Debt Dumpers 2025

[Gr8t Fan]

I've been thinking about what I'd like to accomplish this year and am finally ready to put it in writing:

Financial Goals:

• Continue to cash flow college for our youngest (and final college student!).
• Max out our IRA contributions for the year.
• Continue to save for a "new" used car but hopefully keep the three that we have in safe, running condition with the help of our trusted mechanic.

Physical Goals:

• Continue to declutter. Hoping to go room by room soon to get rid of more unnecessary items. Along the same line, resist the urge to buy "things" because they will add to the clutter.
• Read at least 50 books.
• Prepare an "in case of death" folder so DH and the kids aren't lost if something happens to me.
• Continue to walk as much as possible as the weather allows.

I'll add more as things come up, but I think this is a good start.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

[afan]

Some good news to begin 2025. And just 2 days in. Many know I've had difficulty getting DW on board with saving and budgeting. Today she texted me saying she wanted to do a weekly envelope system to save some money (the type where you do $2 the first week, $4 the next week, etc up to 52 weeks). I am completely shocked that I got that text from her. So we're going to start that, even though I didn't have envelopes as part of my monthly budget I prepped for January.

You could use paper and paperclip, it doesn't have to be envelopes.

Also, don't feel you have to go in order. If you have more cash one week to a higher number and leave the low number for a week when things are tight.

I use this idea but just transfer it to my savings each week when I get paid. I also go backwards, but when I started it that made more sense for me. When I got to 24 I combined it with 1 and do 25 a week until I finish and then I start at 52 again wherever I am in the year.

 

[barkley]

Some good news to begin 2025. And just 2 days in. Many know I've had difficulty getting DW on board with saving and budgeting. Today she texted me saying she wanted to do a weekly envelope system to save some money (the type where you do $2 the first week, $4 the next week, etc up to 52 weeks). I am completely shocked that I got that text from her. So we're going to start that, even though I didn't have envelopes as part of my monthly budget I prepped for January.

got a spare sandwich baggie? start with it and write 1,2,3...as you fill for each week. a jar you are about to toss? clean and dry it-use a sharpie to track weeks on the side. no need to spend money to save it.

CONGRATS!

 

[Tygerlilly]

Got the keys and signed off on the apartment on the 31st. Saturday I'll start making trips down to her house and back up with whatever I can bring. Our babysitter has covid, so my plans for hubby helping me with the big stuff Sunday have had a wrench thrown in it. I'm just going to do all I can with what I have and Monday I can sort out what's left.
I got a notice she was getting a 2% increase on her SS payments. I think it works out to about a $94 increase, which isn't amazing, but it's *something* at least.

Hubby has been having issues with his drive to work vehicle. At this point it's starting to be costly to "get it going" again. We have a 3rd vehicle, a truck, that we had bought from my friend before we got the yukon to help with moving things. The truck needs about $800 worth of fixes (all typical things that need done after sitting for a couple years), so we've decided to go ahead and sell the Kia as-is for whatever we can get for it and put the money from that towards fixing the truck. Plus then we can stop paying the insurance on a 3rd vehicle and save money there.

 

[barkley]

Got the keys and signed off on the apartment on the 31st. Saturday I'll start making trips down to her house and back up with whatever I can bring. Our babysitter has covid, so my plans for hubby helping me with the big stuff Sunday have had a wrench thrown in it. I'm just going to do all I can with what I have and Monday I can sort out what's left.
I got a notice she was getting a 2% increase on her SS payments. I think it works out to about a $94 increase, which isn't amazing, but it's *something* at least.

Hubby has been having issues with his drive to work vehicle. At this point it's starting to be costly to "get it going" again. We have a 3rd vehicle, a truck, that we had bought from my friend before we got the yukon to help with moving things. The truck needs about $800 worth of fixes (all typical things that need done after sitting for a couple years), so we've decided to go ahead and sell the Kia as-is for whatever we can get for it and put the money from that towards fixing the truck. Plus then we can stop paying the insurance on a 3rd vehicle and save money there.

call your insurance company first and ask what the premiums will be going from 3 to 2-we had an increase in ours b/c we lost a 'multi car discount' (we would have been better off keeping it and paying the registration each year vs. the increase in premiums).

 

[Bellex917]

2025 is a banger so far... flat tire AND my glass shower door shattered. The door is going to be very $$ I'm sure... Not a great start to increasing my savings!! As I mentioned my H is laid off right now too sooooo not great timing. It'll be ok, and when I look back on this post at the end of the year it'll be a distant memory, but for now it's so annoying.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Thanks. She found a binder thingy on Amazon she's going to buy with spots to put the cash in each week. So she's going to start there.

got a spare sandwich baggie? start with it and write 1,2,3...as you fill for each week. a jar you are about to toss? clean and dry it-use a sharpie to track weeks on the side. no need to spend money to save it.

CONGRATS!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks. She found a binder thingy on Amazon she's going to buy with spots to put the cash in each week. So she's going to start there.

I don't get it. What is the goal for the envelopes? Is this to kickstart a mini emergency fund?

 

[Tygerlilly]

I don't get it. What is the goal for the envelopes? Is this to kickstart a mini emergency fund?

I use mine as just a fun savings challenge. I'm planning to use the funds from that for our big trip this fall (if I get it filled by then).

 

[bababear_50]

just sharing
print a copy
put it inside a large baggie

52 week saving challenge

Free to download and print here
https://www.thehousewifemodern.com/blog/free-printable-52-week-money-challenge/

Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

This year I am buying 1 Disney gift card per month.
This way my DVC Dues will be covered ahead of time.





This was my 2024 Christmas time saving challenge
it worked well for me.

 

[princesscinderella]

This year I am buying 1 Disney gift card per month.
This way my DVC Dues will be covered ahead of time.
View attachment 926052

View attachment 926053


This was my 2024 Christmas time saving challenge
it worked well for me.
View attachment 926054

They won’t let you pay your DVC dues with gift cards anymore if you are on auto pay. It has to be a big enough amount to pay off the whole contract’s dues at once. I used to apply my Disney Visa card bonus cash that way throughout the year and it’s no longer allowed since I’m in auto pay.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

2025 is a banger so far... flat tire AND my glass shower door shattered. The door is going to be very $$ I'm sure... Not a great start to increasing my savings!! As I mentioned my H is laid off right now too sooooo not great timing. It'll be ok, and when I look back on this post at the end of the year it'll be a distant memory, but for now it's so annoying.

Can you put up a tension rod and shower curtain as a temporary fix? It may buy you some time.

 

[firefly_ris]

I don't get it. What is the goal for the envelopes? Is this to kickstart a mini emergency fund?

Maybe, but I think either way he should lean into it, since it sounds like the very first glimmer from her end on anything resembling budgeting or interest in it. Hopefully once she sees any kind of accumulative effect, she will be more on board with the rest of it and start being a partner in financial success, and perhaps learn how many other ways their money can work for them instead of the other way around.

 

[bababear_50]

They won’t let you pay your DVC dues with gift cards anymore if you are on auto pay. It has to be a big enough amount to pay off the whole contract’s dues at once. I used to apply my Disney Visa card bonus cash that way throughout the year and it’s no longer allowed since I’m in auto pay.

Hi
I just make one yearly dues payment using the total amount collected via my total amount collected on my Disney Gift card account. I am not on Auto Pay.
Yeah it is unfortunate for those on Auto Pay.

Hugs Mel

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

2025 is a banger so far... flat tire AND my glass shower door shattered. The door is going to be very $$ I'm sure... Not a great start to increasing my savings!! As I mentioned my H is laid off right now too sooooo not great timing. It'll be ok, and when I look back on this post at the end of the year it'll be a distant memory, but for now it's so annoying.

Is it still under warranty? Unless it received some kind of direct hit, it shouldn't just shatter.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

You can do it as a fun savings challenge for something coming up (i.e. Christmas, vacation, whatever) or you can use it to start an EF. Whatever you choose. It's just a fun way to save money.

I use mine as just a fun savings challenge. I'm planning to use the funds from that for our big trip this fall (if I get it filled by then).

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

That's the exact one we're using. She went on Amazon last night and ordered the notebook thingy she wants to use that has the envelopes. Will be tough once we got to the middle of the year then to the end of the year.

just sharing
print a copy
put it inside a large baggie

52 week saving challenge
View attachment 926050
Free to download and print here
https://www.thehousewifemodern.com/blog/free-printable-52-week-money-challenge/

Hugs Mel

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That's the exact one we're using. She went on Amazon last night and ordered the notebook thingy she wants to use that has the envelopes. Will be tough once we got to the middle of the year then to the end of the year.

It all gets easier the longer you do it. Once you see progress, it’s very motivating to keep living more and more below your means to be able to see even more progress.

I had to laugh at myself the first time I was excited to pay bills on payday.

 

[afan]

I had to laugh at myself the first time I was excited to pay bills on payday

I try and always say I get to pay bills today vs I have to pay bills today. Which I did this morning as I always do since I get paid weekly.