Okay... The first step is to admit you have a problem, right? So, I'm going to do that. Right now. Here is goes:
I have trouble following through with our budget.There. I did it. Phew, glad to get that off my chest and out in the open.
Managing money is so hard for me. I've realized it's possible to do, it just takes a lot of discipline. And with the current state that Josh and I are at, following a budget is what's wise.
I have no problem creating a budget, but actually keeping up with it is a pain to me. So, we wanna now how to best keep track of every dollar. I called a good friend the other day and asked her for some tips. I knew SHE'S pretty good at keeping her budget, so maybe I'd get some good tips from her.
Here's some of what she shared:
1. Read Dave Ramsey. (Have the book, check. Read it, not check)
2. Ditch the Debit Card- use envelopes with cash instead. That way when the cash is gone, you can't get anything more until the next pay check or you have to "borrow" money from another envelope.
3. Keep track of your expenses. See where your money is actually going and then make adjustments where you can. (Keep receipts)
4. Keep only money in checking for online bills.
5. Have about $500 at home as a cushion for unexpected expenses (e.g. Swamp cooler dies, brakes give out on car, someone breaks an arm, etc.)
6. Follow principals from Mr. Ramsey: a) Pay Jesus first; b) pay yourself second (i.e. Savings) c) pay down debt third. Whatever is left, that is what you live off of. (Pretty hard to swallow, huh? Especially as an American.)
That's just some of the basics. And the first steps Josh and I want to try.
It's just that with Josh being self-employed and income not being the same every month, we've gotta keep a close eye on those dollars or they can slip away!
I really think this is gonna take a lot of prayer and discipline and team work for my hubby and I. I'm partially excited, but a bit nervous as well... but, hey, if what we're doing isn't working, then why not try something else? And just to clarify, we're not doing terribly, I know we can just do better. And I want to do better.
I CAN DO IT!
I totally understand where you are coming from, Ashley! Scott and I had to sit down and go through our budget again this past weekend (we've done this probably like four times since we got married, switching things up when one or another budget system just wasn't working) and now we are down to keeping receipts again and sticking to a VERY strict budget after we were going off the one we had every month and dipping into savings to live off of! :( We now have a bulletin board / dry erase board in our kitchen in a very noticable place so that as soon as we get home from the store / errand / paying something / writing a check we subtract that money from the amount we had left in that area. This is basically instead of using cash all the time (which did work for us back when we first got married, by the way!). It has been working great so far, and it's amazing how I just won't stop for coffee when I know it comes out of my personal money and I REALLY want to use that money on scrapbook stuff this month instead! Lol. I think with us both aware of how we are spending our money, instead of just Scott who did it all before, it has helped us both out a lot! Anyway, just sharing what we do! Good luck and hopefully y'all can figure out the perfect system that works! :o)
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