SLOOOOOOOOOOOW start

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
SLOOOOOOOOOOOW start
5
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 2:11pm

UGH ~ I feel like I've been working so hard to decrease our monthly bills, make a budget and get everything on track so we can start living within our means . . . and the start paying off debt sooner rather than later. But it doesn't seem like it's really making a big difference. Our bills are substantially less this month because we don't have my DD's ballet bill or the oldest 2s preschool bill. We're still LOW on funds. I really don't get it. I've spent less money on everything ~ including at least 50% on our grocery bill (thanks Grocery Game!). We haven't bought extras (except for bedding for the girls' new beds), we haven't eaten out, I paid for everything with cash and within our budget . . . so what gives?

I know it's only been a few weeks and we have ALOT of adjusting to do. I just feel like we'll never get to a better place or a place where we'll even be able to make a $1 snowflake. Please tell me it just takes time. I know it will take ALOT of time to pay off our debt . . . but it would be nice to see some progress.




Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting



Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosting by Photobucket


"Once we discover how to appreciate the timeless values in our daily experiences, we can enjoy the best things in life."

Harry Hepner


Image hosting by Photobucket


Avatar for 2locachicas
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 3:33pm

Cheeky-

It's not really a slow start. You didn't ADD to your debt this month right? So that is a good first month. Didn't you say before that you were living a little out of your means? Well this month you paid cash for everything AND you paid your regular payments...so maybe no snowball but the first month is usually a reality check.

The first month of your budget generally needs tweaking. If you spent within your budget & have little/or no money left that tells you last month you must have been living above your means...I see a snowstorm in your future!

Loca
PS where did you find cute girl bedding? I am on a search for bedding for the bedroom 2 of our girls share...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 3:51pm

Thanks! I know you're right and it's what DH says too. He's actually thrilled with our month from a financial perspective. I think I'm just being high maintenance and need alot of support. It seems like we're the only people IRL that don't spend crazy amounts of money and are truly looking for ways to cut back. KWIM?

We ended up buying the Laura Ashley fairy bedding from TJ Maxx. The comforter sets were $49 and include the comforter, bed skirt and pillow sham. I also bought flat sheets ($10 each) and 2 pillowcases ($13 total). I'm still looking for the fitted sheets but can just use cheap, plain color ones if I can't find the fairy ones. This is a departure for me since I've always used PBK . . . but that's probably part of the reason we're in debt. LOL! Just kidding ~ I did get good deals that made their prices a little more affordable.

If you have a Marshalls or a Homegoods, they also carry some cute, cheaper bedding. My Plan B was to use basic Matellaise covers for the beds. They had them at TJ Maxx for $20 each for the twin size.

HTH ~




Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting



Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosting by Photobucket


"Once we discover how to appreciate the timeless values in our daily experiences, we can enjoy the best things in life."

Harry Hepner


Image hosting by Photobucket


Avatar for 2locachicas
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 4:02pm

That is a GREAT idea!! I have a homegoods right down the way that I always forget about. We kind of did it backwards and let the girls pick their room color before their bedding but it is a color I should be able to work with. We want to make it look extra "precious"(as my girls say) because they have worked really hard this year at school. I probably have the only children on earth that will tell you they go to school to learn and because they made a commitment to their teachers to attend. But that is a lesson we want them to learn early. I am a PBK fan all the way...my friends think I am a snob, I think I am just particular...

I think I will go to homegoods after school. I am hoping to keep it under $100 for both beds and there I probably can. Otherwise I will be by TJ Maxx tomorrow.

you are doing great things. As Dave Ramsey would say-you are changing your family tree! Your kids will see you saving & working towards things and it will change their outlook on $$ and buying. You should have seen the look on our 7yo face when she learned I have to pay for the things we put on our credit card and so she couldn't have it(whatever it was)..so now she doesn't even ask....

Loca

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 05-19-2006 - 10:47pm

April was my first month trying to live on a budget, ever, and I can relate to it being hard to adjust to. So far I have not been doing the envelope system for groceries, entertainment, etc. and in this adjustment period I am figuring out that I really need to do so. If your goal the first few months is just not to add any new debt and make all of your payments on time, then that is still a goal worth shooting for, and it sounds like you accomplished that. Right now I am having a very hard time finding snowflakes also, but I'm hoping that will come in time. Stick with it! You're off to a good start.

Heather

Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Mon, 05-22-2006 - 9:29pm

Hello,


You mentioned staying within your budget this month. I assume that means you made all of your minimum payments and did not add to your debt balance. Congratulations! You are dealing with a little less debt and you didn't spend over your budget. That is a great accomplishment! It took me a few months to tweak our budget so that we could stay within it. It's great that your spouse is interested in staying within the budget too. That makes it so much easier! If you made those minimum payments, your minimum payment for next month *may* be a dollar or two smaller. This is progress and would mean that you have that much of a snowball to apply to your target debt! I know that it seems like you're going at a snail's pace, but slowly and surely wins the race!


Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished