Debt Dumpers 2024

[afan]

I use one of these on my desk.
https://www.staples.com/2025-staples-22-x-17-desk-pad-calendar-black-st12951-25/product_24580501

I'd be so lost without one. It was one of the first things I grabbed from our house when the tree fell on it and we had to spend 7+ weeks in a hotel. Budgeting is all in Word though.
I can't have digital calendars because I need a visual reminder. As if the 79 reminders in my phone are not enough.

I find writing things down makes me remember more than if I type it in. I also like crossing things off or checking a box that it's done. Just not as satisfying to do it on a computer or my phone.

 

[Nettlelondon]

I have always maintained to do lists. When I was working my first task of the day was to set up the day's to do list with the things that really had to be done that day. This involved reviewing the master list to see what, if anything, from there might be able to be added to the day's list.

I stopped working a few years ago and the last 2 years have been complete chaos with breast cancer treatment. That is now over (hopefully) and I have started getting back to normal and I have returned to having the two lists so one of my Christmas presents from DH is a beautiful, sparkly, big, page-a-day diary to become my rolling to do list for the new year.

I love the sparkles!

 

[barkley]

I use one of these on my desk.
https://www.staples.com/2025-staples-22-x-17-desk-pad-calendar-black-st12951-25/product_24580501

I'd be so lost without one. It was one of the first things I grabbed from our house when the tree fell on it and we had to spend 7+ weeks in a hotel. Budgeting is all in Word though.
I can't have digital calendars because I need a visual reminder. As if the 79 reminders in my phone are not enough.

I cut the bottom portion off one of the months's pages on that type of calendar and have it tacked to my bulletin board above my little desk in my 'claw-ffice' (the small desk/office area in my master closet ). so I end up with a small year at a glance just above eye level. I use post it page flags to to mark months with reminders of upcoming things that I don't need on my regular calendar-kind of a running 'to-do' list (Sirius renewal, estimated tax payment months, subscription renewals, when to scheduale HVAC/generator yearly servicing...)-it's my quick 'year at a glance'.

 

[piglet1979]

We just use a shared google calendar. WIth 4 of us and only 2 cars, everything has to be on the calendar so we know who gets a car and when. We also use Google Keep for any lists that we need. This can also be shared so the kids can add what they want from the store as well. My son puts his birthday and Christmas list on one too. We also use it to organize and plan things as well. DH is in IT so this is the best way to keep us all together.

When I was in the office every day though, I had a desk calendar (one of the big ones) that I hung up on the wall next to me that I would transfer everything on the calendar to. Since I am only in the office once a week, I stopped doing that.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have always maintained to do lists. When I was working my first task of the day was to set up the day's to do list with the things that really had to be done that day. This involved reviewing the master list to see what, if anything, from there might be able to be added to the day's list.

I stopped working a few years ago and the last 2 years have been complete chaos with breast cancer treatment. That is now over (hopefully) and I have started getting back to normal and I have returned to having the two lists so one of my Christmas presents from DH is a beautiful, sparkly, big, page-a-day diary to become my rolling to do list for the new year.

I love the sparkles!

Sending you wishes for good health in the future and hoping that all of your treatments soon become a distant memory.
My mom was a 25-year survivor. She has passed away but from lung disease, not cancer.

My sister is a 13 year survivor. My aunt is a 20+ year survivor.
I recently heard one of our breast imaging radiologists tell a pt that if it’s detected early, Stage 1, the cure rate is over 99%. That is not always possible but they have made huge advances in the 25 years I’ve been working in mammography.

 

[disney-inspired]

I don't need new planner stuff. I don't need new planner stuff. I don't need new planner stuff.

I know I should just unsubscribe to all the emails and text messages, but I do like seeing what's new. But maaaaaan are they coming in hard this week. Which is wonderful timing () since I'm currently setting up my planner and budget books for next year and I keep thinking I'd love to have some new stickers for them. But I don't *need* them. And a big goal of mine is to not buy things I don't need in 2025.

I have learned my lesson with planners: I've always wanted to be a planner person. I am NOT a planner person. I start off strong but end up not using it by March. I'm a single person with a very predictable routine so never find them useful.

The one thing I have used ALL year is my budget mom budget by paycheck workbook. As 2025 approaches, I wanted to get a smaller version but didn't see it available online. It's a massive book! So I decided to buy the digital copy and will be printing it at home. I don't use all the pages in the workbook either so will be printing the ones I do use and putting them in a 1 inch 3 ring binder. Much more compact!

 

[Tygerlilly]

I have learned my lesson with planners: I've always wanted to be a planner person. I am NOT a planner person. I start off strong but end up not using it by March. I'm a single person with a very predictable routine so never find them useful.

The one thing I have used ALL year is my budget mom budget by paycheck workbook. As 2025 approaches, I wanted to get a smaller version but didn't see it available online. It's a massive book! So I decided to buy the digital copy and will be printing it at home. I don't use all the pages in the workbook either so will be printing the ones I do use and putting them in a 1 inch 3 ring binder. Much more compact!

View attachment 919683

I have that as well and love it! I print mine down to happy planner size and punch it and add them into my planner. I also just got the new savings challenge book to start with her in the private group in January. I love TBM so much.

2025 is going to be a continuation of our financial overhaul and kicking it slightly into higher gear while also cash flowing as many trips as we can.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Sending you wishes for good health in the future and hoping that all of your treatments soon become a distant memory.
My mom was a 25-year survivor. She has passed away but from lung disease, not cancer.

My sister is a 13 year survivor. My aunt is a 20+ year survivor.
I recently heard one of our breast imaging radiologists tell a pt that if it’s detected early, Stage 1, the cure rate is over 99%. That is not always possible but they have made huge advances in the 25 years I’ve been working in mammography.

Thanks for the good wishes.

I was stage 2 when found (due to the size - it hadn't spread to my lymph nodes which was great news).

I am an unusual case as I am triple negative which historically has a lower survival rate than most others but 6 weeks before I was diagnosed a new immunotherapy drug was licensed which should tip the scales in my favour. It doubled the length of active treatment and I have been experiencing "delayed side effects" ever since I finished the drugs but I figure that means it is doing something to my body, so hopefully along with the bad stuff some good changes are happening.

I am taking part in a clinical trial (I ended up in the control group so just got the drug I was going to have, not the newer stuff) - but this means I get seen regularly in one of the top teaching hospitals in London for the next 10 years. Seems like a good thing to me.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Spent a couple hours last night finishing up getting my budget binder, personal binder, and savings challenge binders ready to go for January. I know the next couple weeks are going to be busy so I wanted to have them ready to go for the new year.

We're going to start sitting down on Friday mornings before hubby goes to work and make a meal plan for the next week. I want each kid to pick a meal for dinner and then they will get to help make that meal. I want to do all our grocery shopping on Sunday's. And dedicate 1 day a month to going into the bigger city to do Sam's club/Trader Joe's.

This upcoming year we are also making a vision board for where we want to be in 1, 3, and 5 years and setting realistic goals to make that happen.

Anyone else getting things set and ready for next year?



Also, I got an email today that YouTube TV is going up in price by $10 again. If it wasn't for the fact that we are big sports watchers I'd cancel it, but I don't know what other options there are for live sports.

 

[pblack]

I got that same email from YouTube tv and am so annoyed by it lol. Even though I guess I should have expected it with everything going up in price. I really need to look into getting my internet bill lower. We have very few internet options where I'm at though so we're kinda stuck with comcast and they're both stupidly expensive and have crappy service half the time.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I've never heard of budget binders and savings challenge binders. Would you mind DMing me kind of what they are and how you use them? I've been doing a budget, but I'm always looking for better ideas on how to budget, envelop, etc.

Spent a couple hours last night finishing up getting my budget binder, personal binder, and savings challenge binders ready to go for January. I know the next couple weeks are going to be busy so I wanted to have them ready to go for the new year.

We're going to start sitting down on Friday mornings before hubby goes to work and make a meal plan for the next week. I want each kid to pick a meal for dinner and then they will get to help make that meal. I want to do all our grocery shopping on Sunday's. And dedicate 1 day a month to going into the bigger city to do Sam's club/Trader Joe's.

This upcoming year we are also making a vision board for where we want to be in 1, 3, and 5 years and setting realistic goals to make that happen.

Anyone else getting things set and ready for next year?



Also, I got an email today that YouTube TV is going up in price by $10 again. If it wasn't for the fact that we are big sports watchers I'd cancel it, but I don't know what other options there are for live sports.

 

[Bellex917]

I've never heard of budget binders and savings challenge binders. Would you mind DMing me kind of what they are and how you use them? I've been doing a budget, but I'm always looking for better ideas on how to budget, envelop, etc.

So that wasn't meant for me, but if you Google "Saving challenge printables free" you'll find a bunch! I've used vacation ones, emergency fund ones, general savings accounts, etc. They are cute and motivating bc you get to color in little boxes as you reach goals. My only suggestion is DON'T pay for them- there are tons for free online!

 

[Tygerlilly]

I've never heard of budget binders and savings challenge binders. Would you mind DMing me kind of what they are and how you use them? I've been doing a budget, but I'm always looking for better ideas on how to budget, envelop, etc.

Basically what she said above. My budget binder is exactly that: a binder where I keep my budget planner, sinking fund lists, debt payoff information, credit score tracker, yearly overview, etc. Most of those are free printables I got off the Budget Mom website.
The savings challenge binders I actally have 2 of. One has my 100 envelope challenge (basically I numbered little pocket folder things 1-100 and you put the amount of cash in each pocket, so $1 in #1, $2 in #2, up to 100). The other one I purchased the Budget Mom's savings challenge book as a fun way to do the challenges with other people because you're part of a private Facebook group by buying it. It's not needed, but it's more fun when other people are doing it too.

Here's a couple pics of what I have set up.

Hope that helps some.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Thank you for the help. I just downloaded and printed off several documents. The easy part is done. Now comes the hard part of making it all make sense and making sure DW is on board (that's been the toughest through all of this). But I hope now we can fully get our budget on track. I've been using Excel sheets the last few months, and that's helped to know exactly what we have to pay and when and thus how much "extra" we have for eating out, shopping, ball games, trips, etc. Thank you for the help here with this.

Basically what she said above. My budget binder is exactly that: a binder where I keep my budget planner, sinking fund lists, debt payoff information, credit score tracker, yearly overview, etc. Most of those are free printables I got off the Budget Mom website.
The savings challenge binders I actally have 2 of. One has my 100 envelope challenge (basically I numbered little pocket folder things 1-100 and you put the amount of cash in each pocket, so $1 in #1, $2 in #2, up to 100). The other one I purchased the Budget Mom's savings challenge book as a fun way to do the challenges with other people because you're part of a private Facebook group by buying it. It's not needed, but it's more fun when other people are doing it too.

Here's a couple pics of what I have set up.View attachment 920164View attachment 920165View attachment 920166View attachment 920163

Hope that helps some.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Thank you for the help. I just downloaded and printed off several documents. The easy part is done. Now comes the hard part of making it all make sense and making sure DW is on board (that's been the toughest through all of this). But I hope now we can fully get our budget on track. I've been using Excel sheets the last few months, and that's helped to know exactly what we have to pay and when and thus how much "extra" we have for eating out, shopping, ball games, trips, etc. Thank you for the help here with this.

I'm a big fan of sinking funds as well. Things that are yearly expenses: zoo membership, car insurance (we can pay the 6 month premium in one shot), etc I take the amount owed and divide by either 12 or 6 to get how much per month to save. That way I'm not having to do the chunk at once.
The same goes for birthdays, holidays, events, vacations... I know every year I expect to spend about $300 per kid on their birthday (gifts, decor, food, venue if needed), so I add $25 per month to their envelope. Christmas I want to bump up to $1,000 this year so I'll add $83 per month to that one.

We are planning vacations this year and I'll make a rough estimate on how much it will cost, divide by how many months I have until each one, and that's how much I add to that envelope. That way I when I use the credit card to pay for the hotel, I can pay it off immediately when we get home.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Thanks. I wasn't sure what a sinking fund was. But I did look it up to understand it better. Ours would be like car repairs and medical bills/doctors visits, although those might be more suited for the emergency fund category, and vehicle registration, stuff like that. We don't really celebrate birthdays, and we don't buy gifts for Christmas. We simply get together, eat, play games and hang out. Also, our insurance comes out monthly for 12 months. So that's figured into the monthly budget. But I appreciate your help with everything.

I'm a big fan of sinking funds as well. Things that are yearly expenses: zoo membership, car insurance (we can pay the 6 month premium in one shot), etc I take the amount owed and divide by either 12 or 6 to get how much per month to save. That way I'm not having to do the chunk at once.
The same goes for birthdays, holidays, events, vacations... I know every year I expect to spend about $300 per kid on their birthday (gifts, decor, food, venue if needed), so I add $25 per month to their envelope. Christmas I want to bump up to $1,000 this year so I'll add $83 per month to that one.

We are planning vacations this year and I'll make a rough estimate on how much it will cost, divide by how many months I have until each one, and that's how much I add to that envelope. That way I when I use the credit card to pay for the hotel, I can pay it off immediately when we get home.

 

[afan]

Thanks. I wasn't sure what a sinking fund was. But I did look it up to understand it better. Ours would be like car repairs and medical bills/doctors visits, although those might be more suited for the emergency fund category, and vehicle registration, stuff like that. We don't really celebrate birthdays, and we don't buy gifts for Christmas. We simply get together, eat, play games and hang out. Also, our insurance comes out monthly for 12 months. So that's figured into the monthly budget. But I appreciate your help with everything.

For now relying on an emergency fund as you build it and pay off debt, but these are things to save for once you're able to.

If you're able to save some each month towards potential car repairs, oil changes etc it's helpful. I save monthly towards my car ins, registration and eventual repairs etc. This was a huge help when my car ins went up for my Jan renewal. I switched companies to get it down to a 200ish increase for the year instead of 450 but it's still a hit. And that's with a clean record for over 20 years. I'm aware it didn't go up due to me but all the accidents etc.

But I have a cushion and don't need to adjust what I'm saving monthly to still have the cushion and absorb the increase.

I'll add, that I have my budget, if I get a raise next year, whatever I get will go to savings and/or I'll increase my 401k contributions. When I paid off my student loan the amount I had been paying didn't go into my needs it went into various savings buckets because I've been living without it for so long and I didn't need it.

For those paying down debt it's something to figure out as we end the year and get to tax refund time. Potential added money for debt or savings rather than fun.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Yea, my plan is to get everything figured out over the next 2 weeks. That means getting any of our late payments up to date, getting dates figured out for when stuff is due (not for when it'll be cut off or I'll get charged late payment fees, etc), what exactly we need to be paying and get it all sorted out. That way when Jan. 1 hits, our budget rolls out. It's hard to start mid-month, especially when you're paying behind on some things (electric, internet/TV mainly). So that's my goal.

For those paying down debt it's something to figure out as we end the year and get to tax refund time. Potential added money for debt or savings rather than fun.

 

[comicguy]

Yea, my plan is to get everything figured out over the next 2 weeks. That means getting any of our late payments up to date, getting dates figured out for when stuff is due (not for when it'll be cut off or I'll get charged late payment fees, etc), what exactly we need to be paying and get it all sorted out. That way when Jan. 1 hits, our budget rolls out. It's hard to start mid-month, especially when you're paying behind on some things (electric, internet/TV mainly). So that's my goal.

You are doing well, I have seen such a change in your attitude towars budgeting and spending in a positive way! Keep up the good work. It is hard but will be worth it in the end.

Also, I am a big fan of sinking funds

 

[Nettlelondon]

Yea, my plan is to get everything figured out over the next 2 weeks. That means getting any of our late payments up to date, getting dates figured out for when stuff is due (not for when it'll be cut off or I'll get charged late payment fees, etc), what exactly we need to be paying and get it all sorted out. That way when Jan. 1 hits, our budget rolls out. It's hard to start mid-month, especially when you're paying behind on some things (electric, internet/TV mainly). So that's my goal.

You should be proud of the progress you have made, and the fact that you even think you could start trying to plan a budget is such an improvement on where you were. Well done.