No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
Week four came to a close.
It really felt like I couldn’t move my “look under rock”. That number felt like a boulder and I wasn’t seeing much progress. But finally, it budged.
The "look under a rock" boulder is now at $28,133.18. It moved some since last week!! If I wasn't tracking this stuff, I am not sure I would have felt a difference...
Week five started with a bang!
I make my own laundry detergent. My DGF thinks its incredibly weird.
She didn't even know what Borax or Fels Naptha were until I went shopping for the ingredients.
She still won't make the switch from Crest Mint Gel as toothpaste though... which costs like 4 bucks for a tube lol
Baking soda can be used for ANYTHING, I love it.
Anything else "housemade" you might want to recommend?
Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com
Adalen - What I started doing years ago, after the budget was made, was to open up several money market accounts. Back then, they earned a higher interest rate than savings. A savings account is the way to go now.... But I opened one up for -
Food - when I was under budget, the leftover money sat there and acrued interest. Got us through some super tight financial times!
Gas -- my budgeted gas amount goes into this account. The leftovers pay for car maintenance, car spa days, etc.
Household - for things like toilet paper, light bulbs, etc.
Insurance - my budgeted amount for vehicle and house and life. Earns interest as it sits there waiting for premiums to be deducted.
Maitenence - gutters cleaned, buying flowers, etc.
Personal - hair cuts and such.
Utilities - budgeted amount goes in.
Every payday the money goes in.
Every payday I pay off the cc bills.
Every payday, I pull SOME of the cash for food, but not usually all. I try to leave some behind in case I need it later.
Balances earn interest. Surplus helps with expensive things, like new tires and with super tight financial times.
I can clearly see where my money is being spent.
As for your son's account - focus on a set amount and put the extra into a reserve account/emergency fund or into your retirement. You need to pay yourself FIRST.
discernment - baby steps! or old person's steps - they are about the same size!
No one taught me any of this stuff. Didn't go to school for it either. I learned by trail, error, and absorbing as much information as I could from a variety of sources.
My absolute biggest weakness with my budget is food. I know it's my weakness - well maybe I should say Whole Foods is my weakness. Went in for ONE THING over the weekend and walked away with $55 in groceries. But hey, I have fresh pineapple and I made baked beans and I have cheese to use in sandwiches which saved me from eating out today....
You can make changes. Just do it one step at a time.
FrugalRican - oh yeah!
Most personal hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, etc).
Most cleaning items (soaps, disinfectant, laundry detergent).
Most medicinal items (to get rid of a toothache, bad breath, burns, exfoliate, yeast infections, allergic reactions, etc).
Most food items (flour, milk, nut butters, fruit spreads/sauce, gravy, sauces, etc).
I don't use eggs much at all - usually substitute.
For laundry detergent -- if the laundry is stinky, baking soda goes in. I haven't bought laundry detergent in more than a decade! I have tried the Giaim balls - no chemicals. They do alright. In the long run, *might* be cheaper than baking soda.
For cleaning items - haven't bought those in years! Vinegar is great, so is baking soda.
I am still learning. If you have some great website, PM please. OR if you have some great ideas, know stuffs, etc, PM please!
When I get home tonight, I'll remind myself to send you the link about the laundry detergent.
I know it's Borax, Fels Naptha, soap, and a cheap cheese grater, but I feel like I'm missing ONE thing in all of that... or maybe two. The list is at home.
I've used vinegar as well too for cleaning and baking soda.
The problem with my apartment has been that the vinegar smells tends to linger a little bit because of the shape of my apartment. I've had family members that would just add lemon peel or orange peel into it. I've never tried it, so I don't know how that works out.
Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com
FrugalRican - I can't stand the smell of vinegar! But it has it's purpose. And baking soda is great for getting rid of the smell! Open windows help too. Or spritz some orange or lemon water in the air...turn on a fan...get the air circulating.
And vinegar and baking soda are sooo inexpensive! Unless you have heavily soiled clothes, consider just using baking soda in the wash. If you need to, add a little borax powder to do the heavy duty clean into the mix.
I sent you the link for the laundry detergent
It's washing soda, not baking soda, that I use for the detergent. I knew my mind wasn't right at work.
Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com
IOBA wrote:
Pay yourself first.
You are so blessed to have your health and an income!
Week five!
Wow. I want you all to know that there is an investment banker who should be kicking himself right now. The bank referred me to him – he is their financial advisor. Well, the guy didn’t ask the right questions and basically wrote me off. Know what I said? I wanted to have 50k in quickly liquid able assets (and said that looked like cash and CD’s) and the rest in principle safe investments. I even told him what interest rates I am earning currently. I obviously want to make at least the same rate, if not a higher rate, of return. The advisor said he could definitely help me but maybe I had better wait! Wait for what??? This guy didn’t even ask how much I had saved OR how much I could save per month! His CEO is definitely getting a letter from me.
In a way, I am glad that conversation happened. It seems to reinforce what I am doing – that I am going about it the right way. And that investment banker is not getting his paycheck from me. J
I still need to find $27,726.68. Monday is the last day of the month, so some accounts will be receiving interest. Yeah!! When I calculated out how much money, I could save a month, I did not add in interest, since it varies. So the interest will help move the boulder.
This coming week is pretty exciting! Interest will be used to chip away at the boulder. I still have food in the cupboard to use, so I should be able to make it until payday. I have leftover shredded zucchini that I am going to cook as hash browns. If that doesn’t work out well, then I am adding it to my spaghetti tonight. My neighbor is giving me her rose bush. It’s not exactly a source of food, but they produce rose hips, which are very good for you. J So let’s all pray that the garden and the rose bush grow, prosper, and provide a nice bounty.