Aug-09
AUTO-Excise Tax $0
AUTO-BR Gas $160
AUTO-Insurance $130
AUTO-Maint $0
CASH-Clothing $600
CASH-Dining Out $180
CASH-JR Gas $120
CASH-Gifts $0
CASH-Grocery $500
CASH-Kids Allowc $62
CASH-Parties $20
CASH-Schl Lunch $0
CASH-Spending $200
HOME-Cable/Ph $160
HOME-Electric $115
HOME-Mortgage $2,345
HOME-Oil $0
HOME-Water $0
HOME-Trash $0
KIDS-Bball $0
KIDS-Misc. $0
KIDS-Piano $264
MISC. $0
PERS-Cell Ph $0
PERS-Contacts $99
PERS-Life Ins. $59
PERS-Newspap $12
PERS-BR Rx1 $0
PERS-BR Rx2 $0
PERS-Cat Rx $0
PERS-Braces $200
PERS-BR Sports $0
PERS-Vacation $0
TRNSF-To Sav $2,300
TOTAL $7,526
INCOME August
1st Paycheck $2,261
1st Commission $3,090
15th Paycheck $2,261
Church Pay $100
Jewelry Pay $50
Other $0
Trnsf fr Savings $0
TOTAL $7,762
CASH FLOW August
Beginning Balance $0
+ Income $7,762
Subtotal $7,762
- Expenses $7,526
Subtotal $236
Save Fr Nxt Mnth $236
Ending Balance $0
SAVINGS FLOW August
Beginning Balance $20,381
+ Trnsf to Savings $2,300
Subtotal $22,681
- Trnsf fr Savings $0
Subtotal $22,681
Ending Balance $22,681
Saturday, August 8, 2009
New 2 Year Budget
Well, we bought a new computer and were able to upload everything from the old computer from an external hard drive - but not before I redid my 2 year budget spreadsheet. I was just too impatient and couldn't wait!
Turns out it was a good exercise to redo the budget from scratch. I feel a new sense of gazelle and calm at the same time. We are in pretty good shape and are moving forward every month. I also saved it to google docs so that it won't be lost again and I can access it from anywhere. :)
Turns out it was a good exercise to redo the budget from scratch. I feel a new sense of gazelle and calm at the same time. We are in pretty good shape and are moving forward every month. I also saved it to google docs so that it won't be lost again and I can access it from anywhere. :)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Motivating A Reluctant Spouse (with cash)
Over at llnoe.com there was a thread discussing motivating a reluctant spouse which is something I have been dealing with during our financial journey.
I started thinking about some of the things that we have purchased over the past couple of years, all for cash, and it made me feel kinda good. Some of these items were necessities and many were not. But the ones that were not were in a way, just to keep my DH on board with the plan.
Many of these things (or probably all) would have been purchased on credit in the past.
So, here's my list:
$500 - new laptop (old one broke)
$300 - video recorder (capture our children for memories)
$3,000 - Disney World vacation
$1,000 - new bedroom mattress
$500 - tear down overgrown shrubs and trees in yard
$400 - repair van air conditioner
$400 - replace rusted hood on van
$200 - gps for car
$1,000 - new dishwasher (old one broke)
$500 - hot water heater (old one broke)
$250 - mulch for yard
I started thinking about some of the things that we have purchased over the past couple of years, all for cash, and it made me feel kinda good. Some of these items were necessities and many were not. But the ones that were not were in a way, just to keep my DH on board with the plan.
Many of these things (or probably all) would have been purchased on credit in the past.
So, here's my list:
$500 - new laptop (old one broke)
$300 - video recorder (capture our children for memories)
$3,000 - Disney World vacation
$1,000 - new bedroom mattress
$500 - tear down overgrown shrubs and trees in yard
$400 - repair van air conditioner
$400 - replace rusted hood on van
$200 - gps for car
$1,000 - new dishwasher (old one broke)
$500 - hot water heater (old one broke)
$250 - mulch for yard
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I'm Lost . . .
. . . without my budget!
I had my 2 year budget spreadsheet on my computer - and my computer died two weeks ago. Ugh!
I have been lucky and have been able to use my husband's old work laptop (which we will probably have to give back, but until then I will use this), but I don't have a copy of my yearly budget. I don't even know what my August budget plan was. And here it is - August 4th. I know I should just get out a piece of paper and make a plan - but I don't want to. I like to see how this month will affect the whole year.
My only hope is that we did back up some files a while ago and hopefully my husband can help me look for my budget document.
Anyway, I know I'm whining . . . I'm just frustrated.
Not too much else to report. My Scrabble pendant website has been very slow. Haven't had a sale is about 2 weeks, but I guess that's not uncommon for on line sales in the summer. I should be making lots of stock for the 15 upcoming Craft Shows that I am doing.
Hubby's home - I'll post more later . . .
I had my 2 year budget spreadsheet on my computer - and my computer died two weeks ago. Ugh!
I have been lucky and have been able to use my husband's old work laptop (which we will probably have to give back, but until then I will use this), but I don't have a copy of my yearly budget. I don't even know what my August budget plan was. And here it is - August 4th. I know I should just get out a piece of paper and make a plan - but I don't want to. I like to see how this month will affect the whole year.
My only hope is that we did back up some files a while ago and hopefully my husband can help me look for my budget document.
Anyway, I know I'm whining . . . I'm just frustrated.
Not too much else to report. My Scrabble pendant website has been very slow. Haven't had a sale is about 2 weeks, but I guess that's not uncommon for on line sales in the summer. I should be making lots of stock for the 15 upcoming Craft Shows that I am doing.
Hubby's home - I'll post more later . . .
Saturday, August 1, 2009
June Earnings Update
Finally added up all my revenue for June 2009. I made $1,986 in extra income! Wow! I'm so psyched about that.
Updated my sidebar too.
Now if I can just get it up that high every month . . . :)
Updated my sidebar too.
Now if I can just get it up that high every month . . . :)
Keeping Up with My Sisters
Ugh! I just did a long post that didn't save or publish properly. . .
Anyway, July wasn't a great financial month for my family. My computer died. We haven't gotten a new one yet but probably will soon.
I definitely did not budget appropriately for the summer months. We went away for almost every weekend in July, and although we stayed for free with friends or family each time, we did spend a lot on groceries we brought as well as for outings and restaurants while we were there.
I also spent a lot of time with my well dressed sisters with fabulously decorated homes. Hence, I spent some unbudgeted money on home improvements (re-did family bathroom decor) and clothes for me.
In the final analysis, I had planned to put transfer an additional $2,000 into savings in the middle of the month. That didn't happen and by the end of the month there was only around $600 left in the checking account. Not good.
I sure hope (and PLAN) to make August a better month for us financially!
Anyway, July wasn't a great financial month for my family. My computer died. We haven't gotten a new one yet but probably will soon.
I definitely did not budget appropriately for the summer months. We went away for almost every weekend in July, and although we stayed for free with friends or family each time, we did spend a lot on groceries we brought as well as for outings and restaurants while we were there.
I also spent a lot of time with my well dressed sisters with fabulously decorated homes. Hence, I spent some unbudgeted money on home improvements (re-did family bathroom decor) and clothes for me.
In the final analysis, I had planned to put transfer an additional $2,000 into savings in the middle of the month. That didn't happen and by the end of the month there was only around $600 left in the checking account. Not good.
I sure hope (and PLAN) to make August a better month for us financially!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Emergency Fund Progress
We are on Baby Step 3 of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover which is to save up 3 to 6 months of expenses in a Fully Funded Emergency Fund. Our goal is to save $30,000 which is about 6 months of living expenses for my family.
Yesterday I deposited another $3,280 bringing our balance up to $20,310. After my husband gets paid on the 15th we plan to deposit another $2,220 which will bring our balance up to $22,530. This makes our total contribution for this month $5,500 which is less than what I had originally budgeted for.
Originally my husband expected his commission for this month to be $8,000 but it turned out to only be $4,900. At first this stressed me out but then he told me he expects next month's commission to be $3,000 where we had originally budgeted for $0.
I really want to get this FFEF done but on paper it looks it might take us until April 2010 to get the full $30,000 saved. I'm hoping we'll get it done before the end of the year.
Yesterday I deposited another $3,280 bringing our balance up to $20,310. After my husband gets paid on the 15th we plan to deposit another $2,220 which will bring our balance up to $22,530. This makes our total contribution for this month $5,500 which is less than what I had originally budgeted for.
Originally my husband expected his commission for this month to be $8,000 but it turned out to only be $4,900. At first this stressed me out but then he told me he expects next month's commission to be $3,000 where we had originally budgeted for $0.
I really want to get this FFEF done but on paper it looks it might take us until April 2010 to get the full $30,000 saved. I'm hoping we'll get it done before the end of the year.
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 2009 Budget
| Expenses | Jul |
| AUTO-Excise Tax | $0 |
| AUTO GAS - BR | $200 |
| AUTO-Insurance | $120 |
| AUTO-Maintenance | $0 |
| CASH-Auto Gas JR | $100 |
| CASH-Clothing | $0 |
| CASH-Dining Out | $120 |
| CASH-Gifts | $0 |
| CASH-Grocery | $400 |
| CASH-Kids Allownce | $50 |
| CASH-Parties | $0 |
| CASH-School Lunch | $0 |
| CASH-Spending | $160 |
| DEBT-Equity Loan | $0 |
| DEBT-Visa | $0 |
| HOME-Cable/Phone | $181 |
| HOME-Electric | $190 |
| HOME-Water | $0 |
| HOME-Furnace | $0 |
| HOME-Mortgage | $2,345 |
| HOME-Oil | $0 |
| HOME-Trash | $0 |
| KIDS-Bball | $0 |
| KIDS-Misc. | $0 |
| KIDS-Piano | $0 |
| KIDS-Preschool | $0 |
| MISC. | $0 |
| MISC. | $0 |
| PERSONAL-Cell Ph | $0 |
| PERSNAL-Contacts | $0 |
| PERSNAL-Life Ins. | $0 |
| $8 | |
| PERSONAL-Rx | $20 |
| PERSONAL-Braces | $100 |
| PERSNL-BR Sports | $0 |
| PERSNAL-Vacation | $0 |
| | |
| TOTAL Exp | $3,994 |
| Total To Sav Total $9,494 | $5,500 |
| INCOME | July |
| 1st Paycheck | $2,239 |
| 1st Commission | $4,900 |
| 15th Paycheck | $2,220 |
| Church Pay | $64 |
| Jewelry Pay | $50 |
| Other | $0 |
| Transfer fr Savings | $0 |
| TOTAL | $9,473 |
| CASH FLOW | July |
| Beginning Balance | $196 |
| '+ Income | $9,473 |
| Subtotal | $9,669 |
| '- Expenses | $9,494 |
| Subtotal | $175 |
| Save Fr Next Month | $175 |
| Ending Balance | $0 |
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