It is with a sick knot in my stomach that I type this. I have been making a HUGE money mistake and I didn't even realize it!
Let me give you a little back story... we are taking a beatin' from Verizon EVERY month. We pay WAYYYY too much for their services. In all honesty, it's ridiculous and makes me sick at my stomach. We can't get internet where we live so we rely on our phones way more than we should. in fact, our phones become "hot spots" so that I can do homework online. So basically our phones are a necessity since we cannot get internet otherwise. But OMG we are paying $227 a month for 2 phones. Can you believe it? Yep- I JUST said that amount outloud.
Okay so this weekend I was going over bills and stuff and I was like "ya know what! I have had it with this company!" We are under contract, BIG MISTAKE, and so I know that I have to stick with them for a while but in the mean time I was going to see what I could do to lower it. Even if it was just a few dollars.
Not to be disrespectful, but I try to use the "Chat" option with most companies when I can. Otherwise I get a person on the line that I cannot understand, and they rarely can understand me when I talk. Apparently my accent is thick. Anyway... I was chatting with this Verizon support person asking for HELP on lowering my bill. She immediately came back and said that the plan I was on was the best considering the amount of internet usage we go through every month BUT she said I could cancel the insurance on the iPhones. That would save me $20 bucks. So then i'm like WHAT? I am paying 20 bucks a month for insurance? So then I hop on apple's website and find out that I am paying for insurance, but my deductibles are still 100 if I had to use the insurance. WHAT A WASTE? I could buy an iPhone on ebay cheaper than what I pay to "protect" this one?
So mad at myself. I cannot believe I have been wasting money like that. Check into it! Insurance is a must have, and with phones as expensive as they are I GET it. But weigh it out... if you are paying enough in a year to buy a new phone, OR if your deductible is so high that you'd be better off to buy a refurbed phone for less money--then you MIGHT be paying too much for insurance!
Whew.. so glad that ordeal is over with. Now... what am I gonna spend my extra $20 on each month?!?! :)
Showing posts with label living on less. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living on less. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
52 Week Money Challenge
You have probably heard of this before, but if you haven't, this post is for YOU!
Very simple, very fun, not hard to do but has GREAT results.
1st week-set aside $1.00
2nd week-set aside $2.00
3rd week-set aside $3.00
and so on and so forth until the FINAL week when you are setting aside $52.00
At the end of a year you will have $1378.00 set aside. Not a TON of money, but what a great way to START saving. Put a name on that jar. VACATION. CLOTHES. NEW COUCH! name it and claim it! This is going to be fun! You can start at anytime during the year. I am just now on week 4 and I haven't missed any of those dollars! But this time next year you will be JEALOUS if you haven't done it!
Happy Friday, ya'll!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Finances 101
Basic tips to getting your finances in order:
1. Know what you make. Sounds easy, right? Well unfortunately some people (maybe they are paid differently each pay period, or on commission) don't know EXACTLY what they make. Try to find out EXACTLY what you bring home. You can't have a perfect budget if you don't know the answer.
2. Know your expenses. How much to the CENT is every single bill??
3. Start a budget. Use numbers 1 and 2 to create an incoming column and an outgoing column. Write down EVERY bill. Don't skip any! Included gasoline, sonic drinks, movie rentals, entertainment money--EVERYTHING!
4. Don't panic. There are ways to fix it if it's not balancing!
5. Make a zero budget. Google some info on Dave Ramsey. He can explain it in detail. I can just say this very simply... GIVE EVERY DOLLAR A PLACE TO GO! That means if you bring home 2,000 each month and your expenses are 1,500 then on paper you have to find a place for that extra 500... even if its to send it to your savings account, or put some in your christmas fund, or new tire fund. Every dollar has a name... and if it doesn't--assign it one!
6. Pay your bills on time. You save money and save stress.
7. Keep up with the "randoms" as I call it. Trash bills that come only every quarter, insurance premiums that come once a year, things like that. TAXES! This one gets a lot of people each year. Start setting aside money for those. Even if it's only $10 each month.
8. Use the debt snowball. Start with the low balance. Pay the minimums on everything EXCEPT this lowest balance. Put everything extra you can towards it until its paid off. Then snowball down to the highest ones.
9. Work as a team. I had to learn this one the hard way. I wanted to keep my independence and handle MY stuff MYSELF. but the day we decided to be a team my life got easier.
10. Set aside money for fun! If you don't, you will end up quitting and get right back into debt!
11. Look for ways to scale back. Cancel the primo cable subscription, lower your minutes on cell phone plan, quit eating out as much!
12. At the same time... look for ways to INCREASE your income. Sell some stuff, get a part time job, list items on EBAY. look for ways to increase your income!
13. Stick with it! don't give up!
14. blog about it. :) Okay so that's probably not a qualifing statement for "Finances 101" but just like with anything, you need accountability. Having a place to write about your journey towards financial freedom keeps you accountable. And you can make money blogging.
15. Organize it! Keep a binder, notebook, drawer, etc. Some place that is designtated SOLELY for finances. That way things don't get lost, bills don't go unpaid... it just keeps you on top of your GAME!
16. Make goals for the future. This won't be a fun process, but it can be less painful if you have GOALS in mind.
17. Be excited about it!
18. Consolidate student loans, car loans, home loans, credit cards... anything you can! Get it into ONE place so that you have ONE payment to keep up with!
19. Use bill pay. But don't PAY FOR IT! That is ridiculous. Most banks will offer it for free, or at least free for so long. Don't pay for things that you can do yourself. Bill pay is NICE and HANDY to have, but if it costs you money to spend YOUR money on YOUR bills... well, am I the only one that sees something wrong with that picture?
20. Call your credit card companies and ask to have your interest lowered. Beg them, in fact. The lower the interest the sooner you can pay it off.
21. Trade down. If you have 3 people in your family then you PROBABLY don't HAVE to have a huge gas gussler of a car. (I'm not knocking them, but if it's not a necessity, then during this time you should get rid of it)
21. Refinance your car. Didn't know you could do that until recently. Do it! save money! And that extra money can go towards paying down debt!
Just some handy tips! I hope they help!!
1. Know what you make. Sounds easy, right? Well unfortunately some people (maybe they are paid differently each pay period, or on commission) don't know EXACTLY what they make. Try to find out EXACTLY what you bring home. You can't have a perfect budget if you don't know the answer.
2. Know your expenses. How much to the CENT is every single bill??
3. Start a budget. Use numbers 1 and 2 to create an incoming column and an outgoing column. Write down EVERY bill. Don't skip any! Included gasoline, sonic drinks, movie rentals, entertainment money--EVERYTHING!
4. Don't panic. There are ways to fix it if it's not balancing!
5. Make a zero budget. Google some info on Dave Ramsey. He can explain it in detail. I can just say this very simply... GIVE EVERY DOLLAR A PLACE TO GO! That means if you bring home 2,000 each month and your expenses are 1,500 then on paper you have to find a place for that extra 500... even if its to send it to your savings account, or put some in your christmas fund, or new tire fund. Every dollar has a name... and if it doesn't--assign it one!
6. Pay your bills on time. You save money and save stress.
7. Keep up with the "randoms" as I call it. Trash bills that come only every quarter, insurance premiums that come once a year, things like that. TAXES! This one gets a lot of people each year. Start setting aside money for those. Even if it's only $10 each month.
8. Use the debt snowball. Start with the low balance. Pay the minimums on everything EXCEPT this lowest balance. Put everything extra you can towards it until its paid off. Then snowball down to the highest ones.
9. Work as a team. I had to learn this one the hard way. I wanted to keep my independence and handle MY stuff MYSELF. but the day we decided to be a team my life got easier.
10. Set aside money for fun! If you don't, you will end up quitting and get right back into debt!
11. Look for ways to scale back. Cancel the primo cable subscription, lower your minutes on cell phone plan, quit eating out as much!
12. At the same time... look for ways to INCREASE your income. Sell some stuff, get a part time job, list items on EBAY. look for ways to increase your income!
13. Stick with it! don't give up!
14. blog about it. :) Okay so that's probably not a qualifing statement for "Finances 101" but just like with anything, you need accountability. Having a place to write about your journey towards financial freedom keeps you accountable. And you can make money blogging.
15. Organize it! Keep a binder, notebook, drawer, etc. Some place that is designtated SOLELY for finances. That way things don't get lost, bills don't go unpaid... it just keeps you on top of your GAME!
16. Make goals for the future. This won't be a fun process, but it can be less painful if you have GOALS in mind.
17. Be excited about it!
18. Consolidate student loans, car loans, home loans, credit cards... anything you can! Get it into ONE place so that you have ONE payment to keep up with!
19. Use bill pay. But don't PAY FOR IT! That is ridiculous. Most banks will offer it for free, or at least free for so long. Don't pay for things that you can do yourself. Bill pay is NICE and HANDY to have, but if it costs you money to spend YOUR money on YOUR bills... well, am I the only one that sees something wrong with that picture?
20. Call your credit card companies and ask to have your interest lowered. Beg them, in fact. The lower the interest the sooner you can pay it off.
21. Trade down. If you have 3 people in your family then you PROBABLY don't HAVE to have a huge gas gussler of a car. (I'm not knocking them, but if it's not a necessity, then during this time you should get rid of it)
21. Refinance your car. Didn't know you could do that until recently. Do it! save money! And that extra money can go towards paying down debt!
Just some handy tips! I hope they help!!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
After Christmas bargains
After Christmas sales are my favorite! I get so excited. I rarely go after the actual "Christmas" items, I'm more for the non-Christmas blowouts instead!
3 essentials that I ALWAYS pick up that are Christmas items:
-wrapping paper
-bows and ribbons
-candles
That being said, I only go after these items every other year. I buy enough to last.
HOLD THAT THOUGHT REAL QUICK....
** I don't recommend stocking up items for ANYONE on ANY item if you don't have the room for it! Nothing junks up a house and gets you more qualified for an episode of hoarders than having more stuff than you have space.
*We have 2 barns. Yes, 2. One of which is dedicated the "Seasons and Events barns." I keep wrapping paper, gift bags, boxes, and sorts of home decor for the holidays in here. It's out of our way, we NEVER go in that barn except to get something specific so it's not in our way.
Okay-- I had to say that :)
I go after regular items that are hugely discounted. I wish I could say everything I bought but my family reads my blogs from time to time and I would hate to ruin next years Christmas for them. :) Let's just say that I am already completely done shopping for my 2 sisters, my parents, both brother in laws, one niece, next years school teachers!!
Belk had a HUGE sale, Bath and Body had a massive sale, and pretty much every store around had huge discounts and incentives. I have harped on this before in many posts. It's so important to me to buy nice gifts for people without spending all the money! After Christmas is without a doubt the BEST time to buy on almost anything!
While I say NO very often to spending unnecessary money, buying bargains NOW will only help you LATER!
What about you?! Did you find any good bargains this year?!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
BUDGET BLOWN!
I'm so mad that I am writing this blog in black, bold, big letters. I blew my budget for the month. And I don't have anything super fabulous to show for it!
I blew my budget because of LACK OF PLANNING! I am so irritated at myself. :(
We live in the county and we have to PAY for trash pick up which is so dumb, but we do. Well we have had problems with that bill since we moved into our old place last July. We moved in and had lived there 2 days when we got a bill for the past 90 days and it was for $90 dollars. It's around 30 bucks a month. I called and was like "WAIT A SEC... I can't owe for the past 90 days if I have lived here for 2." She tried to explain that the trash pick up doesn't necessarily follow the person but the location. Well, I have two letters to say to that and the first letter is B. That is not even right. So they prorated it whatever and it was lower. But not enough lower. So i told her that I would pay what I felt was right. I would pay my 30 bucks a month starting from the day I moved in. And that's what I have done. But because of that we have been behind. They had been tacking on late fees and i'd still call and gripe about it.... the bill was NEVER the same amount and the dates of service were always screwy. so I just kept sending in my money and never thought much about it.
now it's time to pay taxes. you can't pay taxes if you have a deliquent trash bill. I shouldn't have one, but I do. So i said fine i'll come pay it. It was $176.99. I had her pull up every single bill, every single check I had sent and because I never paid that first 90 dollars they said I owed, plus the fees, plus the month in there that I forgot to pay... that is what I owed. I couldn't refuse to pay it because I couldn't pay my taxes until it was taken care of.
So yesterday i paid $180 in trash bills and $100 in taxes. i am so mad. Not happy about that at all.
I may never get over this....
I blew my budget because of LACK OF PLANNING! I am so irritated at myself. :(
We live in the county and we have to PAY for trash pick up which is so dumb, but we do. Well we have had problems with that bill since we moved into our old place last July. We moved in and had lived there 2 days when we got a bill for the past 90 days and it was for $90 dollars. It's around 30 bucks a month. I called and was like "WAIT A SEC... I can't owe for the past 90 days if I have lived here for 2." She tried to explain that the trash pick up doesn't necessarily follow the person but the location. Well, I have two letters to say to that and the first letter is B. That is not even right. So they prorated it whatever and it was lower. But not enough lower. So i told her that I would pay what I felt was right. I would pay my 30 bucks a month starting from the day I moved in. And that's what I have done. But because of that we have been behind. They had been tacking on late fees and i'd still call and gripe about it.... the bill was NEVER the same amount and the dates of service were always screwy. so I just kept sending in my money and never thought much about it.
now it's time to pay taxes. you can't pay taxes if you have a deliquent trash bill. I shouldn't have one, but I do. So i said fine i'll come pay it. It was $176.99. I had her pull up every single bill, every single check I had sent and because I never paid that first 90 dollars they said I owed, plus the fees, plus the month in there that I forgot to pay... that is what I owed. I couldn't refuse to pay it because I couldn't pay my taxes until it was taken care of.
So yesterday i paid $180 in trash bills and $100 in taxes. i am so mad. Not happy about that at all.
I may never get over this....
Friday, July 15, 2011
Do I sense a case of the "I can't's?"
Later on this week in my other blog (http://www.jereandcara.blogspot.com/), I plan to make a post about my top favorite blogs I read!!! I hope that you hop over and take a look at that blog from time to time :)
ONE of my favorite blogs is "SIMPLE MOM". Check it out HERE. Today's post was about perfectionism and how a lot of tend to think if I can't do it all, or do it perfect, or within a timely manner--then what's the point?
Which brings me to the point of the "I CAN'Ts"!! I get these a lot. If my goal is to set aside $400 dollars one month into savings and I realize that i'll barely be able to set aside $150... I tend to just forget it. I get the "I CAN'Ts" and spend the money elsewhere. If I can't pay CASH for something that i've been saving for and realize it may take me longer to save than I expected, I tend to think " I CANT!"
DO YOU DO THIS? Or maybe its all just me... I doubt it though. There are plenty of "us" out there that feel that way.
In SIMPLE MOM's post today she even talks about how if we don't have time to clean the WHOLE kitchen, do we just leave the dishes there over night?? YEP=-thats me! If I have a cleaning plan in mind and it doesn't happen for whatever reason, then I tend to just saw forget it and go about my evening being lazy instead of doing what I CAN do.
Her post struck home with me... I DEFINITLY act that way, and it's so childish of me. :) I've got to do better. I can't save as much as i'd like to this month, but I have to save what I can. It's all about ATTITUDE. It's all in how you look at it. Sometimes looking at the big picture is scary! looking at how much you spend every month freaks you out. Looking at how much you NEED to save makes your stomach turn... while looking at the BIG picture is important at times, I think it's most important to look simply at this week, this day, this month... what can you do THIS time?
Hope that offered up a little encouragement.
ONE of my favorite blogs is "SIMPLE MOM". Check it out HERE. Today's post was about perfectionism and how a lot of tend to think if I can't do it all, or do it perfect, or within a timely manner--then what's the point?
Which brings me to the point of the "I CAN'Ts"!! I get these a lot. If my goal is to set aside $400 dollars one month into savings and I realize that i'll barely be able to set aside $150... I tend to just forget it. I get the "I CAN'Ts" and spend the money elsewhere. If I can't pay CASH for something that i've been saving for and realize it may take me longer to save than I expected, I tend to think " I CANT!"
DO YOU DO THIS? Or maybe its all just me... I doubt it though. There are plenty of "us" out there that feel that way.
In SIMPLE MOM's post today she even talks about how if we don't have time to clean the WHOLE kitchen, do we just leave the dishes there over night?? YEP=-thats me! If I have a cleaning plan in mind and it doesn't happen for whatever reason, then I tend to just saw forget it and go about my evening being lazy instead of doing what I CAN do.
Her post struck home with me... I DEFINITLY act that way, and it's so childish of me. :) I've got to do better. I can't save as much as i'd like to this month, but I have to save what I can. It's all about ATTITUDE. It's all in how you look at it. Sometimes looking at the big picture is scary! looking at how much you spend every month freaks you out. Looking at how much you NEED to save makes your stomach turn... while looking at the BIG picture is important at times, I think it's most important to look simply at this week, this day, this month... what can you do THIS time?
Hope that offered up a little encouragement.
Monday, July 11, 2011
FREE SHOUT WIPES!
http://www.becausecheaperisbetter.blogspot.com/
I saw a post from the above blogger this morning on getting free SHOUT wipes through facebook! so I followed her advice and I got em! Now its your turn!
LIKE SHOUT on facebook and request a free sample of wipes. GO GET EM!
I saw a post from the above blogger this morning on getting free SHOUT wipes through facebook! so I followed her advice and I got em! Now its your turn!
LIKE SHOUT on facebook and request a free sample of wipes. GO GET EM!
Friday, May 6, 2011
FRUGAL FRIDAYS-May 6th
I LOVE Fridays :)
Today is gonna be kinda different... I have lots of frugal ideas for things to do over the weekend but you already know that.
Last night we went to the library and FINALLY the book I requested that the library buy CAME IN!!! It's Dave Bruno's book "The 100 Thing Challenge...How I got rid of almost everything, remade my life, and regained my soul." I may be in absolute LOVE with this book!!!!! (To read more about Dave and his lifestyle click on the link above to be transported through cyberspace to his amazing blog.)
So anyway I am only 60 pages in... About 130 pages left to go...but so far I am COMPLETELY in love.
I must quote a few things that he said... please keep in mind that these quotes come out of DAVE BRUNO's book. :)
"I have come to believe that contentment is a virtue we can aspire to rather than a state we can achieve."
"We cannot buy what we need for an ideal life in stores, so we have become habitual shoppers who come up short again and again and therefore have to head back for more. American-style consumerism encourages us to go to a store and pick out the best of the best, but it also plants a seed of doubt in our minds. The dissapointment is built in. When we get home we decide that we just bought may not be the best of the best, and so we put it in our closet or in our garage and go back to a store and get something else that we think is going to be the best of the best."
"Here's the bottom line: what we really want we cannot buy."
There are TONS more good quotes and as I make my way through the book I plan to share.
I realize that minimalism seems a tad bit far fetched to some. Jere fears that he will have to live on 2 pairs of pants and 3 shirts. :) I assured him that is NOT the case. I'm not giving up my heels so don't worry!!
Frankly ,for me, this whole journey is about learning who I am and what is important to me. For years shopping was my "Cardio". Buying clothes and accessories and SHOES SHOES SHOES was what made me happy... until it stopped. One day all the 'Stuff' just didn't seem to matter. I realized that no amount of shoes could heal the hurt I was experiencing and had experinced in life. And I began becoming less and less into material items. Jere and I live a VERY simple lifestyle and I love it... but it's not about the "Stuff" so much as it is what the stuff DOES to us. Makes us want more. Keeps us dissatisfied.
Thankfully I am a frugal gal and so spending lots of money on things is not something I do... but I feel convicted to look at myself and think about WHY I buy things I buy and what purpose they hold. I can't take my heels to heaven... I have to remind myself of that.
This journey is about LIVING. TRULY living... living happily on LESS.
Today is gonna be kinda different... I have lots of frugal ideas for things to do over the weekend but you already know that.
Last night we went to the library and FINALLY the book I requested that the library buy CAME IN!!! It's Dave Bruno's book "The 100 Thing Challenge...How I got rid of almost everything, remade my life, and regained my soul." I may be in absolute LOVE with this book!!!!! (To read more about Dave and his lifestyle click on the link above to be transported through cyberspace to his amazing blog.)
So anyway I am only 60 pages in... About 130 pages left to go...but so far I am COMPLETELY in love.
I must quote a few things that he said... please keep in mind that these quotes come out of DAVE BRUNO's book. :)
"I have come to believe that contentment is a virtue we can aspire to rather than a state we can achieve."
"We cannot buy what we need for an ideal life in stores, so we have become habitual shoppers who come up short again and again and therefore have to head back for more. American-style consumerism encourages us to go to a store and pick out the best of the best, but it also plants a seed of doubt in our minds. The dissapointment is built in. When we get home we decide that we just bought may not be the best of the best, and so we put it in our closet or in our garage and go back to a store and get something else that we think is going to be the best of the best."
"Here's the bottom line: what we really want we cannot buy."
There are TONS more good quotes and as I make my way through the book I plan to share.
I realize that minimalism seems a tad bit far fetched to some. Jere fears that he will have to live on 2 pairs of pants and 3 shirts. :) I assured him that is NOT the case. I'm not giving up my heels so don't worry!!
Frankly ,for me, this whole journey is about learning who I am and what is important to me. For years shopping was my "Cardio". Buying clothes and accessories and SHOES SHOES SHOES was what made me happy... until it stopped. One day all the 'Stuff' just didn't seem to matter. I realized that no amount of shoes could heal the hurt I was experiencing and had experinced in life. And I began becoming less and less into material items. Jere and I live a VERY simple lifestyle and I love it... but it's not about the "Stuff" so much as it is what the stuff DOES to us. Makes us want more. Keeps us dissatisfied.
Thankfully I am a frugal gal and so spending lots of money on things is not something I do... but I feel convicted to look at myself and think about WHY I buy things I buy and what purpose they hold. I can't take my heels to heaven... I have to remind myself of that.
This journey is about LIVING. TRULY living... living happily on LESS.
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