I don't get it, not even a little bit.

[dawnball]

I'm not content living that way that's why I've tried so many different things. I imagine that this is what chronic dieters go through, where they try a bunch of different things to varying degrees of success and in the end they have so many different strategies build into this frankenstein monster of attempted success and ultimately can't make the system run in unison to a desired result.

Any advice at all is welcome

It is very, very, very much like dieting. And just like successful dieting, the key is to learn to consume less than you earn without really thinking about it. How people do that is very personal.

The whole 50/30/20 thing, where you have less than 50% of your money committed at the beginning of the month is really based on that concept, that you're spending that money without feeling like you get anything for it.

So, you have a spreadsheet with everything you spend money on. What's the low-hanging fruit? Do you have a big cable package where you don't watch most of the channels? Do you have a big cell package and not use all your minutes? Do you really need a land line and a cell phone? Do you eat out a lot? Do you have a storage unit full of stuff that you haven't visited in a year?

Cut those things out and keep cutting until you run out of things you would consider "relatively easy" to give up. Take 80% of the money you were spending on them and transfer it every month or week (as soon as you get paid) into a savings account. The other 20% is your mad money - and you can splurge on any of those things that you cut that you really miss in any given month.

Stop buying things because "it's a good deal" and unless you want some poligrip, take that back to the store. In fact, everything non-essential that you buy - put in a designated location for a day or three, then look at it again. Is it really exactly what you wanted? Does it fit just right? Did you pay too much for it? Is it going to cost you money in other ways? A great dress on sale isn't so much of a good deal if you need to buy new shoes too, or have it altered, or a bra that doesn't show, or... If you've changed your mind - take it back. My last shopping trip, almost 50% went back the next day. I have an order in the mail, and I think that 80% of it will go back. Taking things back is money directly into your pocket.

Sell/Donate/Give-away everything that you own that you don't want. It sounds bizzare, but of all the things I did to stop spending random money, this worked the best. I -like- living with less stuff in my house, and everything I bring home needs a place to live. I'm moving into a small apartment in a high cost-of-living area, so I have a known metric. "Do I love that $30/square foot?" There's not much that I love $30/square foot.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I also recommend the You need a budget software. For years, I did my budget on an Excel
Spreadsheet but it wasn't until I checked out the YNAB website and software that we finally have a budget that works for us and I wished we had gotten the software sooner. Definitely check out the website and software. Totally worth the money for the software IMO.

I had never heard about You Need a Budget until it was mentioned on this thread. I have been using the Dave Ramsey principles for the last few months, and it was a great start for us.

I looked at the YNAB website, and spent some time on the forums. There's a seven day free trial of the software, so I downloaded it and played around with it without any risk. I'll definitely be purchasing the software, and I have to thank those of you that mentioned it!

OP - you've really gotten some great advice on this thread, and I hope you've found some inspiration to get started!

 

[vicki_c]

I had never heard about You Need a Budget until it was mentioned on this thread. I have been using the Dave Ramsey principles for the last few months, and it was a great start for us.

I looked at the YNAB website, and spent some time on the forums. There's a seven day free trial of the software, so I downloaded it and played around with it without any risk. I'll definitely be purchasing the software, and I have to thank those of you that mentioned it!

OP - you've really gotten some great advice on this thread, and I hope you've found some inspiration to get started!

That's great - they are really nice people there too - Jesse, the software developer and the others that work there. They have some great webinars - definitely take advantage of those, they are very helpful for understanding their methods and the software.

 

[Jay2009]

I didn't want anyone to think that I abandoned this post after getting a lot of good information. I received my copy of Dave Ramsey yesterday and am reading away hoping to get this started asap. I think I'm a little late for the May no buy, but will research it to see exactly what it is and hopefully join in in june.

 

[MrsPete]

Better yet, look in your closet.

I think a lot of times you do the smartest thing by asking yourself do I really need this at all and can I make do with what I already own, rather than can I save a few bucks on it. I know I've bought many things that were bargains that I really did not need at all.

I'll take a mid-way, moderate point on this:

Most of us adults DON'T need more clothes. We may want something more trendy or just want to go shopping, or we may want something for a special occasion, but most of us could probably go a year or more without buying even a pair of socks -- and it wouldn't be a real problem.

On the other hand, from a reasonable standpoint, you can take this too far. I did once. After my second child was born, the weight didn't fall off like it did with my first, and two things held me back from buying clothes: 1) We were broke -- we suddenly went from paying no day care to paying for two, and it hurt! and 2) I was determined that WHEN I bought some clothes, they'd be in my old size.

Well, a year or three went by, and I bought basically nothing. Then suddenly one day I realized that EVERYTHING I had was worn out and ratty looking. I didn't have many work-appropriate outfits that fit, so I was wearing them constantly, and the cumulative effects of so much washing and wearing showed. I genuinely NEEDED lots of new clothes ALL AT ONCE. I had worked myself into a bad situation, and with two small kids I wasn't really in a position to spend a whole lot on myself. And going around looking slovenly showed in how I felt about myself too; my kids always looked great, but I didn't.

Now I try to buy smarter. I try to buy two new outfits every spring and two new outfits every fall. This isn't "too much" to spend at any one time, but it's enough to replenish my closet so that I won't find myself -- again -- genuinely in need of clothes RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Sure, I still have things that're worn out (I really do have to have new black boots before school starts next fall, or I won't be able to wear a bunch of my outfits), but I have plenty that's in good condition.

 

[vicki_c]

Mrs. Pete - that is actually very good advice and really hits home with me. Due to gaining weight and changing from working in an office to at home, I have not bought anything new for myself in more than 2-3 years except for some clothes I needed for vacation! Whenever I have to go into the office, I look @ my clothes and think, didn't I wear that last time I went?

So my story doesn't really add to the thread, but I just wanted to say that your post hit home!