Comments on: Budget Busters: Mid-Month Assessment

By: jolyn

jolyn — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:57:34 +0000

Funny, I didn’t think it was that low! Our thermostat’s at 66; it’s been a cold winter. We also have new windows we put in a year ago. Short showers (water heater)… I don’t know what to tell you; I think our bill is typical for this area, but not great.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:50:43 +0000

How do you keep your power bill so low??? I need help in that area

By: Budget-Busters: The Final Tally

Budget-Busters: The Final Tally — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:48:24 +0000

[...] January’s Total Budget busters from the mid-month assessment: -$265.32 [...]

By: jolyn

jolyn — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:09:04 +0000

Yes, we did, and no, we have not started it back up. We simply could not have gotten rid of almost $20,000 in debt in less than a year if we hadn’t. I felt like before, we “had a handle” on our debt. But to really focus and get rid of it completely, we went for it and made it scary. (Scary for me is to stop retirement contributions.) (I’m kind of big into financial security.)
So far, we are following Dave Ramsey’s seven steps. (you can google it.) The next step w/be bulking up emergency savings. We may do a combination of that while also starting back into retirement/ROTH savings at the same time, we’ll see. I’m really big into one thing at a time, and hubs and I still need to discuss what we want to do, now that we’re finally (almost!) to the next point.
I can’t recommend anything, except to read Dave Ramsey and make your own judgment. His philosophy was a real eye-opener for me and really snapped me out of my doldrums, so to speak.

By: sahmCFO

sahmCFO — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:49:48 +0000

I read that you stopped your TSP contributions to start your snowball. Do you recommend that? Did you start back up once you got a handle on your debt?

By: jolyn

jolyn — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:57:20 +0000

That is the key, to keep at it… What is the alternative? To never try? Even though things “come up”, because you sat down and did the best you could, you understand where the money needs to come from to take care of it.
I find that doing a budget and at least trying to find a place for every dollar… Really helps me evaluate every dollar I spend.
Ooh, I kind of went off there, huh? Yes, keep at it! And let me know how it goes. People who have always done budgets don’t always understand how hard it can be!

By: sahmCFO

sahmCFO — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:53:37 +0000

I’m just starting this budget stuff. I having a hard time with the first question you asked yourself (“budget every penny…?”)as well. Every time I get a budget down on paper, ready to implement, another recurring expense comes to mind. I’m going to keep at it though. Baby steps!

By: jolyn

jolyn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:51:27 +0000

I found one online that I will be trying soon; I’ll post about it next week if I like it. I just looked at “Our Lives” blog and her recipe looks a little different than the one I found… I guess if I don’t like mine I’ll be trying hers?

By: family hopes

family hopes — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:23:06 +0000

What is your recipe for homemade laundry detergent?

By: Our Lives

Our Lives — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:04:37 +0000

Only 1 oz. and fill the rest of the fabric softener dispenser with water to its top line (or follow your dispenser’s guideline). Be sure to put it in the dispenser and not directly to your clothing. I like this simple formula very much and I will never go back to the store bought detergent even after we get better financially. We do not use fabric softener sheet.
Also, I put an old, extra measuring cup by my homemade detergent and vinegar for measure convenience.