Its been a while :)

[AnW819]

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I have not been able to check in because of moving and everything like that but I am back And boy, a lot has happened

For starters, DH and I moved out of dads, into Waynes dads in PA. Its so great here. Its like a real family! We all hang out, and help each other and sometimes we get on each others nerves, but all in all, we all agree, its cool! We are helping them, and they are helping us. I have internet! And cable! And a wash machine! Its pretty awesome!

I also have a full time job! Its nothing amazing, but its a job, and so far so good (expect for the fact that im still getting use to 3rd shift).

DH's job is still going well, and things seem to be coming together now.

My anxiety has also been pretty non-existant. There are times it starts to bother me, and I push through and I noticed the more and more I do it, the less my anxiety bothers me on the next thing.

So now that DH and I have moved, are able to stay for as long as we need, and both have jobs, its time to do business! Its budget time!

I have been working on one back and forth the past few weeks and here is what I came up with.

$1800 - Wayne Pay Monthly (this varies, but this is the least)
$1100- My Pay Monthly
-------
$2900 - Month
minus
$400 - car
$150 - car insurance
$300 - rent
$240 - gas (dh's commute to work is still the same, 50 minute drive back and forth)
$300 - groceries (have not got this 100% figured out yet because living with 3 other people is interesting, so once I get this all figured out I'm sure I can wiggle this down)
$105 - cells
$40 - clothes (If it does not get used, I plan to stick it in my EF)
$100 - car repairs (going to keep filling up my car repair envie every month until I need it)
$40 - Misc- Toll money, birthdays, oil changes, etc. (what ever does not get used will be saved for Christmas fund. If I happen to not have anything ever left over (which im sure will not happen) then I don't buy gifts.)
------
$1225 left a month which is $306 a week.

So, now obviously I can get my baby EF in one month with $225 left to spare.

It should only take me 6 months to pay off all of DH and I's debt til we are debt free, minus the car, which sounds like an awesome plan! We also have tax time coming up and normally we get about $2000. I should have a baby EF by then, but if not, thats where its going. The other $1000 is going to go to debt. So it could even maybe take less than 6 months.

Do any of you have any suggestions if you think there is anything I should change, or add into my monthly budget? Its going to take about 2 weeks before this is in effect because we are behind $400 on DHs car right now. This is the only bill we are behind on and we are just waiting for DH's pay in 2 weeks.

I am also going to be dieting with DH's SIL as well starting next week, so I have had a lot of change and still have a lot of change coming along. Its scary but I love it.

DH and I are both working 3rd shift right now which is nice because we get to spend time together. The only problem is we only have a twin bed and both don't fit so I am sleeping on the floor. Oh I can't wait til get a bed!! LOL!

We are still working on our relationship and things have been pretty good since we moved in with his dad.

Whew, anyway...there is my long update

Hope everyone is enjoying the snow!! I know I am!!!

Oh yeah, I also wanted to add, I had to re-home Ghesibelle and Gizmo. Gosh I miss them terribly, but the home they went to is AMAZING!! They have 3 other brothers and sisters there, and even a parrot to watch! I love their new mom. She is awesome!! Can't wait to get back to NJ to visit them!!

[Ceashels]

Glad to read you are doing so well.

What are your long term goals? Where do you want to be in 5 years? This is when you start planning for them and WRITE them down. Will you be in your current setting or will you and DH be living on your own? Take a certain amount each month and NAME it Future Security Deposit, Future Rent or Future Home.

Are you contributing anything to the utilities? Being able to pay a portion of money toward the things you use everyday will provide a sense of "ownership" and responsibility to your current living arrangement.

I don't see any leisure or entertainment or date money or fun money worked into your budget! you and DH NEED to budget it in so your growing EF doesn't bare the brunt of it. Plan on some amount of money each month for the two of you to share some special time so you don't accidentally blow your budget on impulse.

Would $40 clothing budget be enough for new work clothes and shoes for Wayne or you? You may want to discuss setting a cap of $100 so in 2 1/2 months you will have enough for decent wardrobe (and shoes). You don't add more to it once it reaches that cap unless you use the clothing budget. This way you have it fully funded until you need it and after its funded you can put the money into your other goals without leaving the clothing envelope empty.

[NikoSan999]

To me that sounds like you've put alot of thought into it and it looks good.
The only thing different I think I would have done is below the line $1225 left a month which is $306 a week...I would have listed the debt that you're paying every month because again, to me, that would be the true figure of what is left a month to fund the EF or what is left to work with until that debt is payed off. Then after it IS paid off then rework the plan.
Reason being is there is debt being paid out of the 1225 so there isn't really 1225 left over. A portion of it is paid out..Maybe I'm misunderstanding.
Either way, you go girl! Glad you're happier!

[TheRootedNomad]

Over all it sounds like your in a much better place and I am excited for you. There is nothing better than knowing you are moving foward and once you can start saying "this ones done", "this ones fully funded", and so on it continues to grow and the anxiety continues to fade.

Suggestions/questions:
~ I would have that bed or a funding envelope for it in the budget somewhere.
~ How is the rent/utilities/grocery thing being divided? This could make a big difference on how and how much you budget for thse areas.

[Greebo]

Good to see you.

Sorry so short - am not well today

[jas]

welcome back!

[Dancing Lotus]

I know many won't agree with me but I think you should use lit more then 40 for clothing for two people.
If I recall your wardrobe is bare bones, I remember you not having proper shoes. This tells me that you need to rebuild a wardrobe.
I know some people don't think it's that big of a deal but having what you need when you need it is important, and it's important to feel good about the way you look.

[Missy]

Congrats on the move. Looks like alls going so much better for you!

[mamachop]

Congratulations on your move and best of luck to you & DH. It sounds like you're on the right track, keep up the good work! Glad to hear that you and DH are doing better and able to spend more time together, that is very important. Take care of yourself and each other.

[krbshappy71]

Welcome back! Wow you have made so many tough decisions in such a short amount of time, congrats! You are much more focused than I am, I'm proud of you.

Can you and hubby trade off on the floor? Every other night might not catch up with you like every night would. Also, is there a sofa you can use instead of the floor, maybe every other night?

Can you put a shout-out to Craig's list or freecycle for a mattress? I got an almost-new bed (was used in a guest room and I mean NEW condition!) off Craig's list for $60, that was Queen sized mattress, springs, and frame and the guy delivered it too. There are some really nice people out there if you just holler for a bit of help. Even if you didn't want a full bed, a futon mattress would be better than the floor. I wish air mattresses weren't so expensive as that you could throw on the twin bed during the day when you needed the walk-around space in the room.

Hugs and hang in there, you are doing great!

[HappyMama]

Welcome back hon! Thanks so much for the update, I was wondering how you were doing.

[a.nonymous]

Welcome back!

We also have tax time coming up and normally we get about $2000.

Quick note on that: Try to adjust your deductions to not have to wait for refunds every year!
Loaning it at 0% to the IRS simply can't beat... well... anything else you could do with that money.

[Dixie]

Welcome back! I was wondering how you were doing. Glad to hear things are going well for you.

[Vanilla]

Welcome back. Thanks for the update.

[kita]

Other ideas for the bed situation:
an air mattress which can be tucked away when not in use.
the sofa
or if the sofa is not long enough for you, pull cushions off the sofa and put them on the floor.
finding or buying an extra mattress which can be slid under the bed when not used.
when I lived in Korea, for a few months I slept on a "yo" which was an upholstered set of foam mattresses which folded into a z shape and could be tucked anywhere.

I'm so glad you have found a better place to be...you sound so much more relaxed now...