Part of the reason I got so carried away with these scenarios is it reflects where I am financially right now. Sometimes it helps you figure out your own situation if you advise a hypothetical stranger. It’s been a while since I laid my budget out bare for the public, so here goes.

Let’s start with my current assetsChecking/EF: $1822.04 ( Read more... )

I was most active on this blog back when I was maintaining an apartment with roommates, and to a degree, that makes sense. There are a lot more financial issues to think about when you’re running a household ( Read more... )

I'm going to pick on Linda Tirado author of Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America one last time before I move on. The article I'm referencing is an book excerpt on Slate, but I'll quote the part I want to focus on in this post.

"And let’s also talk about the ways in which money advice is geared only toward people who actually have money in ( Read more... )

I have a bit of a love/hate thing going with the Suze Orman show.  I do like some of her philosophies, and I think she's great with the more complicated investment questions.  One thing I don't like about her is her "budgets are like diets, they don't work" mantra, because it's not true.  If you stick to a healthy diet, you'll lose weight.  If you ( Read more... )

I read this article by JD Samson the other day I Love My Job, But It Made Me Poorer While her career seems to be going well, she's in an industry which even in the best of times is a constant roller coaster of uncertainty.  If you read the article, it may jump out to you that trying to "keep up" with those around you is always problematic.  There's ( Read more... )

I've often found that the more complicated people try to make their budgets, the worse they are with money.  There are exceptions to this I'm sure, but I feel better about my finances when I can keep them simple.  Sometimes you have to forget things like that and relearn them.  I've been stressing for months over how to handle my new(ish) Short ( Read more... )

I'm a little embarrassed I didn't post my budget during the months of September to December/current.  I had to cut my salary for a few months due to not getting a new baby to watch as quickly as I had hoped and having my full timer switch to part time.  I went into survival mode.  I cut my spending money down to $5/week, and bills must be paid so ( Read more... )

I'm being optimistic that I'll find another child or two to keep in the near future.  If not, the savings portion of my budget may be redirected to keeping my business afloat until I do.  However, I felt the time had come to work up a fresh monthly budget since I added the new insurance and have my EF.  I only had 5 personal goals for the year, and ( Read more... )

Crazy week, but finally the/a solution.  I don't advise rigid adherence to the $20/week idea.  It's intended to be an average not a prison.   Generally, with an empty pantry I'd spend a little extra up front so you could stock up on more seasonings and take advantage of bulk dried good prices, and average out the cost over a month.  Perhaps ( Read more... )

Here's the scenario:  You just moved into an apartment near my neighborhood.  You've only got $20 in your pocket, and that's all you have until your paycheck next week.  You're also carless, and Kroger is the only grocery store in walking distance.  You currently have an empty pantry.  You also happen to have my age, height, and activity stats.  I' ( Read more... )