https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com SAHM just trying to make ends meet. info@savingadvice.com Lisa en-us https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2008/07/20/week-ending-july-19th_41328/ Can you say really BAD week? Way too much money spent this week. I had to pull out the main debit card to pay for everything instead of using our discretionary fund debit card. <br /> <br /> Gifts - $56<br /> Eating Out - $188<br /> Sports - $35<br /> Groceries - $131<br /> <br /> Total - $410<br /> <br /> Discretionary funding... Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:07:05 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2008/07/14/week-ending-712_41123/ This week was a little better We're getting used to the idea of spending only what's in the checking account and not pulling out the credit card automatically. <br /> <br /> Eating Out - $46<br /> Groceries - $70<br /> Golf - $14<br /> Gifts - $35<br /> <br /> Total - $165<br /> <br /> My plan is to keep our spending under... Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:36:30 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2008/07/06/week-of-july-5th_40890/ We went over our budget slightly. I'm trying to budget $200/week for all discretionary expenses ($200 X 4 = $800 and is lumped together under food). <br /> <br /> Clothes - $59<br /> Groceries - $92<br /> Eating Out - $118<br /> <br /> Total - $269<br /> <br /> DH had to buy a pair of softball shoes out of the blue. <br /> <br /> Groceries... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:10:42 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2008/07/02/july-2_40776/ Younger DS and I both have colds. He was running a fever and and a tummy ache yesterday. I've been hacking and sneezing for the past few days. <br /> <br /> So our usual Tuesday shopping day was shorter than usual. I just bought essentials at walmart. We bought lunch at McDonald's and DH... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:32:41 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2008/07/01/july-1-back-on-track_40727/ I've decided to start blogging again. It's been a while since my last entry. As usual, we just can't stop the spending on our credit cards so I've started a new approach. I opened a new checking account and I'm going to transfer $200/week to cover all discretionary expenses i.e.... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:39:35 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/16/savings-vs-debt_32908/ I love all the comments I've been getting. THANK YOU. So my question for all of you, "Is it better to save or pay off debt?". <br /> <br /> I'm not paying interest on the credit card debt. I pay off the BofA card every month and the Citibank card has a 0% interest 'til 4/08. The HEL has... Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:59:52 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/14/uuugggghhh_32846/ Update: Despite my "reminding" dh about our finances and no more spending. He still puts a bid on golf clubs on eBay. I really don't understand him. He says that they're a good deal but there are always good deals on eBay. I know that he gets a "rush" from spending money but this... Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:02:36 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/14/daily-expenses-1213_32845/ Didn't spend any money on the 11th or 12th but the 13th was awful.<br /> <br /> Insurance - $103 (monthly life insurance premiums for both of us)<br /> Trip - $540 (going home to HI on Xmas Day and had to buy a few airline tickets that weren't originally budgeted - usually fly very cheap since DH... Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:29:58 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/11/daily-expenses-1210_32750/ I was housebound on Sunday. Didn't want to take the baby out in the snow since he's recovering from a cold. So I didn't spend any money on Sunday. <br /> <br /> But Monday is a different story. <br /> <br /> Food $100 (monthly Costco run)<br /> Xmas $185 (gift cards for friends/family)<br /> Personal $229 (dh... Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:22:02 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/09/tax-estimator_32695/ H&R Block has an easy to use tax estimator that I love. I plugged in our income for this year and we should be getting a really good refund. DH had two surgeries on his right shoulder last year because of work related injuries so he was on disability for half of this year while recovering... Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:09:46 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/09/daily-expenses-128_32694/ I was busy all day yesterday getting the house ready for friends to come over for dinner and a sleep over (had to cancel sleepover because of weather - friends live about an hour away). I also had to make dinner and bake a bunch of cookies for our bake sale at church today. So I... Sun, 09 Dec 2007 13:18:04 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/08/daily-expenses-127_32669/ Did pretty good this week on discretionary expenses. I made lunch and dinner pretty much every day instead of eating out like we normally would do. The only problem with cooking at home is that there are so many dishes to wash all the time. <br /> <br /> We splurged at Albertson's last night.... Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:20:27 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/07/frugal-vs-cheap_32639/ When I first decided to become a SAHM back in 2004, one of the first things I did was buy a few books on living on one income. One of my favorites, is Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy. Her book had the most practical and doable ideas that I could follow. The other books were either to... Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:34:24 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/07/daily-expenses-126_32637/ Yesterday was a great day. Didn't spend any money except for DS lunch at McDonald's before taking DS back to school. DS passed out twice the night before, so DH took him to the dr yesterday. We need to lower his Abilify dosage and get him checked out by a neurologist if he faints... Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:19:30 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/06/daily-expenses-125_32603/ Dh is on vacation this week and next, so we go shopping. Dh still needed to buy more winter clothes for work (he works outdoors all year long) and with living in Denver, he needs clothes that can handle the cold. He bought new gloves and thermals at Bass Pro Shops.<br /> <br /> Clothes - $67<br /> Loan... Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:50:38 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/05/daily-expenses-124_32571/ Still no eating out. I had some major caffeine withdrawal headaches since I didn't have any soda. Usually when we go out to eat, I get a diet coke. I can still feel a little headache today but it's not as bad. Yesterday was Walmart day. Walmart is near Bed, Bath, and Beyond so... Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:28:36 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/04/daily-expenses-123_32538/ We did pretty good yesterday. Did not eat out at all like we normally would. Usually we would go to McDonald's after picking up DS from preschool (free - special ed preschool through public school district - speech development delays) and grab something to eat on the way to Aikido... Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:15:16 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/03/daily-expenses_32516/ Update: We used to have all of our phone/broadband/cable service through Comcast. If service went out, everything went out, so we switched over to satellite (long-term contract with Dish).<br /> <br /> I'm going to start logging in my daily expenses, so keep the comments coming. It makes... Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:43:49 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/03/thanks-for-the-comments_32494/ Update: HEL proceeds were paid to BofA card balance from previous month - $4,300. 0% interest card was balance transfers from BofA high balance was about $7,100. Balance is now $4,000 and was paid off with insurance proceeds and HEL loan. Also paid off OT protection and Linens and... Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:54:41 PST Lisa https://sahmmoneyorlackof.savingadvice.com/2007/12/02/december-goals_32483/ 1. STOP SPENDING ???<br /> Of course that's easier said than done. We love to eat out all the time, whether it's fast food or a sit-down restaurant. A lot of times we eat on the run before going to martial arts, therapy, etc. But we also like to eat out just because. DS (14 y/o) suffers... Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:28:48 PST Lisa