NDRU said:

I think the point is to minimize debts and monthly payments as much as possible.

When I realized I was broke, and managed my money badly, I simplified everything by not having cable, land line, internet, or utilities (gas & water included in my rent). Having so few bills made it easier to get on top of my budget.

Minimizing all my expenses was actually a way for me to not even have to make a budget for many years. Whatever was left at the end of the month was just a bonus and usually went into the savings account. It didn't occur to me that a lot of people match up their expenses with their income and if they end up having more income than expenses, they simply increase their expenses and make it a constant zero sum game.

These days I'm more likely to indulge so my new way of reining in spending is to focus on a few types of things that I really enjoy and spend close to nothing on everything else. I also compare the product or service to what it should reasonably be worth. If it has a good price-worth ratio, I go for it. If it doesn't, I don't go for it even if I like it and can afford it.

Ultimately I think I have a bit of a fear of getting dependent on a certain standard of living and feeling like anything less than that is a disappointment. It's better to be pleasantly surprised every once in a while.

retina said:

NDRU said:

I think the point is to minimize debts and monthly payments as much as possible.

When I realized I was broke, and managed my money badly, I simplified everything by not having cable, land line, internet, or utilities (gas & water included in my rent). Having so few bills made it easier to get on top of my budget.

Minimizing all my expenses was actually a way for me to not even have to make a budget for many years. Whatever was left at the end of the month was just a bonus and usually went into the savings account. It didn't occur to me that a lot of people match up their expenses with their income and if they end up having more income than expenses, they simply increase their expenses and make it a constant zero sum game.

These days I'm more likely to indulge so my new way of reining in spending is to focus on a few types of things that I really enjoy and spend close to nothing on everything else. I also compare the product or service to what it should reasonably be worth. If it has a good price-worth ratio, I go for it. If it doesn't, I don't go for it even if I like it and can afford it.

Ultimately I think I have a bit of a fear of getting dependent on a certain standard of living and feeling like anything less than that is a disappointment. It's better to be pleasantly surprised every once in a while.

damn, where you been?!

yeah I have been guilty of the zero sum game. But worse than that, when I had to many bill to track I lost count and missed payments. Minimizing helped me know that there are only 3 or so bills I pay--phone, credit card, car insurance

Online banking helped a lot, too, for paying them all at once and not having to use checks.

once I got a handle it became easier to live within my means and even start saving

NDRU said:

retina said:

Minimizing all my expenses was actually a way for me to not even have to make a budget for many years. Whatever was left at the end of the month was just a bonus and usually went into the savings account. It didn't occur to me that a lot of people match up their expenses with their income and if they end up having more income than expenses, they simply increase their expenses and make it a constant zero sum game.

These days I'm more likely to indulge so my new way of reining in spending is to focus on a few types of things that I really enjoy and spend close to nothing on everything else. I also compare the product or service to what it should reasonably be worth. If it has a good price-worth ratio, I go for it. If it doesn't, I don't go for it even if I like it and can afford it.

Ultimately I think I have a bit of a fear of getting dependent on a certain standard of living and feeling like anything less than that is a disappointment. It's better to be pleasantly surprised every once in a while.

damn, where you been?!

yeah I have been guilty of the zero sum game. But worse than that, when I had to many bill to track I lost count and missed payments. Minimizing helped me know that there are only 3 or so bills I pay--phone, credit card, car insurance

Online banking helped a lot, too, for paying them all at once and not having to use checks.

once I got a handle it became easier to live within my means and even start saving

I just haven't felt like getting on the org. And then when I figured I'd take a peek, the first thread title I saw was "ManBearPig does exist! (Now NSFW)". Some things never change, lol.

This time around I spotted an interesting thread title and saw your name as the last poster and since you're usually guilty of writing interesting stuff I decided to add my two cents. Hope you're doing well?

As for online banking, I agree that it's great. You can easily keep track of everything and I've even set up automatic monthly payments for a few fixed and recurring bills such as rent. As long as there's money in the account, it's pretty much worry-free. That's quite the statement coming from a retro techno-phobe like myself.

retina said:

NDRU said:

damn, where you been?!

yeah I have been guilty of the zero sum game. But worse than that, when I had to many bill to track I lost count and missed payments. Minimizing helped me know that there are only 3 or so bills I pay--phone, credit card, car insurance

Online banking helped a lot, too, for paying them all at once and not having to use checks.

once I got a handle it became easier to live within my means and even start saving

I just haven't felt like getting on the org. And then when I figured I'd take a peek, the first thread title I saw was "ManBearPig does exist! (Now NSFW)". Some things never change, lol.

This time around I spotted an interesting thread title and saw your name as the last poster and since you're usually guilty of writing interesting stuff I decided to add my two cents. Hope you're doing well?

As for online banking, I agree that it's great. You can easily keep track of everything and I've even set up automatic monthly payments for a few fixed and recurring bills such as rent. As long as there's money in the account, it's pretty much worry-free. That's quite the statement coming from a retro techno-phobe like myself.

not much more in this world more interesting than budget talk!

NDRU said:

retina said:

I just haven't felt like getting on the org. And then when I figured I'd take a peek, the first thread title I saw was "ManBearPig does exist! (Now NSFW)". Some things never change, lol.

This time around I spotted an interesting thread title and saw your name as the last poster and since you're usually guilty of writing interesting stuff I decided to add my two cents. Hope you're doing well?

As for online banking, I agree that it's great. You can easily keep track of everything and I've even set up automatic monthly payments for a few fixed and recurring bills such as rent. As long as there's money in the account, it's pretty much worry-free. That's quite the statement coming from a retro techno-phobe like myself.

not much more in this world more interesting than budget talk!

I honestly find it infinitely more interesting than "True Blood 3.3 Episode 27 It Hurts Me To" or "Former Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham's 2-year-old son Dies in Hot Tub Accident". I guess I'm weird that way.

it took us years to get out of the financial toilet after a business failure.....

i recently got a letter from the bank saying i was behind in a car payment.... (it wasnt even a 1/4 of the monthly payment...error on my behalf ). I rang the bank the same day i got the letter and they have now waived my late payment fee...because of the excellent way i have conducted that a/c

medical bills are the pits...i have a lot of little pharmacy bills, that all add up...have organised a payment plan with one, and told the other that i havent forgotten about it, but i will pay when i can....

im sick of the weekly arguements over money....last week i wrote down everything that i had paid from our wages that week, and asked hubby where could i cut back?...he shut up then!!

rent/food/utilities/clothes on back (for rugrat, i havent had new stuff for, like, ever!!) are the most important....everything else gets in line...and if not paid on due date..is usually done within 2 weeks of date...or i get pro active and call them before they call me...

Most important is, if you enter a payment plan...stick to it!! if for whatever reason you cant stick to it, you need to be pro active, and re-organise....this will stop the calls from occuring.

Goodluck!!!

retina said:

NDRU said:

not much more in this world more interesting than budget talk!

I honestly find it infinitely more interesting than "True Blood 3.3 Episode 27 It Hurts Me To" or "Former Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham's 2-year-old son Dies in Hot Tub Accident". I guess I'm weird that way.

a bit more relevant to our lives, maybe