it's weird to recognize a transformation with one's self, but when it comes to money/finances, one definitely happened. i'm not sure when or how or anything, i just know it happened because i see and feel the effects of it every day.
i used to DREAD talking about money, thinking about doing a budget, planning...for me, money = stress. not these days...last spring, i took dave ramsey's "financial peace university" at my church. it was great. it gave me a direction. i was trying to save money but because rent & small bills virtually ate my first-of-the-month paycheck, i was swimming just trying to catch up every single month. then, i made a wise decision. i moved. to an apartment i'd never seen with a floor plan i'd only seen on paper. to an apartment with a rate $150 LESS than what i had chosen previously. to the 3rd smallest floor plan in the community...just barely beyond a studio. but it was worth it.
in the past 6 months, although i can't show it to you on a bank statement, i've saved money, diverted it to other places, changed the way i handle money, think about budgeting, and all things money-related in general. since november 2013, these are ways i've saved money:
- $150 per month for rent
- $175 per month for car payment
- $60 per month by dropping cable
- $30 per month by dropping internet (effective 5/7!)
- $10+ per month by turning off my hvac system at the beginning of april & even though temps are reaching 90, i am NOT turning on the a/c until i absolutely cannot stand it any longer -- hopefully not for another month!) AND trying to remember to only turn on lights when i need them & turning them off when i don't to save energy
- $50 per week on groceries -- i used to drop $100 a week sometimes on groceries. i still drink soda, but i only buy when they're on special & then i stock up. i'm trying to limit to 2 rounds a month while also trying to wean myself off it completely; i also meal plan and try to buy only what i need for the week. sometimes grocery bills are higher - like this past week. i went to the store on saturday on bought paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, soda, etc. and spent $50 and then went back on sunday and spent $100. that's the most i've spent on groceries in a week in a REALLY long time. but, because i haven't, a splurge once in awhile isn't going to break the bank. :)
- when i cook more, i eat out less.
for may:
- switching back to the envelope system for gas, groceries, fun money. i've estimated $400 for the rest of the month
- in april, i dropped cable. yesterday, i dropped internet. so come june, no payment to Czar TWC! which means, i'll save $90/month by cancelling both.
- make a hefty payment on either account. i prefer to do the interest-earning one, but the zero interest on the other account ends in october. if i make this payment on that account, i'd only need one more payment and it would be paid off 4 months "early". then, my car insurance will be due in july & i'm hoping to have my tax refund by then to pay that in full. THEN, i can really tackle the interest-earing account. my goal is to be interest-earning debt free by the end of 2014...which actually seems like a realistic, doable goal!
if you're reading this and money also stresses you out, you'll get through it. learn from your mistakes, seek counsel from a financial guru like dave ramsey, learn to budget and watch where your money is going. i keep a record book (a large checkbook, if you will) and check it every/every other day to make sure everything is in tip-top-shape and to adjust my daily budget if necessary. there is hope, but you have to be willing to work for it.
