I hate talking about our money issues with
anyone but I trust you guys & feel
like you girls could probably help out on
this one. Since Christmas is over &
done with & all, I'm sitting here with
all the bills layed out in front of me
& I'm ready to cry. We have 3 bills
all due this week, one is already 2 weeks
late. Now on top of those bills we have to
get another load of firewood, things for
the house (Diapers, Toilet paper, Cleaning
stuff, etc), pay for our car getting towed
then pay for the car getting fixed once
they figure out what went wrong. I'm
overwhelmed with all of this. We need to
start budgeting soon or else we're not
going to have a single thing to our names.
I know there was another post made on here
a few weeks back about budgeting so I
thought maybe I could get some help too. I
control all our money for bills, gas,
food, etc.. Shane pretty much hands his
whole check over to me because if he
didn't nothing; would get paid but I feel
like I could be doing a better job also.
If anyone could help me here that'd be
great : Here's what we're working with ..
Shane gets paid about $950 every 2 weeks.
We pay Tony $250 out of every paycheck,
$500/month
-- Rent is only $375 but we owe him some
money so we pay $500 to help get caught
up
Electric bill is insanely high which is
another thing I could use some tips on
-- That runs about $250/month
Phone bill is behind because the company
lost our info & haven't sent us a bill
since we got the phone turned on months
ago so we owe them $230, due December
30th. Normally it'd run about $80/month
though.
Gas for the car we save out $120 each
paycheck to get through the 2 weeks until
the next paycheck
$90/month goes for wood for the woodstove
We spend $40 a month on diapers &
probably another $50 or so on things we
need for the house.
Food we spend probably $200-250/month on.
We've been eating out a lot which I know
needs to change & we've pretty much
gone broke over Christmas getting gifts
for everyone. I've tried finding some
things online but figured if I posted here
I'd at least be getting advice & tips
from people I actually know.
What are some things you guys do to save
money? Any advice on how we could go about
budgeting all our bills & everything
else?
Hellllllllp
|
Sandbox Party
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 7276
Posted: 12-26-07 14:14pm
well it looks like you have roughly $1270
a month in bills.. (thats not counting
what you back owe the phone company.)
You could always do what we do.. take your
monthly bill total, and divide it by 4
(amount of weeks) and times it by two
(since he gets paid every two weeks) and
thats how much you HAVE to set aside out
of each paycheck to pay the bills.
so..
that equates to roughly $635 out of each
paycheck.
leaving you.. $215 to save.
We put aside an extra $50-75 a week in
case a bill is higher than we expected.
So if he gets paid say, the 1st and 15th
of each month.. when the 31st rolls
around, you'll have $770 left in ur bill
fund to pay bills (thats minus the $500
for Tony since you pay him every 2
weeks..)
with the extra money out of each paycheck,
put it into a savings account that you
don't have ready access to.. one that you
cant just swipe a card, you actually have
to make the effort to go to the bank and
such.. it makes you less likely to spend
it.
and limit yourself to personal spending..
lunch at work, dinner out.. leave it to
essentials.
make sense?? lol
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 14:30pm
Yeah that all makes perfect sense! This is
what I need is someone from the outside
telling me how they'd do it because I'm
sitting here looking all these bills &
all the numbers I have jotted down &
I'm going crosseyed. Thanks Sandy!
Any other tips or tricks anyone?
|
Bridget
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 10821 Location: ,
Thanks: 62
Thanked:42
Posted: 12-26-07 14:37pm
sorry, no help here. we're in such a bad
spot that we're borrowing against nick's
401k to get back on top.
i'm good at grocery shopping though! check
out the weekly circular and stock up on
good sales when you see them. buy chicken
in bulk when it's on sale and portion it
out and freeze it. stop going out to eat!
|
mc4ever02
Supporter
Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3636 Location: Orlando, FL Usa
Thanks: 5
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 14:40pm
Is there anyone he can carpool with at
work? That is an easy way to cut the gas
bill in half.
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 15:13pm
We do pretty good with grocery shopping.
Or should I say I do good with it, Shane
is horrible. I get a lot of generic brands
but there's just some things we have to
have name brand, like our speghetti
noodles & elbow macaroni. If only milk
had a generic brand! Milk is expensive.
That's a good idea to buy chicken in bulk
& portion it out. That'd save us a ton
of money because all we've been buying is
a bunch of the 1lb packages. Same with
hamburger & pork chops.
Carpooling, I'm not sure about. That's
something for him to look into though,
won't hurt to give it a shot!
I think I'm getting this under control.
After this weeks check I think it'll be a
lot easier because we just have so much
due this week. It's hard getting paid
every 2 weeks. I have it all written out
& tacked the the wall here by the
computer how we're going to do this every
month from now on. Thanks a lot girls.
i feeel the same way with bills. i feel
like we have so many but none of them are
overdue but we have a13,500 truck loan,
7,700 personal loan, 5,000 on a credit
card and 750 on a credit card. so that is
alot not counting all the neccesities he
just wants them paid of but we are gonna
sell our car he wants to try and get 9,000
but willing to go 8,200 the blue book
value is 8,900 and using what we get on
that to pay the personal loan off so its
an extra $280 a month, then our taxes we
are paying the 5,000. I find it easier to
kep anote bok and write down what bils u
pay with what paycheck, i try and do the
generica brand but we only have so many
options here and the xhcnage rate is
crazy. i think like not driving unless u
have to is good to save on gas, do u
qualify for wic? we are on wic and get 6
liters of milk well about 12-15 liters a
month wich is like um i duno, but its more
then enough cuz i dont drink it.
|
young Girl
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 13932 Location: everythings better in, texas USA
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 12-26-07 16:06pm
well i can help with major advice on the
electricity bill!
ok at home depot even a store you can buy
these lightbulbs. they are a wierd shape.
they are called CFL lightbulbs (compact
flourecents)
they coast a little more than regualr
bulbs. but since we have switeched to
those bulbs in our house our bill has gone
wayyy down. also they last like 2 years.
so you dont have to keep buying and
changing lightbulbs
our bill used to be outrageous too. but
now its cut back alot! you know what else
michelle? have you ever thought about
finding a job you can work from home? even
just part time? sometimes companies need
telecommunicators and stuff. it doesnt pay
alot but its extra money to help. plus you
could do it at home and be home with
kaylee
maybe youd like to evne look into mary kay
or avon?
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 16:09pm
Dude I just made up a monthly budget..
With
Tony $500
Electric $250
Phone $80
Wood $90
Diapers $40
Housewares $50
Gas $250
It all comes to $1260
Paycheck #1 of the month since we only get
2
Pay
Tony $250
Electric $ 250
Diapers $20
House $25
Gas $125
& it comes to 670
Put $75-100 in savings & we'd still be
left with $180-$205
Paycheck #2
Tony $250
Phone $80
Diapers $20
Housewares $25
Gas $125
& it comes to $500
Put $75-100 in savings & we'd be left
with $400-425
Holy Crap!
|
young Girl
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 13932 Location: everythings better in, texas USA
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 12-26-07 16:12pm
biggg difference :/
|
O0o0h_baby
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 674 Location: Northern California,
Posted: 12-26-07 16:12pm
Your electricity bill seems awfully high
for a home heated with wood. Obviously
electricity doesnt leak, but maybe
something in your house isnt working right
like a water heater or the fridge? That
happend at my moms house last year.
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 16:12pm
Diane we don't qualify for wic, we make
just over the amount they consider too
much.
Suzy I look at those lightbulbs everytime
we go shopping, I'm going to get some the
next time we're out & have the money
for it, which should be the next paycheck
after this weeks.
I've kinda looked into working from home
but haven't really gone too deep into
looking, I'm not sure what is available
around here to do that. I wouldn't even
know where to start with Mary Kay or Avon!
|
young Girl
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 13932 Location: everythings better in, texas USA
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 12-26-07 16:14pm
you may try looking in the paper or even
online on craigslist they have
joblistings!
oh you know what else?!!! do you have any
daycare centers near by? that would be a
good job! you could even bring kaylee to
work with you!!!!!
thats not bad, another idea is to instead
of using ur debit card kep the bil money
in your bank account but take out the cash
that u can spend on whatever. then when
you break bills put the cange and even the
$1 bils in a jar. I find it easier then
just swiping acard to keep track of the
money you are spending, your less apt to
hand over your cash then to swipe a card
when your athe store and double think
everything u buy if you realy need it, as
you walk through the store think about it
chances are youl end up putting stuff back
you never really need, generics are good
like shampoo , hair spray toilet paper.
we have between $500-$70o left after bills
but thats not counting groceries. wich
with 2 in diapers its like $30 on diapers
each paycheck alone. we havent saved a
dime and it sucks. Im in charge of paying
our bils but he wants most of the stuff
paid off before we leave her because we
dont get COLA pay in the states. ALso
durin the day u dont need lights, just
open all your blinds or curtains, if your
not watching the tv turn it off.i bring
the kids in the shower with me 20 min and
we are all done rather then filling the
tub etc, joseph is big enough to stand in
there with me, i usally hold jordynne and
wash her. Bills suck, man if i wrote out
al my bils yall would think i am crazy
haha
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 16:18pm
O0o0h_baby
wrote:
Your electricity bill seems
awfully high for a home heated with wood.
Obviously electricity doesnt leak, but
maybe something in your house isnt working
right like a water heater or the fridge?
That happend at my moms house last
year.
It is high, the hot water heater isn't in
good shape at all, that's a huge part of
it & we think a lot of it is old
wiring. We probably won't get to the
re-wiring of this place until Summer 2009
though. Summer 2008 is pretty much full
because we're going to start remodeling by
leveling the house up (The kitchen floor
sinks in a little) & by getting new
doors & windows.. Wowie & has
anyone priced doors & windows lately
Your electricity bill seems
awfully high for a home heated with wood.
Obviously electricity doesnt leak, but
maybe something in your house isnt working
right like a water heater or the fridge?
That happend at my moms house last
year.
my parents electricity bil used to be near
$300 when my brother lived at the house,
then when he left it was almost under
$100! He is weird he sleeps with his tv
and light on and when hes home alone he
turnes every single light on but also he
woul stay up all night so the electricity
was going like 24/7.
|
O0o0h_baby
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 674 Location: Northern California,
Posted: 12-26-07 16:23pm
New doors and windows are VERY exspensive.
My grandmas house has just been built
after the fire, so i've seen all that
stuff recently. It can cost $1,200 for a
new front door >.>. You could try
weatherizing (sp) I know that there is
plastic stuff that goes over the windows,
and you can use sealant around doors.
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 16:24pm
tinkinpink84
wrote:
thats not bad, another idea
is to instead of using ur debit card kep
the bil money in your bank account but
take out the cash that u can spend on
whatever. then when you break bills put
the cange and even the $1 bils in a jar. I
find it easier then just swiping acard to
keep track of the money you are spending,
your less apt to hand over your cash then
to swipe a card when your athe store and
double think everything u buy if you realy
need it, as you walk through the store
think about it chances are youl end up
putting stuff back you never really need,
generics are good like shampoo , hair
spray toilet paper. we have between
$500-$70o left after bills but thats not
counting groceries. wich with 2 in diapers
its like $30 on diapers each paycheck
alone. we havent saved a dime and it
sucks. Im in charge of paying our bils but
he wants most of the stuff paid off before
we leave her because we dont get COLA pay
in the states. ALso durin the day u dont
need lights, just open all your blinds or
curtains, if your not watching the tv turn
it off.i bring the kids in the shower with
me 20 min and we are all done rather then
filling the tub etc, joseph is big enough
to stand in there with me, i usally hold
jordynne and wash her. Bills suck, man if
i wrote out al my bils yall would think i
am crazy haha
That's a good idea too, just to leave the
bill money right in the account until it's
needed. We've been saving change but
always end up needing it toward the end of
the 2 weeks right before Shane gets paid
again. If we stick with this budget though
we should be able to leave the change jar
alone, I'd like to start putting all extra
change into Kaylee's piggy bank &
start an account for her with it all.
We've been doing real good with keep
lights off during the day, it's been so
dark & gloomy out lately we've kinda
needed to have lights on though. Otherwise
Kaylee would be busting her head open lol.
jason gets paid right now near 3,000 a
month but it wil go down to 2,200 when he
comes home but technicaly we
are ok, but we cant have al the bils we
have when we leave here because he will be
getting less money ..
|
OctoberBaby06
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 4617 Location: , US
Thanks: 3
Thanked:2
Posted: 12-26-07 16:26pm
It's crazy the price of doors &
windows! They're a must have though, I
think the doors & windows in this
cabin have been here for 300 years
We just got done putting plastic on the
windows, I even put a huge piece of
plastic over the back door because the air
comes through that something fierce. We
don't use the backdoor much anyway except
in the summer.
but technicaly we
are ok, but we cant have al the bils we
have when we leave here because he will be
getting less money ..
