http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php This is a forum to support followers of Dave Ramsey in getting out of debt and building wealth. en Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:45:22 GMT vBulletin 120 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2247 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:46:39 GMT We haven't fallen off the wagon, I've just been slack on posting anything lately. Since I coach high school baseball I get really busy when the season rolls around.

Our total current debt now stands at $42,348.45. That's a mere 43% of the amount we originally started with. We had to slow down the progress this month and next because we found out we did not pay the government "our fair share." However, we forecasted that we will be finished with everything except house debt (1st and 2nd) in October of this year. And once we start on the 2nd mortgage, it should take us right at a year to pay that off. Guess that's the price you pay when you live way outside your means. ]]> bdbull http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2247 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2246 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:22:26 GMT Ugh. So, my home computer has died a horrible horrible death. Occasionally I can pull it up enough to attempt saving the pictures I loaded on there but never printed. It lasts for 15 minutes and... Ugh. So, my home computer has died a horrible horrible death. Occasionally I can pull it up enough to attempt saving the pictures I loaded on there but never printed. It lasts for 15 minutes and then gasps and passes out again.

I do actually need a computer - for work, for my daughter's schoolwork, and most recently I was going to use it to get stuff posted on craigs list to sell.

I can get a useable desktop for about $500...does that come from emergency fund or where? I realize to some not having a computer wouldn't be an emergency, but I have to be available to work on an on-call basis, so I do actually need it.

Ughity ugh ugh ]]> woobums http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2246 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2245 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:03:36 GMT I think that's the only way I'm going to make it through this: being short sighted. When I look at the big picture, and at any step after BS2, I get SO overwhelmed and feel like I won't EVER manage it. I feel I've started so so so very late that it's never going to work. My daughter will be starting college in 3 years (hopefully). I won't even have my FFEF complete by then. I just....ugh. So I have to look at the here and now and forget the future b/c it's just too daunting.

Just had to get that out. ]]> woobums http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2245 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2244 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:10:34 GMT I've been doing daves plan for almost a week now and just in that short time I already feel better and my stress levels have gone down a LOT!

Dave Ramsey is not known at all downunder, so I do FPU online and I know that I need to connect with others doing the same thing if I'm going to stay the course. I'm really excited about being debt free! A week ago I was waking up worrying about how to pay the bills, now I'm waking up with ideas on how to find extra money LOL!

I made an agreement with a cc :shark:to make a payment by the end of the coming week. yesterday they started texting me to call them about an overdue payment. I can't wait to get them off my back!

I also got an amended tax bill yesterday and it is now $3500, but the good thing is that the tax office in Australia are really helpful about making payment arrangements, they have been wonderful while I have been sick ( almost 12 months) and working less. So i can negotiate with them without any penalites or harrassment.

Anyway I'm looking forward to getting to know people here and sharing the journey with you all :wtg2: ]]> Jan-mymoneytree http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2244 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2243 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:09:48 GMT It's performance review time and I got a small raise for the year (effictive April). It's the smallest raise I've ever received from the company, yet I wasn't expecting any raise because of the economy, so I still feel pretty good. I'm not sure how much I'll actually see after tithe, taxes, and 401K shake out, but probably around $35-40 per month extra. We had a budget meeting tonight and all of the raise will go towards increasing our food budget. It's such a wonderful feeling to be able to tell your money where it goes - "on paper, on purpose." ]]> Boston340 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2243 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2242 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:54:36 GMT How ridiculous! As I'm sitting in my 'Dumping Debt' lesson of Financial Peace University, my tummy is rumbling and all I can think about is the Boston Market, Arby's, and Taco Bell that are right next door to the facility.
While I'm learning about going gazelle, I'm IMMENSELY distracted by the thought of a yummy roasted beast sammich at however many dollars per.

Class lets out.
I get in my car.
And drive straight home to my ever so boring yet paid for leftover pasta.


Yay me.:biggrin:


(Though I still want that sammich) ]]> woobums http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2242 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2216 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:20:17 GMT Intended / Actual INCOME: 8500.00 / 8515.43 Additional from: R15.43 - Interest earned TAXES: 85.00 / 85.00 - Unemployment Tax - paid 718.00 / 718.00 - Income Tax - paid Intended / Actual

INCOME:
8500.00 / 8515.43
Additional from:
R15.43 - Interest earned

TAXES:
85.00 / 85.00 - Unemployment Tax - paid
718.00 / 718.00 - Income Tax - paid

FIXED EXPENSES:
235.00 / 235.00 - Internet
100.00 / 100.00 - Cellphone
1461.80 / 1461.80 - Car Loan
342.08 / 342.08 - Car Insurance
285.00 / 285.00 - Tracker
692.00 / 692.00 - Medical Aid
250.00 / 250.00 – Electric
500.00 / 500.00 - Groceries
1000.00 / 1000.00 - Rent
320.00 / 320.00 - Storage
4.00 / 4.00 - Bank Service Fees

VARIABLE EXPENSES: (some estimated a little higher to ensure its covered)
850.00 / 850.00 - Tithe
112.70 / 112.70 - Water & Waste
550.00 / 391.44 - Petrol & Tips
300.00 / 125.75 - Cigs
16.00 / 8.25 - Banking Fees expected
400.00 / 132.18 - Blow/Entertainment

ONCE OFF EXPENSES:

BALANCE:
278.42 / 0.00 - Send to savings for apartment deposit

TO DO LIST:
R2401.80 to Absa on the 28th ]]> Qessentia http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2216 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2240 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:50:06 GMT I'm procrastinating. Taking FPU, and this week's assignment includes writing out the detailed detailed down to brass tacks zero based budget.
Quickie budget was so much easier, as it's the Big Bills and they are simpler to document. It's figuring out what happens with all the other dollars that is daunting. That's also why I'm doing Financial Peace though, isn't it? To get a grasp on things?
Woof.

Okay. Enough stalling. Gonna pour another cuppa joe and Just. Do. It. ]]> woobums http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2240 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2239 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:51:30 GMT I'm mulling over some things as DD moves into middle school-

1) Should I give in on DD purchasing school lunch? Perhaps increase amount of money she can earn so that she is purchasing the lunch. But, that's still more expensive than packing a lunch.

2) Camps. I really enjoyed camp experiences as a child. Wow-prices vary widely but it's more than I realized.

3) General stuff to do. The playgrounds and free activities that were a mainstay don't seem to be as appealing anymore.

Mmmmm...... ]]> purl2 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2239 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2238 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:14:12 GMT We have to come up with a "sick" fund.

To pay for various remedies (we generally use homeopathy, and that's not a one-size-fits-all thing, so many remedies can end up being stockpiled), teas, elixirs, and, yes, takeout food for the exhausted caretaker. Generally things like garlicy and/or spicy soups from the Chinese place, to help boost the caretaker's own immune system.

For today, I'm glad the "extra" part of the snowball is kept to the end of the month (aka Feb 28), to be thrown with the normal absolute no matter what part of the snowball at the beginning of next month (aka Mar 1), because we could snag some from that money when DS decided that throwing up all over the carseat, and later on the bed, was the thing he needed to do.

But what we need is an envelope, say 50-75, that just sits there until it's needed, to cover these things, just in case I ever start throwing that snowball earlier (a goal).

And that's what we need. ]]> malkabean http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2238 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2237 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:05:26 GMT February was a very successful month for us. The only thing we bought other than groceries and spending our entertainment money was more socks for DH. He is working a construction job now and... February was a very successful month for us. The only thing we bought other than groceries and spending our entertainment money was more socks for DH. He is working a construction job now and needed good quality socks to wear with his steel toed boots - $16. He does need some more work pants and I am planning to check Goodwill next week for those, that will fall under March.

The Compact is really forcing us to evaluate needs vs. wants and to get creative - either by borrowing or doing something ourselves. I ran out of moisturizer this month and googled "homemade moisturizer." Guess what, I'm still alive after using olive oil on my face one day and coconut oil the next day. I decided I like coconut oil better and I truly think my complexion is better than a store-bought mosturizer. I'm nervous about what will happen when I run out of foundation and mascara, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Total spent this month other than food and entertainment = $16

Total towards 2010 goals
$286 extra towards mortgage (the big snowballs will start in March)

$1900 towards water/sewer issue (we have about $3000 to go that we have not been billed for yet) ]]> Boston340 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2237 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2236 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:02:18 GMT Well, it seems like ages ago that I've been posting here, so I figured that I'd do a bit of a small update on what's been going on.

I came across an ad on facebook that offered free financial coaching covering topics like "The Psychology of Money, Living a Balanced and Fulfilled Life, Financial Management & Budgeting, Risk Management and Wealth Creation" over the course of 5 weeks. I decided that I'd get in touch with them since it was for free and couldn't hurt me any to see what they had to say on the matter. Turns out that they're brokers, but the good news is that there's no obligation to purchase/arrange anything with them after the course is done.

This week was my third week with them, and the homework this week has been about identifying what goals you had wanted to achieve the past 5 years, why you didn't achieve them, and what do you want to achieve in the future. This has actually been a good exercise for me since I've never really been one to set goals down on paper before.

It's also been about looking at my spending habits for the past 3 months, and I'm sad to say that it's not been very good. Sure, I squashed both credit cards, but then I used one of them again for an online purchase (thankfully not a huge amount, so I will be able to cashflow settling it when the next payment is deducted from my account which I've already set up to deduct the full outstanding balance). I fully intend to phone that credit card company later this afternoon to have it closed completely!

Also, I have noticed that my eating out habits has gone off the deep end and will definitely need to be reeled in if I want to get anywhere fast! AND, thank goodness that I won't be going into further debt with Murphy that came to visit by overheating my car two days ago!!! YAY for emergency funds... even if it was only a baby one!

There is also a section this week in the homework which is making me take a look at my "financial values". It gives me a series of options to choose between where I need to say which of the two is more important to me, eg. Entertainment or Financial Security, Car or Clothing, Charity or Education, and the list goes on. It also mixes up the choices, and this helps to really get a priority list from the answers that are given. Then there's another section where a new budget is worked out to reflect the financial values which have been determined.

Personally, I think that is really cool since I'm going to be able to really figure out what's important to me. I'll be able to set up a budget which will then take those things into account and will (I think) make me much more happier with where my money is going to everyday.:biggrin: I think this will also help me to focus more and help me to stay the course in what I'm trying to achieve here.

One very good thing that I've discovered doing this exercise? I now own more than half of my car! LOL Now, if only they would allow me to send in extra payments... unfortunately I need to save up the settlement value if I want to kill that loan faster than what the loan period is for! Time to get into action here!! :axe: ]]> Qessentia http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2236 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2235 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:26:30 GMT Again I got that candy bar, I really need to stop that, but at the same time it taste oh so good. Of course I also forgot to eat breakfast again, and didn't bring anything to eat on break. On a healthier note I got a banana to eat while on break in addition to the candy bar.
Class was canceled, so I didn't need to grab any food to go between work and class. Total spent today $1.27

Grocery budget left for the week: 23.74 ]]> JoanPD http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2235 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2234 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:12:29 GMT There was a comment about how folks on the boards are very hard on folks looking for budget help. Something about wanting folks to live in misery or some such as that. But it made me think.... ... There was a comment about how folks on the boards are very hard on folks looking for budget help. Something about wanting folks to live in misery or some such as that. But it made me think.... Budgets are something that are different as the people who write them. For example if my budget was in panic mode, I'd knock off dance classes in a heartbeat. Others would rather not. So how many budgets have I had since I started budgeting? How many different budgets have I commented on, some with much cutting, some with little? How much does personality come into budgets? How about how you look at money? And why? WHY am I harder on some budgets than others? I've come to the conclusion that it's not all about the budget.... it's also about the circumstances.

While misery has never been my intent, I think that the folks that I was harshest on, and cut the most out of were most likely in plenty of misery where they were. Usually Pre-BS1. Where they are going under for the last time, and need a little dose of reality.

Anyway, here's my take on budgets that are addressed on this board.... Roughly in the order that they are in many lives....


Panic budget.... Anyone in Pre-BS1 for more than a month. Bills are behind. Collectors are calling or suing. All in all a miserable place to be. Goal is to get back to zero.... even.... making payments as agreed. I may be a bit harsh with these folks and their budgets. They are sinking. They need to cut all, and I do mean ALL extras until they can get their budget under control. These are "bare bone" budgets, with all extra funds being shoveled into paying off the loudest screamers... those who will throw you into the street, those who will sue. Those who will make your life much more miserable than living without cable for a few months.

FIRST budget..... it gets a category all it's own, because truly, I'm not sure it's a budget, so much as a laying out of what you actually spend each month..... and because humans are what they are, sometimes it doesn't include EVERYTHING that they spend. It's kind of a dream budget, which may or may not have any bearing on reality. It takes a little while to turn this "budget" into a real budget that you can feel comfortable with. The comments on these types of budgets generally go into everything that you have forgotten....... it moves quickly into.....

Making it work budget.... This is the first budget that is not preempted by a panic... Frustration yes, but not panic. This is when you sit down and look at the income vs. the outgo. You are looking for a budget that works, but not really willing yet to give up most of the luxuries. You justify cell phones for children, Netflix, starbucks, etc... Because your budget now works and you have a small snowball. Because lots of folks are gazelle, and most posts don't actually SAY what information they are looking for, these budgets tend to get nitpicked.... Do you really need Netflix, your snowball could be bigger with these changes. Here is where you find out what you are really willing to give up to get out of debt, and those things that are REALLY important to you.

Tight budget.... At some point you realize that doing this program on the "making it work budget" is going to take 10 years, and you really don't want to wait that long.... so you decide to tighten up the belts a bit. The luxuries start to drop off one by one. Here you reevaluate all those things that you thought you couldn't live without.

Gazelle budget.... This is when you decide you're done with this walking though the program and want to run.... So now all the items left in the budget get another look. You get excited when you can get the phone company to lower your bill $5 a month, and find another insurance company that saves you more. Everything comes up for cutting... and every thing that can be cut is. "Frugal" becomes your new name.

Maintenance budget.... Sometimes, even with all the cuts you have made, it will simply take a while to pay off a debt. This budget will get you there. Sometimes you look, but you know it won't move any faster.... you've made all the cuts you can... you are just maintaining to get rid of the debt.

Luxury Budget.... And this is the budget when things start being added back into the budget instead of cut. The point that you get here will vary.... usually some time after BS2.... but with compromises it could be sooner.

Not to mention that many folks are simply not in the same place in life. There's a great deal of difference between rural Alabama and NYC.... And not everyone lives in NYC.... and not everyone wants to. There's the same distance between a panic budget and a luxury budget.... life circumstances play a big part of that. If it's not clear by the post which budget folks are looking for, most tend to lean towards the gazelle budget.... it can be a little overwhelming to those that are just looking to maintain and aren't ready for gazelle yet.

There's no way to tell, when a budget has been posted, how many cuts have already been made. For the poster, they may be "gazelle", and have already cut 50% of their activities out of the budget... To others it may seem like they are barely making it.... and both may be right.

I also have an "emergency budget".... it's not quite a panic budget, but is quite a bit trimmer than any budget I've used in a long time. It's bare bones.... It's just in case..... I wouldn't like to live on it, but I know that I can if circumstances turn to needing that budget.

"Wanting people to live in misery"...... I don't think that's the case... at least not for me.... I want them to get out of misery as rapidly as they can.... After all, if they were happy with where they are, they likely wouldn't have come here.... and they certainly wouldn't have posted their budget, without SAYING that they were happy with it. ]]> momto6 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2234 http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2232 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:17:59 GMT While I was decently good today, I ended up buying a candy bar. I stayed up late working on homework, then got up with not much time before I had to take off to work. I forgot to bring something to... While I was decently good today, I ended up buying a candy bar. I stayed up late working on homework, then got up with not much time before I had to take off to work. I forgot to bring something to eat for lunch. At first I thought I would wait until I got home a little after three, but by the time my break came around I felt like I needed to eat. I did at least only get 1 king size instead of the 2 or more I usually get.

I did use more gas today then I would have liked to since when I got home I was told that my sister had made a dentist appt for my BIL for that day, but as it was something he needed it's not that big of a deal.

I accompanied my mom to the store with out planning on getting anything but I found a yogurt brand on sale for a dollar, and I had a dollar off coupon, so I got yougurt for free (not a flavor I like, but my niece really likes yogurt so I got it for her, hopefully she likes cherry)

Total spent today $1.01 on candy. Grocery total is left at: 25.01 ]]> JoanPD http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/blog.php?b=2232