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#1
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by smooth_tex - Mar 01, 2025, 09:10 PMBut the pictures looked like you had a great time.
Just a little bump in the road. Back to the plan.
Just a little bump in the road. Back to the plan.
#2
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by Out There - Mar 01, 2025, 07:26 AMYou can do it, DD!
#3
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by workingmom - Feb 28, 2025, 11:57 PMGood luck!
#4
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by davidsdesire - Feb 28, 2025, 07:04 AMyeah, taxes, dental, travel. It's all kicked us hard in February. But Marach is here and maybe I can begin again.
we have a 12 day trip to the Northeast planned for mid-March to see the Jersey Boys in a high school play (our Jersey boys--not the 4 seasons...lol). After that I have a gyno visit in Boston with a week between so we're going to Newport to rejuvenate by the ocean. We'll have a kitchenette in the hotel (I LOVE Homewood Suites) so we can save a bit by cooking ourselves.
The thing I really hate about travel is you have to pay NOW for something so far in the future. We already had to buy tickets for the Olympics next Feb as well as pay in advance for hotel. It feels like money for nuthin at this point.
We overspent on the cruise-souvenirs and tips. Ugh.
Ok...we're gonna try this again in March.
we have a 12 day trip to the Northeast planned for mid-March to see the Jersey Boys in a high school play (our Jersey boys--not the 4 seasons...lol). After that I have a gyno visit in Boston with a week between so we're going to Newport to rejuvenate by the ocean. We'll have a kitchenette in the hotel (I LOVE Homewood Suites) so we can save a bit by cooking ourselves.
The thing I really hate about travel is you have to pay NOW for something so far in the future. We already had to buy tickets for the Olympics next Feb as well as pay in advance for hotel. It feels like money for nuthin at this point.
We overspent on the cruise-souvenirs and tips. Ugh.
Ok...we're gonna try this again in March.
#5
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by workingmom - Feb 13, 2025, 10:43 PMI have dental insurance, which helps. But I maxed it out last year, and it was just visits, x-rays and fillings.
And yes -- there is always something. Property taxes are killing me.
And yes -- there is always something. Property taxes are killing me.
#6
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by smooth_tex - Feb 13, 2025, 06:44 PMI have a feeling when dh finally goes to the dentist, it's gonna be expensive. He absolutely doesn't take care of his teeth. He says at least one is cracked.
#7
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by mev2 - Feb 13, 2025, 05:30 PMQuote from: Kountrysidegirl on Jan 24, 2025, 10:40 AMWell, I'm back again!Slipping back into super frugal mode.
Hi Kountrysidegirl! I missed your post when I scrolled by before It's great to see you!
#8
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by davidsdesire - Feb 13, 2025, 02:25 PMthat ended by the end of the first week. David pulled a cap off eating bit o'honey (my fault==I gave it to him)...that $1600 new cap was sitting next to a completely bad tooth that they pulled and just plunked a post for an implant in. Just basically TOLD him (he says). That's another $4000.
THEN--tickets to the Olympics came up for sale. Tickets to the events are pretty dang expensive and so is hotel. So we spent a ton there, too. Wasn't planning for that to be this month, either. I really hate the way you have to pay so far in advance to do anything these days. We still need to purchase airfare to Italy. We also plan to go to Carnevale in Venice while we're there.
Chautauqua property taxes were due in Jan--$4000.
Oh, and the hermit needs $1700 for his surgical procedure tomorrow. We had to pay that as well.
I'm starting to think that people believe we are made of money.
I'm gonna haff to sell a kidney.
THEN--tickets to the Olympics came up for sale. Tickets to the events are pretty dang expensive and so is hotel. So we spent a ton there, too. Wasn't planning for that to be this month, either. I really hate the way you have to pay so far in advance to do anything these days. We still need to purchase airfare to Italy. We also plan to go to Carnevale in Venice while we're there.
Chautauqua property taxes were due in Jan--$4000.
Oh, and the hermit needs $1700 for his surgical procedure tomorrow. We had to pay that as well.
I'm starting to think that people believe we are made of money.
I'm gonna haff to sell a kidney.
#9
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by workingmom - Feb 01, 2025, 06:57 PMIt isn't just altering it because of the app, it is that life happens, no matter how much you plan, you don't always have control of things -- and when that happens, the budget has to change to. I think they are trying to be responsive to real life.
#10
Frugal Fundamentals / Re: Begin Again
Last post by mev2 - Feb 01, 2025, 08:49 AMI started using the Ramsey software "Every Dollar."
There is a free version and I bought the paid version, but didn't understand how to use it when I first got it last year. And at that time there were no instructions with it. Now there are a few video tutorials. I still think it could be explained better. I listen to his show when I am driving and also picked up some info how to use it. After I first bought it I signed up for a live zoom type thing about it and it still didn't help me understand. Maybe I am just dense
But now I understand the idea of the "zero based budget," and playing with the software.
I think kind of like markie's comment and trying to figure it out!
There's no perfection I am using it to help determine how much we are spending and on what so we can make a better budget. DH is talking retiring next year whether we are ready or not. I think the job is getting to hard for him to handle physically. Though he still wants to work part time at the grocery store which is good since he has no hobbies and I fear he will be a big couch potato.
Anyway. I figure right now I am playing with the categories and figuring out how much we are spending and what we can do better, cut out the waste. For example I didn't even think about the fact I go out to dinner once in a while with two ladies--not all 3 of us together. Right now that cost me almost $20 for a not fancy meal at Bob's Big Boy including tip--just for me! I could trim that if I need to as I bought coleslaw which wasn't part of the meal and I bought a beverage. So it's something to think about.
All that said I do like the set up of Every Dollar. You can put it on the laptop and there's an app so you can use it on your phone. I like the laptop version better. I tried using the app and it's not bad, but I like seeing more options open at once on the laptop than extra clicking on the cell phone.
I only started to really do it in January and have to finish January's expenses today. Next month I want everything in place by the end of the month. The goal is to plan out BEFORE the month starts and then track your expenses. But as I said I am using this time as a learning process probably for a few months and then after that I will probably still tweak it, but it should be much better.
More recently on the Ramsey show they have said something to the effect that you can alter it, it won't be perfect, etc. That makes me think I wasn't the only one struggling with how to use the app!
There is a free version and I bought the paid version, but didn't understand how to use it when I first got it last year. And at that time there were no instructions with it. Now there are a few video tutorials. I still think it could be explained better. I listen to his show when I am driving and also picked up some info how to use it. After I first bought it I signed up for a live zoom type thing about it and it still didn't help me understand. Maybe I am just dense
But now I understand the idea of the "zero based budget," and playing with the software.
I think kind of like markie's comment and trying to figure it out!
There's no perfection I am using it to help determine how much we are spending and on what so we can make a better budget. DH is talking retiring next year whether we are ready or not. I think the job is getting to hard for him to handle physically. Though he still wants to work part time at the grocery store which is good since he has no hobbies and I fear he will be a big couch potato.
Anyway. I figure right now I am playing with the categories and figuring out how much we are spending and what we can do better, cut out the waste. For example I didn't even think about the fact I go out to dinner once in a while with two ladies--not all 3 of us together. Right now that cost me almost $20 for a not fancy meal at Bob's Big Boy including tip--just for me! I could trim that if I need to as I bought coleslaw which wasn't part of the meal and I bought a beverage. So it's something to think about.
All that said I do like the set up of Every Dollar. You can put it on the laptop and there's an app so you can use it on your phone. I like the laptop version better. I tried using the app and it's not bad, but I like seeing more options open at once on the laptop than extra clicking on the cell phone.
I only started to really do it in January and have to finish January's expenses today. Next month I want everything in place by the end of the month. The goal is to plan out BEFORE the month starts and then track your expenses. But as I said I am using this time as a learning process probably for a few months and then after that I will probably still tweak it, but it should be much better.
More recently on the Ramsey show they have said something to the effect that you can alter it, it won't be perfect, etc. That makes me think I wasn't the only one struggling with how to use the app!