- t, I can relate to the not getting ahead. Since I seem to have little to no ability to actually stay on budget just by drawing one up and tracking my expenses (and then feeling bad at month end when I am over on several things), I am doing the Ramsey envelope system and I made up my discretionary spending envelopes last night.
Already over budget for the month on:
hone/lawn
eating out
personal care/beauty
I figure it may take me a few months to get things under control, but I hope I can get with it and stay on it.
Making up the budget and tracking in Mint did do some to get spending down. Electricity, water, eating out, clothing, and personal care/beauty have all gone down since a year ago. Still more work to go.
I am just floored at how I cannot get ahead when I know that people make a lot less. I have a mortgage lower than I could get a one bedroom apartment for. I have a car that is less than 10 years old, it gets decent gas mileage, and I have no car payments. I have just the one kid. No major medical expenses AND I have insurance. I just kind of do not get it. If my monthly mandatory expenses are about $1350 on the low end $1500 is probably average - and food (how is food discretionary?) is kept to 300-350 (the USDA thrifty plan based on US averages) per month, I cannot do anything outside of basic expenses (no gifts, no charitable giving, no clothing) and cannot save outside of 401K contributions - and make less than about $40K.
Poverty level is $15K?!?! for family of 2. How to the what?
I am just floored at how I cannot get ahead when I know that people make a lot less.
I am right there with you. And I have no dependents. (Besides the damn cats.)
Pets are no joke though. Approximately $600/year. I tell you what, when the cats (aged 14 - 14.5) pass, they will not be replaced.
We've been tracking our spending pretty tightly every month and it is eye-opening, but we still spend too much!
I do think people who pay rent/mortgage in an OK neighborhood underestimate how much you save by living in a bad neighborhood and taking the bus! Not saying you should, but I think that is where the savings is to make it on $15,000 a year
Slate Culture Gabfest listeners - the 80s miniseries they spend 10 minutes bashing? That's the project that has been devouring me from below for the past year. Oy.
The donations email just got my favorite spam ever:
You are a business leader and a huge component in your community.
All of your achievements in business have been noticed and The 2013 Business Who's Who Registry has nominated you to represent
Your community in a group that includes other high ranking Executives, Professionals & Entrepreneurs.
Your candidacy was approved today, Tuesday April 9th and your prompt response is required to ensure your correct professional information. There is zero cost to be included and they look forward to your appearance in this year's edition.
Please Take a quick second to confirm your information right here:
[obviously a shady link, but the url is isupportwomenveterans! extra wtf.]
Highest praise to you,
Gene-Braden
Enjoy.
I do think people who pay rent/mortgage in an OK neighborhood underestimate how much you save by living in a bad neighborhood and taking the bus!
If I didn't have kids, I would have a way bigger house in a way worse neighborhood. But bad neighborhoods have bad schools in them, so we're kind of stuck.
[edit: Or alternately, paying much more for the same amount of space in a better neighborhood, which I could do because I wouldn't be spending so much damn money on childcare!]
Yeah, schools are a problem with kids. We could be living two towns over for a lot cheaper than we can rent here, but I really don't want the kids going to school where they're walking through metal detectors and have full-time guards.
the kids going to school where they're walking through metal detectors and have full-time guards
How else are you going to quality assure the guns in school?
I just had to speak the mostest in this meeting--talking about system errors, human errors, things we promise we won't err on this weekend...talky schmalky.
When, really, the IMPORTANT task I have to do is my daily drawing challenge, and I completely thought I had a different one to do today...fuck, why isn't my favourite word purple?
