Anybody else put their monthly budget on paper?

[dusted72]

I just recently started writing my budget down since I have the extra time to do so. I have revised my August budget probably 5 times in the last week trying to make my money work better for me. So my question is does anybody else do this? I know some of you can't predict how much you will make each month but mine is usually the same every month and I will find out the exact amount by the 23rd of the month prior. I get paid on the 1st of every month.

 

[abodyjoe]

we went and saw a financial planner earlier in the year... we have a thick three ring binder of our income,savings, plans for the future... its crazy to see it all on paper in front of you. some of the stuff he advised is common sense but sometimes you need someone to point it out to you. other things i didn't know and will be helpful..

 

[OneOfMany]

My wife handles the home budget, me the business. Funny how I can handle the corporate finances just fine, but if I did the home budget I'd be eating cold Ramen noodles in the dark, and wouldn't be worrying about collectors calling.. because the phone company would have cut me off lol..

Grant

 

[dusted72]

Yeah I have an uncle who is really smart and good with money that coaches me through most of my financial decisions. He gives outside opinions about the long term effects of a purchase such as car payments and stuff of that nature.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If I didn't have a written budget, I would lose my mind.

 

[daredevil]

I finally got it thru the wifes head we need one. She's been out of work and her unemployment has run out so I,m really sweating the mortgage. Got to have a budget so we don't overspend on groceries and come up short. God forbid someone gets sick with no insurance. I feel like I,m one step away from living under a bridge. I try to think like I have money but I really don't.

 

[LJS30]

Yes we do the same thing. My wife laid out our entire budget on an excel spread sheet so we know exactly where we stand. The only pain for us right now is damn Chase who keeps making "adjustments" to our payments for their own advantage. You have to constantly make adjustments to keep things accurate.

 

[hemitheus]

My wife handles the home budget, me the business. Funny how I can handle the corporate finances just fine, but if I did the home budget I'd be eating cold Ramen noodles in the dark, and wouldn't be worrying about collectors calling.. because the phone company would have cut me off lol..

Grant

Same thing in my household

 

[oneway71]

Used too......not enough available to bother anymore...

 

[RustyRatRod]

I know what you mean. I feel the same way about us. I have had to sell off everything I have been working on for a long time. all I have left are the two main things I am working on now and the future looks bleak for them.

 

[BrianT]

We use Quicken on our desktop computer. It syncs with our bank every night and then I accept any charges and deposits into Quicken. It tracks income and spending and has all sorts of charts and graphs to show where our money goes. I was surprised at first to find out where we were pissing our money away (dining) and it let me make changes in our lifestyle. It has actually been rewarding because I can see the amount that we are saving now vs. before.

 

[dustermaniac]

we use quicken on our desktop computer. It syncs with our bank every night and then i accept any charges and deposits into quicken. It tracks income and spending and has all sorts of charts and graphs to show where our money goes. I was surprised at first to find out where we were pissing our money away (dining) and it let me make changes in our lifestyle. It has actually been rewarding because i can see the amount that we are saving now vs. Before.

x2

 

[OneOfMany]

Either take care of it yourself, or you'll get the jars lol..

 

[64X2]

I gave up on one, after my wife lost her job and they cut my hours at work and my mortgage company that rapes me every month....there is nothing to budget...

 

[dusted72]

Hey 64X2 where in Kentucky you live? I spent my entire life in the Kentucky Lake/LBL area just east of Paducah about 20 minutes.

 

[MoparMuscleGuy]

What budget? :toothy7: I do believe it is a good idea to watch your spending. I don't think I wanna know how much my wife and I blow every month. Life is good and we enjoy every dayccasion: MMG

 

[64X2]

I am in Louisville..... We have friend down in Cadiz..

Hey 64X2 where in Kentucky you live? I spent my entire life in the Kentucky Lake/LBL area just east of Paducah about 20 minutes.

 

[dodgedifferent2]

I write mine down monthly.

I make my loan payments (custody fight) automatic. As soon as my pay cheque hits the bank its divided into smaller accounts. Everything is paid automatically so nothing is forgotten. I get the leftovers. Which is not much since gas prices are so high *sigh*

 

[kursplat]

dave ramsey

drink the kool aid

 

[DFX 340 Duster]

I have been budgeting my money since 1979. That was the year my Dad had his accident that put him in a coma for 6 1/2 years. I was elected to be his financial representative by my siblings and I had to keep two sets of ledger books: one to account for his money and the other to show where my money went so that I would not be accused of embezzlement of his funds. After he died, I kept the practice of making out a budget and it has served me well since then.

I made my own Excel spreadsheet long ago and stopped using a written ledger. Fifteen years ago I cut up the last of my credit cards and since 10 years ago the only debt I have is the mortgage on my house.

Making a budget is a good practice that is very effective when one is disciplined enough to keep to the budget.

My two Mopar project cars are the result of budgeting the money for their purchase and repair/restoration.

 

[magnumdust]

I don't write mine down, but I keep mental notes and have a general idea of how much money i have per month to spend on my cars,food,etc,etc.

Its so much nicer when everything is planned.

 

[BrianT]

dave ramsey

drink the kool aid

"Live like no other, so that you can live like no other" I interpret that to mean not to get caught up in all of the materialistic commercialism and instant gratification that is today's society. Save your money now, and later you'll be able to pay cash for the things that you want.

BTW my household carries ZERO revolving or installment debt other than our mortgage.

 

[dusterny]

My wife tracks every dime we spend in fact there is a budget line called Duster. She knows every dime spent on that also. She doesn't like it when I sell parts or buy stuff off the books so to speak. She lets my buy most anything I want like garage door opener and air conditioner for garage for next summer but wants to track it all.

 

[dusted72]

I am the same way, my wife doesn't care that I spent money on something she just wants to know about it to put in the budget so she knows how much we have left.