Someone please help - We never stick to a budget!

[mama.hawkins]

I keep trying to come up with budgets and they never work for us. I will go without buying things only to find out that my husband has bought a ton of things that he wasn't supposed to. Or vice versa. We always overspend on groceries, and random frivelous items. Does anyone have any tips that can help us? There has to be something that will really kick us into gear

[Judi Dial]

Hmm. I'm almost in the same boat.

Here's what I'm trying to do is get DH on board by paying off the smallest, highest interest credit card and saving towards a new stove at the same time. I figure if I can do that, and not make him miserable doing so, then he'll come along and see it as a game.

So far, what I'm doing is the change challenge for the appliance fund, trying to put a minimum in a savings acct. in CA (we're in NH now), and cutting our grocery bill so that the extra $ can go against the credit card. DH is actively involved with me with the grocery thing and not working against me in the others, but not thinking I can actually do what I'm trying to....

Can you tell your DH that you want to try menu planning and/or a new recipe system or something so you want to do all the shopping? Because my DH is all for saving $ on the day to day stuff, he goes along with that. Also, my DH at least hates throwing food away, he'd rather eat leftovers.

I hope something here helps!

Judi

[mama.hawkins]

Some of that definitely helps. We actually did start eating differently and would definitely save money if he'd just let me shop by myself. It's hard because right now I'm not on the car insurance (I'm a first year driver, had my permit for years, so it's INSANELY high) so I can't go myself. But this would definitely work when it comes around to being early October because we're going to be in walking distance of a grocery store, two in fact!

Thanks hun <3

[justpeachy92]

We include an allowance in our budget for each of us, that is the money we can spend on whatever and don't have to account for it.

[LadyNada]

Try out the envelope system. We started that one and so far have been very successful -- we've already got half this month's rent saved, as well as our power bill, my cell phone bill, and our pet bill!

[Juto]

Oh, I know your pain!!! I'm trying to figure it out myself!

[Libby]

If you can, post your goals on the fridge. (I think its a great spot b/c you have to see it all the time. But if you entertain alot, put it by your computer or tv so you have to see it)

On the goals sheet - put one item you'd like to buy or actually NEED to buy and the cost with tax/delivery etc. Total cost. Then underneath when you put money aside for this item (could be a physical item or a vacation?) write down how much you have put aside. This can be in jar, envelope, bank acct etc. This way you'll see how much you have saved up for your goal but in the process you must sacrifice spending in order to save. Atleast your money will be going to the right place.

Another tip - as someone said, try menu planning. Plan from what you have on hand in your cupboards and pantry. On the inside of the cupboard/pantry door OR on the fridge - make a list of what you have on hand this way you wont have to go rooting around to plan. You can take out the lists and go from there. If there's something special you'd like - plan for it. Make a seperate grocery list and STICK TO IT when you go to the store. I mean add 'loss leaders' if you can afford but you and hubby MUST agree on not buying anything NOT on the list or only putting $5 for items not on the list - aka not advertised sales etc.

Lastly, a lil 'blow' money as people call it. A tiny bit of pocket money that does not need to be accounted for and can be used for whatever you want, whenever you want. If you want to spend it today, spend it. If you want to save it for something later, save it. Its up to you. Ideally, you and your SO should have same amount but when its gone, its gone. Its hard to get used to at first but now I dont even bat an eye LOL.

[mea772]

It is hard for us to stick to a budget too but we don't spend it frivolously (sigh). It just seems there was something that we weren't remembering that needed to be paid or whatever. Plus, I will say this with a lot of embarassment...during the last month we have gotten several nsf fees. Haven't seen those in years and years so this is horrible for us. Some times it was because we didn't think a check would clear so quickly or whatever. Anyways, the bank credited our account for a few of them but we have had several others that they wouldn't. This stinx because it really took from our bill paying fund.

I am definately going to be doing the envelope system. My husband and I were talking about that yesterday. We are going to keep the creditor bill money in the bank but take out a certain amount for groceries and a certain amount for gas and maybe a little bit for "misc"

It all sounds great in my head but I don't know if we are in the position to get this started! Seems I have too much money that I need to pay in order to just get me caught up...I need about $1000 to drop into my lap just so I can get started LOL

[Coffeelover]

I'm a huge fan of the evelope system too! If the money in the envelope is gone, you're done. That includes groceries. It took me awhile to get used to it but I'm so glad we did that. I even grocery shopped with a calculator so I didn't go over budget.

Kim

[Marie78]

I'm trying to keep on track with this too. My problem right now is I am temping for just over minimum wage and I get paid weekly. This means I have to figure out how little I can spend on groceries/gas for the week and then apply the rest of the money towards bills and save it to add to the next week's paycheck to pay other bills. It's been a difficult 4 months doing the budget this way (it forces me to live month to month praying I make the bills on time). Next month the place I am working will be hiring me on as an employee so I will be eligible for benefits, make more money, and I will receive a steady paycheck every two weeks. I am hoping the combination of these three things will allow me to budget better. I have also considered calling some of the places I have bills coming from and see if I can get the due date set for later in the month. Almost all of my bills are due the first half of the month and because I don't make a lot right now, I find it hard to save the last half of the month to have enough for the beginning of the next month. Not to mention I have almost every penny accounted for a bill or expense before the paycheck even comes in the mail each week. I wish you luck and you are not alone in this struggle .

[ms. frugal kugel]

If credit cards are a problem, I do know of something that works. Remind your husband that whatever "bargain" it is he wants to buy, it will cost twice as much if not more, if you charge it and keep carrying credit card balances...oddly enough this logic actually works for those "smaller" things. The $20 dinner becomes the $60 dinner once it's paid for (mind you I don't have the figures to prove it but he believes me).

[mommy4ever]

I work things a little differently. Not a true budget but it works great for us.

Dh gets paid every 2 weeks. Mortgage is paid on those days. Then I pay 1/2 payments of 2 debts on that day, and it pays the groceries and gives him his blow money. I get paid the majority on the 1st. This pays all the household bills, the other credit bills. And the remainder is snowballed. I get a small check mid month now, so that pays on the snowball as well. My first pay I take a little for blow money, but I dont' use much at all.

So it's loosely a spending plan, less so a budget. I end up with MORE money left than when I try to budget.