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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
it's only the 17th and I am SHOCKED by the amount of money I spend - even when I am trying NOT to spend money
I highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to make cut backs
in the last 10 days- I spent $150 at Wal-mart in 3 trips! some stuff was for my office- maybe $40 worth- but still!
I also had birthdays and graduation this month- so I think I will do another month just to compare-
but this is very eye opening
I just made a simple excel sheet and every time I spend money I imput it for the week- then total each week
I also coded what I spent- like FS- Food Shopping - since I budget money for that
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Posted 6/17/09 9:31 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LightUpOurLife
Totally in love
Member since 8/06 12785 total posts
Name:
Bonnie-Jean
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I did this when I was first laid off so that DH and I could figure out what we needed to do. It was a real eye opener for the both of us.
I let the cleaning lady go since I was going to be home. I started cooking a lot more and going out a lot less. I tried to do bagged lunches for DH, but that didn't last long.
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:38 AM |
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kristin597
Mama!
Member since 8/08 1688 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I keep saying that I am going to do this because every month I think to myself, where did my money go?
I think I will try it for July.
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:38 AM |
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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
the hole in my budget is eating out. i was never really taught to cook and, honestly, i dont' like it
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:46 AM |
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by libby2595
the hole in my budget is eating out. i was never really taught to cook and, honestly, i dont' like it
Crockpot! Seriously, it is sooo easy. You just throw in your meat and veggies, and some liquid and dinner is ready when you get home.
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:48 AM |
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
And Beth, this is a great idea! It's hard to know where all your money goes each month, or at least for us. There are always these little purchases and they definitely add up.
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:49 AM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by glinda-goodwitch
Posted by libby2595
the hole in my budget is eating out. i was never really taught to cook and, honestly, i dont' like it
Crockpot! Seriously, it is sooo easy. You just throw in your meat and veggies, and some liquid and dinner is ready when you get home.
do you have a trader joe's by you?
they have these meals in bag- so easy to make
and even my picky boyfriend loves them
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:52 AM |
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I have to do this because my AMEX bill is out of control the last 4 months and it can't be like this anymore.
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| Posted 6/17/09 9:56 AM |
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MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!
Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
Name:
MJ
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by libby2595
the hole in my budget is eating out. i was never really taught to cook and, honestly, i dont' like it
eating out will KILL your budget! you should definitely check out easy crockpot recipes to start -- or starter cookbooks to learn.
this time of year the bbq can be your best friend! i think for one month you should try and NOT eat out even one time...no take out either...and just try and buy groceries and cook -- even if its just throwing some meat on the grill and a side salad....not only will you save $$ but you can even lose weight doing this because eating out so much packs in the calories like crazy.
i bet you'd just about fall over when you see how much you save. 
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:01 AM |
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JenMarie
One day at a time
Member since 11/07 7397 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Isn't it nuts to see what you spend? I did this for us a while back and it made me sick. It really puts things into perspective.
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:04 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I use quicken for this. Quite the eye opener. I got completely off credit cards doing this.
I am now the coupon comparison queen.
I even have DH doing this.
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:26 AM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I am already over budget by $80- and the month is a little more then 1/2 over
now granted it was my boyfriends bday last weekend and I spent extra $$$$ - but things like that come up and I want to be prepared in the future
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:27 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by Beth
I am already over budget by $80- and the month is a little more then 1/2 over
now granted it was my boyfriends bday last weekend and I spent extra $$$$ - but things like that come up and I want to be prepared in the future
I hear ya. Medical stuff ate all of our reserve this month. I have great insurance and between co-pays and medication co-pays it really added up. There was an extra $725 this month that I couldn't have seen coming.
Message edited 6/17/2009 10:34:09 AM.
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:30 AM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
Name:
baby fish mouth
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
The spring months seem to ALWAYS be more expensive for me gift-wise.
Every year, DH & I have at least 2-3 weddings, 2 bridal showers AND at least one baby shower...
My siblings and all the grandchildren in our immediate family, with the exception of deal lala,) are all in April-May-June, DH & DS included.
Add on Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Inlaws anniversary....
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| Posted 6/17/09 10:37 AM |
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MikesCutie
May 26, 2007
Member since 12/07 1478 total posts
Name:
Marianne
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by HeathKernandez
The spring months seem to ALWAYS be more expensive for me gift-wise.
Every year, DH & I have at least 2-3 weddings, 2 bridal showers AND at least one baby shower...
My siblings and all the grandchildren in our immediate family, with the exception of deal lala,) are all in April-May-June, DH & DS included.
Add on Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Inlaws anniversary....
Me too. We have so many birthdays during that same period. It kind of kills me. But I was able to save some this year and set a limit on some gifts.
December also kills me because DH's birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas.
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:07 AM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
My biggest budget downfall is food! At one point we had playdates 4-5x a week, and we almost always go for lunch before/after. It was insane the amount I was spending.
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:12 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
This is why I love credit cards. It automatically keeps a tally of everything I spend, so I can see where it goes. When I have cash, it seems to just slip through a hole in my pocket....
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:15 AM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by GoldenRod
This is why I love credit cards. It automatically keeps a tally of everything I spend, so I can see where it goes. When I have cash, it seems to just slip through a hole in my pocket....
I am sooooooo the opposite
if I spend cash- I spend so much less
(by cash I also mean my debit card)
when I used Amex- I would charge a way thinking I had 30 days to pay for this!
the $150 I spent at Walmart this month- would have been $300 if I charged it- I would have bought all kinds of stuff I didn't need
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:21 AM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
Name:
baby fish mouth
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by GoldenRod
This is why I love credit cards. It automatically keeps a tally of everything I spend, so I can see where it goes. When I have cash, it seems to just slip through a hole in my pocket....
that's me... Whenever I have cash on me, i don't keep track of where it goes..
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:23 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
3 years ago when I first left my job I did this. It was shocking.
Then we went on a 2 month challange, no eating out at all...and writing every grocery trip on the calendar with amount spent.
since then, we really haven't been out to eat people at all. its amazing what can be saved
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:25 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by Beth
Posted by GoldenRod
This is why I love credit cards. It automatically keeps a tally of everything I spend, so I can see where it goes. When I have cash, it seems to just slip through a hole in my pocket....
I am sooooooo the opposite
if I spend cash- I spend so much less
(by cash I also mean my debit card)
when I used Amex- I would charge a way thinking I had 30 days to pay for this!
the $150 I spent at Walmart this month- would have been $300 if I charged it- I would have bought all kinds of stuff I didn't need
I always look at things as "If I put this on my card, I have to pay it off, or I'll be paying interest, so I'd better be real careful about what I put on the card." With cash, I look at it as "I won't pay interest on this, since it's cash, so I can buy whatever I want..."
In the end, whichever method allows you to keep spending under control is a good method.... 
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:38 AM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
I did that a few years ago. It really made me think twice about buying something because I didn't like seeing my category spending creep up.
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| Posted 6/17/09 11:49 AM |
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MrsB-07
proud RELAXIVIST
Member since 11/07 2027 total posts
Name:
b
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
yeah... i was spending something ridiculous (like close to $100 a month) on stupid coffee trips or grabbing myself a choc bar or magazine a couple times a week.
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| Posted 6/17/09 12:04 PM |
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TheLorax
LOVE
Member since 2/06 5581 total posts
Name:
Suzanne / SuzBride
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
Posted by GoldenRod
This is why I love credit cards. It automatically keeps a tally of everything I spend, so I can see where it goes. When I have cash, it seems to just slip through a hole in my pocket....
me too! Whenever I have cash, it seems to burn a hole in my pocket!
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| Posted 6/17/09 12:14 PM |
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Re: Wow- I am writing down everything I spend this month
It really is an eye opener!! I once asked Kevin where his cash goes since I hardly spend mine and he wrote it down for the week, it was interesting to see. I've been thinking about doing it again for the month.
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| Posted 6/17/09 12:35 PM |
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