How are you faring with your personal finance?

Malaysia
May 2, 2007 8:11am CST
Personal finance have been on my mind and heart for the past one year. I am getting more successful results as a product of planning a realistic budget each month and year. It is good to know how each one of you are getting on with your budgeting. Are you achieving positive results? Do share your experiences with us here.
3 people like this
11 responses
@esortizc (15)
• Guatemala
2 May 07
Yes, I do. Last year, I began to budget my incomes. I read a book that give me an idea about how to plan my personal finaces, and so, I used an excel worksheet to help me. Later I began to use a software that helps me to plan the next period (in my case, each period its by the next 15 days). The next step to me its to can plan by the next 6 months. Now, I can't waste money if I dont have a budget. Definitively, I've obtained positive results: like this - not to fall into debt - to reduce my debt - to have a stock ahead, so I buy only the necesary in order to a priority established by me. All this has not been easy, it take a lot of time and effort. The emotions also are very important in this topic.
3 people like this
@JackBravo (970)
• United States
2 May 07
you know, my finances were in shambles. I finally figured out the solution - I got married and my wife took over. We're buying a house now, got a decent interest rate and saved some money in the bank. crazy, non? :)
• Malaysia
3 May 07
Behind every successful man is a woman, so the saying goes. My wife is the wonderful and effective financial controller at home. That's how we complement each other.
1 person likes this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
3 May 07
so far, ia m not successful in my financial situation because of my back accounts with my suppliers and uncollected recievables from clients who delays their payments. i have to get out of this that is why i am here in the internet to look for ways to earn.i always set goals and plans but with my unpredictable situatiion it would be very impossible to do so.hopefully, within the year i will be dumping my old business and start marketing my site in the net.wish me luck!
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
16 Aug 07
Hey Tiger, To me, nothing is impossible. As long as we put in determination and stay focused, we will succeed. I know what it is like to have lots and lots of collection problems. Well, starting and marketing your own site is probably the best thing that will ever happen to you, just like it did for me.
1 person likes this
@yanjiaren (9031)
8 Sep 07
Yes things are getting better and better due to strategy and planning..I amlooking at my weaknesses and trying to implement strategies to eradicate them and bring into place a system that is income and wealth generating for now and the future, to help my family and many others further afield. I am getting to know who I am through all of this and coming out of my comfort zone is the best thing I have ever done.
@yanjiaren (9031)
8 Sep 07
Yes things are getting better and better due to strategy and planning..I amlooking at my weaknesses and trying to implement strategies to eradicate them and bring into place a system that is income and wealth generating for now and the future, to help my family and many others further afield. I am getting to know who I am through all of this and coming out of my comfort zone is the best thing I have ever done.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
10 Sep 07
The choice is always ours to make any difference in our life. I found this out now and practise it. It is my dream to achieve financial freedom. Today, while at it, I make it a point to share about personal finance.
2 people like this
@yanjiaren (9031)
10 Sep 07
you are totally right my friend..it is all about atitude.
@joice86 (1078)
• Philippines
2 May 07
Wow, it's good for you that you are able to handle your finances well. For me, now i am broke with so many things that i have to pay and i was not able to prepare for it. I am wondering where i will get money to pay for those debts. Hehehe, but i know i will pay them all one day. If i will have a job. Coz now, i am just a fresh graduate...
2 people like this
• Malaysia
2 May 07
Well, being a fresh graduate and realising your situation is good. Many people don't even bother at all. You will do well if you have good focus on your goal to be debt free. And do set a time frame so that you will be well disciplined to achieve it.
1 person likes this
@ricknkae (1721)
• United States
3 May 07
We monitor our expenses very closely To help with that we got organised, folders, calendar, ... that way we know better what we have to pay and when and according to when the paychecks come in we know how much we got left to spend on groceries, gas ... and then if some left, we can reward ourselves with a little extra ...
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jul 07
I've just started my personal finance journey, so I'm setting up my budget now. I've found that I'm spending a bit more than I earn (especially since I'm a student and I earn less in the summer than during the year), so I need to watch what I buy a bit more. It's been very revealing so far.
1 person likes this
@romel_ece (1290)
• Philippines
3 May 07
Lately I my wife and I are not handling our finances very well.Maybe we have lots of things needed to be paid these past couple months.We always hope to have settled and cut down own expenses for the next months.
• Philippines
28 Aug 09
I can say that i handle my finances well, every payday, I try to save at least ten percent of my salary as an emergency fund, I also just give myself an allowance which i will use until the next payday, and no spending more than that. I that way, I can pay up my credit card bills to avoid interests.
@kaylachan (56277)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 10
I do my best, but that's all I can do. I've cut my bills down as much as I could and got rid of things I didn't need. My check barely covers the bills, but it gets done and I'm surviving just barely, but I am surviving which is the main thing. I've budgeted all I could, which is the key when you don't have a lot of money to work with.