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I was slated to visit the office again this coming week. But with the rise of COVID and frankly, my nerves, I have decided to forego anymore office visits for the time being. It just seems safer and I am definitely most comfortable just being home – no more clothes dilemma.

This takes a load off mentally. But it also saves me about a tank of gas and four hours in the car. And as you know…time = money! And before anyone expresses anything about job security and responsibilities, it is written into my job offer that my role is 100% remote irregardless of what COVID did/does. It was never the expectation that I would work from the office on a regular basis or ever really.

We did sell Princess’ car this past weekend. It sold for $2,000 and I was very upfront with known issues, work that had been done and the wreck she had. That money is being put into a savings account for another car down the road.

Being cautious

While our tiny town continues to be mostly unaffected by regulations and mandates, we and by we now, I mean, I continue to be careful with grocery delivery pick up or delivery only. And, as always, limited outside excursions. I must admit that I am less cautious then I would be elsewhere, but I am being careful.

Our school district issued all students computers this past week. Thoughts abound that they are preparing for another lockdown. They also sent out an email letting parents know where they could get access to free internet if they didn’t have it at home. But we are also seeing a rise in “free internet” offers from local providers. Are you seeing this in your area as well?

Side note: Did I tell ya’ll that both the twins had COVID a couple of weeks ago? History Buff got tested and was positive. Sea Cadet assumed he was positive as he started feeling icky a few days later and treated it accordingly. Sea Cadet’s girlfriend also tested positive as she has been here for several days earlier that week.

We did a couple of supply runs for them and they had Walmart delivery, but they both recovered quickly. We watched Princess closely as she worked at the bowling alley with them both the weekend before they got sick, but she never had any symptoms. Before she left, we stocked up on the medicines she might need should she get sick and she is taking the immune boosting vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. This was important to me since she is in a much more congested area now.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.

Budget = Freedom

by Hope

My budget gives me freedom that I’ve not had in a really long time. I know this sounds pretty crazy coming from me.

But I have all outgoing expenses planned all the way through May of 2022 right now. I also have my regular income and even a savings planned for the same time period. (And I’ve planned this way for years now.)

It may not be the traditional budget, but it works for me.

How does a budget give freedom

I do not have to think for even a minute on how I will spend my money. My money plan for every month spells out where my money is going and when. All my “free” money or what people often call an allowance is kept in cash. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

This way of planning and managing my money has set me free is ways I have never experienced before.

And it’s really been enhanced by having regular income, compared to my variable income that wreaked havoc on this type of plan. Before returning to the corporate world, I was constantly having to adjust when and how much based on payment dates, partial payments and delayed payments from customers.

But now what

So I’ve had this ‘budget’ if you may for years. But I am still terrible with money. I’m ignorant of making it work for me. As good as I think I am doing and wise my decisions are becoming, some of the BAD commenters really show me how bad my relationship with money really is. As much as I might be making plenty of money now, I am still making decisions like a ‘poor person’ (I think there’s a better term but I just couldn’t think of it.)

This past week I began a money class taught by a money expert. And while it will cover all the “education points” I need, I think. The reason I chose this one was because it is promoted as dealing with the psychology of money. Today is the second class.

I thought I might share of my insights here…

Week 1 of my money course

Last week they talked about the need for a budget. Old news to me. But there were a few points that really stood out to me.

Make your budget in a shame free/judgement free environment. It’s for you, you don’t have to share it if you don’t want too. Your reality is your reality and your priorities are your priorities. Yes, I know a “getting out of debt budget” is a bit different vs a how we live budget. But I think a lot of us have shame and feel judged about how we spend our money, even when we aren’t telling the world about our bad decisions on a blog.
They recommended making two budgets…and I love this! I’m going to do this this weekend. The budgets they recommend are:
1. A right now budget – how are you spending your money today
2. A future budget – what does the perfect budget look like for you, your dream lifestyle
Consider if you plan to expand or decrease your spending or maybe your income.

They shared a Google spreadsheet with a budget sheet that had two columns – monthly expenses and yearly expenses and a bunch of suggested categories. What was cool about it was that it calculated the yearly income you need to cover your budget.

Expand or Contract

The last part of the call, they talked about expanding or contracting your budgeted spending. The leaders expected the audience to all plan to expand or stay the same. I was one of the few to be adamant about contracting. (The attendees are primarily business owners looking to grow their business and manage their money better, so I get it.) On the other hand, I am looking to minimize as much as possible my monthly and yearly outlays.