I dont "BLOW" money.
...
We do eat out alot (BLECK)
Um... do you see a contradiction here?
we both work 3rd shift so we eat out quite a bit which is sooo much easier when so tired and on the wrong schedule!
You grocery shop now, you prepare all your family's meals, and you do so as cheaply as you can.
And Greebo....,my priorities do include a vehicle payment of $300 a month. We are almost paid up on it...we should be in March. Its the only vehicle we have...
What is the vehicle, what is it worth, and what do you owe on it?
I don't care about monthly payments - and neither should you. If it has a payment attached, you can't afford it. PERIOD. (Ok house excepted maybe). The only reason I even am caring about your car right now is because you think you should be paid off by march...
how do I start making a Budget.
how do I start making a Budget
How do I sell stuff? Ive had 3 yard sales and no success with any of them?!
http://www.craigslist.com
To start your budget, you need to make a list of everything you spend money on, and you need to prioritize that list - sort it by order of importance.
Your TOP FIVE items are, IN this order:
1) Food
2) Clothing - Essential
3) Utilities
4) Transportation
5) Housing
... other expenses
LAST) Any consumer debt payments
Right now until you're caught up on the mortgage (#5), EVERYTHING ELSE gets put on hold --- maybe except the car...we'll see.
Once you make that list, you write next to it how much you have to spend to keep current. Food means beans and rice. Clothing is from the salvation army. Utilities is lights heat and water. No A/C? Open a window and get a hand held fan. Transportation is gas for the car but it MIGHT be fare for the bus, we'll see.
Once you write down what you have to spend, you go to the top and start with how much money you have coming in - your income. Next to food you deduct what you have to spend on food from your income. Then move on to clothing, do the same.
When you get to 0 - you stop and draw a line. Everything below the line doesn't get paid.
Thats how you start.
Right now, your money is out of control. You don't know where it's going - I know this because you don't have a budget.
A budget is a way of making your money sit up and beg. Every single dollar should be accounted for on your budget, and the budget makes every dollar sit up and ask permission to leave before it walks away.
Understand this - money is the perfect slave. Money seeks a master. Money will get up and walk away from you if you don't treat it like a slave, and it will go to people who do.
Get firm with your money, and your money will love you, hug you, and take you for long walks in your retirement years.
Be easy with your money and it'll run off with the gal next door.