I want mah $$$ back
I've been reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover this month. Timely, since we had to dip heavily into savings for Isadora's three cavities and Dan's bad tooth. Then Time Warner started gouging us on the cable. We haven't even had the cable that long (less than a year!). When we signed up, our rate was supposed to be good for a year. But about 4 months in, we started getting these crappy letters saying it was going up for various reasons. Each time, Dan would call and negotiate it back down. Next month, same shit, different day. We got fed up. Finally he called in a really bad mood and threatened to cancel. The lady he spoke with would not budge, either, and we set up cancellation. Then another rep called back and gave us the old rate.
But we're still pissed, and have spent the last of September hatching our escape plan. We have to have internet for WFH and also the phone. We have a cell, but it's a throwaway and we pay for a hunk of minutes every couple of months. We don't want to go on a cell "plan." So Dan purchased some equipment to use Google Voice with our phone line. So far we've tested it on a few calls and it works OK. I have a new home number so email/FB/whatever if you need it! Cell is still the same though.
With the internet phone and lack of cable, we will save from $40 to $60 per month depending on the Time Warner going rate.
We are also trying out some new budgeting tricks for groceries and stuff. We are BAD at grocery shopping and eating out. If I go to the store hungry, I will buy way more crap than we need. We're going to try using cash and getting out exactly what things should cost before we go. Less impulse buying.
If we stick to this plan, we should be able to pay our car insurance for the next 6 months (due in October) *without* dipping into the savings. And after that we will be putting money back into savings.
I prepaid a trip for April and saved $200 by doing that, too.
Also, I was about to plunk down $30 to $40 on yarn for two baby gifts, and I went through my stash and found some yarn that I think will work for each.
I like the Ramsey idea of a "zero budget" where you account for every dollar (even if it's to send it to savings, or designate it for entertainment or food) instead of being vague. We have budgeted in the past and tried to budget under what I make, and that little gap that was supposed to be leftover ended up missing. Getting eaten, most likely. Or I'd spend it and Dan would spend it and oopsie, each of us thought it was still available. Even if we decide to say he and I can both spend X on whatever, at least it's a set amount, and this way it has to come from somewhere.
More ideas for future checks: claim all 3 of us instead of just 2 on my taxes, because why the fuck do I want to lend the gubmint money every year if I could stash it myself?
I may do that to offset the cost next year of going back on the higher-end dental plan. OMG we learned our lesson there! I am just happy the health insurance did not go up by as much as I feared.
To start this plan off, today I have to call and get my CC balance from the dental payments we made. I will transfer enough from savings to cover that, plus the cash stuff to be paid out in October. Then the goal will be to make it last until we pay bills with my October check.
We'll see how this works.
But we're still pissed, and have spent the last of September hatching our escape plan. We have to have internet for WFH and also the phone. We have a cell, but it's a throwaway and we pay for a hunk of minutes every couple of months. We don't want to go on a cell "plan." So Dan purchased some equipment to use Google Voice with our phone line. So far we've tested it on a few calls and it works OK. I have a new home number so email/FB/whatever if you need it! Cell is still the same though.
With the internet phone and lack of cable, we will save from $40 to $60 per month depending on the Time Warner going rate.
We are also trying out some new budgeting tricks for groceries and stuff. We are BAD at grocery shopping and eating out. If I go to the store hungry, I will buy way more crap than we need. We're going to try using cash and getting out exactly what things should cost before we go. Less impulse buying.
If we stick to this plan, we should be able to pay our car insurance for the next 6 months (due in October) *without* dipping into the savings. And after that we will be putting money back into savings.
I prepaid a trip for April and saved $200 by doing that, too.
Also, I was about to plunk down $30 to $40 on yarn for two baby gifts, and I went through my stash and found some yarn that I think will work for each.
I like the Ramsey idea of a "zero budget" where you account for every dollar (even if it's to send it to savings, or designate it for entertainment or food) instead of being vague. We have budgeted in the past and tried to budget under what I make, and that little gap that was supposed to be leftover ended up missing. Getting eaten, most likely. Or I'd spend it and Dan would spend it and oopsie, each of us thought it was still available. Even if we decide to say he and I can both spend X on whatever, at least it's a set amount, and this way it has to come from somewhere.
More ideas for future checks: claim all 3 of us instead of just 2 on my taxes, because why the fuck do I want to lend the gubmint money every year if I could stash it myself?
I may do that to offset the cost next year of going back on the higher-end dental plan. OMG we learned our lesson there! I am just happy the health insurance did not go up by as much as I feared.
To start this plan off, today I have to call and get my CC balance from the dental payments we made. I will transfer enough from savings to cover that, plus the cash stuff to be paid out in October. Then the goal will be to make it last until we pay bills with my October check.
We'll see how this works.