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by host this made me sad...makes me think of my mom...her father passed away and her mom remarried and abandoned my mom and her younger sister when she was just 12...she had to go clean houses to survive...

Ive hijacked yet another thread. Sorry girls, but I just had to say one last thing. I just dont get it. How do mothers leave their children! Ours is not around either, I just want to take every kid who has to go through these things and give them all big hugs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPMO FI and I have gotten rather frugal. All change goes to the wedding account...that adds up quickly. Don't eat out as often Keep travel to a minimum Use Ebay to negotiate pricing Use craigslist to negotiate pricing Coupons! Coupons! From grocery, to Michaels it all makes a difference

I have started saving our change also, well I save mine and I steel Ryans and save his to. hehe.

There is a pair of Frye Harness boots I want SOOOOO bad, but I am looking on ebay to see if I can get them cheaper. It will be my first e-bay purchase in hopes to save money. I just hate waitting for stuff.

What is craigslist?

[Sarah]

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Originally Posted by Ryjaxs19 Ive hijacked yet another thread. Sorry girls, but I just had to say one last thing. I just dont get it. How do mothers leave their children! Ours is not around either, I just want to take every kid who has to go through these things and give them all big hugs.

I'll continue with the hijack...

My mom left my dad (for another WOMAN!- don't get me started) 3 weeks before my first wedding. That's not the worst part, it was my 16 year old brother that got basically abandoned because my dad was so distraught; and then my 12 year old sister that went with her and I haven't seen in 8 years. How can adults do such horrible things to their children? I'll never understand it...It's amazing my brother turned out to be such a great guy with such shi*ty teen years.
This was 8 years ago, sorry- every once in a while I just have to vent it out!

[TOESNTHESND]

After reading this thread, I just had to share it with my FI. He was shocked to see how all of you had given up your starbucks. He love starbucks, and drinks it 7 days a week!!!! He added up how much $ we could save and he said he will make a pact that everytime he wants to drink starbucks he will make coffee at home and put $4.00 in a jar. I know it will be hard for him but you guys inspired him thanks!! We are also going to limit eating out to once a week.

[Sarah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOESNTHESND After reading this thread, I just had to share it with my FI. He was shocked to see how all of you had given up your starbucks. He love starbucks, and drinks it 7 days a week!!!! He added up how much $ we could save and he said he will make a pact that everytime he wants to drink starbucks he will make coffee at home and put $4.00 in a jar. I know it will be hard for him but you guys inspired him thanks!! We are also going to limit eating out to once a week.

Depending on what he's drinking, he might lose some weight too (I suppose this is a good thing only if he needs to lose weight)! Since most people seem to want to lose a few pounds before the wedding cutting down on the Starbucks would probably help! Added bonus

[Jackie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AQHARIDER I'll continue with the hijack... My mom left my dad (for another WOMAN!- don't get me started) 3 weeks before my first wedding. That's not the worst part, it was my 16 year old brother that got basically abandoned because my dad was so distraught; and then my 12 year old sister that went with her and I haven't seen in 8 years. How can adults do such horrible things to their children? I'll never understand it...It's amazing my brother turned out to be such a great guy with such shi*ty teen years. This was 8 years ago, sorry- every once in a while I just have to vent it out!

This is unfortunatly the sad part, this stuff stays with you forever. Usually either one of two things happen. You either take the negative situation in your life, learn from it and produce positive outcomes or you can stay in the negative and spiral further downwards. Looks like your brother made some good choices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOESNTHESND After reading this thread, I just had to share it with my FI. He was shocked to see how all of you had given up your starbucks. He love starbucks, and drinks it 7 days a week!!!! He added up how much $ we could save and he said he will make a pact that everytime he wants to drink starbucks he will make coffee at home and put $4.00 in a jar. I know it will be hard for him but you guys inspired him thanks!! We are also going to limit eating out to once a week.

That is going to be real tough! I havent cut the starbucks and DD's out completly but I have definitly cut back to just a couple days a week. I was drinking like 2 large lattes or ice coffees a day. You guys are going to save soooo much money. Those things really add up. Thats such a good idea to actually put the money you would have spent in a jar to. I will officially do that also now. Good idea!

[NATASHA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AQHARIDER Christa- that is awesome! I wish I was that disciplined. I guess I should start now!

I've been doing this for years and it is a really good idea - especially for people who aren't disciplined. After one month, you're used to it. You automatically adjust your spending habits based upon what is in your account. It doesn't have to be $500. $100 adds up really quickly - especially when you add in interest. But it really needs to happen automatically - don't think you're going to write yourself a check or move it to another account yourself. You won't.

Also, for those of you who have 401Ks - PLEASE max them. Because they are pulling out the cash before taxes, you really don't notice a big hit and sometimes even end up with more than you would have because it is reducing the amount that they are taxing you on. Does that make sense?

If you are paid $10 and have a 15% tax then your take home is $8.5. However, if you contribute $2 of that $10 to your 401K, your take home is $6.8 ($8 at 15%) plus the $2 that went into your investment/savings so your net take home is $8.8 which is MORE than it would have been before the contribution. Plus it's invested so it's growing.

I get so frustrated here at work when our younger employees don't contribute or don't max out. It's so important and the sooner you start living off a bit less the quicker you adjust and have this very large pile of cash building up for your retirement. It helps you buy a house (you have an asset) and you can even borrow against it and pay yourself back in many circumstances.

OK

/end lecture