[redbandit]

I'm used to only having to budget for myself. Now I'm married and it's more complicated. We need a good system and I'm not sure where to start. I wasn't able to work for a while, and now that I am, it seems we are always playing catch up. We both work hard, it's frustrating. I know lots of people have this problem.
Any ideas? I feel sooo disorganized lately, ughh

[Perna]

I liked this article: The 5 Best Online Budgeting Tools to Help You Save Money | NerdWallet's Money-Saving Tips

[teresapooh98]

another idea is to get a program like Quicken where you can keep track of your money and make a budget.

[healingme4me]

Is your husband, committed to having a budget? What seems to be chewing up, the finances, with the catch up, aspect?

[Little Lulu]

Years ago my husband and I started writing down everything we spent and put the items in a category i.e. food, gasoline, insurance, mortgage, utilities, miscellaneous, etc. After keeping track for a year, we made a yearly budget and now we do this every December for the next year. It turned out to be kind of fun and we are financially better off for it. He retired at age 55 and I semi-retired at age 56. Yeah!

[redbandit]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Is your husband, committed to having a budget? What seems to be chewing up, the finances, with the catch up, aspect?

We both recently started having to pay back our student loans. He wants to save money, we just have a very limited budget.

[gnat]

Early on in our marriage I learened the only way we could stick to a budget is if we budgeted some fun money in there too, so we each get an allowance for items that are "wants" over "needs." Over the years we set aside the rest of our budget, all we needed to do was stop ourselves from pissing money away.

[CantExplain]

We got some advice to set up separate bank a counts for separate purposes. That worked really well. We use online banking and I check every account every day.

[thickntired]

This is a good website to start with and Dave Ramsey has good advice

The Dollar Stretcher: Frugal Living since 1996

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by redbandit

We both recently started having to pay back our student loans. He wants to save money, we just have a very limited budget.

Those, choke most people. How's the food budget? Is that a place that money can be saved? There's bills, that just no matter what, are rather concrete, rent/mortgage, insurance, electric/heat, phone, etc.

Cars, are an iffy place, to try and save. Having a vehicle, you own, can save money, monthly. Shopping around for car insurance rates, can help tremendously. Didn't realize what a rip off mine was, until recently, when I shopped around.

Food, is a place most don't realize, how much they can cut back, until you are in a pinch. Don't buy into some of the 'deal's' until reading the price per unit prices. Scratch cooking, can save.

[~Christina]

shop fpr food normally .. watch how much is tossed out , How much food is actually on the table each meals ,, end of the month people usually find 23-30 of left overs get tossed out and the majority of people cook more than what is needed ..

I cook mainly off portion control unless less it is something I know can be used up in lunches and left overs. It was a big shock to see where I was wasting money . I know plan my meals around what is on sale that week and what coupons cards I have for the items .

Car insurance is another one that can found cheaper on the phone or online .
Comprare prices for things such as TV/Cable? and phone service also.

Student loans are just horrible no way to lower them .

Good luck !

[redbandit]

Thanks guys, great tips! Once my phone contract and car insurance policy (contract?) is up we will try to find cheaper plans.
I am looking much closer to our food budget, etc.

[~Christina]

You can change your car insurance in the middle of a policy . Its simple .

[happiedasiy]

Originally Posted by redbandit

Thanks guys, great tips! Once my phone contract and car insurance policy (contract?) is up we will try to find cheaper plans.
I am looking much closer to our food budget, etc.

Christina is correct, you can change car insurance at anytime.
Contact the National Association (of/for) Banking and Insurance, they will direct you to cheaper insurance with better coverage. Considering your driving record or if you have had accidents.
On the web, www.(your states initials)dobi.org
Phone, Consumer hotline at 1-800-446-7476
Consider how much you are paying for mobile phone services!
There are hefty charges for canceling contracts, but everything IS negotiable!
Check out plans for combination services, phone/internet/direct tv.

Don't go to the food store with a credit card! Debit cards are a better choice or cash with coupons. Example, Tide laundry detergent 39 loads for $6.00. With a manufactures coupon of $2.00 off and a 4 amount limit. I pay $4.00 for a 40 load bottle.
Or I can get 160 loads for 12 dollars!
Buy gasoline with cash, gas cards are gimmicks.
Look at your credit cards interest rates and pay 90% of the highest ones, don't close these accounts
topics.bloomberg.com/interest-rates/‎

When going to the food store don't have the mindset, I have a budget )
Go in with the intent of how much you are saving.
For a rainy day fund/ or open a vault box at your bank in a your name only, that way there are no arguments!
If you can shave 20 a week at the food store, at the end of the year that's $960.00 almost $1,000 dollars.
Remember retail sales are a fools game.
Buy one get 2nd 50% off is not a sale, buy one get one free is a sale.
Know the retail game.
Coin jars work for me, at the end of the year I usually have $300 for my garden and flowers.
Do what you enjoy and consider opening a non profit to sake of sharing what gives you joy with others.
Consider investments for your future.
Hope some of this helps,
H.
Do what makes you happy, just be smart about it.