Do you "carry it with you"

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2005
Do you "carry it with you"
6
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 9:59am

Just curious if anyone else does this as we’re all focused on debt reduction…

I have a binder with printouts of spreadsheets, bills due, list of goals, disk with the spreadsheets on it, coupon organizer, lists, etc. Every dang day I carry this binder with me. It’s in my tote that goes with me daily so if I go to either of my jobs I carry it and then if an opportunity arises during the day for me to go over it I will. I update the spreadsheets, play with the numbers, check balances, add to lists, etc. I mess with this thing daily at work and at home.

One of my goals for the New Year is going to be to “not carry it with me”. Not only is a pain in the butt to lug it I really get myself down somedays focusing on it too much and stressing myself out beyond belief. It’s going to be hard to break this habit as I have carried this around with me for a couple of years now. My plan it to clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen and make it a debt/mini office drawer and I can go over it at home each night.

Anyone else carry it with them?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 10:31am

I carry a computer disk with me that details out what I owe, and my expected pay for the 9 years. (Yes I've planned out ahead that far) By then end of that I will completely out of debt and have 1 years worth of emergency fund saved.

It's by no means a perfect plan but it helps me plan and see where I'll be in the next few years. It's helping me keep focused on paying down my debt right now. I'll pry keep carrying it with me mainly because it keeps me focused. Once I get my debt paid down, I'll probably stop though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 11:18am
I have a notebook with all of my balances and plans for the bills i plan to pay each pay period, and i can carry it with me, but i usually do not. The reason is that i generally pay what i can pay each payday, and i track things in Money. In this way, i basically devote two-three days per month to take care of all of my financial matters, and this is enough for me. My balances don't change daily, so i don't feel the need to check them often. I do write down in my book what i owe at the end of each month, and add it all up. i do download my checking account transactions daily, but that can change daily :)
Heather
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 6:57pm


I don't carry my Quicken info with me or have it on a home computer. My Dh keeps it on his own laptop that he carries with him. I input the information, balance the accounts, and then he carries that information around with him so he can look at it anytime he wants. We've done this since my debt secrets came out last December. I like it, though, because if I had the Quicken program at home, I'd be spending way too much time working with it and stressing over it.

I do, though, carry my budget (list of bills due, amounts, and money that I expect to have left over) for each paycheck through the end of January...so that's four weeks worth of paychecks right now. And every time I make a purchase with my debit card or checkbook, I record it, and then I sit in my car with my budget sheet and calculator and figure out how the numbers change. I know how much money I have available down to the penny. I've been doing this since I had my overdraft experience in July. It just makes me comfy and calm to know that I'm not going to get one of those little overdraft notices in my mailbox.

Pat

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 7:11pm

I don't "carry it with me", per se, though I do have a copy of the same spreadsheet on both my home computer and my work one. It's a list of income minus expenses equals X type thing. When I change or update something, I email a copy to the other computer (never even thought of putting it on a disc - duh!).

I like it though because it keeps me accountable. it doesn't depress me to look at it, because it actually helps me stay on track. I need a spending plan laid out including everything from regular bills to spending money for shampoo. It keeps me from overspending and ending up short (ie; falling back on the cc).











Powered by CGISpy.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 12:14am

I have everything in Excel and I don't carry anything around with me, but I do look at it almost every day and

Photobucket

Avatar for siriele
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2003
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 4:42am
I save all these reciepts from the unsecured debt and credit cards. Two credit cards which I would like to get rid of. DH doent know about them of course but I better get rid of them quick before I do some serios damage. I hit some outlet stores today with my SIL now i'm just racked with guilt and all sorts of emotions. I realize that my debt has alot to do with my weight. I lost 25 lb's and havent reached my goal weight yet. I feel like im "replacing" eating with shopping and spending. I just want to stay home and curl up with a book. My relatives and friends think that having fun means spending and going to the mall. Everytime I talk with them it's like I bought this and I bougt that and blah blah blah. Also I have three kids and they watch tv and want everything they see. I hate being cold in the winter and my so called friend sells mary kay and tupperware. My other so called friend sells avon. I went to shul and my so called friends were running a book fair and a gift shop and had a fundraiser shop a thon at Bloomies to raise money. Why does everything and everyone have to be about shopping. And everyone assumes I have money when I just have such a serios problem with money. Iris