Budgeting

Unfortunately, I really feel we're in the same boat as of the moment. My spouse and I have separate jobs but inspite of this, we still find it so difficult to make ends meet. In fact, we're still in the process of paying off our substantial monetary obligations with various individuals, loan agencies, credit card companies, and pawnshops. At present, we definitely can't save even a dollar from our monthly salaries. Most of it goes to paying. But even if I'm fully aware that we're still far from being debt-free, I personally try as hard as I could to minimize my personal expenses on transportation. For instance, I would sacrifice taking a cheaper public transport and walking the remaining hundred meters to one kilometer each day. This way, I also get some exercise in the process. Aside from this, I also condition myself not to eat junk foods or eat snacks altogether, but I don't deprive myself from having three full meals in a day, namely breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also try to notice and pick up coins on the road. And whenever possible, I organize clutter and segregate those which can be sold to junk shop yards in the neighborhood.

My husband and I realized that we were spending a lot of money on groceries. You know the nights nothing sounds good so you go out to eat. Or you go to the grocery store and buy everything in sight but you go home and don't eat it... Well that is what we were doing. So we opened up a separate account and every two weeks my husband would transfer "grocery money" to that account. So then I knew I had to stay in that amount and then whatever was left over was mine for fun, clothes, to save etc. I found that I did so good on budgeting. I started making a menu and we had to eat that for dinner. I would find that I had a lot of money left over and then we could go out to eat or buy extra stuff and even save extra. It really worked for us. Good luck.

You know, I don't budget at all, not really. I don't make much money. I figure my hours and figure first of all if I can pay everything with my paycheck. Sometimes I can't! But if I can and there is money left over I tend to take the kids and grandkids to the dollar store and let them each pick something out. I need to put aside some sort of emergency type money instead of indulging them or myself. Marsha

I always set up a budget for all my bills then set the rest aside for groceries and spending. I try to make sure that I stay within my limits and leave what's left for my savings.