“Monthly Spending” Archive
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Oh how I will miss it but it is time. I haven’t actually been in about 2 months which means those pesky grays have returned! Every time I commit to just going gray I bail b/c I JUST turned 40 and I’m just not ready yet!!! I never thought I’d color my hair and didn’t start until I was 37. I have black hair so the grays arrive with what seems like trumpets and flares! I really did try to talk myself into embracing them but…it hasn’t happened. So, I’ve been paying for salon coloring (of just one color…matching my natural…nothing fancy) for over 3 years. Yea, I’m over it. Now I need to be brave enough to do the store bought color. Please send any tips you have. I think I will still use the same hairdresser for my haircuts but no more blowdry and style. That really needs to be a treat! With hair products (which I also have an addiction to…), this was adding up to $150-225 per visit (about every 8 weeks). GAD! That’s awful!!! I admit it!! I also know this is tangible progress b/c 3 months ago I would have fought you to the mat on this issue! I LOVE having my hair done. I admit it. I love it so much I was willing to spend serious money…and get into more debt…to make it happen! A haircut alone with my guy is $30 and if color my own I can go a LONG time b/w haircuts…I should set that as a goal. Maybe 1 cut every six months! Don’t laugh at me! 
The money saved will, of course, go to debt.
Now, I’ll be honest. I am not going to cut my own hair and I am not going to ask my husband or any other relative to cut my hair. Maybe one day when my vision is worse and I can’t see what has happened…but not anytime soon! I admire those who do this but I am not there. I also should admit that it only takes one really awful experience with a discount haircut kinda place to make a girl think twice before trying that again (think “I’d like a bang trim please” being heard by the stylist as “please make me look like Cleopatra.” Awful. And right before my Senior prom!) I’ll listen to your success stories though and be open minded about it all!
I’m having a funny vision….of me with really bad hair with a really bad grocery store color job…eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Vegas. All in the name of debt reduction! As it should be!
Tell me some of your changes in the health and beauty department. I’m anxious to hear!
We’re combing through our monthly bills and figuring out what we can get rid of to see instant monthly savings. Right off the bat we were able to eliminate $135 each month. This came from memberships to the gym and clubs we just don’t need and a credit monitoring service that we have replaced with an alternative through our credit union. It doesn’t sound like much but you guys are already teaching me that every penny counts. Hubby and I have also mentioned eliminating cable for the first time and it isn’t nearly as scary to discuss as we both thought it would be. This would be a $80 per month savings. The kids are good about playing outside sans electronics already and this would only encourage that good habit even more. Let me hear what other monthly items you’ve cut out of your budget completely. I’m sure there are obvious things that I haven’t thought of yet.
On this frugality note, thank you to Brandy of The Prudent Homemaker for her gentle nudge to more frugal living. I’m totally overwhelmed by the content of her website BUT I am intrigued by making my own laundry detergent. Now, just as an aside, I promise I just heard my entire family and group of girlfriends laugh out loud at the thought of me making laundry detergent. The humor in that visual is part of the fun I am finding in the idea! Also, I’m ready to explore buying beans in bulk. The kitchen is NOT my strong area but I am very good about making a menu and creating a grocery list from those recipes and then only buying what is on the list. I don’t go crazy in the grocery store. So the beans in bulk will be something we try for next week’s menu. Deep breath.
So, to recap…I have the savings goal set forth, I’m going to attempt to make my own laundry detergent and I’ll explore buying beans in bulk. Okay. Well that sounds pretty pathetic! Oh and I’m diving into chapter 2 of my “Money Road Map” book. One last thing I want to set a timeline for—sitting down and explaining our financial situation to the kids in terms they can understand and getting them on board as part of the “Debt Reduction Team.” I know they will be willing partcipants. We’ll get that done by Sunday, March 11.
Have a super Tuesday!
That fever I’ve been sporting for the last few days was actually Mastitis. It’s a crummy infection you get from nursing.
Tired, fevered, and in tremendous pain, I considered quitting. Formula would make things so much easier in my life. I went to Target, browsed the formula aisle, coughed in shock from the price tags, then pushed my cart straight to the ice pack section and went home.
The baby is fabulously healthy according to his doc, I’m couch surfing with ice packs and warm compresses, and my checkbook is safe.
As I stated in an earlier post, I endured a 2 year legal battle before the lawsuit was dropped in January. I was excited but wouldn’t feel truly free until the statute of limitations expired mid-way through this month.
On Sunday, I was served with legal papers. The plaintiff has re-opened the lawsuit, added my husband as a co-defendant (even though my husband has no legal ownership in our home), and is asking for more money than ever.
To me, it’s a fairly cut and dry frivolous lawsuit and I will gladly share the details once it’s over (if it ever ends) but I live in the lawsuit friendly state of California and I don’t have faith in our judicial system to protect me.
We’re going to bump up our emergency fund in preparation for legal fees. I’m not sure how far the plaintiff will go, but we’re preparing for the worst.
My budget was already threadbare but living with 50% less salary and on unemployment benefits has forced us to find ways to somehow reduce more.
First, we cut our dental and vision insurance. This is something that can easily be re-instated but the $25 a month can help me now.
Second, I cancelled all my appointments health related or otherwise. None of my appointments were an emergency and I requested that my doctor renew my prescriptions without the annual check-up since the last 6 years have been clear of any problems. These appointments and tests run in the neighborhood of $500.
Third, I called my cable company to cancel our cable, reduce our internet speed, and reduce our phone service. I explained our situation and was surprised when they offered reduced internet costs, reduced phone costs, and added free services and free channels for a 12 month period. I would tell you how much I’m paying – but I’m afraid they’ll figure out they made a huge mistake and ‘correct’ the discount… or fire the guy who gave it to me. I would have cut out the internet and phone entirely but my husband needs internet for school purposes and job searching late at night when he gets home (free internet at the library is closed) and I’m uncomfortable without a home phone for emergencies.
Fourth, I contacted my student loan company for a deferment.
Fifth, my husband and I contacted friends and family and let them know we’d be available for odd jobs. Since unemployment doesn’t start for nearly a month after a job loss, my husband has done everything from pulling weeds to insulating walls. I have been helping a company with paperwork at night after work. We use this money for groceries and for the important bills like electric and water. At no time should you feel you are ‘too good’ for any type of job.
Sixth, we cut off all our subscriptions and memberships. If you’re like us, you may not even remember you have some of them since they are automatically billed to your credit card and you may not look at each item on your online statement. Some examples: gym memberships, club memberships, magazine and newspaper subscriptions (some automatically renew unless you cancel). Savings – $50 a month.
Seventh, we’ve been using more public transportation. It takes twice as long to get somewhere, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s far from fun, but it saves $50-$75 a month.
It’s not a lot, but each item buys us a little more time.
One of our roommates is moving out on September 1st. We set aside money to cover the loss of rent for the month so we’re still on schedule. I was looking forward to having a quiet month with some alone time with my husband but it looks like I’ll be serenaded by the sounds of hammers and saws. We are using this time to tear down an interior wall between our bedroom and the guest bedroom to add insulation and soundproofing before the new roommate moves in at the end of September. If I want alone time with my man, I’ll have to throw on a hard hat, a ratty t-shirt, and an old pair of jeans. You can count me in whenever sledge hammers are involved.
I’m fortunate to be married to a hardworking construction genius who can do the work himself (plus, my husband looks irresistible in safety goggles). We only have to pay for the materials which should run about $100.
Why are we insulating? Our house was built in the 1950’s and no insulation was used on any interior or exterior walls. Our heating and cooling bills are much higher than they need to be. The initial expense of the upgrade will be quickly paid for in lower electric bills plus, it’s better for the environment. And… our new roommates are newlyweds – that’s reason enough in itself.
It always seems like when we have an opportunity to get ahead, the necessities of life burn through the cash. Between tuition costs, new dog vet bills, and the two weddings, we have had to pony up more than $3,000 in the last two months.
These expenses would have buried us in the past, but careful planning and frugal spending have kept our heads above water.
My husband and I both know there is some padding in our checking account. Paying overdraft fees is a pet peeve of mine so I try to make sure we have a little more than we think. This month, we both used the debit card a few times and before we knew it, the padding was gone and we were well over our budget. I had to do a pricey and frustrating balance transfer from our savings to avoid an overdraft.
I am very disappointed.
This event led to the following changes:
1. More involvement by both of us. Often in relationships, one person manages the finances. When things don’t go well and money is too tight, this person feels the stress, the pressure, and the responsibility for the mess. We have both decided to dedicate and hour each week to review each transaction. Now we have more checks and balances on each others spending – otherwise, we’ll have another bad month.
2. We are refocusing our goals and setting rewards. Our next payoff is still a ways away and we’re getting frustrated and bored. We decided to give ourselves something to look forward to after our next payoff. It’s nothing huge, maybe a dinner out or a trip to the theater, but rewards between payoffs has become something we need to stay motivated.
3. Reconsidering our numbers. We went back to make sure our numbers were working for our ever changing budget. We’ve been underspending on gas and overspending on miscellaneous necessities (car repairs, house repairs, etc.). We decided to adjust our numbers and perhaps pay a little less on our credit card so we can stop panicking when things aren’t balancing. Leaving the numbers the same would be great, but it’s obviously not working and it’s causing frustration.
4. We have decided to spread our focus. It’s easy to let finances consume our thoughts and lives. Rather than let this stress grow, we decided to let ourselves enjoy other things in life. Running, swimming, yoga, gardening groups, and organizing the garage help to keep our mind free of the finance clutter in our brains.
When there are long distances between payoffs, it’s important to work at what is frustrating you. You can’t solve everything, and it will be painful, but taking steps to at least reduce stress will help to prevent burnout. I’d rather take things a bit more slowly than give up entirely.
What have you done to motivate yourself and prevent burnout?
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My Debt
- Original Debt: $97,293.06
- Paid: $1,927.89
- Remaining: $95,365.17
- Emergency Fund: $1100
- Broken Down
- Line of Credit 2: $0.00
- Line of Credit 1: $0.00
- Credit Card 1: $0.00
- Credit Card 2: $245.00
- Credit Card 3: $405.00
- Credit Card 6: $1,785.00
- Credit Card 7: $2,381.17
- Consolidation Loan: $11,000.00
- Credit Card 10: $14,519.00
- Auto Loan 1: $16,093.00
- Credit Card 11: $23,873.00
- Auto Loan 2: $25,064.00
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