Debt Dumpers - 2014

[pryncess527]

I don't post often (or really at all) but this thread seems to be full of like-minded folks! Hi!

Welcome!!! This is such a nice supportive thread, it's very motivational to be a part of!

 

[pryncess527]

Well, I pretty much blew it this weekend. We spent a bunch of money that we didn't budget in YNAB and kept saying "we'll just move it from ____ category"

I really need to stop that. I don't think I am budgeting enough in the categories I need, and I end up pulling from my 'Unexpected Expenses' categories, like my car fund and stuff like that. Just because I don't need that money NOW, I keep pulling from it - and I know I am shooting myself in the foot for later on.

We budgeted $50 for our garden this year, and ended up spending $40 on the veggie and herb packets. So, then we went back out and spent another $29 on flowers and stuff and said 'Oh well.... we have the money'

Blah. I am slipping a bit and need to start forcing myself to say NO.

It can be so hard! The re-training of my brain to delay gratification when the category balance doesn't cover our wants has been one of the hardest (but most rewarding) parts of YNAB. It's not easy though.

 

[pryncess527]

We moved into a new house almost a year ago (1 year in 3 days!) and the yard had an incredible garden. It was super nice, until we realized we couldn't keep up with it.

By July, it looked like the Jungle Book out there! I worked really hard to keep it "under control" but eventually just took hedge clippers and cut everything down.

When it started getting warmer, we decided to remove everything and toss down grass seed.... after several hours of realizing we weren't cut out for this, I found a landscaper. I figured we would end up spending more time (and possibly more money) being angry and tired and even though we didn't really have the money to spend, I'd be really happy to hand over my credit card to a professional and have it done in a day, and not have to spend the entire summer being annoyed and embarrassed by the overgrown mess that used to be this beautiful, meticulous garden.

Even though the cost made me go , we should have it paid off by July, and I am so excited to have a BBQ out there next month!

Professional landscaping is always worth the money to me too, yardwork is just not our favorite. It will be nice to have that BBQ, just think of all the money you'll save hanging out at home ;p

 

[pryncess527]

So nice to read about everyone's progress! Hope everyone (US at least) enjoyed the holiday weekend.

We made it through May better than expected. It was a tight month, we were short a paycheck due to a brief gap in employment for my H, but June is set to be much better. And, thanks to YNAB, we'd been saving money each month for the last year for our 10th Anniversary dinner, so even though May was tight, we had the Anniversary fund so we were still able to celebrate in style.

H has a meeting today about a new job opportunity that could be much more lucrative than his current job. I've been waiting for this meeting to take place for almost 6 months, I'm really hoping he gets a great offer. Fingers crossed!!!

 

[pigletto]

It can be so hard! The re-training of my brain to delay gratification when the category balance doesn't cover our wants has been one of the hardest (but most rewarding) parts of YNAB. It's not easy though.

I ran into that this month. I had to rob another category to put into the vacation category. Flights were released and the prices were very reasonable. I knew if I hesitated they were going to go up. So I made the decision to take it from the Christmas account to cover the difference. It turned out to be the best choice and the flights more than doubled within 24 hours. This month will be about repaying the Christmas account. It's funny how it works. All that money is lumped together but I *see* it as different categories now and have my finger on where every penny goes. It's so nice to have it all planned ahead. While I wish I had saved up all the flight money first, I hadn't and at very least I did have about 75% of it, could take it from another category temporarily and not one penny got stuck on a credit card.

 

[rusafee1183]

Question for you YNAB users. I finally just ended my free trial and signed up. I want to link my iPhone app up and it keeps referencing my "Dropbox" account. I am really confused by this. Is this a seperate thing I should sign up for, or do I give the email and password I used to sign up for YNAB?

It can be so hard! The re-training of my brain to delay gratification when the category balance doesn't cover our wants has been one of the hardest (but most rewarding) parts of YNAB. It's not easy though.

I agree! This has definitely been the most difficult things for us to adjust to. When we first started a few months ago, we were new and really focused so obviously it was easier to make better choices. I see us slipping up and I need to put an end to it. The biggest thing for us right now is making sure we put enough cash into our "envelopes" ... the items that we are and should be using cash for. Any kind of entertainment, groceries, gas, etc... It's been too easy to use the debit card and pull from somewhere else. If I physically know that I don't have enough cash for it, it can't happen.

I ran into that this month. I had to rob another category to put into the vacation category. Flights were released and the prices were very reasonable. I knew if I hesitated they were going to go up. So I made the decision to take it from the Christmas account to cover the difference. It turned out to be the best choice and the flights more than doubled within 24 hours. This month will be about repaying the Christmas account. It's funny how it works. All that money is lumped together but I *see* it as different categories now and have my finger on where every penny goes. It's so nice to have it all planned ahead. While I wish I had saved up all the flight money first, I hadn't and at very least I did have about 75% of it, could take it from another category temporarily and not one penny got stuck on a credit card.

Awesome that you got a great flight price! This is something I would have moved, and not felt bad about either. We have had bad luck with flight costs over the past few years, so good for you grabbing it when you saw it!

We cancelled a December trip this year to save money and work on our snowball and I just checked the flight prices and they were the lowest I have seen in a while. That made me a little sad....

 

[pryncess527]

Question for you YNAB users. I finally just ended my free trial and signed up. I want to link my iPhone app up and it keeps referencing my "Dropbox" account. I am really confused by this. Is this a seperate thing I should sign up for, or do I give the email and password I used to sign up for YNAB?

You will need to sign up for a Dropbox account (they are free up to a certain storage amount, and YNAB uses very little space) -- here are the instructions -- http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/article/cloud-sync.

For those that don't want to use Dropbox, you can use WiFi syncing only instead of Cloud syncing, but I find the cloud sync very helpful -- and since YNAB does not actually contain any account numbers or particularly sensitive data the cloud sync doesn't give me any security concerns. -- WiFi sync info -- http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/article/mobile-sync-troubleshooting-guide

 

[rusafee1183]

You will need to sign up for a Dropbox account (they are free up to a certain storage amount, and YNAB uses very little space) -- here are the instructions -- http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/article/cloud-sync.

For those that don't want to use Dropbox, you can use WiFi syncing only instead of Cloud syncing, but I find the cloud sync very helpful -- and since YNAB does not actually contain any account numbers or particularly sensitive data the cloud sync doesn't give me any security concerns. -- WiFi sync info -- http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/article/mobile-sync-troubleshooting-guide

Perfect, thank you!

 

[PrincessKymm]

I paid off one plane ticket to Disney!! With all DS has gone through with this heart thing we (me, DS, my dad and his GF) are going to enjoy some time together. We booked free dining for 5 nights and our plane tickets include bags so I'm halfway there! I'm using my bonus to pay for the trip and only have to finance a little bit. My extra check this month paid for one ticket plus deposit and then I cash flowed a bunch of needed stuff. I'll have this trip, my extra nights on a work trip, my car and Christmas all paid for by Dec 31. I think I'm in really good shape. I can still cash flow the medical bills but until I get them all I can't decide when I'll have them paid off. Student loans are on a 5-7 year plan. I'll know more of what I need to do next year after my car is paid off. If I can hold off buying a new one for a while I could speed up the student loans.

DS had the recorder implant done yesterday and is doing fine. Now it's a wait and see type thing. I definitely need a trip to Disney!!! DS is super excited too. I like to think the excitement of Disney is making him happier and healthier.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It can be so hard! The re-training of my brain to delay gratification when the category balance doesn't cover our wants has been one of the hardest (but most rewarding) parts of YNAB. It's not easy though.

This is so true!

Dh has been working so much extra since winter. Even after working lots of snow-related OT, then we finished painting the outside of our house, he then started a side job of replacing soffits on his coworker's home which then turned into painting that house too. Luckily it's a brick home so not a ton of painting like ours was.
He's almost 10 yrs older than me and makes me exhausted just watching him.
I thought it would be so nice to take a couple days off while ds14 is at sleepover camp and go down to Ft. Lauderdale and chill on the beach. He doesn't want to be so far from ds in case there's some emergency so we decided to settle for a 2 nt stay at a B&B in Cape May, NJ.

It will be relaxing but, to me, getting away means getting on a plane.
In the long run this will be better since I've had to take a break from snowballing for May & June with so many expenses lately that we don't normally have.

I'm not quitting or giving up though! I have 7 cc's paid off and 3 more to go.

 

[rusafee1183]

Well, I'm just about halfway through my weekend block shift. I'm really missing my friends and family and thinking what's really so wrong with having a lot of debt anyway ??

I just want to go home....

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[OhMari]

Well, I'm just about halfway through my weekend block shift. I'm really missing my friends and family and thinking what's really so wrong with having a lot of debt anyway ??

I just want to go home....

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Hang in there, it is tough and at times I hate being aggressive paying off debt. 6 years ago I never imagined it would take so long and now I am on our last 2 debts our car and mortgage. I am tempted so many times to use the money and not snowball it to my mortgage, but I hang in there. You can too.

 

[freckles04]

Hi guys... so last month was the first month I've ever kept a record of EVERYTHING that I spend money on. (I didn't include bills, or paying on CC's, just groceries, gas, recreation, clothing, toiletries, gifts, etc.) I was totally SHOCKED that I spent $1200. The worst part is, I was trying to be super careful with my spending because I knew I had to write it all down. And if you had asked me beforehand how much I spend on things like that per month, I would have probably guessed, oh, $500.

I spent the most on groceries but gifts and clothing were other big spenders... but it was graduation month, and DS needed new summer clothes in a bad way. oh well.

Here's hoping I can spend less in June and apply more to the snowball!

 

[zy144622]

Hi guys... so last month was the first month I've ever kept a record of EVERYTHING that I spend money on. (I didn't include bills, or paying on CC's, just groceries, gas, recreation, clothing, toiletries, gifts, etc.) I was totally SHOCKED that I spent $1200. The worst part is, I was trying to be super careful with my spending because I knew I had to write it all down. And if you had asked me beforehand how much I spend on things like that per month, I would have probably guessed, oh, $500. I spent the most on groceries but gifts and clothing were other big spenders... but it was graduation month, and DS needed new summer clothes in a bad way. oh well. Here's hoping I can spend less in June and apply more to the snowball!

Nice work keeping track. That reality check is so important. I remember doing the math with my husband and being we spent X on what?!? Groceries have been one of my biggest challenges but the last couple months it's finally gotten easier. We are a family of 4 and I have been working to $80 weekly grocery budget. This include diapers and paper products. First few weeks was really tough but now I have a schedule. Between adds and coupons I think I got this and I know you can too!

 

[xCourxCorex]

Down to my last 2 student loans with a total of ~9,025! I'm starting to see that little light at the end of the tunnel

 

[pryncess527]

Hi guys... so last month was the first month I've ever kept a record of EVERYTHING that I spend money on. (I didn't include bills, or paying on CC's, just groceries, gas, recreation, clothing, toiletries, gifts, etc.) I was totally SHOCKED that I spent $1200. The worst part is, I was trying to be super careful with my spending because I knew I had to write it all down. And if you had asked me beforehand how much I spend on things like that per month, I would have probably guessed, oh, $500.

I spent the most on groceries but gifts and clothing were other big spenders... but it was graduation month, and DS needed new summer clothes in a bad way. oh well.

Here's hoping I can spend less in June and apply more to the snowball!

At least you now have the information! It starts to get so much easier to make good choices when the reality is spelled out in black and white.

 

[pryncess527]

Down to my last 2 student loans with a total of ~9,025! I'm starting to see that little light at the end of the tunnel

Congratulations!!!

 

[pryncess527]

Well, we started June optimistic it would be a better month, then got hit with a $900 surprise. We are rolling with the punches though. I kind of moped about it this weekend, but this morning on the drive to work decided to let it go. I'm not going to focus on the setbacks, I'm going to focus on the positive. We have a path out of debt and we are walking down that path at a reasonable speed. Sometimes I want to sprint, but that's just not realistic. I have to focus on the fact that we are very very fortunate to be on a stable path and remain grateful even when I wish we were moving more quickly.

 

[pigletto]

Well, we started June optimistic it would be a better month, then got hit with a $900 surprise. We are rolling with the punches though. I kind of moped about it this weekend, but this morning on the drive to work decided to let it go. I'm not going to focus on the setbacks, I'm going to focus on the positive. We have a path out of debt and we are walking down that path at a reasonable speed. Sometimes I want to sprint, but that's just not realistic. I have to focus on the fact that we are very very fortunate to be on a stable path and remain grateful even when I wish we were moving more quickly.

That's an excellent attitude and it's going to help you get through the long haul. I understand completely. I managed to sock away a nice amount in April and then had to use the whole amount in May for a car repair. Baby steps. We are still on track to meet our goals but I had wanted to be ahead of the game. After a momentary sulk I realized it was nice that the car repair didn't set us back at all and that was what the money was for.
Onward!

 

[freckles04]

At least you now have the information! It starts to get so much easier to make good choices when the reality is spelled out in black and white.

So true! It gives me more motivation to say... "you know, I really don't need that."