discretionary spening

**emandmeagsmom** · 05-12-2006, 11:50 AM

The beginning of May I was going through our checkbook and decided to see how much we spent in discretionary spending. I was really shocked over 600.00 and that was just with our debit card. That is not including what we spent in cash with my tips. In Ap. I made almost 300 in tips. So that is 900.00 that we spent and have nothing to show for it. Most of it going out to eat and stopping at Walmart for little things that we thought we needed but could have done without. So I have taken out the checkbook, debit cards and credit cards. If I have them in my wallet, I will use them. I took out 150.00 plus tips to make it til last payday and it worked out real good. I didnt spend the money on things that we just didn't need. And now we still have 300. left til payday and that is next Wednesday. Yeah.. Bills paid off here we come.!!!!!!!!! By my figures we will be debtfree, except for mortgage, by Dec. 2006. Yeah!!!!!!!

Melissa

**yankeegal** · 05-12-2006, 11:52 AM

great job! Cash is king, (or queen?)

**Darlene** · 05-12-2006, 12:03 PM

Good for you! It's an eye opener seeing what's going out but now that you do you can make some changes. Go get 'em.

**Vannie** · 05-12-2006, 12:13 PM

Melissa,

Finding out just how much you have spent on things you can't even remember is always a surprise. I had to stop keeping my credit cards in my purse also. Most of my excess was from eating out. I have laugh, even when I only had $5 in my pocket, I could still eat steak and have a glass of wine. Now, I rethink that and usually come home to eat. :-)

Good luck with your "Debt-free is the way to be actions." I bet you will make it by December

**frugalfoster** · 05-12-2006, 04:55 PM

When I stopped spending money without any consideration of where it was going, I was shocked at how much money I had at the end of the month. When I put that on debt, I was shocked even more seeing us get ourselves out of it faster than I thought. When you start the Dave Ramsey TMMO program, you think that it will be forever until you see the light of day... I had no idea that we were wasting that much money! I also took all the cards and the checkbook out of my wallet. That was probably the single most important thing I could have done.....You can't spend what you don't have!!! You are on the right track, keep up the good work!!!

**NoDebtMom** · 05-12-2006, 05:26 PM

Making a budget and sticking to it is like getting a raise! Good for you to have figured out where the 'leaks' were! You are on your way!

**AmyBoz** · 05-12-2006, 06:53 PM

Good for you for making the necessary changes!!!

**frugalnana** · 05-12-2006, 06:53 PM

Good job Melissa.

**leezza** · 05-12-2006, 07:57 PM

Melissa,

Excellent Job : ) I bet you will make to December, bet you can't wait....

leezza

**Lmullin** · 05-12-2006, 08:53 PM

Way to go! It is so liberating to take charge of your finances. We are constantly bombarded with commercials and marketing folks who want us to part with our cash. We can decide how to spend our money, or not spend our money! You are doing great!