Saturday, April 26, 2008
Really excited about an upcoming series!!!
A few days ago I decided I needed to update my financial plan. It is just something I have always done to keep myself on track. Then I thought.... this would probably be useful to other people. So beginning tomorrow I will post the first article in the series. It should last all of next week. This is not a budget. It is a plan for the future of your finances. Come back tomorrow for the introduction. The rest of the plan will be broken down into steps for the rest of the week.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Trying out some frugal tips
I have been really looking into frugality stuff online. So far I am going to really try to give clipping coupons a try. I am getting a great deal on 1/2 off a regular subscription to the local newspaper on Sunday only so if I use at least one coupon a week it will pay for itself.
I also used a CD holder I got for free at a conference to make myself a little coupon holder. I was going to go buy something to keep them in but I though of this idea and am SO proud of myself.
Again though on people doing illegal things for frugality.... Some of these coupon people are nuts. One thing I read that was suggested was peeling coupons off of products with coupons on them. I think this is stealing. I have picked up things before because they had these "peelies" on them and gotten to the register to find one of the items had it already removed. That makes me really mad. I feel like these belong to the person buying the item.
Also apparently you can lie to managers and tell them they are out of something on sale and get a raincheck. Then you go back to the store and buy some of that item on sale and use the raincheck later when it is not on sale. Again, this is not exactly illegal but it is really dishonest. I just wouldn't feel good about myself if I did something like that.
So anyway, if you have any coupon or fugal tips to pass on please post them here!!
I also used a CD holder I got for free at a conference to make myself a little coupon holder. I was going to go buy something to keep them in but I though of this idea and am SO proud of myself.
Again though on people doing illegal things for frugality.... Some of these coupon people are nuts. One thing I read that was suggested was peeling coupons off of products with coupons on them. I think this is stealing. I have picked up things before because they had these "peelies" on them and gotten to the register to find one of the items had it already removed. That makes me really mad. I feel like these belong to the person buying the item.
Also apparently you can lie to managers and tell them they are out of something on sale and get a raincheck. Then you go back to the store and buy some of that item on sale and use the raincheck later when it is not on sale. Again, this is not exactly illegal but it is really dishonest. I just wouldn't feel good about myself if I did something like that.
So anyway, if you have any coupon or fugal tips to pass on please post them here!!
My most recent saving money blunders... oops!!
Sometimes the ideas on ways to save money are great, but the journey there... not so much!!
I recently got a haircut for the first time in 10 months..... yeah, I guess that saved me some cash. But, I asked her how much it would be to color my hair because I wanted to go back to my natural color so I didn't have to keep buying haircolor... thus saving that money each month or so. Well, it was going to be around $90 and I did not expect that my haircut was going to cost me $40 so I decided to just color it myself with a shade close to my natural color.
Umm... that was a disaster. My hair was gray on the ends because I had used an ash blonde instead of a golden blonde (later explained to me by the color advisor on the 1-800-help I messed up my hair line).... So, I ended up having to buy TWO more boxes of haircolor to fix it. Total cost... around $21. Better than the salon but still wasted money.
Then I decided that I would buy a water filter and stop buying bottled water each week for work. So I got one that went on the tap. Well, it ruined our faucet while we were trying to get it on so we had to buy a new set up for $90. The filter itself was $50 and was also ruined in the attempt to get it OFF said broken faucet. However, Walmart took it back as defective, because it was... the thing leaked from places it shouldn't have. And, I used that money to buy a $30 pitcher that fits in the fridge instead. Plus its filters are cheaper.
So, I guess I came out on top after all. The pitcher will probably pay for the faucet in about a year. Not coloring my hair will pay for itself in about a year as well (I probably only go through 4 boxes of haircolor in a year anyway) and now my hair is normal and we have clean water. I just wish it hadn't been such a battle!!!
I recently got a haircut for the first time in 10 months..... yeah, I guess that saved me some cash. But, I asked her how much it would be to color my hair because I wanted to go back to my natural color so I didn't have to keep buying haircolor... thus saving that money each month or so. Well, it was going to be around $90 and I did not expect that my haircut was going to cost me $40 so I decided to just color it myself with a shade close to my natural color.
Umm... that was a disaster. My hair was gray on the ends because I had used an ash blonde instead of a golden blonde (later explained to me by the color advisor on the 1-800-help I messed up my hair line).... So, I ended up having to buy TWO more boxes of haircolor to fix it. Total cost... around $21. Better than the salon but still wasted money.
Then I decided that I would buy a water filter and stop buying bottled water each week for work. So I got one that went on the tap. Well, it ruined our faucet while we were trying to get it on so we had to buy a new set up for $90. The filter itself was $50 and was also ruined in the attempt to get it OFF said broken faucet. However, Walmart took it back as defective, because it was... the thing leaked from places it shouldn't have. And, I used that money to buy a $30 pitcher that fits in the fridge instead. Plus its filters are cheaper.
So, I guess I came out on top after all. The pitcher will probably pay for the faucet in about a year. Not coloring my hair will pay for itself in about a year as well (I probably only go through 4 boxes of haircolor in a year anyway) and now my hair is normal and we have clean water. I just wish it hadn't been such a battle!!!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Snowflaking... I finally get it.
Debt Snowball- paying off debt by making the maximum payment possible on your highest interest or balance debt (depends on your preference for paying it off) while paying the minimums on all other debt. As each debt gets paid off you put the same amount of money toward the next highest debt.
Snowflaking- putting little bits of money toward your debt as you get it.
Now, I never really understood snowflaking. I mean, do I save this money and use it at the end of the month? Do I write a check each time I have some extra cash? Do I have a garage sale? The answer is basically YES.
Snowflaking can take many different forms. I had heard of the concept before, but it wasn't until I read a discussion board post on it that I really understood.
Take me for instance. Today, I had to go get a few things at the grocery store. I really wanted to go to McDonald's and get a chicken nugget happy meal. However, the post was still fresh in my mind so I decided instead, I would go home, eat what was there and put $5 for the happy meal that I didn't buy into my credit card account. So that is what I did. (My bank has you transfer money into a seperate part of your online account then they take the money out and pay the credit card for you.)
Some other ideas I read online included saving change and adding that to your debt. Now, I do save my change, but I usually use it in the vending machine at work. (I know I should know better) Well, I am going to start taking whatever I have at the end of the month to the bank and putting that amount toward my credit card debt.
The ideas you can come up with for snowflaking are endless. I am sure my readers have some great ideas. Please add your ideas to the comment section!!
Snowflaking- putting little bits of money toward your debt as you get it.
Now, I never really understood snowflaking. I mean, do I save this money and use it at the end of the month? Do I write a check each time I have some extra cash? Do I have a garage sale? The answer is basically YES.
Snowflaking can take many different forms. I had heard of the concept before, but it wasn't until I read a discussion board post on it that I really understood.
Take me for instance. Today, I had to go get a few things at the grocery store. I really wanted to go to McDonald's and get a chicken nugget happy meal. However, the post was still fresh in my mind so I decided instead, I would go home, eat what was there and put $5 for the happy meal that I didn't buy into my credit card account. So that is what I did. (My bank has you transfer money into a seperate part of your online account then they take the money out and pay the credit card for you.)
Some other ideas I read online included saving change and adding that to your debt. Now, I do save my change, but I usually use it in the vending machine at work. (I know I should know better) Well, I am going to start taking whatever I have at the end of the month to the bank and putting that amount toward my credit card debt.
The ideas you can come up with for snowflaking are endless. I am sure my readers have some great ideas. Please add your ideas to the comment section!!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Baby is here!!!
Wow, I have so much to update on. Let's see. I will put them all under headings and you can just scroll down to whatever you feel like reading.
NEW BABY!!!
Our baby was born on March 27th. So she is almost a month old already. THAT is why I have been missing for so long. She is doing well, she is a great sleeper, and is already getting HUGE!!!
OUR DOG!!!
Chester passed away this past Friday. We decided to have him put to sleep after a few months of trying to battle his tumor. He had gotten much better with the drugs the vet prescribed but the tumor came back with a vengance and we didn't want him to suffer anymore. Obviously we are still dealing with it right now, but it was the right thing to do.
MY ANNIVERSARY!!
I was so upset I missed posting for the one year anniversary for Picture of Wealth. I cannot believe it has been over a year since I started this blog. I have had many other blogs but none lasted as long as this. Finances are something I will never get tired of reading, writing, talking about. A special thanks to my subscribers. You help keep me writing. It is nice to know SOMEONE is interested in my blog, lol.
MY FINANCES!!
We were able to make our savings goal for our crisis plan!!! However, were it not for our tax refund, it wouldn't have happened. The problem now is over spending because of that fat balance. Anytime we need/want something for the baby we go out and get it without really thinking about it. That was one reason I wanted to get back to my blog. I want to make sure this stops before our savings is gone. I have to remind myself that any money left over once I start getting my full pay checks again can go to debt repayment.
Well, those are my updates. I hope to get to some more articles soon, but I never know when the baby will let me do that. In a few months it should get much easier again. Thanks for reading!!
NEW BABY!!!
Our baby was born on March 27th. So she is almost a month old already. THAT is why I have been missing for so long. She is doing well, she is a great sleeper, and is already getting HUGE!!!
OUR DOG!!!
Chester passed away this past Friday. We decided to have him put to sleep after a few months of trying to battle his tumor. He had gotten much better with the drugs the vet prescribed but the tumor came back with a vengance and we didn't want him to suffer anymore. Obviously we are still dealing with it right now, but it was the right thing to do.
MY ANNIVERSARY!!
I was so upset I missed posting for the one year anniversary for Picture of Wealth. I cannot believe it has been over a year since I started this blog. I have had many other blogs but none lasted as long as this. Finances are something I will never get tired of reading, writing, talking about. A special thanks to my subscribers. You help keep me writing. It is nice to know SOMEONE is interested in my blog, lol.
MY FINANCES!!
We were able to make our savings goal for our crisis plan!!! However, were it not for our tax refund, it wouldn't have happened. The problem now is over spending because of that fat balance. Anytime we need/want something for the baby we go out and get it without really thinking about it. That was one reason I wanted to get back to my blog. I want to make sure this stops before our savings is gone. I have to remind myself that any money left over once I start getting my full pay checks again can go to debt repayment.
Well, those are my updates. I hope to get to some more articles soon, but I never know when the baby will let me do that. In a few months it should get much easier again. Thanks for reading!!
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