I haven't been keeping up like i wanted to, but i am going to try to cut and paste some articles, articles i want to remember, discuss or comment on. here's an article about learning to live without credit cards and it explores the dangers, fees, and penalties of credit cards.
i want to challenge my family to get rid of plastic although as much as possible and use gold old fashioned cash. Not debit, not checkbooks, just cash. using the envelope system and carrying cash. then, when it's gone, it's gone. what a great way to not go overbudget at the grocery store, you get to the register and have to start putting back those impulse buys. and when you go to a fair or event, when you are out of money, you are out.
Personally, i find it too easy when I am someplace like hersheypark, and I run out of cash, to just use the debit card, making it easy to overspend, impulse spend (gotta have those 30.00 hershey hats shaped like kisses, right, cause where else will you wear them and not just look ridiculous, but at the time they seem like a great idea). just having so much cash also eliminates the whining of the kids, they can each be given a certain amount of money (ideally, allowance they have saved or extra big chores they have done to earn extra money for this event) and then when it's gone, it's gone. sorry, we don't have any more.
obviously, you still need to use the checkbook for paying bills and things like that. but even writing checks can lead to overspending, who hasnt bounced a check? or wrote one out then got home and discovered they had like 10.00 for the rest of the week.
so that's my challenge to my family, to develop the habit of cash. checks for bills, tithe, stuff like that.
and a challenge to myself to not buy so much online, but to print out the order forms and then write out the check for the amount when possible. that wouldmake it easier to track and cut down the impulse buys again.
so here I am going to try to paste and cut or at least link that article:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/16/pf/without_plastic.moneymag/index.htm
I hope to discuss this with jim and watch the videos of the families interviewed. it seems so overwhelming, so daunting with over 35K in credit card debt, where to start? so it's good to see that it can be done!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Our recent saves
Just thought I'd pop in with a quick list of some ways we have saved this month, it's amazing to see all the little things that we do that add up.
1. Skating banquet: Didn't go, it was going to be 15-20/person!
2. hampden fair: Last year we spent at least 100.00 because the rides are 3/each. That adds up quickly for all the kids, then they want their face painted, something to eat, games, etc. So we just didn't go, we did go to the shaull fair, but we kind of had to, since it was so promoted at their school, but we tried to keep it cheap!
3. haircuts: I am giving myself another perm this week, saving at least 75.00! I did it before and it looked really good, but it needs touched up and since I bought the rods and stuff, I only need the solution. I get it at the beauty supply and have their card, so i get the discount. I am also cutting both boys hair this week saving about $25.00.
4. Fairy Festival: I really wanted to go to this, but between the distance, the cold weather and the fact that you have to walk so far from the car to the festival, I decided that spending the $100 it would cost us to park, get in , and then for face painting and food wasn't worth it. I would like to go next year, I am going to look into setting up a booth and hopefully make enough to pay for the day and break even!
5. I decided not to renew my membership with MANA for now, a midwife group or pay the 50.00 fee to be listed on their referral site. So I am saving about 150.00. I may change my mind later because just one referral per year would more than pay for it, but right now, I have a slow period and outstanding balances so i am trying to cut down.
6. I am returning my breast pumps and supplies since they are not doing anything but costing me money. That will save me 120.00 month. I hope to get about 100.00 back in the supplies, so I will in no way break even, but at least I can cut my losses and invest my time in stuff that will make more money. Even if I rent out the pump, I only make about 40/month after expenses, so it's not worth all the effort.
7. My husband, megan and I signed up for a legit mystery shopping company and they have some nice assignments. Right now, we are signed up for free haircuts and free meals at friendly's. We also put in for a free meal at Benihana's, a japanese restaurant that is really cool and really expensive (they will give us 100.00 in meal expenses!). if we each get the assignment, I am going to try to go when my family is visiting.
8. for megans graduation party, we are asking everyone to bring a potluck item and their own chairs. My amish do this and have no problems with it. I figure that my friends will totally understand and if others are offended, then that's just too bad, but I am not going to spend 1000 on a party! My friend told me to remind megan this isn't really a party, but rather a fundraiser! The goal being enough money to pay us back (I think she owes us about 300 now), fix her air conditioning in her car, and pay for the fall semester of hacc.
I think that's it, at least all I can remember off the top of my head, i will be back later with more, plus a list of goals we have to further save money and/or make more money!
1. Skating banquet: Didn't go, it was going to be 15-20/person!
2. hampden fair: Last year we spent at least 100.00 because the rides are 3/each. That adds up quickly for all the kids, then they want their face painted, something to eat, games, etc. So we just didn't go, we did go to the shaull fair, but we kind of had to, since it was so promoted at their school, but we tried to keep it cheap!
3. haircuts: I am giving myself another perm this week, saving at least 75.00! I did it before and it looked really good, but it needs touched up and since I bought the rods and stuff, I only need the solution. I get it at the beauty supply and have their card, so i get the discount. I am also cutting both boys hair this week saving about $25.00.
4. Fairy Festival: I really wanted to go to this, but between the distance, the cold weather and the fact that you have to walk so far from the car to the festival, I decided that spending the $100 it would cost us to park, get in , and then for face painting and food wasn't worth it. I would like to go next year, I am going to look into setting up a booth and hopefully make enough to pay for the day and break even!
5. I decided not to renew my membership with MANA for now, a midwife group or pay the 50.00 fee to be listed on their referral site. So I am saving about 150.00. I may change my mind later because just one referral per year would more than pay for it, but right now, I have a slow period and outstanding balances so i am trying to cut down.
6. I am returning my breast pumps and supplies since they are not doing anything but costing me money. That will save me 120.00 month. I hope to get about 100.00 back in the supplies, so I will in no way break even, but at least I can cut my losses and invest my time in stuff that will make more money. Even if I rent out the pump, I only make about 40/month after expenses, so it's not worth all the effort.
7. My husband, megan and I signed up for a legit mystery shopping company and they have some nice assignments. Right now, we are signed up for free haircuts and free meals at friendly's. We also put in for a free meal at Benihana's, a japanese restaurant that is really cool and really expensive (they will give us 100.00 in meal expenses!). if we each get the assignment, I am going to try to go when my family is visiting.
8. for megans graduation party, we are asking everyone to bring a potluck item and their own chairs. My amish do this and have no problems with it. I figure that my friends will totally understand and if others are offended, then that's just too bad, but I am not going to spend 1000 on a party! My friend told me to remind megan this isn't really a party, but rather a fundraiser! The goal being enough money to pay us back (I think she owes us about 300 now), fix her air conditioning in her car, and pay for the fall semester of hacc.
I think that's it, at least all I can remember off the top of my head, i will be back later with more, plus a list of goals we have to further save money and/or make more money!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
First blog
My last blog about our financials and our accountability was shut down for possible spam, which is silly because if a real person actually looked at it, they would see it has nothing to do with spam or selling anything. the purpose of this blog is an accountability tool for me and my family as we work to get out of debt, learn new financial principles, and study biblical principles as they are related to debt and finances. I hope to post on here a weekly list of the ways we have saved money as well as the ways we are spending money. I also hope to keep a journal with the bible lessons we are using about stewardship, tithing, finances, money, debt, and contentment. In the end, I hope to use this as a tool to grow and learn and be able to look back at all the progress we have made.
I will be back tonight or tomorrow hopefully with my first list of ways we have been able to save money, things we have not spent money on. we have been concentrating so much on what we are spending money on, it would be nice to credit ourselves with all the things we haven't done, ways we have saved, ideas we have to save even more.
Happy Memorial Day!
I will be back tonight or tomorrow hopefully with my first list of ways we have been able to save money, things we have not spent money on. we have been concentrating so much on what we are spending money on, it would be nice to credit ourselves with all the things we haven't done, ways we have saved, ideas we have to save even more.
Happy Memorial Day!
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