Debt Dumpers - 2016

[momtosam]

What is the 1/2 payment method? Are you talking about mortgage where you pay biweekly?

No, the idea is you set aside half a payment twice each month or make half a payment if it's a bill that allows you to, such has a cc. In the end you're supposed to blow less cash on impulse buys because you're putting your money toward payments (I think, lol).

 

[DisneyMandC]

Well, it looks like I'll be getting my first smart phone, along with my first phone bill. I was told today that I can no longer use my work phone for anything personal. My job prior to this one we were able to use our work cells and had unlimited minutes. Up until now, at this job, I was told we had 400 minutes per month and was never told that we couldn't use them for personal calls. Today I was told we only have 200 minutes per month and I was over that already and shouldn't be using it for personal calls. I am not a rule breaker and am fact usually a stickler for following the rules, so it's a bit annoying to be treated like I was trying to milk the system. Lack of clear communication is pretty much my all time biggest pet peeve so I'm a little irked.

Anyway, I've been feeling behind the times anyway since now even Target has an app where you can save more money (called cartwheel I think) using your smart phone, they scan coupons using your smart phone, etc. Guess I'll just break down and buy one along with a plan. I never use more than 400 minutes a month and won't need much data either - please let me know if you have any good recommendations for me!!

Sorry about the situation with your work, that's irritating. But as far as moneysaving apps go, I definitely recommend Cartwheel for Target! Also check out Ibotta, Saving Star, Checkout 51, and Mobisave for rebate apps. I've made a lot off Ibotta, and it's easy to use! Also check out Shopkicks. You can get "kicks" for scanning products (don't have to purchase them) and walking into stores. I've made about $75 for Target off there and don't use it that much.

 

[Dentam]

Sorry about the situation with your work, that's irritating. But as far as moneysaving apps go, I definitely recommend Cartwheel for Target! Also check out Ibotta, Saving Star, Checkout 51, and Mobisave for rebate apps. I've made a lot off Ibotta, and it's easy to use! Also check out Shopkicks. You can get "kicks" for scanning products (don't have to purchase them) and walking into stores. I've made about $75 for Target off there and don't use it that much.

Wow, it's like a whole new world I'll be discovering here! I also am hoping I can get a phone that will double as a camera to save me from replacing my little pocket camera that has a crack in the lens. I've heard that some phones will even track your steps like a pedometer. That could be handy! Now I just need to figure out what phone and plan to get - I started looking and am not liking the prices I'm seeing! Keep in mind that I have never had a phone bill so this is not easy for me!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Wow, it's like a whole new world I'll be discovering here! I also am hoping I can get a phone that will double as a camera to save me from replacing my little pocket camera that has a crack in the lens. I've heard that some phones will even track your steps like a pedometer. That could be handy! Now I just need to figure out what phone and plan to get - I started looking and am not liking the prices I'm seeing! Keep in mind that I have never had a phone bill so this is not easy for me!

It's definitely pricey, but the lower the amount of data you get the cheaper it will be. I'm a Mac, so I always recommend the iPhone! In my opinion, they're just so user-friendly. I've had three different Androids and two iPhones and have found the iPhone works consistently better for me. And I pretty much solely use my iPhone camera! DH and I actually received a new digital camera from his parents for our wedding because we wanted to use it on our honeymoon for pictures at Disney. We found we often preferred to use our iPhones and the picture quality is great. If you're planning to do that though, I do recommend you get at least an iPhone 5s or better. Of course, you probably can't even buy the iPhone 4 anymore, but I noticed a big improvement in camera quality when I went from the 4 to the 5s.

 

[Dentam]

It's definitely pricey, but the lower the amount of data you get the cheaper it will be. I'm a Mac, so I always recommend the iPhone! In my opinion, they're just so user-friendly. I've had three different Androids and two iPhones and have found the iPhone works consistently better for me. And I pretty much solely use my iPhone camera! DH and I actually received a new digital camera from his parents for our wedding because we wanted to use it on our honeymoon for pictures at Disney. We found we often preferred to use our iPhones and the picture quality is great. If you're planning to do that though, I do recommend you get at least an iPhone 5s or better. Of course, you probably can't even buy the iPhone 4 anymore, but I noticed a big improvement in camera quality when I went from the 4 to the 5s.

I have a mac as well and was looking into an iPhone 5. The monthly plan with Verizon is crazy though (at least to me - it's over $50/month!) even with the lowest possible amount of data. And that's with paying for the phone up front which also isn't cheap.

 

[Eureka]

No, the idea is you set aside half a payment twice each month or make half a payment if it's a bill that allows you to, such has a cc. In the end you're supposed to blow less cash on impulse buys because you're putting your money toward payments (I think, lol).

I kind of do that. I have many "funds" where I set aside money every week. Some are for quarterly bills like trash pickup and pest control, so I divide the bill by 12 and set aside something every week so when it's time for the bill, I'm not scrambling.

 

[Eureka]

Wow, it's like a whole new world I'll be discovering here! I also am hoping I can get a phone that will double as a camera to save me from replacing my little pocket camera that has a crack in the lens. I've heard that some phones will even track your steps like a pedometer. That could be handy! Now I just need to figure out what phone and plan to get - I started looking and am not liking the prices I'm seeing! Keep in mind that I have never had a phone bill so this is not easy for me!

An iPhone will do everything you want. Camera, pedometer app, target cartwheel (and ibotta, savingstar and shopkick if you don't already know about those). Not cheap but definitely all in one. I have a 6 and love it. I am a very recent smartphone convert, only got it last March.

 

[dayvewc]

It's definitely pricey, but the lower the amount of data you get the cheaper it will be. I'm a Mac, so I always recommend the iPhone! In my opinion, they're just so user-friendly. I've had three different Androids and two iPhones and have found the iPhone works consistently better for me. And I pretty much solely use my iPhone camera! DH and I actually received a new digital camera from his parents for our wedding because we wanted to use it on our honeymoon for pictures at Disney. We found we often preferred to use our iPhones and the picture quality is great. If you're planning to do that though, I do recommend you get at least an iPhone 5s or better. Of course, you probably can't even buy the iPhone 4 anymore, but I noticed a big improvement in camera quality when I went from the 4 to the 5s.

I'm going to have to go out on the other end. I've done iPhone, Windows, and Android and have had the best luck with the Android. Windows based phones are still a bit behind the curve on availability of apps, but Android and iPhone are pretty much even. There are some individual advantages to each. One of my biggest problems when I had my iPhone was actually with the pictures. (I've heard that they have improved since the 4s, so it may not be as big an issue). But you could only download pictures through iTunes, and you could only sync to one computer at a time. So, (the problem I had) if I synced my phone to my home computer, but wanted to download pictures to my work computer, it would erase everything on the phone first. Not a happy person when I lost Christmas and 2 sets of vacation pictures. I had other problems, that individually were extremely minor but collectively were too much of a hassle to want to deal with. I wound up having an iPhone less time than any other phone. Was able to upgrade to a different phone at 18 months and was in the store that morning to dump it for anything. YMMV.

I have a mac as well and was looking into an iPhone 5. The monthly plan with Verizon is crazy though (at least to me - it's over $50/month!) even with the lowest possible amount of data. And that's with paying for the phone up front which also isn't cheap.

But, if you already have a Mac, it might not be as big of an issue for you.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I kind of do that. I have many "funds" where I set aside money every week. Some are for quarterly bills like trash pickup and pest control, so I divide the bill by 12 and set aside something every week so when it's time for the bill, I'm not scrambling.

I do that too - but I pay the ones I can online weekly rather than setting it aside in another account. I found that easier to manage, because there was always an excuse to dip into the "bill fund". Dh and I get paid opposite weeks, so I've taken my monthly bills and divided by 4. Nice to get the bills with the credits on it each month! Plus usually around Christmas time I'm ahead so I don't have to pay a couple of weeks, and have that extra for Christmas spending.

 

[Eureka]

I do that too - but I pay the ones I can online weekly rather than setting it aside in another account. I found that easier to manage, because there was always an excuse to dip into the "bill fund". Dh and I get paid opposite weeks, so I've taken my monthly bills and divided by 4. Nice to get the bills with the credits on it each month! Plus usually around Christmas time I'm ahead so I don't have to pay a couple of weeks, and have that extra for Christmas spending.

I don't actually have different accounts, I just have a fake transaction line for each fund in my ledger in quicken. It's more a mindset than anything else. I started this when I was freelancing and didn't have a steady paycheck, because DH gets paid every week. Now I'm a full time employee and get paid twice a month, but still don't like surprises, so to speak.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Another Android user here.

Although it's not so much my personal preference exactly as just that DH teaches University students how to program for Android systems, so those are the devices we have in the house. I like that they are generally cheaper and I've never had any problems with any of our gadgets.

Anyway...

We managed to pull together $40 for DS's skiing field trip by being under budget for the last couple of weeks. He brought home the field trip info packet last night and I was relieved to see that we have until mid February to get him registered and pay for the trip.

Payday is a week away and I just spent most of the remaining grocery, gasoline and MISC spending money, so the fact that I can now conjure up the remainder once we are flush again was happy news. He was thrilled with the total we currently have and has offered to make up the difference with his allowance. I doubt that will be necessary but I was delighted he offered. He's been saving up for a new DS game that his sister has and I guess they can play in tandem once he gets it. She's so impatient for him to buy it that she's offered to help fund his goal with some of her earnings. My weirdo kids hardly ever fight and really like hanging out with each other. We LOOOOOVE it!

So, happy smiles all around our household today (well last night really) and I'm hoping to send some of this sunshine to all of you!

 

[gracie1]

Another Android user here.

Although it's not so much my personal preference exactly as just that DH teaches University students how to program for Android systems, so those are the devices we have in the house. I like that they are generally cheaper and I've never had any problems with any of our gadgets.

Anyway...

We managed to pull together $40 for DS's skiing field trip by being under budget for the last couple of weeks. He brought home the field trip info packet last night and I was relieved to see that we have until mid February to get him registered and pay for the trip.

Payday is a week away and I just spent most of the remaining grocery, gasoline and MISC spending money, so the fact that I can now conjure up the remainder once we are flush again was happy news. He was thrilled with the total we currently have and has offered to make up the difference with his allowance. I doubt that will be necessary but I was delighted he offered. He's been saving up for a new DS game that his sister has and I guess they can play in tandem once he gets it. She's so impatient for him to buy it that she's offered to help fund his goal with some of her earnings. My weirdo kids hardly ever fight and really like hanging out with each other. We LOOOOOVE it!

So, happy smiles all around our household today (well last night really) and I'm hoping to send some of this sunshine to all of you!

Your doing great sticking to your budget - better yet coming in under budget!! That is sweet that your son offered to use his allowance towards the difference - it really goes to show you that he does want to go on this field trip! It's nice that your kids get along like that! Are they close in age? Me and my one brother are 2 years apart and while we would fight as kids - we were very close! Lol. We still are and still argue - talk about weird!! Lol

 

[stayhomemom77]

Your doing great sticking to your budget - better yet coming in under budget!! That is sweet that your son offered to use his allowance towards the difference - it really goes to show you that he does want to go on this field trip! It's nice that your kids get along like that! Are they close in age? Me and my one brother are 2 years apart and while we would fight as kids - we were very close! Lol. We still are and still argue - talk about weird!! Lol

They are 20 months apart.

And thanks! I've revamped my grocery budget and am changing the way I eat (and to some degree the way the others eat) and shop. It's working really well so far and I'm excited to see how it goes long term.

 

[Dentam]

An iPhone will do everything you want. Camera, pedometer app, target cartwheel (and ibotta, savingstar and shopkick if you don't already know about those). Not cheap but definitely all in one. I have a 6 and love it. I am a very recent smartphone convert, only got it last March.

I've decided to go with this option, probably an iPhone 5 which is a bit cheaper but should still take great pics. Now I just need to figure out the best provider to go with. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I've decided to go with this option, probably an iPhone 5 which is a bit cheaper but should still take great pics. Now I just need to figure out the best provider to go with. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

I have Verizon. I've pretty much been happy with them, but they are pricey. I have a friend who has AT&T and likes them. The only thing I've uniformly heard bad about is Sprint. I've had more than one person tell me (including the friend who now has AT&T) that their service with Sprint was awful with an iPhone. Not sure why. I have internet through them and have always been happy.

 

[Dentam]

I have Verizon. I've pretty much been happy with them, but they are pricey. I have a friend who has AT&T and likes them. The only thing I've uniformly heard bad about is Sprint. I've had more than one person tell me (including the friend who now has AT&T) that their service with Sprint was awful with an iPhone. Not sure why. I have internet through them and have always been happy.

Yeah, I checked Verizon and it is expensive. We have Sprint for our work phones and the service is awful - sometimes the phone won't ring and you'll get a message two days later. This is just on our flip phones. I won't be going with them. I'll check out AT&T next.

 

[Ava]

I have Sprint and it works fine for what I use, which is mostly data & texting. I very rarely make phone calls. Although honestly the main reason I stay with them is that we've been with them forever so are grandfathered in to unlimited data. As far as I know no one offers unlimited data plans any more for new subscribers.

 

[Eureka]

Yeah, I checked Verizon and it is expensive. We have Sprint for our work phones and the service is awful - sometimes the phone won't ring and you'll get a message two days later. This is just on our flip phones. I won't be going with them. I'll check out AT&T next.

We have At&t.

 

[dayvewc]

I have AT&T, 2 lines on a family plan, unlimited talk and text, and 5 gigs data (I think) and it's about $112 after tax per month.

 

[Dentam]

I think I'm going to go with AT&T - $52/month if I buy the phone up front. I'll probably use part of my tax return to do that. I'm going to start with 300MB of data since I don't see myself using that much and see how that works. It looked like that was the least I could get.