anakin
Most snarkily lightsabered
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« Reply #600 on: February 09, 2012, 01:08:59 PM » |
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I just found out I'm getting a forgotten $500! Here's my question: top off the emergency fund, or pay toward the fIRS bill? Oh, and why do you suggest whatever you suggest?
How big is your emergency fund? If it's $1,000, then send it to the IRS. If it's less than $1,000, then put in enough to get it $1,000 and any excess goes straight to the IRS. You want to get that IRS elephant off your back as soon as possible. Roger. Will do - I have about $200 to go on the $1000 emergency fund. Clean, I wish it were as simple as adjusting my withholdings, but of course that's good general advice. |
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Dr. Anakin sits high and mightily in her office while she condemns students to lives of misery and drudgery, washing out their husbands' underwear in filthy water. In addition, she is a horrible teacher. She welcomes you to Introduction to Biology!
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reener06
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« Reply #601 on: February 09, 2012, 10:12:32 PM » |
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Got my bank statement and there was a decent amount of money in the account. We are almost all paid off in credit cards, and it's nice that this budget thing works.
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lohai0
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« Reply #602 on: February 09, 2012, 10:51:20 PM » |
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Well hell. There was a problem with a rent check scanning wrong. Now I get to pay double rent this month. There goes my emergency fund.
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This semester's going to call for an increase in my liquor budget.
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anakin
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« Reply #603 on: February 09, 2012, 11:24:29 PM » |
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Well hell. There was a problem with a rent check scanning wrong. Now I get to pay double rent this month. There goes my emergency fund.
Well, effing crap. Do you get to not pay in March and replenish the $$? I don't mean to minimize the suckiness, but really this is what an emergency fund is for, right? Good for you for having one! |
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Dr. Anakin sits high and mightily in her office while she condemns students to lives of misery and drudgery, washing out their husbands' underwear in filthy water. In addition, she is a horrible teacher. She welcomes you to Introduction to Biology!
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this_is_water
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« Reply #604 on: February 14, 2012, 01:18:01 PM » |
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I want to stick to my budget more than I want to go out for lunch today to celebrate my birthday, right?
Sigh...
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octoprof
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« Reply #605 on: February 14, 2012, 01:21:22 PM » |
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I want to stick to my budget more than I want to go out for lunch today to celebrate my birthday, right?
Sigh...
Yes, probably. Or, you use your little miscellaneous envelope (if you have one) for your birthday this month. :o) Or, you get your colleagues to take you out for your birthday! Yes! That's it! |
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Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other; it will unriddle many riddles; it will make clear and simple many things... Mark Twain
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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this_is_water
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« Reply #606 on: February 14, 2012, 01:24:36 PM » |
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Yes, probably. Or, you use your little miscellaneous envelope (if you have one) for your birthday this month. :o)
Alas, I used the last of the miscellaneous money on the cake I brought into work today (our department's birthday tradition). But the co-worker thing just might work! Failing that, cake for lunch. |
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octoprof
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« Reply #607 on: February 14, 2012, 01:49:14 PM » |
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Yes, probably. Or, you use your little miscellaneous envelope (if you have one) for your birthday this month. :o)
Alas, I used the last of the miscellaneous money on the cake I brought into work today (our department's birthday tradition). But the co-worker thing just might work! Failing that, cake for lunch. Cake for lunch is not a bad option! WOOHOO! Happy birthday! |
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Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other; it will unriddle many riddles; it will make clear and simple many things... Mark Twain
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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undisciplined
Shoes Always Matter to a
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Posts: 2,173
Okay then.
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« Reply #608 on: February 14, 2012, 03:52:26 PM » |
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Mr. Undi's Valentine's gift came to a total of about $10.50, but was very well received. I bought one swell item each of his three favorite food groups (beer, cheese, chocolate), decorated a small brown paper bag with hearts and messages, tied it up with a pink ribbon, and left it next to his bedside this a.m. with his first cup o' joe.
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I recommend bourbon and bonbons for that.
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anakin
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« Reply #609 on: February 21, 2012, 08:55:50 PM » |
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Well.
The food budgeting and planning is working out really, really well. With 8 days to go in the month, I have spent $130 less than last month on food and I'm still eating nutritious food that I like. As much as I disliked carrying cash for food and household expenses, it worked, so I'll do it again in March.
I've come to realize, though, that my savings plan was, to say the least, austere. After a year of being unemployed, it is just unrealistic - at this time - to plan to save 10% of my pre-tax income, plus 8% emergency fund and 12% other savings, both post-tax, while allocating just 1% to a combined entertainment/recreation/eating out. I need more wiggle room. So I'm readjusting for March.
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Dr. Anakin sits high and mightily in her office while she condemns students to lives of misery and drudgery, washing out their husbands' underwear in filthy water. In addition, she is a horrible teacher. She welcomes you to Introduction to Biology!
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palla
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« Reply #610 on: February 21, 2012, 09:19:17 PM » |
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It sounds good, anakin! Great job sticking to the budget. I love spending only cash and having it broken down ahead of time.
It takes several months to get the budget down pat. It sounds like you have done a good job if you are already seeing such results. I know we had to adjust our budget several times the first month of real budgeting.
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octoprof
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« Reply #611 on: February 21, 2012, 09:59:50 PM » |
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Well.
The food budgeting and planning is working out really, really well. With 8 days to go in the month, I have spent $130 less than last month on food and I'm still eating nutritious food that I like. As much as I disliked carrying cash for food and household expenses, it worked, so I'll do it again in March.
I've come to realize, though, that my savings plan was, to say the least, austere. After a year of being unemployed, it is just unrealistic - at this time - to plan to save 10% of my pre-tax income, plus 8% emergency fund and 12% other savings, both post-tax, while allocating just 1% to a combined entertainment/recreation/eating out. I need more wiggle room. So I'm readjusting for March.
That's a lot of saving. Try being more realistic. The lovely thing about budgeting is you can change it each month until you find the right balance. :o) You are doing everything right! Look how well that food and household stuff is working out? And, you get the concept of adjusting as needed. You are awesome! |
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Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other; it will unriddle many riddles; it will make clear and simple many things... Mark Twain
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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untenured
On far too many committees
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« Reply #612 on: February 21, 2012, 10:54:41 PM » |
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You are awesome!
+1 to your awesomeness. This takes dedication and you have it in spades. |
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You are among the Pure and Truthful, however small their Number.
My goodness, that was an exceptionally good analysis of the forum. |
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clean
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« Reply #613 on: February 22, 2012, 12:08:31 AM » |
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it is just unrealistic - at this time - to plan to save 10% of my pre-tax income, plus 8% emergency fund and 12% other savings, both post-tax, while allocating just 1% to a combined entertainment/recreation/eating out. I need more wiggle room. So I'm readjusting for March.
Dave Ramsey talks about the power of focus. One item at a time. You may be trying to do too many things at once. That is why there are baby steps. 1.$1000 emergency fund. 2. Become Debt Free. 3. Fully fund emergency fund. 3b. fund other savings needs (replacement car), ... Maybe you should reset your budget to make sure that you do have enough for food and a modest amount for entertainment. Then devote the rest to one particular goal at a time. Either way, Congrats on working it out so far! |
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"The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" Darth Vader
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this_is_water
New member
Posts: 19
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« Reply #614 on: February 23, 2012, 02:56:11 PM » |
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Feh! Last month sticking to the budget was easy and I finished the month with a bit of money in the food and entertainment envelopes. This month I have a week to go and I'm facing empty envelopes. The food budget got hit by my having to buy a bunch of rarely purchased household items (garbage bags, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, etc.) all at once. Oh, and there was that potluck I'd forgotten to plan for.
First world problems, I know.
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