This is a great resource. They allow you to download 1 free audio book per month. Can't beat free!
http://www.christianaudio.com/
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Get Me Out of Debt!!! ~ I'm working on a plan
OK, it's been a while. Sorry.
My current focus is building our savings and getting out of debt. This is going to take a while, but I'm sure it is possible.
I have set up a weekly automatic transfer from my checking to my savings and honestly don't even notice that it's gone. I'm not up to 10% yet but little by little our savings account is growing. I have also been dumping any unexpected cash flow in there as well. We just got our $25 City return (WOO-HOO!), a small refund from the cable company we just left, etc. Still not much, but it does add up.
I have decided to go against my previous advice and stop upping the percentage going into the savings at 5% instead of 10%. Instead, I will start putting the added percentages toward our debt until we can get rid of it. We recently used our tax return to pay off our car loan. This wasn't our biggest or smallest loan and it didn't have the most interest, but it was our biggest payment and just about the amount of our return. It just made sense to get rid of it and free up a little cash every month.
Now, in theory, you would think we would be able to transfer that monthly payment that we no longer have to make to another loan with no interruption but the fact of the matter is that with the economy the way it is and gas at $4/gallon and a son in college 7 hours away, and the price of everything going up much faster than our wages... that just aint gonna happen. BUT... it did free up the cash flow to make saving at all possible. Now on to the next bill. This time we're starting with the smallest total. This is a credit card with a 0% introductory rate for the first 12 months. I think we're a little over 1/2 way through that time period.
I have found that it's hard to pay $400 a month toward anything that doesn't require it, but I can manage to pay $100 weekly. Doesn't make much sense I know, but it's how my brain works. I use online bill pay and will start transferring the additional 1% that my savings was going to grow each month to the loan instead. I will keep the 5% going in to savings at least until that gets built up to a good emergency fund level. Also, any of the "extra" checks, refunds, rebates, etc. will be transferred weekly to the loan. Hopefully, we'll be able to pay it off before we have to start paying interest. This one's going to be tough,. I'll let you know how it goes.
My current focus is building our savings and getting out of debt. This is going to take a while, but I'm sure it is possible.
I have set up a weekly automatic transfer from my checking to my savings and honestly don't even notice that it's gone. I'm not up to 10% yet but little by little our savings account is growing. I have also been dumping any unexpected cash flow in there as well. We just got our $25 City return (WOO-HOO!), a small refund from the cable company we just left, etc. Still not much, but it does add up.
I have decided to go against my previous advice and stop upping the percentage going into the savings at 5% instead of 10%. Instead, I will start putting the added percentages toward our debt until we can get rid of it. We recently used our tax return to pay off our car loan. This wasn't our biggest or smallest loan and it didn't have the most interest, but it was our biggest payment and just about the amount of our return. It just made sense to get rid of it and free up a little cash every month.
Now, in theory, you would think we would be able to transfer that monthly payment that we no longer have to make to another loan with no interruption but the fact of the matter is that with the economy the way it is and gas at $4/gallon and a son in college 7 hours away, and the price of everything going up much faster than our wages... that just aint gonna happen. BUT... it did free up the cash flow to make saving at all possible. Now on to the next bill. This time we're starting with the smallest total. This is a credit card with a 0% introductory rate for the first 12 months. I think we're a little over 1/2 way through that time period.
I have found that it's hard to pay $400 a month toward anything that doesn't require it, but I can manage to pay $100 weekly. Doesn't make much sense I know, but it's how my brain works. I use online bill pay and will start transferring the additional 1% that my savings was going to grow each month to the loan instead. I will keep the 5% going in to savings at least until that gets built up to a good emergency fund level. Also, any of the "extra" checks, refunds, rebates, etc. will be transferred weekly to the loan. Hopefully, we'll be able to pay it off before we have to start paying interest. This one's going to be tough,. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Stick to your budget by budgeting in some mad money.
I'm sure there are people out there who are disciplined enough to make and stick to a strict budget and cut out all of the frills and extras. I'm one of them... For about a day and a half! OK, I could probably go a little longer than that, but then I'd start feeling deprived and get the overwhelming urge to splurge.
There have been times when our finances were just that tight that we tried to cut out any and every extra we could think of to save a buck, but it usually didn't last long. We felt burdened and overwhelmed with having to be accountable to each other for every penny spent. Especially when that came in the form of a swipe of the debit card that often went unreported until the bank statement came in the mail. Add to that over drafts and late fees and that lunch out can pretty expensive! When it came down to it, the tighter we tried to make our budget, the bigger we eventually ended up splurging.
Years ago, we decide to budget in an "allowance" for each of us. This amount has changed from time to time over the years as our availabile cash flow changed, but we have found it to be a very helpful and necessary tool to keep us living within our means. Over the years this has been as little as $10 each and as much as $100+. We have pretty much settled for somewhere in the middle now. If you've been tracking your spending on mint.com or using another budgeting tool, you can probably find the area where this money could come from (probably the area where you splurge and go over your budget on a regular basis) and determine the amount that works for you.
This money is "guilt-free". We each get the same amount and we don't have to be accountable to each other for it. If we want to get a cup of coffee, buy a pair of shoes, catch a movie or go to dinner, this is the money we use. Sometimes we pool our week's money together, sometimes we save up a couple of weeks for something special, sometimes we go all week and don't even spend it, but it's still there available for what ever. The point is we have stopped swiping the debit or credit cards for anything that is unplanned.
I suggest keeping a little extra in a hidden pocket of your purse or wallet just incase you go over your allotted spending for the week. We've gotten to the place where this doesn't happen often anymore, but occasionally we go a little over. Anything to keep from dipping into the budget. The weeks when we don't spend much, I just stash a little of the leftover.
There have been times when our finances were just that tight that we tried to cut out any and every extra we could think of to save a buck, but it usually didn't last long. We felt burdened and overwhelmed with having to be accountable to each other for every penny spent. Especially when that came in the form of a swipe of the debit card that often went unreported until the bank statement came in the mail. Add to that over drafts and late fees and that lunch out can pretty expensive! When it came down to it, the tighter we tried to make our budget, the bigger we eventually ended up splurging.
Years ago, we decide to budget in an "allowance" for each of us. This amount has changed from time to time over the years as our availabile cash flow changed, but we have found it to be a very helpful and necessary tool to keep us living within our means. Over the years this has been as little as $10 each and as much as $100+. We have pretty much settled for somewhere in the middle now. If you've been tracking your spending on mint.com or using another budgeting tool, you can probably find the area where this money could come from (probably the area where you splurge and go over your budget on a regular basis) and determine the amount that works for you.
This money is "guilt-free". We each get the same amount and we don't have to be accountable to each other for it. If we want to get a cup of coffee, buy a pair of shoes, catch a movie or go to dinner, this is the money we use. Sometimes we pool our week's money together, sometimes we save up a couple of weeks for something special, sometimes we go all week and don't even spend it, but it's still there available for what ever. The point is we have stopped swiping the debit or credit cards for anything that is unplanned.
I suggest keeping a little extra in a hidden pocket of your purse or wallet just incase you go over your allotted spending for the week. We've gotten to the place where this doesn't happen often anymore, but occasionally we go a little over. Anything to keep from dipping into the budget. The weeks when we don't spend much, I just stash a little of the leftover.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Discount Christian Books - Great Resource!
I was forwarded this link from our youth minister at church. Awesome deals on Christian books. Check it out.
http://www.christianbookbag.com/
http://www.christianbookbag.com/
Friday, March 25, 2011
Stop throwing money away!!! Top 10 disposables to dispose of.
We definitely live in the age of convenience. From fast food restaurants which are on every corner to precut veggies and packaged snacks. We have gotten away from the practice of homemade and saving. My grandparents grew up in the depression. I remember my grandmother washing out bread bags to be reused. I'm pretty sure she never bought a zip lock bag in her life! While I'm not quite that frugal, I have noticed a few convenience items in my life that simply get used once and thrown away. That means that money is going right in the trash every time one of these products is used! Here's a list of a few that, given up even in part could put money back in to your budget!
1. Bottled water. Recent studies have shown that the majority of bottled waters these days have more contaminants than most tap water, so save yourself the money and a piece of the planet and buy a refillable bottle. Add a pitcher or faucet filter for little cost and you're drinking water is actually more pure and you're saving money.
2. Paper towels and napkins. I'll admit it. There are a few jobs I will probably continue to use these for, but I have cut back. In most cases a cloth does the job just as well, or better. And let's face it, a wet washcloth is way better on BBQ sauce anyway!
3. Paper plates, cups & silverware. I have almost completely given up on these products. I still have them around for the occasional picnic or camping, but when we are at home we don't use them at all. I bought lightweight, reusable picnic plasticware that we use instead. They're inexpensive and great for outdoor dining!
4. Plastic shower curtain liners. I switched to a cloth liner 5 or 6 years ago and am still using the same one! I figure I've saved over $100 over the years by throwing it in the washer instead of buying a new one every time it gets a little soap scum or mold on it. To me this is a no brainer. The cloth in most cases costs the same amount as the plastic ones that have to be replace every 6-8 months. And it looks much nicer. Win-win.
5. Zipper storage bags. I still use these occasionally as well, but we have cut back. We now use more reusable plastic and glass containers to store left overs and snacks.
6. Hand soap containers. This one just doesn't make sense to me at all. Why buy a new dispenser every time you run out of soap? Sure they're only $1, but you can buy a refill for less than $5 and refill your dispenser over and over again.
7. Disinfecting wipes. Another convenience that just costs more than it's worth. A bottle of Mr Clean and a cloth will do the job for a fraction of the cost. If you want to further disinfect, a can of Lysol goes a long way!
8. Wrapping paper. Wrap your gifts in a pretty scarf or cloth instead. Or use a reusable bag. Newspaper if you must. Be creative. It's more fun anyway.
9. Individually wrapped snacks. You can buy everything from precut and packaged apple slices and carrots to single serve cookies, chips, pudding cups, you name it! These cost a lot of money! Try baking cookies and packing a few in a reusable container. Cut your own fruits and veggies and keep them handy in the fridge to grab as snacks. Make your own pudding! The list of solutions is as endless as the list of conveniences. You'll save money and probably have healthier snacks in the process.
10. Diapers. OK, my son is in college, so I am waaay past this one, but I needed a 10th item. Disposable diapers cost a fortune nearly 20 years ago. I'm sure the price has only gone up. Consider using cloth diapers. Better for the environment and your wallet.
1. Bottled water. Recent studies have shown that the majority of bottled waters these days have more contaminants than most tap water, so save yourself the money and a piece of the planet and buy a refillable bottle. Add a pitcher or faucet filter for little cost and you're drinking water is actually more pure and you're saving money.
2. Paper towels and napkins. I'll admit it. There are a few jobs I will probably continue to use these for, but I have cut back. In most cases a cloth does the job just as well, or better. And let's face it, a wet washcloth is way better on BBQ sauce anyway!
3. Paper plates, cups & silverware. I have almost completely given up on these products. I still have them around for the occasional picnic or camping, but when we are at home we don't use them at all. I bought lightweight, reusable picnic plasticware that we use instead. They're inexpensive and great for outdoor dining!
4. Plastic shower curtain liners. I switched to a cloth liner 5 or 6 years ago and am still using the same one! I figure I've saved over $100 over the years by throwing it in the washer instead of buying a new one every time it gets a little soap scum or mold on it. To me this is a no brainer. The cloth in most cases costs the same amount as the plastic ones that have to be replace every 6-8 months. And it looks much nicer. Win-win.
5. Zipper storage bags. I still use these occasionally as well, but we have cut back. We now use more reusable plastic and glass containers to store left overs and snacks.
6. Hand soap containers. This one just doesn't make sense to me at all. Why buy a new dispenser every time you run out of soap? Sure they're only $1, but you can buy a refill for less than $5 and refill your dispenser over and over again.
7. Disinfecting wipes. Another convenience that just costs more than it's worth. A bottle of Mr Clean and a cloth will do the job for a fraction of the cost. If you want to further disinfect, a can of Lysol goes a long way!
8. Wrapping paper. Wrap your gifts in a pretty scarf or cloth instead. Or use a reusable bag. Newspaper if you must. Be creative. It's more fun anyway.
9. Individually wrapped snacks. You can buy everything from precut and packaged apple slices and carrots to single serve cookies, chips, pudding cups, you name it! These cost a lot of money! Try baking cookies and packing a few in a reusable container. Cut your own fruits and veggies and keep them handy in the fridge to grab as snacks. Make your own pudding! The list of solutions is as endless as the list of conveniences. You'll save money and probably have healthier snacks in the process.
10. Diapers. OK, my son is in college, so I am waaay past this one, but I needed a 10th item. Disposable diapers cost a fortune nearly 20 years ago. I'm sure the price has only gone up. Consider using cloth diapers. Better for the environment and your wallet.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tithing & Saving
I heard a great radio program the other day. Focus on the family featured Amie Streater. I would suggest checking it out. You can listen at focusonthefamily.com. Go to daily broadcasts for March 18th, the title is Breaking Free From Bad Money Habits. One thing that Amie suggested made perfect sense to me and I plan to put it into practice very soon.
The subject of tithing and saving. Ideally, the goal is to tithe 10%, save 10% & and live on 80%. Now we do ok in the tithing department, but the saving could definitely use some work. Her strategy basically boils down to this. Start where you are. If you don't give or save anything, you're not going to all of a sudden be able to jump in to 10-10-80. But you can start giving 1%, saving 1% and living on 98%. Do that for a month. Then bump it to 2%, 2%, 96%. Keep inching your way toward your goal and in less than a year you will be at the coveted 10-10-80.
Like I said, we are already doing fine in the tithing, but we definitely need to work on the savings. My plan is to start this month by saving 1% of our income. Then next month 2%. To make this more practical, I've set up an automatic transfer from our savings to our checking to occur every payday when the direct deposit goes in. It will come right off the top and hopefully we won't even miss it. Just remember to record the transfer every week. That may be the tricky part!
The subject of tithing and saving. Ideally, the goal is to tithe 10%, save 10% & and live on 80%. Now we do ok in the tithing department, but the saving could definitely use some work. Her strategy basically boils down to this. Start where you are. If you don't give or save anything, you're not going to all of a sudden be able to jump in to 10-10-80. But you can start giving 1%, saving 1% and living on 98%. Do that for a month. Then bump it to 2%, 2%, 96%. Keep inching your way toward your goal and in less than a year you will be at the coveted 10-10-80.
Like I said, we are already doing fine in the tithing, but we definitely need to work on the savings. My plan is to start this month by saving 1% of our income. Then next month 2%. To make this more practical, I've set up an automatic transfer from our savings to our checking to occur every payday when the direct deposit goes in. It will come right off the top and hopefully we won't even miss it. Just remember to record the transfer every week. That may be the tricky part!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Plan Ahead
One thing I'm working on is planning my spending. This includes everything from making (and following) a grocery list to saving up for big ticket items.
The first I'm tackling is groceries. I find if I have to stop a few times a week to pick up bread or milk or what ever... I end up spending much more than the weeks when I plan ahead and shop wisely.
On my good weeks when I'm at the top of my game, I sit down on Sunday afternoon or Monday evening and go through the Sunday paper. I clip coupons and go through the ads. (If you don't have a good coupon organizer, I would suggest investing in one. You can usually buy them at the dollar store, or the bargain bins at Target or Walmart) I also check the store and coupon websites. I try to find as many coupons and deals as I can to match up to the items on my list. I keep a separate envelope with my grocery list of the items I've matched. I also note on my list what coupons I have to go with each item. This really doesn't take as much time as it sounds. With practice it gets faster and easier. I usually only spend between 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. Rarely an hour.
This is also a good time to plan your dinners for the week. The items on the front page of the ads are usually "teasers". These are really good deals to lure you in to the store where they're hoping you will spend more money on impulse buying.... remember to stick to your list! If you plan your meals around the top sale items you will save money. Also, if it's a really good deal, stock up your freezer for the weeks when the sales aren't so good. Remember to add side dishes and ingredients for the menu items you plan to your list.
Some items you can find coupons for just by googling the product. Go to their website. I have found coupons for coffee creamer, laundry soap, cereal, just about anything. It can't hurt to look, right? Just type "coupon/kellogg" or coffee-mate or arm&hammer, or whatever name brand product you're looking for.
Be sure to check out the store brand products. Many times the prices for these items can't be beat by the name brands, even with a sale and a coupon. Often the quality is just as good as the expensive name brands.
The best days to shop are Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Now I work full time, so I have to go in the evening, and I know how difficult it is to give up an evening to do groceries, but the reward is a free Saturday morning! ...And you get better deals in the middle of the week. By the time Saturday comes around, many of the deals are sold out or picked over. Stores usually stock their shelves in the beginning of the week, so Tuesday or Wednesday works great. If you do go on Saturday and miss a deal, be sure to ask for a rain check.
When an item is on sale, stock up! This may mean a little more out of pocket immediately, but in the long run... you know you're going to use toothpaste eventually! And you won't have to buy it when it's full price. Be careful that you only stock up on things that will last and things that you will use. A good deal isn't saving you money if it sits in your pantry and never gets used.
One way I keep my grocery spending under control is to use cash. I determine how much to spend weekly or bi-weekly and withdraw that money on payday. I keep this amount separate from my carry around cash and roll whatever is left over to the next week or use it to pick up those inevitable "extras" that may have been forgotten. (I'm working on eliminating those) If you've started a budget, you can determine this amount from there. (mint.com if you haven't checked it out yet)
There are also sites out there that help you co-ordinate coupons with sales.
I've listed some coupon sites below. There are many more out there.
couponbug.com
coupons.com
couponmom.com
savingaddiction.com
The first I'm tackling is groceries. I find if I have to stop a few times a week to pick up bread or milk or what ever... I end up spending much more than the weeks when I plan ahead and shop wisely.
On my good weeks when I'm at the top of my game, I sit down on Sunday afternoon or Monday evening and go through the Sunday paper. I clip coupons and go through the ads. (If you don't have a good coupon organizer, I would suggest investing in one. You can usually buy them at the dollar store, or the bargain bins at Target or Walmart) I also check the store and coupon websites. I try to find as many coupons and deals as I can to match up to the items on my list. I keep a separate envelope with my grocery list of the items I've matched. I also note on my list what coupons I have to go with each item. This really doesn't take as much time as it sounds. With practice it gets faster and easier. I usually only spend between 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. Rarely an hour.
This is also a good time to plan your dinners for the week. The items on the front page of the ads are usually "teasers". These are really good deals to lure you in to the store where they're hoping you will spend more money on impulse buying.... remember to stick to your list! If you plan your meals around the top sale items you will save money. Also, if it's a really good deal, stock up your freezer for the weeks when the sales aren't so good. Remember to add side dishes and ingredients for the menu items you plan to your list.
Some items you can find coupons for just by googling the product. Go to their website. I have found coupons for coffee creamer, laundry soap, cereal, just about anything. It can't hurt to look, right? Just type "coupon/kellogg" or coffee-mate or arm&hammer, or whatever name brand product you're looking for.
Be sure to check out the store brand products. Many times the prices for these items can't be beat by the name brands, even with a sale and a coupon. Often the quality is just as good as the expensive name brands.
The best days to shop are Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Now I work full time, so I have to go in the evening, and I know how difficult it is to give up an evening to do groceries, but the reward is a free Saturday morning! ...And you get better deals in the middle of the week. By the time Saturday comes around, many of the deals are sold out or picked over. Stores usually stock their shelves in the beginning of the week, so Tuesday or Wednesday works great. If you do go on Saturday and miss a deal, be sure to ask for a rain check.
When an item is on sale, stock up! This may mean a little more out of pocket immediately, but in the long run... you know you're going to use toothpaste eventually! And you won't have to buy it when it's full price. Be careful that you only stock up on things that will last and things that you will use. A good deal isn't saving you money if it sits in your pantry and never gets used.
One way I keep my grocery spending under control is to use cash. I determine how much to spend weekly or bi-weekly and withdraw that money on payday. I keep this amount separate from my carry around cash and roll whatever is left over to the next week or use it to pick up those inevitable "extras" that may have been forgotten. (I'm working on eliminating those) If you've started a budget, you can determine this amount from there. (mint.com if you haven't checked it out yet)
There are also sites out there that help you co-ordinate coupons with sales.
I've listed some coupon sites below. There are many more out there.
couponbug.com
coupons.com
couponmom.com
savingaddiction.com
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