January 6th, 2008
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! :shrug7: I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! :shrug7: I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.
Road Trip
Posted 01-20-2009 at 05:55:14 AM by kmmmom
I am approaching today with guarded optimism. My youngest son is a senior in high school. Today we are headed to Alabama to check out a school that has offered him a full scholarship. I know that i's a fantastic opportunity for him to go to college for free, but, it's 8 hours from our home. This is the child who would not stay overnight at summer camp even though his older siblings were there with him. He is a homebody. He is beginning to get excited about the possiblities of college. We honestly just didn't expect him to not live at home. There are several decent schools that are within driving range or at least within weekend visits home. I'm not really sure where this visit will leave us.
However, there is one thing that could be good or bad. My son and I will be in a car together for 8 hours both ways. He and I don't always see eye to eye. He is headstrong. (I have no idea where he gets that from) He is very techy, I am to say the least not. He is "into" Guitar Hero and Gaia online and World of Warcraft and The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. I am not. He is 16, enough said there. But, he is witty and intelligent and knowledgable about many, many things. He loves art and music. He loves reading and learning. I think it's going to be a very, very interesting trip.
So, for now, I am off. We will learn a lot in the next couple of days. There is nothing like a road trip.
However, there is one thing that could be good or bad. My son and I will be in a car together for 8 hours both ways. He and I don't always see eye to eye. He is headstrong. (I have no idea where he gets that from) He is very techy, I am to say the least not. He is "into" Guitar Hero and Gaia online and World of Warcraft and The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. I am not. He is 16, enough said there. But, he is witty and intelligent and knowledgable about many, many things. He loves art and music. He loves reading and learning. I think it's going to be a very, very interesting trip.
So, for now, I am off. We will learn a lot in the next couple of days. There is nothing like a road trip.
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