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Grand Member
Member Since Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 811
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#1
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 __________________ In a season of suffering, we may question God's intentions. But sometimes His plans for deliverance are greater than our desire for relief -anonymous |
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happiedasiy
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anneo59
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Pandita-in-training
Member Since Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 27,289
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#2
__________________ "Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius |
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anneo59, redbandit, tech
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Member
Member Since Dec 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 209
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#3
another idea is to get a program like Quicken where you can keep track of your money and make a budget.
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anneo59, redbandit, tech
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Perpetually Pondering
Community Liaison
Member Since Apr 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 46,298
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#4
Is your husband, committed to having a budget? What seems to be chewing up, the finances, with the catch up, aspect?
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redbandit
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Grand Poohbah
Member Since Mar 2013
Location: Eastern US
Posts: 1,761
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#5
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!
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anneo59, CantExplain, Gingersnapsmom, redbandit
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Grand Member
Member Since Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 811
11 1,235 hugs
given |
#6
__________________ In a season of suffering, we may question God's intentions. But sometimes His plans for deliverance are greater than our desire for relief -anonymous |
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healingme4me
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anneo59
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Member
Member Since Jun 2013
Location: Michigan
Posts: 314
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#7
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.
__________________ gnat Dx: depression and anxiety Tx: Rhodiola Rosea, humor, denial, dance, and wallowing in my own self-pity My blog: http://messedinthehead.psychcentral.net/ |
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anneo59, happiedasiy, healingme4me, redbandit
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Big Poppa
Member Since Oct 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 19,616
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#8
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.
__________________ Mr Ambassador, alias Ancient Plax, alias Captain Therapy, alias Big Poppa, alias Secret Spy, etc. Add that to your tattoo, Baby! |
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happiedasiy, healingme4me
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anneo59, happiedasiy
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Poohbah
Member Since Feb 2012
Location: South USA
Posts: 1,471
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#9
This is a good website to start with and Dave Ramsey has good advice
The Dollar Stretcher: Frugal Living since 1996 __________________ There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.
Erma Bombeck |
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anneo59, healingme4me, redbandit
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Perpetually Pondering
Community Liaison
Member Since Apr 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 46,298
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#10
Quote:
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. |
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happiedasiy
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happiedasiy
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Legendary Wise Elder
Community Liaison
Member Since Jul 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 22,450
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#11
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 ! __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
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anneo59
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anneo59, happiedasiy, healingme4me, thickntired
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Grand Member
Member Since Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 811
11 1,235 hugs
given |
#12
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. __________________ In a season of suffering, we may question God's intentions. But sometimes His plans for deliverance are greater than our desire for relief -anonymous |
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anneo59, happiedasiy
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anneo59
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Legendary Wise Elder
Community Liaison
Member Since Jul 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 22,450
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12 12.7k hugs
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#13
You can change your car insurance in the middle of a policy . Its simple .
__________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
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anneo59, happiedasiy
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Veteran Member
Member Since Sep 2011
Location: home
Posts: 595
12 1,836 hugs
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#14
Quote:
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. __________________ Happiedasiy, Selfworth growing in my garden |
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anneo59, MoonOwl, redbandit
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