Well oookkkkaayyyy....

[Cricketlegs]

Everything is paid. Extra on credit card(and boy did I see a change this month!)Extra on the car--paid until JULYbut trust me when I say I will not only make monthly payments but continue to make the additional $80 over. BIG BIG difference.

I have gas, groceries, all utilities and insurance paid, dd got her $150(her money she lives on as she is in college)pets are covered,house payment made,allowances given, paid on the medical bills and PAID ONE OFF yippeee...

Added a little to the vacation fund BUT nothing added to savings as I have a whopping $142 to my name in my checking account.

I should feel GREAT and I do but I can't help but feel a little sick at my stomach knowing that is all I have(not counting the EF).

Anyone else pay until there is nothing left like Dave Ramsey says? Does it stress you out a liitle??? I know I am susposed to spend that $142 on my debt but I just can't do it.....does anyone feel like me? That you need that security blanket?

I spent almost $4000 this month.

[Samigirl]

Yep...I always leave myself a little cushion. I don't feel good about a zero-based budget, because something always comes up that I haven't planned on. I don't leave a lot in my checking, but it makes me feel better to know I have a little leeway.

Good job on knocking down that debt!

[Jskell911]

I guess in theory, this comfort should come from knowing we have the EF, but I too need to see SOME balance in the checkbook.

BTW, you seem to be doing great!

[homemaker66]

We don't follow his plan either. I like to know that we have some extra in our pockets for all of our hard work. We have 2 car payments and the house. I try and pay alittle at a time but I am going to enjoy life. I am not so stress out trying to put every penny somewheres. I figure we have some EF,food,lights,and heat what else is there to worry about.Oh, and we are putting away for our retirment.

[latierra84]

even with the EF, i just get nervous having such a low bank balance and can never quite let it get lower than $50 or so.

[Sonnenwende]

Yeah, I just never know if I forgot about something or if an emergency will come up. I have overdraft protection, but they charge me $3 an incident. So $3 right in the trash. I like to keep at least $50 in there too.

[pammy]

I always kept at least $100 as a cushion, called it my 'buffer'. When the bank balance showed $0 I still had my $100 in there. Something always seemed to come up, I'd dip into the buffer, my balance would be a negative until payday (though I didn't overdraw), and then on payday I'd replace my negative and have my buffer restored. It was more a mind thing to me, I didn't like showing a negative in my checking, so I'd replace it as soon as possible, although I knew i wasn't REALLY negative.

Just whatever works for you.

[Marie78]

I have budgeted a set amount to go to debt, and other bills each month. I don't worry how low my checking account gets as long as I have a cushion of $5- $25 in my checking account and all my bills are paid. Th EF is at $400 and it's there just in case I need it.

[Jessesbride]

I usually TRY to only have $10-20 xtra (but not show it anywhere xcept my budget on paper) but that is b/c hubby tends to spend his allowance dang near as soon as he gets it on something stupid then go to lunch sev. times in a week &then I have to get $$ outta the eme fund to cover it!

BUT I would if I could trust him to leave the checking acct alone!

Kim

[coup]

My crazy book keeping: I don't deal with change. If I'm paid 100.91, then I only add $100 to my check register. If I write a check for 20.25, then I subtract $21. I do write the correct amounts in the credit/debit section of the checkbook, but the change is not reflected in my tally.

That's my buffer. And about once a year then I'll use that extra for something fun and drop my extra down to $10.00. Last year, I had over $100 for after Christmas sales shopping!

I read an article in Reader's Digest about the wife of an accountant who either rounded up or down, based on whther the change was over or under 50 cents. Her DH retired and took over the balancing of the checkbook. He was apalled at his DW's record keping and retallied the checking account by going back through years (4?) of monthly statements. The final result......his DW was off by 3 cents!

[knitnmom]

I feel the same way! I need to have a little "cush" just in case I forgot something or something comes up. Hubby sometimes will forget to mention something he needs for work, or something along those lines. I also keep a dollar jar that I put 1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s in for extra security measures. I mentally need to know that we're covered just in case.

I would be a Nervous Nelly if I had a $0 balance!

[kabin63]

The thing about Dave Ramsey's plan is that he tells you to build up an EF of $1,000 before you tackle the debt. The reason is because he knows Murphy will always make a visit when it's inconvenient. I have followed his plan in the past and it works, but I tend to slack off. I need to go commando on the frugal wagon again.