Not much activity here so I thought I would start an update thread to see how everyone is doing. Its not going so well for us, I can not get us to a full envelope system at all! I want to cut up the cards! Hows it going with you guys?
Things are hard on the system. I try to hide my cards from myself its not always easy. Especially right now in transition from one job to the next. I'm doing my best to stay strong and make sure to pay off credit card balances as they come up.
I think I need to maybe freeze the cards so I can regain focus and realize how much money I actually have!
I'm getting back to frugality after semi-falling off the wagon 3 yrs ago when I bought a house. My friends would still have argued I was "weird" (because that's how they view frugality) since I continued to buy my clothes secondhand, didn't have cable, etc but I stopped keeping track of where my money was going. I know a lot of it went to non-tangible things I value (yoga classes, gym memberships, snowboarding lessons, etc) and I was never in debt but honestly, I have no idea how much I spent on various things over the past little while. I've more or less decided to uproot myself and move across the country (I can transfer my main job to our western base of operations) but the move would mean losing my second stream of income here so I'm trying to get back to watching my pennies to see if I can actually afford to make the move. My main income would be unchanged but the cost of living out west is much higher than in the small town where I live now so I'm also having to adjust for that.
This is my first month back on a budget and although I already see some places where my numbers need to be adjusted, its feels good to know I'm getting this part of my life back under strict control.
We are having troubles here. We moved in July, and things are still not settled down. We are settled into the rental, the old house is on the market, and the kids are settled into school, etc. But we are still working out the details of switching banks, struggling with paying for both houses in the meantime, and settling back into our routine.
We have a budget binder with our envelopes. It's kind of a mess right now. I intend to try to fix it today.
Just today, DH went to work and forgot to get his cash for a retirement dinner after work to celebrate a co-worker's last day. He has his debit card, but the card he has is our old bank. The closest branch is 40 miles away from me, so depositing the cash for him to use the card is going to be rough. Dropping the cash off at his work wouldn't work both because it's as far away as the bank branch and because he can't just up and come to the door to come get it.
What really stinks is I have a paypal transfer on it's way to the account, but its not there yet. That would cover it, but it won't be in the account in enough time. *sigh* Oh well.
Trying to prepare for retirement and a bit apprehensive about health issues. My monthly premiums for health insurance will go from $30 (employer pays the rest) to over $600. I'm trying to get all the medical tests I need before the end of the year and some dental work as well.
Food budget has settled at around $500 - $600 a month for organic and healthy. Hoping to get it below $500 beginning next January when I have more time to go to farmer's markets and more than one store. Earning 6% cash back on food from grocery stores using AMEX.
I've been struggling with a personal loss, and my 'anxious energy' seems to be flooding in two directions... one good, and one maybe not so much.
One is I am training for a marathon... and have stuck to my training plan (done 130 miles running in August alone) and am doing well. It's a great way to start the day, and reduces my typically nervous energy hugely. Great stuff.
I have been a bit spendy too though on another hobby. I don't have any financial problems any more, no debt other than a mortgage, but I might not be spending the money for all the right reasons. I'm hoping this thing will become more than a hobby, which is my justification, but in reality it probably never will be without me giving up work and taking a much bigger plunge.
I feel like a black cloud is following me as I look in the opposite direction to a sunny horizon I can never get to.
I'm so impressed with your training schedule because I know you work hard as well. I used to be a runner so I know how good it is for you.....keep it up.
I'm sorry for your loss. You have been such a positive force on FV.
Doing well. Needing to adjust amounts in the grocery and stock up categories. Prices when up at our market basket and I'm now comparing MB with Hannaford again since I may not be saving all that much.
We don't have credit cards and try not to use our debit card as we do spend more and it is harder to stick to a budget that way.
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