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Make a Call or Switch Providers....Get an intant raise!

When is the last time you checked your cable or internet bill. I mean really looked at the breakdown of charges and what you are actually paying for each month. A year ago I was only paying $19.99 a month for my internet service and this month my bill jumped to $55.95!

I am willing to bet many of you have at one time or another noticed this same turn of events with your service. It starts out so low and reasonable and then one day you are trying to figure out, "When did my bill get so high"?

Cable and Internet Providers today often get new customers with their Teaser Rates.  

They advertise extremely reasonable rates in hopes of gaining new customers and then once you are "sucked in" its pretty easy to keep you. These are simply introductory rates to keep you happy during the "Honeymoon Phase" and then as time passes (6 months to a year depending on the deal you score) the teaser rate expires and the regular price kicks in. By this time many of us are comfortable with our service, we have stopped paying attention to our monthly bill, and quite possibly, we don't realize the opportunity to save is out there! All the while the company is earning more, and you are saving less.

Make a Change!  There is a simple way for you to save money on your cable/internet bill.  It involves 4 easy steps and no more than 30 to 45 minutes of your time.

1) Check your options - See what else is being offered out there.  For me this wasn't that hard. My email inbox gets advertising for lower internet and cable offers almost daily, and the the number of commercials on TV now?  Need I say more. It's obvious the TV and internet companies are out there trying to win you over. From your competitors ads, select which offer fits your needs and is the most reasonable to you and have it ready lying in front of you. This offer, your possible new bill, looks pretty appealing doesn't it?

2) Just Ask -   Before you make any changes, pick up the phone and call you current provider. Let them know you noticed a jump in your bill and ask what can be done to reduce your rate back to the teaser rate. Feel free to let them know there are other companies out there that can offer you a lower rate.  Most often they will tell you nothing can be done or a very little discount is offered.  That's ok. You are on the right path and these operators don't have a lot of leeway with decisions they can make.

3) Ask again - There is always going to be someone higher up the chain you can speak to. Ask to speak to their manager or another department, such as a Retention Department. Going up the ladder of command will give you another shot at getting the savings you deserve.  Remember, I asked you to check your competitors offers first. Be ready to use this as back up as you are speaking to the representative. Never be forceful or demanding. Be kind and let them know you appreciate their service, and you would like to know your options. Let them know you have better offers on the table and you may have to cancel your service if you can't get a better deal.  *Be ready to follow through with this*   You may be surprised at what they can do!

4)Make the change - If your current company can't match the offer you are seeing with another company, then be ready to make the change. If will save on your monthly bill and it will be worth it.

5)Repeat the above -Remember you just signed on to a new deal. This new deal is either with your current company because they gave you an extension on your discount or a new one altogether, or you went with a new company.  This new deal is almost always just another "teaser rate" because the company will do it's best to eventually get you back up to their regular rate. Mark your calendar for 6 months to a year from now and be ready to repeat the steps above in order to keep saving!

Here is proof with my personal experience.

Current Provider - Internet only                                           Compitors Offer -Internet Only
Monthly bill = $48.95                                                                  Monthly Bill = $29.95        
Monthly modem lease = $7.00                                                     Modem Purchase = $100
                                                                                                       (mine to keep)
12 Month Total = $671.40                                                           12 Month Total = $459.40

**My current provider couldn't offer me any more of a discount because this amount was a discount from the regular rate of $92 a month! When I couldn't get my current provider any lower, I switched. I just saved myself $212 for the year PLUS I have a modem that is mine to keep rather than having to lease one! This switch only cost me about 30 minutes of my time to do the research and make the phone calls**

Good luck and don't let the providers rob you of your money any longer!

Expect the Unexpected

I hit a bit of writers block this weekend struggling with the topic of my next post, and then it came to me!

I hit the road on a beautiful drive back from Tennessee this past weekend. As I was enjoying the Spring colors, feeling the warmth of the sun shine through my car windows and, and singing at the top of my lungs to a blaring radio, I suddenly noticed it staring back at me......My engine light had come on and I was 2 hours from home. What? I gripped the steering wheel and prayed my car would make it...


Thankfully I made it home with no problems and I popped right on over to a service mechanic this morning and 4 hours later walked about the door with a car good as new. Without giving too much of the details, I will share that it was a $300 hit to my bank account. All of this occurred in a 24 hour period and not one little sign of stress, anxiety, or doubt entered my mind.  Several years ago, if this had happened to me, this peace of mind I was experiencing now, would not have been happening back then. I would have been a complete wreck because a $300 dollar bill out of nowhere was not something I used to plan for. However, because I have learned to improve my budgeting techniques, I have been able to stay in better control of my finances. The added bonus, my stress and anxiety has remarkably improved!

So my point being, I was prepared.  Are you?

As you work on your budget and try to figure out how much you should expect to spend each month in all those little categories, remember that their are 2 kinds of expenses in life.  Those that you expect to happen, and those you have no idea are coming and smack you right in the face when you least expect it.

These "expected expenses" are a little easier to budget. We know that we have to pay our housing bill. We know we have to keep the lights on. We know food has to go in our stomach.  It's the unexpected that we don't want to budget for because we hope and pray they never happen, but I'm here to tell you know, YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO PREPARED.

If you have built yourself a budget I would like you to go back and visit it now and make sure you have the following categories included.  It may not be easy to set money aside for these things, but it will give you peace of mind, and the ability to pay the bill when the worst case scenario happens.

Housing Maintenance -  Think about all your major appliances and other amenities of your house. Refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, heating and air, water heater, swimming pool, fire place, etc. Are you prepared in the event one of these things breaks down or all the way dies on you?  Even if it is far from its life expectancy being over, you never really know if you'll have a problem.  Save a little money each month. It's up to you to decide the amount. The more you own, the more you should save. The older your belongings, the more prepared you should be.


Car Maintenance - Even if your car is brand new and you are fully insured, you never know when that out of the blue nightmare will happen. Someone smashes your window, a flat tire, etc....I'm not that savvy when it comes to the maintenance of a car so I set aside a little more than most people might to keep my peace of mind. The more you own, the more you should save. The older your belongings, the more prepared you should be.

Emergency Fund -  As much as I sit down and try to prepare myself for the unexpected I still like to have an extra cushion. I set aside a little money in this category for the truly crazy unexpected things I cant think of with my most creative imagination at work. For instance, 6 months ago someone smashed my car and stole my laptop.  I didn't ever see this coming, but thank goodness for my emergency fund!

Here are some other categories where you may not need a completely separate category, but I still encourage an added buffer in the amount you budget each month just to be safe.

• Pets - unexpected illnesses
• Children  - unexpected ANYTHING, they are kids :)
• Medical Expenses - accidents and illnesses not covered by insurance

 End of Year Reward - At the end of each year, if I have money left over because I didn't need my emergency funds I have an added bonus of money.  I then allow myself to either put that money towards goals or wishes I have set for myself. (More on that later) 

 

  

Family is Priceless. Be thankful.

Today is my Grandfather's 90th birthday. As his immediate family gathers around today today we plan to celebrate with a unique gift. We have all decided to sit down and write him a letter. The idea being that we would share with him amazing memories and heartfelt stories in an attempt to express how much he means to each one of us. I thought this was a great idea and something that goes along with the theme of this blog and what I believe in.  A heartfelt gift you have to put time into is so much more meaningful and something you can't put a pricetag on.

As I sat down over this past week to scribble out some memories and ideas in the first draft of my letter, I was troubled by one thing.  Why was it taking such a milestone in someones life for me to express how much they mean to me?  Shouldn't I express my love and gratitude on a more consistent basis to those that are my family and I hold so close to my heart? Shouldn't I make a better effort aside from just birthdays and anniversaries and weddings?  I don't know the answer to the why, but I do know that I should try harder and a little more often.  Family is after all, one of the most precious items on my Priceless List!

I don't mean I have to sit down and draft a 3 page letter to every person special to me, but there are times when I could do a better job at letting people know they are important and I'm grateful they are in my life. My family has given me more than they realize and I should be better about saying thank you.  While I love my grandfather, (my Papaw) dearly and I congratulate the milestone of his 90th birthday, I'm also overcome with a new found realization that I need to be more appreciative of my family.
 
It's hard to express to the world, or whoever is actually reading this blog, what family means to me. I know not everyone is blessed with the perfect parents, ideal siblings, or doting grandparents, and therefore the definition of family for many isn't always equivalent to the traditional definition. I know mine isn't. For me, family isn't just those that are blood related. It includes a group of people that have come into contact with me throughout my life and have made special efforts in making a positive and everlasting impression on the person I am today and continue to strive to be. These people, whether around my whole life or just a tiny slice of it, are dear to my heart and soul. These are people that created me, raised me, guided me, taught me, fought for me, challenged me, walked with me, loved me, believed in me, and even if it was hard, stood by me. If given the chance, these people would continue to do any of these things again today. Lucky for me, my family is not limited to my immediate blood relatives, but it includes so many others as well. From my parents, to grandparents, to siblings, to extended blood and non-blood family, to step relatives, and to my friends from young and old, I cannot believe how lucky I am to have had to so many amazing people be a part of my life.

As I challenge myself, I also challenge you to appreciate your "Family".  You can determine for yourself who your "Family" is and how you might go about this process, but please be sure to do it.  I know for me I am going to try. Giving and receiving a little gratitude and love in life is priceless, but how much more special is it, when it comes out of the blue.... just because....
 
To my family formed by blood, marriage, higschool, college, work, and many other significant milestones in my life (I hope you know who you are) THANK YOU! You're amazing  and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Sharing my Budget Spreadsheet

Alright people! I have been promising my Excel Spreadsheet so here it is.  Trust me, the delay was only in my lack of knowledge with html coding.....but I got I figured it out!

If you have not read my previous posts and you are new to this blog, I encourage you to do so before moving forward. Here are some previous posts that will help you catch up.

Budgeting. Learning from our past, before we move forward.

Drafting your Budget

Now that we have looked back, and thought about our goals for the future, lets build us a budgeting spreadsheet that we will use to track our finances and help us really see where our money is going each month!


I have attached a copy of my spreadsheet for you to download. Please let me know if the link doesn't work.

Blank Budget


If you cant get it to open it should look something like the this....

BUDGET COLUMN -  go in and manually input your ideal budget amount each month. What you hope to earn in income should be positive (0.00) and what you hope to spend in expenses should be negative (-0.00)

ACTUAL COLUMN - At a time you decide on, pull all your account statements (credit cards, bank accounts) and go one at a time through your transactions and input them in the category you deem most appropriate.  Remember income should be put in as a positive number (0.00) and expenses should be a negative number (-0.00) I do this on the 1st and 15th of each month.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES - If you have more than one transaction in a category in a given month you will need to make sure you enter them as follows.  i.e. you go to Macy's 3 times and you see on your credit card a charge for $59, $62, and $12 and it was all for clothing.  You will need to input in the clothing category = -59 + -62+ -12

VARIANCE - This column will automatically update for you as you fill in the budget and actual column.  Also, it will automatically roll over from month to month so you never have to do a thing!  You will always know how much over or under you are in each category from month to month.

I know their are a lot of free online tools that you could jump right into at this point. If you feel confident and want to use those instead, go ahead. However, I would like to encourage everyone to start with an ole fashion Excel Spreadsheet like I did.  It will be a little more work in the beginning, but it will force you to be truly aware of where you money is going. Half the battle of budgeting isn't about how much you are spending, but acknowledging how much you are spending and realizing the  truth about your spending habits.  Doing it the ole fashion way will force you to really look at each transaction and see bit by bit where your money is going. Try this for the first 6 months and then if you want to break away to another tool, feel free....

Let it Snow.Let it Snow. Let it.....

...BLOOM!

Here in south we are known more for our yellow snow, rather than the white powder of winter.  Many of us "southerners" have to deal with dreaded seasonal allergies, yellow covered decks, roofs, and patios, and the longing to wash our cars. ARGH!

As I stepped outside to go for my run today I could feel and smell the pollen in the air and I felt so bad for all of my fellow Southerners that endure horrible allergies. For 20 + years I endured those same allergies and found it a miserable time each year. I was so overcome with misery, I couldn't enjoy the new season and all it was bringing forth.  Although pollen is seen as such a negative part of Spring, I have learned to appreciate what Spring does bring us! Despite the pollen, my run today was filled with fresh air, warm sunshine, and some of the most colorful blooms I had seen in a while.  For those that may not be able to appreciate the natural beauty of spring blooming around us due to those dreaded allergies, here are some pictures for you to enjoy. I snapped a few during my run today in hopes to pass them onto you.  I hope you can enjoy them from the comfort of your computer screen, indoors, and pollen free! A free gift from me to  all my readers.  :) Enjoy!

Thank you God for providing my neighboring gardening artists with such a fabulous canvas and art utensils!! I had a free art show today!

Tighten your wallet AND your belt. Eat healthy and save.

One of the things I found very frustrating during my bout of trying to climb out of debt was the grocery store expense.  I have always been what I consider, a healthy eater.  I'm not an extremist. I'm certainly no vegan, nor do I demand everything be purely organic, and I don't make everything from scratch. I do however, believe in moderation, the four food groups, and a colorful plate.  Do you know how frustrating it is to save money at the grocery store AND try to be healthy?   Why is it that the processed food, junk food, and pretty much "crap" is all so cheap?? All the while, the healthy, fresh, and pure food is soooooo pricey. No wonder America has an obesity problem!  Anyway, I digress....

After 5 years of learning to tighten my budget in the grocery sector of my life, I learned quite a few things.  I have managed to go from Ramon noodles and PB&J, to a healthy collection of edibles. I would like to give you a few tips on your grocery store adventures and you might be surprised at the money you can actually save! Some are very obvious simple tips we all know, yet forget from time to time and some are more can be little more time consuming and for the real dedicated!

• Always make a list before you go - This will help keep you from splurging on items you didn't really need or want to begin with
• Never go on an empty stomach - Being hungry will make EVERYTHING in the store look appetizing and before you know it, your cart has enough to feed a family of 12 for the next 2 weeks!
• Stocking Day should be shopping day - Find out when your store stocks their shelves. You will have a better selection to chose from and the items you purchase will last longer.
•  Check your supply on hand first - This can go along with making a list, but take a quick glance at what you already have so you don't buy unnecessary items.  It stinks to come home with items you already have in the fridge and pantry.
• Plan meals - Think about the week ahead and plan a few meals.  This way you have the ingredients on hand when its time to cook and you don't have to make any last minute trips to the store.
• Coupon-ers BEWARE - When used in the right way, these can be awesome! However, don't feel the need to use them on products you never intended to buy just because you will save a little. In the end you are spending more.
• Coupons can be GOOD - There is growing popularity in the use of coupons and I myself am still mastering the art. This is the best thing I have learned in just the past year thanks to a friend guiding me to the website of Southernsavers.com.  I will write more about this later.  It is a fabulous reference that will teach you the art of couponing.
• Break away from Name Brands - Brand loyalty can be a good thing, but try some store or generic brands.  They can be less expensive and just as good.

*I have many more tips to save, but don't want to OD on my first post about food. :)

Tuesday is my grocery store day. My local store puts out a lot of fresh produce on Tuesday AND discounts a lot of items they need to clear off the shelf that are nearing expiration dates. Here was my trip today.

  

 Total = $107.35


Actual Paid = $62.79

Saved 42%

How did I do this?

1) I made a list of what I needed first. My list included no NAME BRANDS or specific items. i.e. I wrote down  "milk and cereal", NOT "Mayfield and Cheerios".
2) I went to my trusty southernsavers.com.
3) I compared my list to what was listed as a deal from the website above. If there was a match and I was willing to take the deal item, I added the specific item to my list.
4) I pulled only the coupons that fit these items. I have a BIG stash of coupons.
5) For any additional items that were on my list, yet there were no deals or coupons, I kept them on my list anyway.  i.e. Bananas weren't on sale and there were no matching coupons, but they are so good for you and pretty inexpensive anyway. A weekly must-have for me.
 6) I double checked my grocery budget for the week to remind myself what I was allowed to spend.

7) I went to the store, followed my list, and came home with a thicker wallet and a healthier pantry for the week ahead.

As you can see I managed to snag up ALL FOUR food groups and get some stuff for my cat and toiletries!  Bonus! 

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!  Now, what do I want for lunch......

Be frugal, NOT cheap!

As I write about encouraging everyone to be wiser with their money and make sure you have good spending habits, I realize I also need to let everyone know that this does not mean being cheap! As you try to save a little money here and there, please always remember I'm encouraging you to be frugal, not cheap.  Here are some examples showing the difference between the two.

-The Frugal will always tip on the FULL amount, even if using coupons or discounted pricing. The Cheap may not tip at all.

-The Frugal will offer to bring dessert or appetizer when being offered a free meal at someone's house. The Cheap will continuously mooch off of free meals sent their way without ever returning the favor.

-The Frugal will still buy quality products even though they cost a little more, because they last and will save them money in the long run. The Cheap will by inexpensive products that will fall apart  fast and have to be replaced or maintained more often, resulting in higher costs.

-The Frugal will welcome the opportunity to participate in free festivals or services, but remember to leave a little in the donation plate or even volunteer from time to time. The Cheap will show up every time, take part in ever free offering sent their way, and still complain about what they didn't like about it.

-The Frugal will negotiate a better price. The Cheap will whine, complain, and pitch a fit if they don't get the price they expect.

-The Frugal will always say thank you.  The Cheap..... well.....I think you get my point now.

 If you are acting in a cheap way in order to save money, you are only hurting yourself and possibly others. The world needs to act in a more frugal way for sure, but we need LESS cheap people as well. Challenge yourself in the coming days and weeks ahead to think twice about each time you are making a money saving decision. Decide if you are being cheap or frugal.  Go for frugal every time.  I promise it will pay off in the long run.  It will better your pocketbook and give you priceless moments in life!

Budgeting. Make it a Habit

Budgeting should be one of your automatic habits incorporated into your everyday life. If it is not already, now is the time to make it happen. Why? They say "money makes the world go round", and if that is true, we should be ever conscientious about where our own money is going. Make your money make your own world go round by watching where it is going...budgeting. Don't let it control you, but rather you control it!

Starting a new positive habit can be just as hard as letting go of a bad one. For those of you that are trying to start this process for the first time, or trying for the 5th or 6th time due to loss of motivation, distractions,etc; remember there are steps that can save you from failure. It's just like any promise you make yourself.  "I'm going to eat healthier" "I'm going to exercise more." "I'm going to get back in control of my money and budget better!" When trying to make lifestyle changes, there is the possibility of losing motivation down the road and even failure. Follow these tips to aid you in successful budgeting and making it a new habit!

1. Write it down - Write down why you are making this a new goal for yourself. What are the positives to you creating this new habit, and what are the negatives you are trying to avoid. Writing it down will make it more real and force you to be honest with yourself. 
2. Find an accountability partner - This could be a spouse, a friend, a therapist, or even a financial adviser. I'm not saying you have to share your most private details about your money, but if you have someone that knows you are trying to make this a new habit, they can cheer you on from the sidelines and help you to make sure your keeping at it.
3. Baby steps - Remember Rome wasn't built in a day! Trying to adopt a new habit can be overwhelming. Don't set yourself up for failure by trying too much at once. New runners don't try to step out onto the road and run a marathon on day one, and you shouldn't have to feel the need to save $5000 in a week. Set yourself smaller short term goals and when you are successful, build from that!
4. Remove temptation - Look at your history. The one you hopefully created from following my last post and decide where your weaknesses lie.  Do you take out too much cash from the ATM? Stop going to the ATM. Do you swipe your credit card too easy and then cant pay the balance off each month? Hide your credit card in a drawer at home
5. Be consistent - The more you do something, the more quickly it will become a habit.   For the first thirty days, do something to help you be aware of your budget and spending habits. You don't have to spend an hour crunching numbers, but do something daily to help make budgeting more of an automatic part of your routine.For example, set a daily reminder on your phone and check your bank account or credit card balances.
6. All relationships need a little "Q.T." (quality time)- This may sound silly, but you are in fact forming a new relationship in your life.  Just like our relationships with people, our relationships with our habits need a little quality time in order to help them grow and become stronger. Set yourself a recurring date to sit down and have some uninterpreted, one on one time with your budget. This is your time to reflect on where you have been spending and savings, recognize your failures and achievements, and see where you need to grow and improve. For me, I set aside the 1st and the 15th of each month and give myself an hour. 
   
7. Give yourself some wiggle room - Remember no one's perfect, so allow yourself to make some mistakes.   Your budget isn't ever going to be just right and it can be very difficult to start keeping up with every single penny. At the start of each quarter I look at my budget and see where I'm overspending. Instead of getting upset about where I have failed, I look at it as a chance to start over and try again, and see if I need to adjust my budget accordingly.

Good luck and get going!

Happy St Patricks Day!

Spring has Sprung! Getting more out of the new season for less.

And so it begins... Daylights Saving Time has begun and the first signs of Spring have already arrived.  All we can think about is getting back outside and enjoying the outdoors and feeling that glorious sunshine reign down on our face and shoulders. The great masses of retail and community feel it too. Many activities that we have missed all winter are sneaking their enticing claws into our minds. Community festivals are advertising their dates, amusement parks are gearing up for opening day, and restaurants seem to have customers on their patios again. Why you may ask? Duh, because they want to make money AND what better way to make money than to take advantage of the items that are everyone's priceless list!

ENJOYING THE DAWN OF SPRING AND ALL IT HAS TO OFFER

While the many natural activities of Spring are now free to enjoy, so also begins the possibilities of spending more money; money we can spend in places that we haven't been able to all winter long. As you feel yourself tempted to embark on these new adventures, stop and ask yourself, "What about these things are really enticing to me? What is making me want to partake? Is this activity a part of my budget?"  If your answer to the last question is "yes", then by all means enjoy! However, if you will pause and think about what your really seeking (probably items on your priceless list),  then you will also find these priceless moments you are seeking are found right under your nose for a lot less. I'm not suggesting these are better choices. They are simply alternatives when trying to save a buck or two.   Here are a few things I do for myself when I am trying to make the most out of my dollar and catch those priceless moments I love about Spring.

1. Enjoy your own patio-  I know I love the feeling of being able to go to a restaurant and sit out on the patio while enjoying a meal or drinks with friends or family. It's not always necessary however,  to go to a restaurant and spend the money on food and drinks to enjoy that patio feeling and time with loved ones. If you have a deck or patio or know a friend or family member that has one, recommend that you relocate to your own. It is in fact still a patio. It is the same sunshine. Not to mention the money you save serving your own meal and drinks, rather than a restaurant bill is an added bonus!

2. Exercise Outdoors - I know not everyone exercises and I will most likely post more about this "priceless" topic in another post, another day. For the purposes of this post however,  the immediate feeling I personally get from exercise is something on my priceless list and when I can do it outside, it's even better! Getting outside and getting healthy in the sunshine can be much more rewarding than the same old cramped gym. Why pay for that aerobics classes and listen to the grunting of others lift weights, when you can get the same exercise right outside while enjoying the new season.  I personally refuse to pay for a gym membership. There are just too many other ways I have discovered and learned over the years on how to exercise for mush less while earning more priceless moments.  For one, enjoying nature and the new life of Spring cannot be found in a gym. If you don't have a safe neighborhood to walk in, or backyard to perform your work-out, visit a local park, find some hiking trails, or see if a local school has their track open.

3. Do some yard work-  One of coolest parts of Spring is the beginning and return of life in most of nature. Birds come back from migration, new animals are born, and plants are blooming. What a better way to really notice this new life than to work with our hands, get up close, and aid this natural process along. Not to mention it's another form of exercise. If you don't personally have a yard, what about trying a few potted plants on a patio. If this isn't an option either, is their someone in your life that could use an extra hand in the yard. Perhaps this is your chance to spend the day with your parents or a close friend, or an elderly neighbor might want an extra hand.  


4. Visit a community festival -There are many community festivals held during the Spring and believe it or not, much of the things offered at these are free. Yes, there will be things you can spend your money on and if you have it budgeted (and only if) then spend away. However, remember to enjoy the things about the festival that are priceless as well. The fresh air and sunshine are always free of charge, sometimes you can find live music, maybe free prizes, and perhaps arts and crafts to appreciate. All this and more can be found all without spending a dime. 

5. Spring Cleaning - You might be asking, "what about this would I enjoy?" For me, indoor or outdoor spring cleaning always gives me MANY of my priceless moments. Although the cleaning part can be tough to embark on, there is in fact exercise, enjoying good music, feeling the spring weather, and knowing I have accomplished a task to motivate me along. Try a chore outside first, like cleaning the yard or gutters on the roof. Go give your car a good bath or get really crazy and volunteer to pick up around your neighborhood or nearby park. If you chose to stay indoors, open up the windows and blast some good music!

6. Roll the windows down and blast the radio -Finally, you don't have to scrape the ice of your windshield and look at your breathe for 5 minutes while the car warms up.  The sun is starting to warm up your car quite well. Most of us are in our cars everyday, so why not take advantage of rolling down the windows and enjoying fresh air. Better yet, blast the radio, your iPod, or CD of choice. Or for the daring, sing your heart out just like Tom Cruise did in that scene in Jerry Maguire!  Man, it feels awesome just to write and think about it!

 FREE FALLING!!!!

*click above for a little motivation*

7. Have an outdoor game day -This can go for any ages and any lifestyle. I love a good game. I have always been known around my bunch as the gamer.  I guess I love a little together time with my loved ones and a little good clean competitive fun as well.  College ages, singles, families with children can all enjoy. The next time you are sitting around bored, pick yourself up and step into the backyard yard or free open area like a park.You don't always have to pay those green fees for a round of golf to get in a game outside.  Try a pick-up game of basketball at the local park, invite friends over for a game of bocce ball, croquet, or horseshoes. Don't feel like being that active? Spread out a blanket and pick up a board game or deck of playing cards!

8. Relax - Sometimes being lazy and resting your body can be totally rejuvenating for the body and soul.  Get a blanket, or hammock if you already have one, and read a book, a magazine, or simply take an afternoon nap. Aahhhhhhhh.....




If you don't have the luxury of an outdoor yard area in your home or neighborhood then please remember THE LOCAL PARKS! You do already have to pay those dreaded taxes and part of it goes to maintaining those parks, so go make use of that expense! There are endless activities and opportunities here.

Drafting your budget.

In my last post regarding "Money Matters" I challenged you to sit down and look at your past three months of financial records. If you have completed this step, then WAY TO GO! You are now ready to move on to the next step, creating your budget. If you have not looked back at your history I would encourage you STOP and read my last post before going any further.

Understanding what your history is telling you
Now that you have in front of you your financial history for the past three months, let's break it all down so we can build it back up and better your future!   I made a sample sheet for you in order to help you follow along. Don't worry, this isn't MY actual numbers for my life. I'm not ready to get THAT personal :). But I do want my readers to be able to compare their work to something else. I did base the categories a little on my life. I'm single so I don't have a dual income in my house and I have no children to feed either so you wont see any line items for diapers or soccer camp. Ive tried to make this pretty basic so more readers can follow.  To make this even more basic, all of my numbers  numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 dollars. Your history, if at all possible, should be down to the penny if you can get it there.

 The first three columns are my sample totals for the past three months; Feb, Jan, and December.  In each column you should add your income and then subtract your expenses. This is how much money you have left yourself at the end of each month. As you can see from my example, each month's expenses are higher that the income. Nothing is left? The first column was over by $250 and look at the last column at $1102 over! That was December!! This is a perfect example of a history that is out of control and needs a change. If you history shows you have money left over, then way to go, but I prefer you not have money left over either. We need to get income to = expenses. How?

Because we are not robots and we don't have the exact same routine of spending and earning every day, week or month, we need to get a better idea of about how much we spend on average each month.  If we can figure this average we can budget this new amount into each line item to help us better prepare for those rare months. For instance, you can see this sample has a much higher expense in the "gifts" category in December. $0 in January and February, then $350 in December.  I personally don't spend the exact same amount of money on gifts for people each month, but when the Holidays roll around, BOOM, the expenses are out of control.  Think about other expenses you have that don't come around every month; your car tag expense, the 6 month dentist visit, buying school supplies at the start of the year, etc. I like to average my expenses across a 12 month year so I don't have to try and do the math each month for those expenses that aren't as common.  See below...

 It may seem basic, but add up the 3 months for each row and divide it by three. This average you have calculated is the amount you typically spend over the course of the year each month. Based on this average expense, you know should have a better idea of how much you actually need to prepare yourself to save on a monthly basis for the months ahead so you are prepared for those rare annual expenses. For instance, the gifts. If on average I spend $117, then I need to budget and save $117. I wont spend that every month, but when the Holidays come around, I will be ready. Keep in mind that 3 months may not be enough of a history for all categories. You may have to continue to monitor your spending over the next 3 - 6 months to get a better "average" for some categories and adjust your budget as necessary.  So you have your averages. Now what?

For those that have been over spending
Now you have to look at your past and see how to set your budget for the future so you stop this over spending. You have got to get your income to equal your expenses. That is right, EQUAL. If you are looking at a history where you are over spending,  you need to go line item by line item to see where you need to either A) make more money under income or B) cut spending in your expenses.

Here's some questions to ask yourself to get your started.

1) Am I spending too much in a category?
2) Is it possible for me to cut back?
3) If I budget myself $xx.xx, will I be prepared for the unexpected?
4) Am I missing any categories?


For those of you that always have money left over
If you have money left over then you are doing very well and already on the right track. However, when making a budget I never recommend to anticipate having money left over. Again, I said to make your income = expenses.   Since you have money left over, is there a line item where you can up your budget?  Is there a new category you should put into your budget? Here are some thoughts?

1) Do you have a category for Emergencies?
2) Do you have a category for Retirement?
2) What about savings for goals down the road that may come more than a year from now such as a child's college fund, a new car, or a house renovation?


In both circumstances list above, this is where things will start to get personal and very REAL.  I can't tell you how much money you should earn, or save, or spend on every little thing in your life in order to make your income = expense. However, I do hope that you do your best to try to budget yourself appropriately so that you can get there. So have at it, dig deep, get personal and real and honest with yourself (and anyone else involved in the household's finances) and set your numbers. Based on what you have spent in the past and what you should realistically spend in the future, find those numbers to make your INCOME=EXPENSES.

Nothing you do during this budgeting draft is permanent. You can continue to make changes as you go and I hope to continue to encourage you and offer advice as you work through this process. 

My next post on "Money Matters" will be gearing you away from all this manual addition and (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....) Excel spreadsheets. I'm going to show you some user friendly websites that will begin to make this process soooooooo much easier! 

But first, well.... I already have a "Money Doesn't Matter" post all geared up and ready to go out tomorrow!


 

My Priceless List

Two days ago I wrote about making a priceless list. As I reflected on what I had written and what I should write next, I realized if I'm going to do this whole "blogging thing" I had better practice what I preach!  While I have my "priceless list" floating around in my head, I have never actually taken the time to truly think about it in a list format and write it down. If I'm asking my readers to make a list, then I should be making one too. So here is the start to my list. It will grow and change everyday. I will come back here often and update it as I discover more about myself. I accept I must be flexible with this list and keep plugging along with it to better my life. It is MY list. I am open to sharing it, but it is created for ME. Please create your list for YOU. Yours may be similar or totally different, but again, I'm asking you to make one. 

• Laughing so hard it makes me cry
• Getting or giving a hug just....because
• Getting lost in a really good book
• Family time
• Friend time
• My relationship with God
• God's mercy and love for me
• The first signs of spring
• Snowflakes falling on my face
• The feeling after a good workout
•  Being shown appreciation when you least expect it
• Showing appreciation and gratitude
• Seeing someone light up in a genuine way when they open a gift you give them
• Random acts of kindness
• Sharing a smile with a stranger
• Soaking in nature's beauty
• Recognizing nature's beauty 
• Realizing the positive side to things, even when it appears so negative
• Coming out on the other side of a really painful time and being able to say "I made it"
• Fresh air on my face
• Hearing music that moves me (in a soulful way)
• Hearing music that moves me (in a way that makes me want to dance)
• Falling in love
• Being in love
• The moment when a child teaches ME something
• Whether I'm gone 2 minutes or 2 days, the way my cat ALWAYS greets me at the door 
• Whenever I feel needed

To be continued......




As I started to think about my list and what my priceless items were, I contemplated what all the items in my list had in common. I realized the roots of most of my list were from emotions I felt during my life experiences and the comfort they give me. Some of these priceless items can be found for free and some of them you can find with a little help from money. However, if you are spending money to seek out these priceless moments, I encourage you to proceed with caution. I'm reminded of a Beatles song.  "Can't By me Love" .  Love is an emotion we can all agree feels wonderful and priceless. But just as the song says,  "Money can't be me love" . Be careful not to get so lost in seeking out your priceless moments that you start to spend too much money in your search. Priceless moments should be genuine, natural, and come from the heart. If you try to buy them with money, then you are defeating their soul purpose. Don't try to put a price tag on them.  They are after all, PRICELESS.
 
This was my priceless moment of the day.
 - Realizing the positive side to things, even when it appears so negative -

 Thank you dreary rainy day for bringing us beautiful flowers!

Budgeting. Learning from our past, before we move forward.

In my last budgeting post, http://livemoreonless.blogspot.com/2012/03/living-on-budget.html, I talked about why it's important. I gave my personal testimony of how it has affected my life and gave a very brief intro on how to get started for yourself. Feel free to go back and read it if you have not. This newer post will guide you in more detail on how to get your budget going.


Budget? But where do I begin?
Have no fear. It really isn't that hard. The hardest part is to take this first step. I want to disclose up front that I have no PHD in finance. I'm not claiming to be a know-it-all. I just want to share some fundamentals that have helped me through the years. Perhaps if this is too elementary for you, it may be a nice reminder for what you already know or perhaps give you new ideas. If this post seems too simple, I hope that you will be patient in knowing I have even more to share in the future. Oh, I'm going to open up and dissect your budgets and hopefully enhance them with some of my personal saving secrets. But first, for our new comers or those that already know how to budget that might need a fresh start, it's time to take a look into our past.....

Step 1  - Gather your past records. 

The first thing I encourage everyone to do in order to budget for your future is take a look at your past. Start by pulling your records for at least the last three months. Gather everything you can including bank account statements, credit card statements, and any cash payments for which you can remember that you may not have kept an actual paper receipt (baby sitters fees, lunch at McDonalds last week, etc.)

Step 2 - It's time to get real
Once you have these items in front of you its time to take a look at where your money has been going. This may take some time. Be thorough and don't cheat. Prepare yourself for what you are about to find and be as honest as you can. I'm serious. Be really honest no matter how surprised or embarrassed you are at what you have been spending and where.  The only way to get back in control is to be be honest about where you may have lost control, then accept it, and now make the necessary changes to move forward. Remember, no one is perfect and we all have our weaknesses.  Recognize your flaws as a part of who you are and work on them daily to continue to grow into the better and unique individual you are.

Step 3 - Income and Expenses
Your records will show you where you money is coming in and where you money is going out. Your ultimate goal is make sure your outbound money is ALWAYS less than the inbound. Sounds pretty elementary right? Take a quick glance at yours.   Are you spending more than you are saving? If you are saving more than you are spending, can you save more? Lets take a closer look at exactly where you are earning and spending.

Step 4 - Building categories for your income and expenses.
 Keep in mind everyone's lifestyles are different. A 17 year old will not have the same income or expenses as a 45 year old married individual with three children. That being said, mine may be different than yours. I will do my best to include as many examples as possible, but only you know the details of where your money is going now or may go in the future.  Use my sample picture below as a guide to get you started on categories for yourself.  Take all, and I mean ALL, of your income and expenses you see in the records you have gathered in front of you and assign each one to a category. Keep a running total as you go for each category.

Now add up your total income. Add up your total expenses. Which one is greater?

Congratulations -  No matter how proud or ashamed you are at how much money you are spending or saving in each category, you have taken the first step toward regaining control of your money.
What you have in front of you is your reality for the past several months. Now it's time to look forward to the future months and decide where you want to be in each of these categories.

We have looked back. Next, we will be looking forward.

"A penny saved is a penny earned." - Benjamin Franklin

Money Doesn't Always Matter - Make a Priceless List

So if you have read the back story to my blog you know by now the content of this blog is two-fold.

1 -Money Matters

In life their are things that money can buy. Money enables us to obtain our needs and some of our wants. Day in and day out, we make money and spend money and then make money again. It's a cycle. Earn and spend. Earn and spend. I plan to guide and inspire you to take part in this cycle as wisely as possible. Don't get lost in it. Be in control of it.

Yesterday, I got a jump start on the money topic and Step 1 was to make a budget.  Today I would like to talk about the other topic...

2- Money Doesn't Always Matter

While I hope to give everyone financial advice, I also want to encourage everyone to take the time to discover the things in their life that money simply cannot buy. I wasn't sure what to call these things, so for now I will call it a "Priceless List". No matter how hard we work, and how much money we make, and how much advice we receive, the "Priceless List" is the part of our lives that money cannot buy.  When the financial side to your life feels like it's out of control, when you are prospering yet you still do not feel satisfied, when you feel like you have no hope during hard times, these are the times to turn to your "Priceless List".  I will be sharing what is in my list and in turn I hope that you will find yours. Please note, I have no intention for you to agree with all of my priceless items and moments. I don't intend to pressure you into loving what I love. These things will be different for everyone and I cannot define them for you.  I want to share what makes up my "priceless list" as way to help you find yours. You can try what works for me or you can try something totally different. I just encourage you to try.  While society may force us in to needing money for some things, you just may find a little freedom in knowing that it cannot provide you with everything.  I challenge you to dig deep and define for yourself things you cannot put a price tag on. This list will be ever changing so be flexible. Yesterday I asked you to make a budget. Today, I ask you to make your "Priceless List". 

Living on a Budget

The first step to living on less is learning to live on a budget. Actually, no matter how much money you make, I would advise everyone to budget. I was fortunate enough to have a father that taught me at a very early age how to budget my money. I can remember when I went off to college, he gave me an allowance accompanied with a detailed Excel spreadsheet. This spreadsheet explained to me in detail the amount of money he gave me each month and where he expected me to spend it. Any more money I needed or wanted would be up to me. This spreadsheet outlined the total sum of my income and broke down the total amount into several categories; rent, utilities, groceries, gas, and so forth. I knew each month where my money should be going.  I then enhanced this budget and met with my father to ask for help with an even more detailed system of how to budget my money.  For years I lived off of a spreadsheet that broke down my income and expenditures. I kept track of my expenses. It was at times cumbersome and I did feel a little dorky, but I always knew not just how much money I had each month, but I also knew where that money was going.When it came time for me to go on a trip or buy clothing, I could look at my spreadsheet and see if I had enough set aside. If I wanted something big I would create a new category in my little spreadsheet and figure out how much money I needed to save. I never went to the ATM to check my total balance. That could have been misleading. I would go to my spreadsheet and check individual balances for each category I had set up. Basically I had a bunch of mini-accounts that I had made up to total my true bank account.  

I had a system. It worked. I graduated college, got a "real job". My system still worked. I made more money and I got a raise. My system still worked. I got another job and another raise. My system....stopped?  I'm not sure why, but it did. I guess I was making so much money, I didn't think I needed it anymore.

When I lost my job in 2007 my income was cut off. My expenses however, did not stop. For the three month I was unemployed and I had no income, I foolishly kept my expenses the same. I was living so well that I had stopped doing the thing I was taught so young. I had stopped budgeting. I kept spending even though I stopped earning.  My first lesson learned during my journey of living more and less spending, was ...

ALWAYS BUDGET - NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU EARN, YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO PREPARED FOR THE WORST.

Today's technology has gifted us with more than just Excel to help us learn how to budget our money. There are FREE tools out there that practically do the work for you each month. All you have to do is get started.

The first thing I did when I got in my pickle was to start up my old habit. I opened my laptop, kicked up Excel and started a spreadsheet. It was title "My budget". I looked back at my past several months of expenditures and was shocked to find out where I had been spending my money. How could I have been so foolish? I had been spending as though I was still earning!  As I set up my new budget to match my new income, I found I was in for a big lifestyle change. Nevertheless, this was the first step I took to learning how to live more on less.

I will continue to post more on how to budget properly and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Until the next post, you can go get started by pulling your records. Look at credit card statements, bank statements, and anything else you use to pay for things. Look back, very closely at where your money is going. Try to put everything into a category. See how much you are earning and how much you are spending. Add it all up. It may take some time, but I promise it's worth it. Make a choice and get back in control!

Here are some categories to get you started.

Income
 - Paycheck
 - Bonuses
 - Interest
 -Anything else (Babysitting, Rent from a roommate, dog walking)

Expenses
- Mortgage/Rent
- Utilities
-Monthly dues
- Home or Renters Insurance
-Car Payment
-Car Maintenance
-Gas
-Groceries
- Dining Out
-Entertainment
-Pets
-Clothing
-Debt (Credit Card, Student Loans)
-Vacation
-Emergency Saving (Yes you should have a category for this!)

In my next post I will give you a sample template from Excel you can use to get your started. I will also share user friendly websites that do most of the work for you. Happy Budgeting, Better Living!



 

Back story - Why my blogging journey began -

In 2007, I was a thriving young woman in her late twenties making great money, with a great job, and living, what I thought, was the "high life". I bought whatever I wanted no matter the price, traveled to wherever I was invited no matter the distance, and went to any and every social gathering no matter the day of the week. I worked hard, so when I had the chance, I played hard. Then something awful happened. Something I did not see coming. Something for which I no plan. I lost my job. In an instant my life changed drastically. I had taken my paycheck for granted everyday and squandered away every penny without a thought. I had no savings. Even the big bonus I had earned 3 months prior, I used to pay off a large renovation on my condo. I had exactly enough money in my bank account to keep me afloat for 3 months. 3 months...

I spent those next three months going the through the stages of depression. Like most, I didn't go through these stages perfectly or in any specific order, but I did experience most of the stages. There was denial, anger, reflection, working through, and even hope.

http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html

Denial - I couldn't deny what had happened to me for long. I had in fact lost my job.

Anger - I quickly moved on and became stuck in the anger phase for the most part of those three months. What happened to me!? I was the victim. I wanted nothing to do with "Corporate America" again. I resisted the idea of ever going back to work. I felt wronged. All that hard work for nothing. No one really appreciated all that I had done. It was NOT my fault I lost my job and that simply just wasn't fair. I was angry. I was furious. These were many thoughts I was fighting through. I was also in denial of my reality. It was as I neared the end of those three months and my money was almost gone, that I decided to accept the fact that no matter how right or wrong I was about what had happened to me, I still needed a paycheck. I needed to stop playing the victim and take action. No matter how bad the circumstances, I was not a quitter. I guess the competitor in me kept me going. I would not lose! I needed to make a decision and get a job. I had to pay the bills. In order to move forward, I started looking back.

Reflection - I was desperate to earn a paycheck, but I still refused to go back to "Corporate America". I had started to realize that as much money as I was making, I was also ALWAYS working. I had a job that kept me on call 24 hours a day. If disaster struck, I had to be ready. I had to have my phone on me at all times. When I shopped, vacationed, and played, and even slept, I too had my phone. I can still remember a trip I took to Mexico where I spent the majority of the time checking in with work. My friends laughed at me and jokingly would say "Put your 'crackberry' away already". Yes, I had a Blackberry that I was addicted to and even during my free time I could not put it down. Even during my free time, I was hard at work. During this reflection, I constructed my next move.

Reconstruction and Working though - I would go back to work, but not to a place that would have me on a leash 24/7. I didn't want to lose control. It was my life and I wanted to feel like I had a say. I decided to go back to a job I loved when I was in college. I knew there was 2 things I love. Children and sports. Something so simple yet, brought me happiness. I went to teach gymnastics. I knew it would be a huge pay cut, but I was willing to find a job that would temporarily pay the bills, keep me happy, and bide me some time until I figured out where I wanted to be long term. It was also a job that I didn't have to take home with me. So I had done it. I went back to work. Success! I had a job that paid the bills and I had more free time to enjoy life. Finally I felt in control of my life. Finally was my chance to live more. I didn't have a job that would hold me back during my free time. However, much I my free time was costing me money and now I was making so much less. How was I going to make this work?

I did make it work and I am still somehow making it. Everyday I learn and grow a little more. Now I would like to share with everyone things I have learned over the past five years and continue to learn each day. I realize I am not the only one going through hard times. Everyone has their share of hard times and everyone could use a little help. Therefore, I blog. Learn how to Live More while Spending Less.

There are two main points to this blog.

The first is regarding money. Money may not buy happiness, but it is necessary to live. I want to share ideas, tips, tricks, and ways to use your money wisely so that it lasts longer. Over the past 5 years I have learned to live on a 60% pay cut earning merely $30,000 a year.  On top of this pay cut I have also decreased my credit card debt from $15,000 to $1,300. I wont take all the credit for managing this feat. I had the support and help of friends, family, and even professionals like Clark Howard.  I am still an amateur, but through my immediate connections, social media, and the good 'ol Google search bar, I am making it happen.

The second side to this blog is living more. Again, I know things in life cost money, but there are also things in life that are free.  Sometimes money just is not an option and times are really tough. Sometimes everything in the money part of this blog cannot be followed. Sometimes no matter what financial advice someone can give you, it's still not enough.  STOP! Remember there are things in life that money cannot buy and will still bring your great joy, peace, happiness, and serenity. This part of my blog isn't as black and white as the money segment. I cannot clearly guide you to believing and following the exact things I do. This part is based on who you are as an individual. What makes you smile and what makes me smile may be different. However, I hope to inspire you to discover or rediscover these things. I plan to share things that bring me joy; the priceless things that money cannot buy, yet still make my heart smile. I hope to inspire you to discover for yourself what priceless things bring you joy and also find a better appreciation for life!

May my journey inspire and improve yours. It's time to Pay it Forward.