Putting myself on a financial diet...

**peanut** · 12-26-2009, 09:05 PM

DH and I just entered our receipts for the last month into Quicken. Don't ask why we don't do this every week. We just haven't, and it's snowballed on us. I've suggested to DH that we set a time and day of the week for this...again. It used to be Saturday nights, but something happened to that plan...not sure what...

Anyways, thankfully we're not in the red. But still, the balance on my CC kind of shocked me. It was all hobby stuff too.

So I'm backing away from the LYS (local yarn store) and just using what I have for awhile. And no more buying books from there! At least...not for awhile.

Honestly, there's no excuse for this. Just got a little slack since vacation this fall...

Anyone else pulling in the purse strings for 2010?

**acabin42** · 12-26-2009, 09:13 PM

I am. I am trying to find a way to cut down on my hours at work. I am so stressed from my job, that I have high blood pressure problems, heart problems, anxiety attacks...you name it. The catch 22 of it is that I then need to see the doctor, which creates more bills, more meds...
If I can find a part time job, I will be quitting my full time job in the spring. I have been figuring the budget, and I just need to bring in another $500 a month to put with DH's money to cover the expenses. It looks better than ever to me. I'm tired of being in this rat race... I need a change....BIG TIME!-

**NikoSan999** · 12-26-2009, 10:06 PM

I am. In January at some point, probably within the next 3 weeks I will be at the end of tier 2 on unemployment and there will be between 3 and 8 weeks on another unemployment check. Big difference I know but it depends who you listen to.

I'm cutting back on groceries as I have a good stockpile and going to about $30 a week for 3 people. I really don't have a whole lot more I can cut back on but will watch everything as close as I can.

We'll see. But tightening up regardless.

Wishing you luck.

**Palooka** · 12-26-2009, 10:40 PM

I hear ya. I was going over the bank statements this year and our biggest downfall was fast food and convient stores. *cough dh*

But I have been horrible in the food/grocery planning so I need to buckle down there.

Discover breaks everything down in like a wheel type percent thing. I used most of that for just bills and didn't do too much leisure shopping.

I have good plans for 2010.

**Josephhgoins** · 12-26-2009, 10:50 PM

still working on my Plans or as I call them my Goals for 2010. I usually have them in writing by new years eve and they become my resolutions. As I just recently became truly poor, I am learning the value of an EF and first on the list is to develop one. I just have to feed me and the Cat and he has already been cut back to one cup a day of meow mix and a cup of lactose free milk (we both are intolerant). I work from home and so I eat maybe 1 meal a week out.

My biggest goals will be to get rid of what is left of my credit card debt though.

Good luck to everyone as I am sure we all will need it.

**sinopa27** · 12-26-2009, 10:51 PM

I am going on a financial diet as well. I spend too much on fast food.

**frugalfranny** · 12-27-2009, 12:30 AM

Some, but I have been doing 'decent'........

What my plan is that now that 'holiday baking' is over, I won't need to 'chase sales' like I was doing, so will go back to only going to the groc. store when I am out of milk. That saves me a BUNCH! Need to use up freezer stuff anyway.

**Libby** · 12-27-2009, 02:25 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Some, but I have been doing 'decent'........

What my plan is that now that 'holiday baking' is over, I won't need to 'chase sales' like I was doing, so will go back to only going to the groc. store when I am out of milk. That saves me a BUNCH! Need to use up freezer stuff anyway.

I'm the same as frugalfanny...I'm in the middle ground right now. Haven't started receiving my unemployment benefits just yet and have been 'making due' but now that I've gone w/o...do I really 'need' things anymore? I too was hawking over the flyers for items for my holiday baking. Now that its over - back to nickle and diming everything.

**mauimagic** · 12-27-2009, 02:35 AM

Peanut - I like the idea of a financial diet!! I am thinking that 2009 was a practice run for 2010. We are in better shape than we were a year ago and will continue to improve!! This next week is my week to set up all the paperwork, procedures and processes and I cannot wait!!

**rowdy35** · 12-27-2009, 02:42 AM

yes, i need to buckle down in 2010 and focus on stockpiling sale items, cooking from scratch, and being frugal...

purse strings are tightening here too

**pollypurebred39** · 12-27-2009, 04:11 AM

I've noticed some slacking in our household lately myself, perhaps it was the holidays, or maybe the stress of living on so little, but there's been some leaks. I've noticed my husband has been buying a cup or two of coffee every week, not starbucks, just gas station coffee, but it adds up. And I myself have stopped bringing mason jars full of iced tea/ice water lately and if we get really thirsty I'll hit the 25 cent soda machine near our house. I'm going to replace my husbands thermos with a really sturdy one and make sure he has coffee fixings at the ready for him. And I'm going to be more on top of our bringing drinks from home, even 25 cents adds up if you keep a habit of it.

I'm thinking there's more I can do to reduce outgoing $$$ this upcoming year. I'm going to make a much bigger effort in that area.

**sabrelvssammy** · 12-27-2009, 07:40 AM

me too... i so agree with maui that 2009 was 'practice'...we proved that we could do it and not die...and unfortunately if we didn't have all the 'debt' that we paid off we would have had quite a tidy sum of money that we could have stockpiled...ah..but oh well...what's done is done...the important thing is i learned-- and put into practice all that i learned and now although 2009 was painful (not the paying OFF the debt part...just watching the money NOT reach my savings acct)...2010 will be so much better...(I HOPE...with no unforeseen problems).....so after Feb (when the last of the CC's are GONE)...we can take all that money that we were sending 'fatcat CEO's' on vacation with and use it as our own...and i will continue to absorb all the information that is given to me here and all around me and use it to the best of my ability....because there is one thing that i have truly learned and that is that 'every penny does count'...

in addition to a 'financial diet'...i will also be on a 'declutter diet, health & self-improvement diet & get things done' diet....

*** 2010...watch out... the villagers are a-comin'....!!!!!! ***

**Grainlady** · 12-27-2009, 07:51 AM

Boy, everyone is so inspiring - thanks.... When the family leaves (later today) and we get the bedding washed, house cleaned and Christmas decorations put away, I'll have to do some serious "financial dieting" with hubby. I guess that's the good part about the last week of the year - a REALITY CHECK!

**Maine Girl** · 12-27-2009, 09:04 AM

I am with you guys. This year i am going to slash my cc balances, save for an EF and also have a christmas savings/sinking fund. The EF and Christmas savings will be a line item in my budget and also thinking of opening a separate savings account that can be direct deposited from my payroll.

I think 2010 will be a good year for all of us.

**peanut** · 12-27-2009, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by acabin42

I am trying to find a way to cut down on my hours at work. I am so stressed from my job, that I have high blood pressure problems, heart problems, anxiety attacks...you name it. The catch 22 of it is that I then need to see the doctor, which creates more bills, more meds...

If I can find a part time job, I will be quitting my full time job in the spring. I have been figuring the budget, and I just need to bring in another $500 a month to put with DH's money to cover the expenses. It looks better than ever to me. I'm tired of being in this rat race... I need a change....BIG TIME!-

Acabin: I so hear you. I am not working outside the home because I can’t handle the stress. That means I have to cut corners at home to make things work. People look at us and think we have a lot of money because we do so well on one income. They don’t see all the hard work that goes into making it work. And the fact that we need to learn to say ‘no’ to certain things…like vacations in Hawaii, a cottage by the lake, a second car, etc. But for my peace of mind and good health, it’s better for me to stay home and work on self-disciplining myself in the area of finances.

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

I'm cutting back on groceries as I have a good stockpile and going to about $30 a week for 3 people. … Wishing you luck.

Thanks for reminding me to do a pantry/freezer inventory again NikoSan999. I should be able to make the food in the house last a little longer that way. Our holidays aren’t over yet. We have 2 rounds of company early in January. Love seeing everyone, but I do like to offer them a cookie at least! Blessings on your efforts too!

Originally Posted by Palooka

I hear ya. I was going over the bank statements …

Aaargh Palooka! Thanks for reminding me. DH finally showed me how he reconciles the bank statements in Quicken yesterday. I didn’t know he even did that! And we had a year of doing a Money Makeover together. He was supposed to show me how to do everything associated with our money. He said he just did that on his own because it was too much for me! (?!) At any rate, I know now.

You have reminded me to go through our receipts though and draw up a monthly chart of what we spent on various things. I particularly like to break down the grocery receipts into different food categories to see how much processed/unhealthy food we’re eating. And the dining out category is always a fun one (NOT!) to tally up!

Originally Posted by Josephhgoins

still working on my Plans or as I call them my Goals for 2010. I usually have them in writing by new years eve and they become my resolutions.

This is a good idea. I’m going to try for it. I used to do this…financial goals for 2010…

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Peanut - I like the idea of a financial diet!! I am thinking that 2009 was a practice run for 2010. We are in better shape than we were a year ago and will continue to improve!! This next week is my week to set up all the paperwork, procedures and processes and I cannot wait!!

Good idea. I need to clean out the files that hold all our receipts. And it would be nice to get back to that once a week financial meeting, as I said in my original post. Not sure what other paperwork/procedures/processes to work on…other than getting complete receipts for things from places where I shop! I was guessing at some of my purchases from the yarn store receipts

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

I've noticed some slacking in our household lately myself, perhaps it was the holidays, or maybe the stress of living on so little, but there's been some leaks. … I'm thinking there's more I can do to reduce outgoing $$$ this upcoming year. I'm going to make a much bigger effort in that area.

Pollypurebred39: I think this is us too. With the kids having left home this year for good, it’s like we’ve been on a holiday all summer and fall…and now winter! We really need to get a grip and grow up!

We’ve been ‘playing’ an awful lot with our money…

Originally Posted by Maine Girl

I am with you guys. This year i am going to slash my cc balances, save for an EF and also have a christmas savings/sinking fund.

Maine Girl: Thanks for bringing this up. This is another area of concern…our sinking fund is below the mark we like to keep it at…$10,000. We have serious work that needs to be done on the house, and we intend to pay cash for it. But we need the money to do it. Time to buckle down…

Thanks for your responses everyone! You've given me lots to think about and do the next few days. I'm off to go through receipts!