Comments on: Back to the Frugal Basics: Building a Budget http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/ Learning about frugality Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Maggie Magpiehttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4608 Maggie Magpie Sat, 02 May 2009 11:45:43 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4608 For the ultimate in budget planning, check out www.youneedabudget.com It takes the basics to the next level through the leverage of their awesome software system. It's now beating out MS Money and Quicken at Amazon. For the ultimate in budget planning, check out http://www.youneedabudget.com It takes the basics to the next level through the leverage of their awesome software system. It’s now beating out MS Money and Quicken at Amazon.

]]> By: Cynthia in Francehttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4369 Cynthia in France Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:28:45 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4369 Thanks for the Pear Budget download. I think I could use something like this. Lord knows I don't have the salary I had in LA here in France and can use all the help I can get. Thanks! Cynthia in France Thanks for the Pear Budget download. I think I could use something like this. Lord knows I don’t have the salary I had in LA here in France and can use all the help I can get. Thanks! Cynthia in France

]]> By: Meeganhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4365 Meegan Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:16:08 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4365 Kelly, Thanks for the great post! I need this nudge to get my budgeting motivation back (again!) and get back on track. I'd better get started on that homework you've set, uh?! Kelly,
Thanks for the great post!
I need this nudge to get my budgeting motivation back (again!) and get back on track.
I’d better get started on that homework you’ve set, uh?!

]]> By: Mrs. Modern Tightwadhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4355 Mrs. Modern Tightwad Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:12:11 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4355 I don't have a budget...I have three. I know, but it works for me, and allows me to play with more spreadsheets. :) I have a monthly spending plan, an emergency spending plan, and a goal msp. (I don't like to use the b-word). I do have a hard time tracking my spending because I have a tendency to change my habits when I know I'm looking over my own shoulder. http://www.moderntightwad.com/2009/04/mt-tip-have-monthly-spending-plan-or-3.html <abbr><em>Mrs. Modern Tightwad´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.moderntightwad.com/2009/04/mt-recipes-mmmmm-tomato-soup.html" rel="nofollow">MT Recipes: Mmmmm, Tomato Soup</a></abbr></em> I don’t have a budget…I have three. I know, but it works for me, and allows me to play with more spreadsheets. :) I have a monthly spending plan, an emergency spending plan, and a goal msp. (I don’t like to use the b-word).

I do have a hard time tracking my spending because I have a tendency to change my habits when I know I’m looking over my own shoulder.

http://www.moderntightwad.com/2009/04/mt-tip-have-monthly-spending-plan-or-3.html

Mrs. Modern Tightwad´s last blog post..MT Recipes: Mmmmm, Tomato Soup

]]> By: Kellyhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4323 Kelly Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:50:41 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4323 @Jessie, I LOVE how you've separated your categories! @Denise, thanks for the well wishes. It really is up to each and every person to figure out what works best for them, because if the system doesn't work for YOU (no matter how well it works for somebody else) then you're not going to use it, which puts you back in the same place as before! @Jessie, I LOVE how you’ve separated your categories!
@Denise, thanks for the well wishes.

It really is up to each and every person to figure out what works best for them, because if the system doesn’t work for YOU (no matter how well it works for somebody else) then you’re not going to use it, which puts you back in the same place as before!

]]> By: Denisehttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4320 Denise Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:32:00 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4320 First- love your blog! Hope you and your family are feeling better! I am actually in the process of putting a budget together. My husband and I are using mint.com (well he is more than me...) We have 2 kids and I am a SAHM. Since we're on one income, we want, er, NEED to see where our money is going. I've looked in several methods of using cash only, which is something I am toying with, especially when it comes time to go grocery shopping. I used to hate the word budget. Now I am smitten with it! First- love your blog! Hope you and your family are feeling better!

I am actually in the process of putting a budget together. My husband and I are using mint.com (well he is more than me…) We have 2 kids and I am a SAHM. Since we’re on one income, we want, er, NEED to see where our money is going.

I’ve looked in several methods of using cash only, which is something I am toying with, especially when it comes time to go grocery shopping.

I used to hate the word budget. Now I am smitten with it!

]]> By: Jessiehttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4319 Jessie Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:23:52 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4319 I also did an excel sheet and use our bank statements - and since my husband and I use our debit cards for EVERYTHING (we use maybe $40 of cash a month) it's super easy to track. I split the budget up into specific categories once I caught on to our spending trends (books/magazines, gas station misc snacks), and then put those into the larger categories of Necessary (fixed needs), Somewhat Necessary (continuing education, website), and Unnecessary (eating out, shopping). This way we can clearly see if our fixed Necessary expenses are staying fixed, and make sure that our Unnecessary items don't get out of hand. I also did an excel sheet and use our bank statements – and since my husband and I use our debit cards for EVERYTHING (we use maybe $40 of cash a month) it’s super easy to track. I split the budget up into specific categories once I caught on to our spending trends (books/magazines, gas station misc snacks), and then put those into the larger categories of Necessary (fixed needs), Somewhat Necessary (continuing education, website), and Unnecessary (eating out, shopping). This way we can clearly see if our fixed Necessary expenses are staying fixed, and make sure that our Unnecessary items don’t get out of hand.

]]> By: Craighttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4318 Craig Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:02:59 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4318 I originally started with an Excel sheet, it's the best way to begin learning how to at least keep track of your budget and what you spend. There are more options now that are very easy and simple for people as well. I originally started with an Excel sheet, it’s the best way to begin learning how to at least keep track of your budget and what you spend. There are more options now that are very easy and simple for people as well.

]]> By: Amandahttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4317 Amanda Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:03:34 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4317 I also use excel to do our budget. I did the same thing when I started mine. I went back two or three months to get an idea or what we had been spending on various items. Honestly, I have tried other software, like Quicken, and found that the spreadsheet is the easiest to deal with, that is, if you know how to set it up to do the calculations. <abbr><em>Amanda´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MommysIdeaBook/~3/XWkOrS6kj3s/" rel="nofollow">How to Stop Procrastination in Its Tracks</a></abbr></em> I also use excel to do our budget. I did the same thing when I started mine. I went back two or three months to get an idea or what we had been spending on various items.

Honestly, I have tried other software, like Quicken, and found that the spreadsheet is the easiest to deal with, that is, if you know how to set it up to do the calculations.

Amanda´s last blog post..How to Stop Procrastination in Its Tracks

]]> By: Nicki at Domestic Centshttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/01/building-a-budget/#comment-4316 Nicki at Domestic Cents Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:52:49 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=1954#comment-4316 We do something very similar. My husband is an "Excel Geek" too and I'm so happy he is. He's got his spreadsheets all linked and the information is so easy for someone like me to look at and understand easily. I love it and it didn't cost us anything! <abbr><em>Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DomesticCents/~3/sRYUgdQTzcc/" rel="nofollow">Find Me At Family Bliss</a></abbr></em> We do something very similar. My husband is an “Excel Geek” too and I’m so happy he is. He’s got his spreadsheets all linked and the information is so easy for someone like me to look at and understand easily. I love it and it didn’t cost us anything!

Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog post..Find Me At Family Bliss

]]>