Yesterday, while at work I was informed that my department will have an opportunity to work 1 full week of overtime. Boy was I excited when I heard the news!!! As soon as I got a free moment I calculated how much I would make if I worked 20 hours and It came out to be an additional $560 bucks!! With the yard sale this weekend and over time, I will be able to put money towards my debt and possibly have a little fun.
I thought I would feel like going spending crazy on my first day off the budget but suprisingly there is nothing I actually need right now. This is good because it gives me time to plan out my spending, and keep track of whats coming in and going out. I am looking forward to the holiday with no major spending. My best friends birthday is tomorrow, I know we are schedule to have a bowling party and of course I am going to get her a gift, it would probably be a good idea to sit down and do my budget today.
I shall return with Julys figures!!
Showing posts with label budgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budgets. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Go Green Day 2
Wow yesterday was interesting, I purposefully asked for small bills at the bank so that if anything random came about I wouldn't constantly be breaking bills. God is good and he has worked things out. Its amazing what you find to spend money on! None the less the show must go on.....
Its gonna be a rocky week if I don't find time to grocery shop which is a key element in this program. I could go before bible study today, even though it might be a little rushed. I would have to get my grocery list done at work. I don't want to go in the store without a game plan otherwise I will end up forgetting things, and needing to return multiple times during the week which I would like to avoid.
I am going to (today) make a meal plan so I will know exactly what I need from the store to make the meals.
Here is how money was spent yesterday
$5 - A group of us co-workers brought flowers for my old boss who lost her mother over the holiday.
$3 - side salad and baked potato at wendys
$7 - A book I have been wanting to purchase that was on sale for half off!!
Grand total spend on day 1 $15 dollars
This isn't bad considering what a normal day looks like which would be like $20 bucks on fast food alone.
I am already making progress because this could have EASILY BEEN 3 debit card transactions. Im loving cash already!!!!
Its gonna be a rocky week if I don't find time to grocery shop which is a key element in this program. I could go before bible study today, even though it might be a little rushed. I would have to get my grocery list done at work. I don't want to go in the store without a game plan otherwise I will end up forgetting things, and needing to return multiple times during the week which I would like to avoid.
I am going to (today) make a meal plan so I will know exactly what I need from the store to make the meals.
Here is how money was spent yesterday
$5 - A group of us co-workers brought flowers for my old boss who lost her mother over the holiday.
$3 - side salad and baked potato at wendys
$7 - A book I have been wanting to purchase that was on sale for half off!!
Grand total spend on day 1 $15 dollars
This isn't bad considering what a normal day looks like which would be like $20 bucks on fast food alone.
I am already making progress because this could have EASILY BEEN 3 debit card transactions. Im loving cash already!!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Budgeting 101
Its Friday and you have just ran out of money, your did your budget but somehow you still managed to come up short on funds. You still have a week left before you get paid again and have no idea how you are going to make it unless you go borrow it from someone. This cycle has been going on for the last decade yet you can't stop it. Whats the problem you say? I have a budget but those things don't work, we just live in a rat race and will never get out, thats just the way it is...
STOP!!!!
My Dear friend, this is a common problem for a lot of America. Its called living on the idealistic budget. You've programmed everything based on income, but you're not controlling your spending. You have to let the budget control what you are spending or else is WON'T WORK!!
For example, lets say you are using the envelope system of budgeting. You have an entertainment monthly budget of $200, and you get paid twice a month. That means in each pay period you would put $100 into your entertainment envelope. When you go out for entertainment you take your envelope with you and you pay for whatever you do (eating out, movies, ect) out of the envelope and put the change back in. This way you know exactly what you have left. But when you look in the envelope and its empty, than you must STOP spending in that category until you get paid again. The principle works with every category of budgeting. Its not complicated; its what's called self-discipline.
Your budget always needs to be realistic, meaning you can't put $20 dollars in the gas envelope driving a F150 and expect it to last until next pay day unless you never drive the thing. Also a good idea would be to have another pair of eyes to look at your budget. A lot of times we miss things and it takes to people to see where something can be cut or where you could use a little more.
Another good rule of thumb is try not to be to detailed (At first). Sometimes all a budget requires is a note pad and a piece of paper, you don't need quicken, or msn money to do your budget. Just write what your income is at the top of the page, and list all expenses until you get to $0. This is called a zero based budget when you spend all the money BEFORE the money comes in (we do that anyways right?) But in this case you are looking toward the future and can budget the money before its spend and not end up with negative dollars each month.
I keep an excel spread sheet budget and if you would like a copy please email me at kimikeclark@msn.com
I am happy to share!
STOP!!!!
My Dear friend, this is a common problem for a lot of America. Its called living on the idealistic budget. You've programmed everything based on income, but you're not controlling your spending. You have to let the budget control what you are spending or else is WON'T WORK!!
For example, lets say you are using the envelope system of budgeting. You have an entertainment monthly budget of $200, and you get paid twice a month. That means in each pay period you would put $100 into your entertainment envelope. When you go out for entertainment you take your envelope with you and you pay for whatever you do (eating out, movies, ect) out of the envelope and put the change back in. This way you know exactly what you have left. But when you look in the envelope and its empty, than you must STOP spending in that category until you get paid again. The principle works with every category of budgeting. Its not complicated; its what's called self-discipline.
Your budget always needs to be realistic, meaning you can't put $20 dollars in the gas envelope driving a F150 and expect it to last until next pay day unless you never drive the thing. Also a good idea would be to have another pair of eyes to look at your budget. A lot of times we miss things and it takes to people to see where something can be cut or where you could use a little more.
Another good rule of thumb is try not to be to detailed (At first). Sometimes all a budget requires is a note pad and a piece of paper, you don't need quicken, or msn money to do your budget. Just write what your income is at the top of the page, and list all expenses until you get to $0. This is called a zero based budget when you spend all the money BEFORE the money comes in (we do that anyways right?) But in this case you are looking toward the future and can budget the money before its spend and not end up with negative dollars each month.
I keep an excel spread sheet budget and if you would like a copy please email me at kimikeclark@msn.com
I am happy to share!
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