Can't seem to get ahead.

[Jenn_M]

I've posted our budget before and on paper we look totally fine. Why are we still living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to get to the next paycheck??? It's getting really annoying.

I know I need to just buckle down and track every. single. penny. we spend. And I need to treat savings just like another bill. Even if it's just $25/week. That's $25 that I'm sure we spend on random crap anyway.

Anyway.. just looking for commiseration, I guess. I know I'm not the only one out there.

[nadia105]

Definitely been there. Actually, we really still are there. Every time I feel like we are starting to get away from it, something comes up to put us right back there. Like the furnace and ac we get to replace before the snow flies this year. So much for getting savings built up.

I always thought if I worked and brought in some money, that the problem would disappear. Not so much. I get up at 3am for work, and I am good for nothing when I get home, so the cooking, etc I used to do doesn't happen anymore with the exception of weekend breakfasts. So, more $$ goes out for grabbing food out and anything that is super fast to make for the kids for dinner.

No wisdom here, but I can commiserate! Logically, I know what to do, but doing it proves to be really hard!

[mtm]

My advice would be to automate the savings before it can disappear. Its the only thing that worked for us, paycheck comes in, savings go out first then we see what's left over. Even little amounts add up.

[vannienicole]

Agreed with the savings. I work two part time jobs, so each check that enters my account immediately gets a certain percentage sent to savings. It's pretty low, but I found that I don't miss the small amount each month even when it's tight.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by mtm

My advice would be to automate the savings before it can disappear. Its the only thing that worked for us, paycheck comes in, savings go out first then we see what's left over. Even little amounts add up.

Which works, unless you are like me and end up needing to pull that money (plus some) out of savings to cover until next payday.

It is probably the little things $5 here, $10 there that get you. Pull out a cash allowance -amount dependent on your expected purchase needs and a couple keep you sanes- and take your ATM debit and credit cards out of your wallet. Once the cash is gone, its gone.

[redvlagrl]

Are you doing the envelope method? This helps you stick to your budget more closely.

[EFmom]

I agree with the automated savings. Have it put into an account that's in a bank that's inconvenient, and make it a straight savings account that you can't write checks or have a check card for. That's not saying you couldn't get the money out, but the more of a pain it is to get at it, the less you'll be tempted.

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

like a pp its the big unexpected things that come up that give the budget the biggest blow. That's what i have explained to dh, in an ideal world you really need two savings funds, ones for expected expenses (taxes, new baby co- pays, car maintence, etc) and unexpected funds: (ER visit, car accident, appliance breaking down etc.) We know we will need money for the first group, so we should be saving up for that stuff now, while they second group is the classic Emergency Fund.

[Logan]

Im the same. Whenever we are getting really ahead, awesome savings, CC paid out totally etc. Then some huge expense comes up. Somehow random bills for $500 or more materialize out of nowhere. I can pretty much guarantee now if Im going to have a really awesome week (savings wise) that something catastrophic will happen. So much so that I now prefer the weeks when money is tighter as I know that we will have plenty and nothing will die on us. The last few months alone we have needed to replace in order, a car, a fridge (these two died on the same morning!), a washing machine, a computer, and a heater which was the only one that had a warranty. I swear appliances hate me, and I treat them like kings so I know it isnt my fault. All these things I had had for 2 years or less! Just commiserating as it seems like the universe hates me when it comes to finances this year! At least we are truly blessed in all other areas, health and happiness especially. That's what I lean on when the money area sucks!