Do you budget? - Page 3 - The Finance Forums: Financial planning, debt help, loans, mortgages, retirement and 401k, investment, and general finance discussion forums

DJDizzy1 · #21 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 02:03 AM

I'm trying to budget. I used Quicken to create a billminder program and a daily expenses/ budget plan. I really haven't stuck to it yet. For buying groceries I live in the conuntry I grow a lot of my own produce and save money that way. But when I do have extra cash (very rarely) I tend to splurge.

triumph · #22 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 04:50 AM

I am really bad at budgeting. I have a general idea of what I can and can not spend, but as for writing it out and sticking to it by the penny, that is probably never going to happen with me.

sweet_mayhem · #23 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 04:39 AM

i have to agree with most of you. we all know for sure that budgeting makes a financial life better, then again it's really easier said than done. it takes a great amount of discipline. that's why i applaud those people who fare well in budgeting their money without anyone checking on them or knowing if they do stick to their budget or not.

Plumley · #24 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 10:10 PM

I'm not very organized and I've been wanting to get better control of my finances. I love the suggestion of keeping track of all expenditures in a notebook for a while. Keeping a food diary is fantastic for understanding how you eat. A money diary has to work just as well for spending. Great suggestion!

metrogirl · #25 (**permalink**) 10-14-2006, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelkat

Keep a list of everything that you spend for atleast one full month. This will not only let you set a realistic budget, but it will help you see where your money goes.

When you make your budget, start with the must pays (morgage, utilites, savings). I think that savings is a must pay, even if you start small. Then spread out into the needs, wants, and desires (eating out, entertainment, gas, etc). In the end, you have to make your out put meet your income and sometimes you have to sacrifice to do it. NEVER sacrifice the must have's first.

kelkat,

I think this is an excellent idea. I have tried this once, and did not make it through the whole month, due to my own laziness! but, even though I only made it through roughly 3 weeks, it sure did send me a "wake up call" on my spending.

I think when I kept track of EVERYTHING, I could see where little purchases were eating up my money, and many of them were SO unnecessary! It did really help!

Go Easy,
metrogirl

kelkat · #26 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006, 12:48 AM

If you give yourself a cash allowance for little things (sodas, snacks, impulse buys) then you limit how much you can spend.

You have to budget to get anywhere with your finances, though.

bangfor · #27 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 06:39 PM

Considering what goes on around us, the commercialism, the ads, easy credits and of course, our needs that have to be under a leash for the most part, budgeting will introduce some kind of a strict guideline to follow. The point here is not strictly following the budget introduced at the beginning, but at least some effort will have to be there to spend according to the budget, and eventually for those who really want to stick it out there is a payoff. There will be enough to put aside, let alone to make it from month to month.

katharina · #28 (**permalink**) 10-26-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelkat

One, making a grocery list and sticking to it will help cut your spending dramatically. I go a step further and plan a menu so I use what I have in my pantry and frig BEFORE I go shopping for more stuff. It's amazing how much we store!

Very true. I looked through some of my stash last night and was surprised at the amount of things I doubled up on, and even tripled... buying something when I already had some.

katharina · #29 (**permalink**) 10-26-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilOne1989

I used to have to go almost 20 miles by bus to get organic beef until the local store started to carry it, but it is so expensive $6 a pound for ground beef that really wasn't that good.

It used to be like this for me, too... but then my local supermarket started carrying the organic beef. Surprisingly, it wasn't much more than regular... something like $3.69 a pound so it was worth it to me.

kelkat · #30 (**permalink**) 10-29-2006, 02:48 AM

I've pushed my budget even further. Now I have several registers. At the first of the month (when I get paid) I subtract grocery, gas, and insurance from the main account. Then, when the time comes, if the money is available I can use it - and I have a total of just what is available. It's a kind of modified "envelope system".