Getting Out of Debt in November - Page 5

[eirual]

We have a paid-for '72 VW van sitting in our driveway. DH is leaning towards fixing it up for $1,000 and selling it for $4-5,000. Part of me wants to keep it though. It would make for a mangeable vacation to just hop in and drive (it needs that $1,000 to make it road-worthy though).

We had a '73 that we sold a few years ago and bought this one 'cause we missed having one. However, we haven't been able to use it since we bought it cheap knowing it would be a fixer-uper and it just hasn't made it anywhere near the top of our financial priorities.

Okay, just typing this out I know what we have to do. We expect to be onto BS3 by summer, and I suppose it's best to put the $$ to use and a few years down the line get another when it can be more of a financial priority....blah!

[Hedgehog Mtn]

We've had the worst budgeting week so far. OTOH it really couldn't be avoided. We had an opportunity to preorder grain for the next 6 weeks and that was unbudgeted so came out of savings. I really didn't create a envelope for grain so I had to deal with it somehow.....there is just enough in the hay budget for hay but no way would it cover grain.....the flip side is I'm saving around $3-10 per bag x about 17 bags and they should last longer than the 6 weeks before I can order again.

In addition we went through WAY more gas this week than the envelopes/ budget allowed but again it was totally unavoidable. Gas and Grocery seem to be my problem areas....Gas can/will be fixed when DH fixes the head gasket in my family car but that means taking time off from work (and less income) I guess he just needs to do it and get it over with but until then it's 7 mpg in his truck :-(

The good news is while I dipped into the saving envelope (just to be clear this is savings I'm setting aside every week to throw at debt at the end of the month NOT my EF) and didn't stay within the envelope amounts the damage is contained to 1 weeks pay and I will be totally back on track with this weeks check.

Sorry if I'm babbling - it's discouraging to not meet the goals for this week but over the course of the month and overall we are doing awesome.....just a minor setback :-)

[eirual]

It is hard when you fall short, but at the same time it teaches you which areas you need to be mindful of and decide how to prepare better for next time. We've started a $50/mo petty cash. It's kinda good to have for those things that just come up, but kinda too easy to spend too.

At least it's only a week you're off, not a whole month!

[annettemarie]

I fell asleep during the mutual funds lesson at FPU.

Also, my husband is driving me a little nuts because he's STILL just randomly changing the budget and not telling me, or arbitrarily not putting money in the envelopes.

[p1gg1e]

Originally Posted by eirual

Okay, just typing this out I know what we have to do. We expect to be onto BS3 by summer, and I suppose it's best to put the $$ to use and a few years down the line get another when it can be more of a financial priority....blah!

Yes it would! SPANK!

[mtm]

piggle, can we hire you to dole out spanking all around? Not selling the vw yet, spank. Blowing the budget, spank. Falling asleep in FPU, double spank. Fer shame. Buying three pairs of new pants when you only budgeted for 1, also a spank. sigh.

[MCsMom]

I don't know, might be a UA violation - ROTFLOL

[_ktg_]

DH informed me last night, that we have sent off our first extra payment -> ($400!) to our CC from his paycheck last Friday, and to expect another payment to get sent out again around the end of the month.

I am sooooooooo , because we didn't spend it, we didn't keep it, and we didn't try to say "well this is special we earned, so let's treat ourselves!". Blam-o it got sent to our debt!

[Softmama]

way to go ktg_!!

[annettemarie]

*closing my eyes and not seeing the spankings*

YAY, KTG!!!!!!

[Deir]

We just got a completely unexpected $1000 check!! My husband's grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday last week and gave each grandchild $1000.!!! That will completely take care of one of the cc's plus allow us to stay at a hotel on the way down to NC for Thanksgiving rather than drive straight for 11 hrs with 2 kids and a pregnant lady (me!) Unbelieveable!! It was so generous of him.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Deir

We just got a completely unexpected $1000 check!! My husband's grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday last week and gave each grandchild $1000.!!! That will completely take care of one of the cc's plus allow us to stay at a hotel on the way down to NC for Thanksgiving rather than drive straight for 11 hrs with 2 kids and a pregnant lady (me!) Unbelieveable!! It was so generous of him.

Wow! That's a wonderful unexpected blessing.

[excitedtobeamom]

I want to know why it is SO much harder to save than it was to pay down debt. We have paid off $41,000 in debt in two years! But why can't I start saving for the adoption and the EF? I have heard it is harder for some reason, and it is, but why?? I know the adoption timeline was bumped back a little and I know I am giving myself more wiggle room because of that but I don't want to be down to the wire, which is what I usually do, when I could have it all saved in 8 months and be moving on baby step wise! Ugh!

[Maluhia]

I don't know why it is harder, but I totally agree - it IS! I wish I could kick myself into gazelle intensity for the Saving Up part of things because....ugh, it's hard.

@Dier - CONGRATS - that is a generous gift!

@ktg - you GO Mama Great job!

[eirual]

Argh...I lost the budget. I literally can't find the folder that it's in

I need to find it to re-centre, I know I've spent $40 that I shouldn't have and need to get myself back on track.

I guess it's time to print off another and draft one up (I have fixed bills typed in, but the rest of life penciled in). blah!

And just for the record I the envelope system. Even though I've slacked off on the budget the last couple of weeks, it's so nice having everything already alotted and pre-planned. I strayed, but not far and not enough to do much damage. A year ago I would have written the whole month off and kept seeking immediate gratification. Love it!

[eirual]

Originally Posted by excitedtobeamom

I want to know why it is SO much harder to save than it was to pay down debt. We have paid off $41,000 in debt in two years! But why can't I start saving for the adoption and the EF? I have heard it is harder for some reason, and it is, but why?? I know the adoption timeline was bumped back a little and I know I am giving myself more wiggle room because of that but I don't want to be down to the wire, which is what I usually do, when I could have it all saved in 8 months and be moving on baby step wise! Ugh!

This is what I'm worried about. I think we're going to suck at saving (and with that attitude it's no wonder!) but honestly, it doesn't require the same drive. I think it's easier to shift priorities at that stage too. I know I'll be itching to do things on the house (wiring, flooring, kitchen, and the list goes on of things that have needed to be done since we bought the place but that we haven't been willing to get into debt over). I guess you still need to stick with the plan, but that feels like it will take FOREVER!!! Digging out of debt, saving, then saving, then saving some more before finally being able to have what you want....I guess that's the whole "live like no one else so you can live like no one else" thing comes in. Dang it, I want it now!! ...or at least in 5 years!! *insert childish temper tantrum here*

[_ktg_]

awww thanks ladies! Now I'm all fired up about this, because... its like tangible progress (which I thrive on!).

@ Dier- wow such a nice blessing!

@ eirual - hugs to you in hopes you find your budget!

@ excitedtobeamom - have you ever considered reverse psychology for savings? like establish a goal of $X dollars and then attack it like your debt till its down to 0, then you've saved but it might feel more like how you got gazelle about your debt...

[excitedtobeamom]

Thanks guys for your advice! I thought saving would be the easy part but nope! I have to stop the I wants!

[p1gg1e]

Originally Posted by Deir

We just got a completely unexpected $1000 check!! My husband's grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday last week and gave each grandchild $1000.!!! That will completely take care of one of the cc's plus allow us to stay at a hotel on the way down to NC for Thanksgiving rather than drive straight for 11 hrs with 2 kids and a pregnant lady (me!) Unbelieveable!! It was so generous of him.

Congrats!!

[sweetjasmine]

ktg and dier, great for both of you!!