Debt Dumpers - 2013

[gracie1]

Thanks so much for your support everyone I'm thinking I'll talk to her about the possibility of alternating between 1hr and 2hr sessions every other week, but let her know that some weeks it might be necessary for me to drop down to all 1hrs depending on my financial situation. This month seems to be going well work-wise and I think I'm feeling a little financially ahead of myself, when actually it may not stay consistent. Luckily her schedule is flexible!

How is everyone else's month coming along? I've been working some extra hours this week so as soon as I get out of work I'm taking the check to the bank to put towards my student loan. But I'm taking $5 out of it to treat myself to a cupcake.. shh, don't tell my snowball!

Enjoy that cupcake Hope everyone is doing well this week with snowballing! I have been planning vacations in my head ..... but realistically I know I probably won't take one because I don't want to spend the money on it Who would've ever though I would be like that!! So I think what I am going to do is price out my next vacation and make it for next year. Mentally, I think I can justify it better. How weird am I??

 

[OhMari]

I was so proud that I didn't give into going out to eat over the long 4th of July weekend. I think I posted that. I paid my bills today for the week. Between last week and this week, I spent almost $400 for groceries. I grocery shopped twice and did a Walmart run, cleaning supplies, soaps, kleenix, etc. I had all my adult kids home this weekend too. 4 adult kids and their boyfriend, girlfriends..

I actually saved over $1200. I was going to rent a condo in Wisconsin Dells. I found a nice one and it was $400 a night, I never booked it and when We decided we all wanted to go, the prices jumped up to over $575 a night. We would of brought our own food and snacks and I am sure we would of went out to eat a few times. My adult kids would of paid for a few of the dinners too. I was sad we didn't go, but no one was to heartbroken, there was plenty to do around our area.

 

[OhMari]

Enjoy that cupcake Hope everyone is doing well this week with snowballing! I have been planning vacations in my head ..... but realistically I know I probably won't take one because I don't want to spend the money on it Who would've ever though I would be like that!! So I think what I am going to do is price out my next vacation and make it for next year. Mentally, I think I can justify it better. How weird am I??

Not wierd at all. I told my dh, I need something to look forward to. I need to plan, even though a vacation can be a year away. I belong to a Facebook April 2014 group, and some of the members are hyperventilating, because package prices are suppose to be released today.

 

[Doodlebug939]

Thanks so much for your support everyone I'm thinking I'll talk to her about the possibility of alternating between 1hr and 2hr sessions every other week, but let her know that some weeks it might be necessary for me to drop down to all 1hrs depending on my financial situation. This month seems to be going well work-wise and I think I'm feeling a little financially ahead of myself, when actually it may not stay consistent. Luckily her schedule is flexible!

How is everyone else's month coming along? I've been working some extra hours this week so as soon as I get out of work I'm taking the check to the bank to put towards my student loan. But I'm taking $5 out of it to treat myself to a cupcake.. shh, don't tell my snowball!

I got a chuckle out of your cupcake treat! Is it so funny that the little things like a cupcake or new nail polish can really make the world a better place. Good for you!

 

[pryncess527]

^^ Sometimes a little treat is all you need! I love a good cupcake!
There is actually an economic theory about how makeup companies do well in a recession because people who can't afford big treats make up for it with little treats -- they call it the Lipstick Index

Enjoy that cupcake Hope everyone is doing well this week with snowballing! I have been planning vacations in my head ..... but realistically I know I probably won't take one because I don't want to spend the money on it Who would've ever though I would be like that!! So I think what I am going to do is price out my next vacation and make it for next year. Mentally, I think I can justify it better. How weird am I??

I'm the same kind of weird!!
I've been using the site to plan a 2013 Christmas trip I know we can't take for months. I'm killing time till the 2014 prices come out.

But honestly, since we have decided we will not go to DW until we get our HELOC paid off and until we can pay cash for the trip, in reality I'll probably spend a year looking at 2014 prices to dream of a 2015 (or 2016 . . .) trip!

But hey, dreaming about Disney is surprisingly effective at getting me to stop spending. I almost bought clothes I don't need at Talbots.com this morning but then stopped and realized that $200 was going to put me another $200 away from Disney, which was enough motivation to close the browser.

 

[gracie1]

^^ Sometimes a little treat is all you need! I love a good cupcake!
There is actually an economic theory about how makeup companies do well in a recession because people who can't afford big treats make up for it with little treats -- they call it the Lipstick Index



I'm the same kind of weird!!
I've been using the site to plan a 2013 Christmas trip I know we can't take for months. I'm killing time till the 2014 prices come out.

But honestly, since we have decided we will not go to DW until we get our HELOC paid off and until we can pay cash for the trip, in reality I'll probably spend a year looking at 2014 prices to dream of a 2015 (or 2016 . . .) trip!

But hey, dreaming about Disney is surprisingly effective at getting me to stop spending. I almost bought clothes I don't need at Talbots.com this morning but then stopped and realized that $200 was going to put me another $200 away from Disney, which was enough motivation to close the browser.

I just keep thinking in the back of my head if something unexpected comes up (like my $1100 root canal I just had!) So I think I will keep researching trips and plan for one in 2014 - maybe just do a day trip or an overnight trip here and there. And your right - dreaming about a trip helps stop spending!!

 

[Doodlebug939]

Enjoy that cupcake Hope everyone is doing well this week with snowballing! I have been planning vacations in my head ..... but realistically I know I probably won't take one because I don't want to spend the money on it Who would've ever though I would be like that!! So I think what I am going to do is price out my next vacation and make it for next year. Mentally, I think I can justify it better. How weird am I??

I am the same way. I feel better in my head if I have a trip planned even if it is next year! We are not doing a big vacation this year because I have some financial goals to get to by the end of the year. But we are planning a day trip to a water park (about a 3 hour drive away ) And then we are using some gift card and Marriot points to do a little weekend trip to the beach. Out of pocket for both with be less than $600. While I could use that toward debt, I am not. We are paying cash for food and gas so no increase in debt so I will take a book and put my feet in some sand with no regret.

Now next year we are doing two trips. It is out 20th anniversary next year and my husband and I are going to Vegas (I think) for a few days. His ticket is covered so it leaves mine and the hotel. And then in the fall we are going Disney and Universal. (I have almost 500 in Disney Rewards and Two -two day tickets for Universal. ) So part of the trip is covered for both. The only difference is this time it will be paid for with cash and no increase in debt. I have been saving a little money each week into a savings account to build up the money.

 

[milwaukeemommy]

Sigh .... one year ago I was busy packing for our very first trip to Disney World. I think I was more excited than the kids! I can't believe it was a whole year. I seem to look at our pictures that are on my computer at least a couple of times a week. I soooo want to go back!

We are almost through with the refinance, just waiting to close. I cannot WAIT to have an extra almost $500 each month! I am ready to get ROLLING on that SNOWBALL!!

 

[gracie1]

Sigh .... one year ago I was busy packing for our very first trip to Disney World. I think I was more excited than the kids! I can't believe it was a whole year. I seem to look at our pictures that are on my computer at least a couple of times a week. I soooo want to go back!

We are almost through with the refinance, just waiting to close. I cannot WAIT to have an extra almost $500 each month! I am ready to get ROLLING on that SNOWBALL!!

Isn't it amazing how time flies!! I honestly feel like I was just at DW but it's been 4 years.
I am still debating in my head about taking a quick trip in December.

 

[gracie1]

Bumping thread

 

[pryncess527]

YNAB is on sale, 33% off through July 22!!!!!


And the 10% off coupon found online stacks, bringing it down to $36.99 (I don't want to post the link, it's a referral coupon so might break the rules)

This is seriously the best thing to happen to my family's finances, I highly recommend everyone check out the free trial before the sale ends. I am no officially affiliated with YNAB, I just love the product so much I want to share its amazing-ness with the world!

 

[mum2simon]

So bummed....I JUST bought YNAB (and I love it and am recommending it to everyone.....)....but bummed because my super strapped budget could barely afford the program and I looked every where hoping for a sale.....argh! Just had to vent....

But if you don't have it - go get it! It is awesome and this is a great price!!!!

 

[pryncess527]

Yay! I'm so glad when others love it as much as I do

 

[disney0214]

I get the whole thing with having one months reserve with YNAB, but don't have that right now. Well we do but it is but it is in savings. Is there a way around the reserve to make it work? I'm not really sure I understand how to bypass that.

 

[vicki_c]

I get the whole thing with having one months reserve with YNAB, but don't have that right now. Well we do but it is but it is in savings. Is there a way around the reserve to make it work? I'm not really sure I understand how to bypass that.

There's a whole tutorial or FAQ on that very subject or you can also check the excellent YNAB forums, I think there was always a thread or maybe a sticky addressing that.

 

[peel]

I would also suggest taking part in the free webinars. I've just finished the last of four and I found them all to be extremely helpful when setting up YNAB.

 

[pryncess527]

I don't want to hijack this thread for YNAB, so I'll ditto the suggestion to check out the YNAB support page and forums. The people on the forums are really helpful, and so are the videos.

I'll also add that, in general, the difference between a buffer and savings is largely psychological -- the money is there for an emergency whether you call it a buffer or not, it just affects how you respond to incoming money. I think using a buffer in the YNAB sense is helpful because you can budget your expenses for an entire month on the first day of the month (or even earlier) whereas if you don't treat any part of your savings as a buffer, you may "need" a paycheck to come in before you can cover a bill. YNAB tries to avoid that. I personally place a very large value on having a buffer, I like the ease of budgeting that it creates. Having said that, there are people on the forums who choose not to utilize the buffer (even though they have the savings) and they have a system that works for them. If operating without a buffer is best for your family, someone on the forum should be able to help you make it work.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Not sure whether I should try YNAB or Dave Ramsay? We only have a mortgage for our debt, but not much savings and use all of our paychecks month to month. We kind of just stay in limbo, not ever saving (besides our automatic Roth IRA monthly payments and 401K contributions, which aren't a lot), and lately (past 6 months), we keep taking money from our savings to cover expenses so our savings is getting close to lowest it's been in 5 years. We have a lot coming up this year, with extra sports fees for my daughters, our insurance doubling yesterday after adding DD16 to car insurance!, and have no money saved for college for any of my 3 DDs. Really don't know where our money goes though...was shocked at our yearly summary from Chase last year showing how much we spend on food! And that didn't even include our Costco visits. Anyways, just feeling like I need to do something. I used credit cards and pay them off every month, but love to get rewards, so maybe Dave Ramsay would not be the way to go? Try YNAB? DH feels like I am trying to control his spending when I've tried to tally up what we spend each month just to see. I'm rambling but any advice? Thank you.

 

[pryncess527]

Not sure whether I should try YNAB or Dave Ramsay? We only have a mortgage for our debt, but not much savings and use all of our paychecks month to month. We kind of just stay in limbo, not ever saving (besides our automatic Roth IRA monthly payments and 401K contributions, which aren't a lot), and lately (past 6 months), we keep taking money from our savings to cover expenses so our savings is getting close to lowest it's been in 5 years. We have a lot coming up this year, with extra sports fees for my daughters, our insurance doubling yesterday after adding DD16 to car insurance!, and have no money saved for college for any of my 3 DDs. Really don't know where our money goes though...was shocked at our yearly summary from Chase last year showing how much we spend on food! And that didn't even include our Costco visits. Anyways, just feeling like I need to do something. I used credit cards and pay them off every month, but love to get rewards, so maybe Dave Ramsay would not be the way to go? Try YNAB? DH feels like I am trying to control his spending when I've tried to tally up what we spend each month just to see. I'm rambling but any advice? Thank you.

I'm obviously biased, but my vote is with YNAB. It's a lot of the same principles as Ramsey, I just find the computer program and iPhone app 10000 times more helpful than some printed envelopes and the reliance on cash. But admittedly, I have not spent a lot of time investigating Dave Ramsey's system. The app also made it easier for me to get my husband on board.

I'll also add that YNAB has helped me feel like I'm not the one saying "no" anymore. If DH wants something and there isn't money in that budget category for it, that's fine. He can still have it -- he just has to figure out what other pot the money will come out of (and he can't raid a Rainy Day category). That's been surprisingly effective at curbing his spending (and mine too) while not making me the bad guy. It's about HIS choice and dealing with the reality of having a finite amount of money

My other favorite thing about YNAB (and this may also be true of DR, but somehow I doubt it) is that YNAB makes using credit cards responsibly easy. I've never felt like I could be one of those people who used credit cards and paid them off in full for the rewards. Every time I tried, I got into trouble. But now with a budget, our credit card spending is on budget and I get to reap the rewards and not pay any interest. Ever.

Okay, I'l try to stop singing the praises of YNAB for today . . . lol

 

[peigirl]

I got a second job! Start tomorrow. It will make up for the money we are losing by DH EI ending. He is going to pick up part time in September when our youngest is back in school and we will not need child care. That is when the snowballing will begin.

I am so relieved to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Last month, alot of my friends and coworkers received notices that either their jobs were eliminated or their areas were being downsized. Scared the crap out of me so I came up with a 2 year plan to get down to just having our mortgage. Feels great to have a plan.

Paula