A year ago, I signed up for Suze Orman's Save Yourself Plan at TD Ameritrade. I read her book Women and Money (see left hand side bar) and that is probably what began this blog. Well, I am happy to report that for one full year I saved $50 every month, never made a single withdrawal, and I am now the proud new owner of 100 FREE dollars!!! Yup, if you saved at least $50 monthly for one year TD Ameritrade would GIVE you a hundred dollars. I also made $16 in interest so I guess my grand total is $116 made on my money. I have no plans for it at all. I hope to just contiue saving it. Right now we have plenty of money saved for the baby and it doesn't look like I will need that money at all!!!!
Please forgive me for my lack of posting. Things are very hectic right now as the baby is due any day!!!!
Showing posts with label savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label savings. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
How to Get RId of Your Own Wants
I describe a want as something you do not need for any reason, but you feel the need to purchase it to entertain yourself or your kids, or show off to someone. I am sure there are many other reasons for “wanting” to go out and spend money but I just wanted to show that I am not talking about things you need. Anyway, here are some tips BEFORE you spend.
Shop your stuff. I say this all the time but I say it because it works. If you really want a video game look through what you have at home and find something you already have to play. If you really don’t want to play any of your old games at least take some with you to the store to trade in toward your new purchase.
Get something free. I have saved so much money by using the library in the past year. I don’t know why I never thought of it before (I mean I AM a librarian, lol) but I always went out and bought books instead of borrowing. Now if they don’t have the exact book I want I try to find something similar just to keep from spending. You can also find a local chapter of freecycle to see if they have the item you are looking for, and get rid of some of your old stuff as well!! Another thing that often keeps me from buying is getting free samples in the mail. You can go to Volition.com to search for sites that offer truly free samples. Hint: Set up a new email address at hotmail to keep from getting any spam in your regular inbox.
Do the 30 day list. The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly have been talking about this for a while. When you want to make a big purchase, put it on a list and make yourself wait at least 30 days. If you still want it after that time then you can buy it, but chances are if you are truly trying to fix your finances your will talk yourself out of it.
These are just some tips to get you started. If you have some tips of your own feel free to add them here!!
Shop your stuff. I say this all the time but I say it because it works. If you really want a video game look through what you have at home and find something you already have to play. If you really don’t want to play any of your old games at least take some with you to the store to trade in toward your new purchase.
Get something free. I have saved so much money by using the library in the past year. I don’t know why I never thought of it before (I mean I AM a librarian, lol) but I always went out and bought books instead of borrowing. Now if they don’t have the exact book I want I try to find something similar just to keep from spending. You can also find a local chapter of freecycle to see if they have the item you are looking for, and get rid of some of your old stuff as well!! Another thing that often keeps me from buying is getting free samples in the mail. You can go to Volition.com to search for sites that offer truly free samples. Hint: Set up a new email address at hotmail to keep from getting any spam in your regular inbox.
Do the 30 day list. The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly have been talking about this for a while. When you want to make a big purchase, put it on a list and make yourself wait at least 30 days. If you still want it after that time then you can buy it, but chances are if you are truly trying to fix your finances your will talk yourself out of it.
These are just some tips to get you started. If you have some tips of your own feel free to add them here!!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Where Have the Wants Gone?
I have been noticing that the last couple of months I have not had the urge to spend that I have had in the past. Perhaps it is pregnancy hormones? I like to think it is just me, finally realizing that what I really want is my debt gone so I can have MY money back. Paying those debts every month keeps me from having it to spend on other things.
“Thing” is, right now, I really don’t want ANYTHING. Seriously, it was very hard for anyone to buy me anything for my birthday or Christmas because there just wasn’t anything that I wanted or needed. I even skipped the 3D ultrasound that at first I really, really wanted. And, in the name of full disclosure, I almost caved, but I didn’t and now I am $175 richer because of it.
Another way we saved money recently… my husband and I decided neither one of us really likes Valentine’s Day so we decided not to exchange gifts. (And, this was mostly MY idea in case you are wondering.) I have just never had an emotional attachment to that holiday so what is the point of celebrating just for the act of celebrating. Our anniversary is kind of like our Valentine’s Day for me, and it is only a few months away, so we will celebrate then.
I guess the thing you have to understand is that this is a huge turn around for me. I almost always want something. I don’t usually buy it, but obviously I have in the past or I wouldn’t have any debt, lol. But, for some reason there really is nothing I want right now. There are things that we need and will be purchasing for the baby, but right now I am really enjoying this. I am saving money, AND I don’t feel deprived at all!!
“Thing” is, right now, I really don’t want ANYTHING. Seriously, it was very hard for anyone to buy me anything for my birthday or Christmas because there just wasn’t anything that I wanted or needed. I even skipped the 3D ultrasound that at first I really, really wanted. And, in the name of full disclosure, I almost caved, but I didn’t and now I am $175 richer because of it.
Another way we saved money recently… my husband and I decided neither one of us really likes Valentine’s Day so we decided not to exchange gifts. (And, this was mostly MY idea in case you are wondering.) I have just never had an emotional attachment to that holiday so what is the point of celebrating just for the act of celebrating. Our anniversary is kind of like our Valentine’s Day for me, and it is only a few months away, so we will celebrate then.
I guess the thing you have to understand is that this is a huge turn around for me. I almost always want something. I don’t usually buy it, but obviously I have in the past or I wouldn’t have any debt, lol. But, for some reason there really is nothing I want right now. There are things that we need and will be purchasing for the baby, but right now I am really enjoying this. I am saving money, AND I don’t feel deprived at all!!
Friday, January 11, 2008
My Biggest Money Accomplishments
Well, you know about my mistakes, but over the last year I have made some great progress. Here are some of my biggest accomplishments. Please list your own. I find them very motivational.
1. I stopped adding to my debt. Probably one of the best things I have done for my financial situation. I do not use credit cards anymore. I can’t say I have done this consistently for an entire year, but everyday gets me closer to that mark.
2. I cut up my credit cards. Obviously this is in direct relation to the first one. However, I can’t tell you how freeing it is to cut up your cards. We were dependent on them. We used them every month for things as necessary as groceries… but I don’t miss them. It has also lowered my stress level significantly because the option to use them is gone.
3. I found money. Yup, every month I was paying more than I needed to for things. I did this in several ways. I combined my cable, internet and phone service saving fifty dollars a month. I also changed my cell phone plan which was only supposed to save me ten dollars a month but it somehow turned into fifteen. I stopped contributing to a couple of savings plans in order to get my debt paid down faster.
4. I have never stopped contributing to my retirement for any reason. Technically I have been doing this for 8 years. That is my mandatory state retirement though. Two years ago when I graduated college and got a new job I began contributing to a 403b. I have not let anything keep me from doing that and I love opening that envelope every month and watching those numbers get bigger and bigger.
5. I just pay more attention. And, I think that can make all the difference in the world. I think about purchases now. I think about how much something is actually costing me in terms of how much I will use it and how much interest that money could be accruing in the bank. I analyze my accomplishments and my mistakes to see where I need work and where I am doing okay.
Please add your own accomplishments to this list. I know if you really think about it you have made some progress somewhere!!
1. I stopped adding to my debt. Probably one of the best things I have done for my financial situation. I do not use credit cards anymore. I can’t say I have done this consistently for an entire year, but everyday gets me closer to that mark.
2. I cut up my credit cards. Obviously this is in direct relation to the first one. However, I can’t tell you how freeing it is to cut up your cards. We were dependent on them. We used them every month for things as necessary as groceries… but I don’t miss them. It has also lowered my stress level significantly because the option to use them is gone.
3. I found money. Yup, every month I was paying more than I needed to for things. I did this in several ways. I combined my cable, internet and phone service saving fifty dollars a month. I also changed my cell phone plan which was only supposed to save me ten dollars a month but it somehow turned into fifteen. I stopped contributing to a couple of savings plans in order to get my debt paid down faster.
4. I have never stopped contributing to my retirement for any reason. Technically I have been doing this for 8 years. That is my mandatory state retirement though. Two years ago when I graduated college and got a new job I began contributing to a 403b. I have not let anything keep me from doing that and I love opening that envelope every month and watching those numbers get bigger and bigger.
5. I just pay more attention. And, I think that can make all the difference in the world. I think about purchases now. I think about how much something is actually costing me in terms of how much I will use it and how much interest that money could be accruing in the bank. I analyze my accomplishments and my mistakes to see where I need work and where I am doing okay.
Please add your own accomplishments to this list. I know if you really think about it you have made some progress somewhere!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
More on Groceries
Let’s see. Do I really have to count today as the first week of my “new” way of grocery shopping? Yes, I guess I do. And, how did I do? TERRIBLE! First, I took my husband and kids with me. MISTAKE NUMBER ONE! I also bought a few items that were not grocery but we needed, like diapers for the baby. However, I also bought some things that we did not need at all. Add in to that my daughter begging for junk food, my husband saying yes most of the time and well, we spent just under $200. However we definitely bought more than a week worth of food. So when I go back next time, BY MYSELF, I think it will be much much better. Let’s hope!
Funny, when I posted my last post on groceries, Trent at the Simple Dollar and JD at Get Rich Slowly both had grocery articles up too. Here they are because they were both really good and related. Trent’s article JD’s article I have deemed August “Grocery Savings Month” because, well, I want to. I will try to keep everyone updated on MY progress. Please share your own tips too!
Sorry if the updates are a bit slow this month. I will be starting back to school ( and have actually been working the last two weeks ). The first few weeks of school are always hectic and library is a new position for me. If you don’t want to miss any updates you may want to subscribe so you will be notified by email. Thanks!!
Funny, when I posted my last post on groceries, Trent at the Simple Dollar and JD at Get Rich Slowly both had grocery articles up too. Here they are because they were both really good and related. Trent’s article JD’s article I have deemed August “Grocery Savings Month” because, well, I want to. I will try to keep everyone updated on MY progress. Please share your own tips too!
Sorry if the updates are a bit slow this month. I will be starting back to school ( and have actually been working the last two weeks ). The first few weeks of school are always hectic and library is a new position for me. If you don’t want to miss any updates you may want to subscribe so you will be notified by email. Thanks!!
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