Looking for accountability, tips, and encouragement!

[kae]

Hey everyone,

I found FV a couple of weeks ago and have been digging through archives ever since. I can't believe the wealth of knowledge and support I've found!

I've finally decided to post, in hopes of having some accountability, a place to post successes, and my budgets so that you can comment and give any tips you might have.

First of all, I am about $30,000 in debt, including a student loan to the tune of a little over $14,000. I have Dave Ramsey's TMM and have listened to some of his radio archives, and this past paycheck is the first that I have planned by budget around.

I make $1436 every two weeks, or $2872 a month (this is after taxes, TRS, and medical, life, and dental insurance comes out).

Here is a list of my monthly expenses:

Rent: 677
Phone: 44
Car Loan: 353
Insurance (car and rental): 100
Internet: 53
Water: 30 (average)
Student Loan: 192
Compassion Int'l: 45
Electricity: 80 (much higher in the summer)
Prescription: 35
Netflix: 10
Food: 160 (grocery and restaurants)
Gas: 60 (I may need to increase this a little bit)
Clothing: 30 (envelope system)
Toiletries, cosmetics, hair care, paper products, school supplies: 50 (envelope system)
Blow Money: 120 (working on lowering this)

DEBTS

JCPenney: 143
Best Buy: 401
Bill Me Later: 898
Freedom: 1112
Emery: 1454
Old Navy: 2000
Car: 7000 (2.5 years into a 4 year loan)
Student Loan: 14,365

--Ugh, I am so embarrassed by all this stupid consumer debt!


I moved to Texas almost 3 years ago for a teaching job in a critical needs area. I am currently planning on moving back up north this summer, and am trying to save at least $300 a month to help fund this move. I already have my BEF ($1000), plus a savings account specifically for moving expenses ($700 currently). This, of course, is largely dependent on whether or not I can find a decent job in this market.

Here are some changes I have made/want to make:


-I recently got rid of cable and replaced it with Netflix and my internet connection. I live 1000 miles from ALL of my family, including my partner, and internet is the #1 way I keep in touch with everyone.

-I am snowballing my debts, starting with the smallest and moving on to the larger. I should have the two smallest cards paid off with my next three paychecks.

-My best friend and I used to have dinner out once a week to catch up and unwind, and have recently cut this out. We may go once a month, or have dinner at each other's homes instead.

-I would like to learn more cook-from-scratch recipes. My grocery bill is more than I would like it to be for being a single person living alone, and I KNOW it is because I buy so many convenience foods. I would like to start using Sunday as a day to make a couple of meals, and refrigerate and use for lunches and dinners throughout the week. Upon my next paycheck, I would like to make a trip to get some of the necessities and start doing that.

-I would like to get better at couponing, mostly for personal items like shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. I currently do not buy a Sunday paper but I'm thinking it is a good weekly purchase.

PHEW. That seems like a whole lot. Thank you for anyone who takes the time to read and comment! I'm sure I'm forgetting things.

Off to read more of the forums!

[MissSeetonFan]

I don't have much in the way of advice, but way to go on getting started!

[Greebo]

Welcome - sounds like you're making good first steps! Stick around, I look forward to reading more!

[KimZ]

to FV

[kae]

Thanks everyone!

I got my electricity bill today, and it's at $59.10, so lower than my original estimate for the month! I like my apartment to be a bit chilly, which allows for decent bills for me in the winter. I think I've only had the heat on for maybe 7 days total so far.

I'm also going to be a lot more conscious about leaving things on and/or plugged in when they're not in use. I used to be a lot better about that and hope to see a drop in my bill. The past week, I had company over and I was off work (re: at home most of the time), so I expect to see an increase in my bill next month.

I get paid this week, so I'm going to tweak my forecasted budget today and see where I can make cuts and pull money out for paying off these debts!

[Wendy99]

welcome sounds like your motivated & on the right track!! Tons and tons of ideas here - I go through some of the really old threads sometimes for some extra ideas ... cooks.com etc are great sites for scratch recipes (read the reviews first). If you have a freezer (even one in your fridge) you could freeze some of your left overs to space them out so your not eating the same thing day in and day out. can't wait to read more of your mosts and see how things work out.

[gueradia]

Websites to lower food bills include $5 dollar dinners and spam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typed housewife. Wishing you luck in the new year.

I used to teach - could you tutor? I tutored high school students afterschool for years and in the summer. I used the extra money to pay down debt so I could be a stay-at-mom.

[gueradia]

Sorry I must have broke the rules there. I will not do that again.
I thought my new computer had a virus.

[kae]

I used to teach - could you tutor? I tutored high school students afterschool for years and in the summer. I used the extra money to pay down debt so I could be a stay-at-mom.

We have mandatory tutoring after school that we do not get compensated extra for. In the past, we had Saturday school after the winter break to prepare for state tests, and you get paid $100 for the day. I will absolutely be doing that if it's an option again! If not, I may look around to tutor weekends outside of school. I want to wait and see if Saturday school is an option first.

Thank you!

[hmcart]

hi and welcome! I have been here off and on for a while. SO many good ideas to be found!