So here are a few questions of the week for ya'll to ponder and share your thoughts as you feel comfortable.
The topic: Money and Budgeting
Question #1: How much money do you budget for groceries per month (and in relation how many people live with you!)
Question #2: How much money do you budget for savings,, be it stocking into emergency savings or for other things.
Question #3: How many months of emergency savings do you have and/or working toward obtaining (whats the goal!?)
Question #4: How do you account for birthday and holiday gifting in your budget,, even things as simple as bringing a bottle of wine to someone's house for a dinner party.. where does that come out of?
Question #5: What are your favorite non-spending activities (other than the obvious,, be at home with my family).
Thanks for your answers and contributions. As suspected, I'm working on streamlining my finances. Member months ago when I wrote about the 'trifecta' and how I have trouble keeping all three working (money, exercise, food)... well I think I might be getting more on track so while the last two are under control... #1 is the new focus!
hugs
DC
8 comments:
hey girlfriend:) This is an interesting topic, budgeting. I know Martin and I fall short sometimes. Right now, Martin is the one doing most of the saving for us for the future, and he also budgets for going out to dinner etc. As for my budgeting I spend the majority of the money I make paying off student loans (shocker), and we've been, because we've been up at the lakehouse mostly every weekend slacking on budgeting for grocieries. Usually we budget 200-250 per month (and that is eating well and enough and having leftover stuff in the freezer to carry through) but since the summer, I've been spending maybe 20-25 bucks a week at the local farmers market or this little cute jewish market by the train that I stop at on my way home. I've never realized before how inexpensive it is to buy fruits/veggies and meats and make your own food, (instead of buying premade stuff). We save alot that way. Favorite nonspending activities - going to the gym, going on a walk, going to town in warwick and walking around, walking lealu, rowing on the boat, playing catch, watching movies.
ps I gave you a blog award!!!!!
I have no idea what that means... blog award.
Its so funny that you buying fresh saves you money, everytime I buy fresh stuff it ends up moldy and rotten and I throw it away! Perhaps thats a good indicator of my weakened veggie-cooking skills but regardless..
Great info,, I especially like the idea of you playing catch... Its a good visual.
Hey D! I don't have too much to add to this other than using coupons & eating lots of ramen...lol. Also, there are a lot of homemade gifts you can give at the holidays, and that can be a lot of fun. I'm planning on doing some canning this Christmas myself. As for non spending activities- I always go for Barnes & Noble. Read free magazines, skim books- love it! Also enjoy walking around antique shops,cuddle up miss Molly, rearrange and redocerate a room using exsisting stuff? WIll get back to you when I think of more!
Oh by the way, you won the Hallmark giveaway on Milk and Cuddles- so free cards are on their way to you:)
Good idea Shan,, its just so hard for me to be in a B&N and not buy at least a Starbucks! I would probably play with Molly all day if I could too!
yay for winning a blog giveaway.. I so have to get more into bloggin.
d
You're asking finances, I feel naked now, hehehe. Ok...Question #1. Budget is about $100/week for a family of 4 and 1/2, but have have a history of bending the budget once in a while. For the months I'm not in charge, we went as far as $2000 in food (lots of eating out that month), no way we're doing that again. Question #2 & 3- shame on me, don't have a set ammount, we are working on first paying current debt, when that is done we'll work on savings. Our emergency fund was eaten last year with our emergency court hearings. Question #4 I have a birthday list, by cards in bulk or print a whole bunch different ones. Going to the store and paying $5 per card is too expensive.I also have a box of gifts. If I see something on sale that would be used for a gift in the future I get it and put it in the box, once christas time or birthdays come I have something to use. As per last minute things, we avoid them. Of course, our social life is all about the kids this days (non-existant), so our situation is different. #5. Cuddling and talking, going for a walk together, reading blogs, really, there is not enough time to do even the activities above iwth a new baby in teh house, lol.
Lucy LU,, I know finances are a bit revealing and its so frustrating that I know exactly how you feel 'shame on me'.. that is kind of the main reason why I ask. The more I read and understand about finances the more I feel like its similar to 'abuse or alcoholism' or other illnesses where if we hide it and keep it as our own defeated shame that it will go away when it never does go away until you take control of it.
2000 a month for food is scarily a lot of what i was doing in NYC and it was SOOO not helpful in any aspect of my life. and that was 2k for just me which is ridiculous but I know now that I was emotionally eating and I'm doing better to control that now (but im still human).
I think you should read Dave Ramsey or Suze Ormans' outlooks on the economy right now and future. I think you'd probably like Dave better because he tends to resonate with people who have a strong faith in God. (in my blog-reading experience). But this economy is all about an emergency savings so its definitely something you need to sit down with Mr Bee and figure out how to balance paying towards the emergency and debt. I know personally loans make me feel like I'm carrying a lot of unnecessary weight around, but I also know that as I work towards my 8 month savings with Kevin, the closer we get the more safe I feel with the world and job economy that we can't control.]
Thank for being so honest and open with me. If you have DVR start recording Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman (or both) and just watch occasionally until it empowers you like it has empowered me!
love you luce,,, congrats on becoming a citizen I'm so proud of you!
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