Comments on: Back to the Budgeting Basics http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/ Learning about frugality Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:23:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jerry http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6501 Jerry Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:45:12 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6501 This is so true and your post has ignited a fire and we are going to start our budget again. We have been wasting money on little things. We are now consumer debt free but we've been spending up to what we make each month and not saving. Not good. Our insurance for our future is living consciously and below our means to meet our financial goals. That is the only thing that will lead to real change. Jerry This is so true and your post has ignited a fire and we are going to start our budget again. We have been wasting money on little things. We are now consumer debt free but we’ve been spending up to what we make each month and not saving. Not good. Our insurance for our future is living consciously and below our means to meet our financial goals. That is the only thing that will lead to real change.
Jerry

]]> By: Kelly http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6499 Kelly Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:49:28 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6499 @ Lulu, excellent point! There are two reasons. The first is that the items usually clear my account in a day or two, and the second is that I'm always paranoid about missing something. And then I have a huge pile of receipts sitting on my desk waiting to be entered, which I have to cross reference against the bank statement anyway so that I can make sure I got everything... it just seems easier! @ Lulu, excellent point!

There are two reasons. The first is that the items usually clear my account in a day or two, and the second is that I’m always paranoid about missing something. And then I have a huge pile of receipts sitting on my desk waiting to be entered, which I have to cross reference against the bank statement anyway so that I can make sure I got everything… it just seems easier!

]]> By: Kelly http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6498 Kelly Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:46:18 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6498 Yeah, husbands are usually good sources of geeky toys! Yeah, husbands are usually good sources of geeky toys!

]]> By: Lulu http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6497 Lulu Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:50:30 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6497 Why don't you enter the items in your spreadsheet as you spend them instead of waiting for them to clear in the bank? I enter my receipts as soon as I buy something because I have found that the bank clears items at any old time according to the shade of blue the sky happens to be. By entering as soon as I get home I have an even more accurate picture than the bank does. .-= Lulu´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/lulugal/~3/3gT71xfzxTc/" rel="nofollow">Tracking My Finances In 2009: November Recap</a> =-. Why don’t you enter the items in your spreadsheet as you spend them instead of waiting for them to clear in the bank?

I enter my receipts as soon as I buy something because I have found that the bank clears items at any old time according to the shade of blue the sky happens to be. By entering as soon as I get home I have an even more accurate picture than the bank does.
Lulu´s last blog ..Tracking My Finances In 2009: November Recap My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Aspiring Millionaire @ MyMillionairePlan.com http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6496 Aspiring Millionaire @ MyMillionairePlan.com Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:10:07 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6496 Excellent post. Recently, I wrote about how I budget using Mint.com here: http://www.mymillionaireplan.com/how-to-budget-using-mint-com.html In addition, I got the incredible courage to put my 2010 budget up for everyone to see and give me feedback. http://www.mymillionaireplan.com/my-2010-budget.html What's been amazing is how my readers have been emailing me with suggestions, support, and even disagreeing with items they saw. Keep up the good work. .-= Aspiring Millionaire @ MyMillionairePlan.com´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mymilionaireplan/~3/AWgNSbqfZUA/my-tithe-is-my-top-priority.html" rel="nofollow">My Tithe is My Top Priority</a> =-. Excellent post. Recently, I wrote about how I budget using Mint.com here: http://www.mymillionaireplan.com/how-to-budget-using-mint-com.html

In addition, I got the incredible courage to put my 2010 budget up for everyone to see and give me feedback. http://www.mymillionaireplan.com/my-2010-budget.html

What’s been amazing is how my readers have been emailing me with suggestions, support, and even disagreeing with items they saw.

Keep up the good work.
Aspiring Millionaire @ MyMillionairePlan.com´s last blog ..My Tithe is My Top Priority My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Finavigation http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6494 Finavigation Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:36:42 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6494 These days, there are several sites and mobile apps that can help you with budgeting. Part of the reason it's hard to stick to though, is because being on a budget is more than just forecasting what you're going to spend. It requires discipline, and that's where most people fall short. As mentioned in the post, you get too busy to keep track of the spending, and then the budget goes out the door. Even with all the technology nowadays, I've had success with keeping a somewhat vague budget and using the envelope method. What I mean is that I'll figure out that I tend to overspend on going out (food, drinks, cabs, movies, events, etc). So I'll get an envelope, write "Going Out" on it, put a certain amount of money in there for the month, and then that's all I allow myself to spend on going out. I can spend it on anything that has to do with going out, but when there's no more money, I can't go out anymore until next month. By doing this, I don't have to obsess over the details of how much I spend on what. It forces you to plan, not overdo it, and saves you money. Hope some people find this helpful. :) .-= Finavigation´s last blog ..<a href="http://finavigation.com/making-good-financial-decisions" rel="nofollow">Making Good Financial Decisions</a> =-. These days, there are several sites and mobile apps that can help you with budgeting. Part of the reason it’s hard to stick to though, is because being on a budget is more than just forecasting what you’re going to spend. It requires discipline, and that’s where most people fall short.

As mentioned in the post, you get too busy to keep track of the spending, and then the budget goes out the door. Even with all the technology nowadays, I’ve had success with keeping a somewhat vague budget and using the envelope method.

What I mean is that I’ll figure out that I tend to overspend on going out (food, drinks, cabs, movies, events, etc). So I’ll get an envelope, write “Going Out” on it, put a certain amount of money in there for the month, and then that’s all I allow myself to spend on going out. I can spend it on anything that has to do with going out, but when there’s no more money, I can’t go out anymore until next month.

By doing this, I don’t have to obsess over the details of how much I spend on what. It forces you to plan, not overdo it, and saves you money.

Hope some people find this helpful. :)
Finavigation´s last blog ..Making Good Financial Decisions My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Amy Reads Good Books http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6493 Amy Reads Good Books Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:47:16 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6493 Great post! I have a budget and am usually pretty good about writing everything down. However, last month, I got out of the habit and went about $300 over budget! Eep! This month, I'm re-committing to writing it ALL down! .-= Amy Reads Good Books´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/amyreadscom/~3/XMLzLC64e5A/" rel="nofollow">Teaser Tuesday</a> =-. Great post! I have a budget and am usually pretty good about writing everything down. However, last month, I got out of the habit and went about $300 over budget! Eep! This month, I’m re-committing to writing it ALL down!
Amy Reads Good Books´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Craig http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6492 Craig Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:01:25 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6492 I keep track of my monthly budget with BudgetPulse (Disclosure: Marketing Director) but I do not track specific items on a day to day basis. I don't have the patience and just want to have an overall idea of my spending to make sure its on plan. I keep track of my monthly budget with BudgetPulse (Disclosure: Marketing Director) but I do not track specific items on a day to day basis. I don’t have the patience and just want to have an overall idea of my spending to make sure its on plan.

]]> By: Arlene http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6491 Arlene Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:24:09 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6491 Recently found your blog and am enjoying it very much. Like you, I used to keep a budget. But over the past two months, the husband changed jobs and so did I. So now there's changes in when things get paid, etc. I need to sit down and redo my spreadsheet as well. Good luck with your own spreadsheet! .-= Arlene´s last blog ..<a href="http://littleruthie.blogs.com/my_weblog/2009/11/reading-reading-reading.html" rel="nofollow">Reading reading reading....</a> =-. Recently found your blog and am enjoying it very much.

Like you, I used to keep a budget. But over the past two months, the husband changed jobs and so did I. So now there’s changes in when things get paid, etc. I need to sit down and redo my spreadsheet as well. Good luck with your own spreadsheet!
Arlene´s last blog ..Reading reading reading…. My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Katie http://almostfrugal.com/2009/12/02/back-to-the-budgeting-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-6490 Katie Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:29:24 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=4003#comment-6490 Ugh, this is what I need to do also. I quit maintaining th budget when I stopped working full time. The money is there as I'm spending less but, I forget to pa bills and they are sent in late. I HAVE to get back to the budget. It keeps me on track! Love your blog, I've picked up so many tips and reminders of frugal was I'd forgotten Ugh, this is what I need to do also. I quit maintaining th budget when I stopped working full time. The money is there as I’m spending less but, I forget to pa bills and they are sent in late. I HAVE to get back to the budget. It keeps me on track!
Love your blog, I’ve picked up so many tips and reminders of frugal was I’d forgotten

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