How much does financial freedom cost? In the vain of those MasterCard commercials, it is priceless.
Being debt free (or in my case credit card debt free ) really gives me a sense of financial freedom, well being and that is priceless.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Frugal Five Meet Julie
Julie is a frugal lady that is a central figure on the savingadvice boards and shares her own journey at I'm a saver
What is your financial life?
I have been interested in saving money all my life. I am older and have 1 adopted daughter. My husband and I live in the North Georgia Mountains. My father died when I was nine and suddenly there was no income coming in. I got a job at age 12 and started saving part of everything I earned. I got married at age 20. At that time I was making $1 an hour. I saved my money and bought my first house at age 21. Since I knew nothing about investing and there were no IRA's back then, I concentrated on paying my house off, which I did when I turned 32. I have lived mortgage free ever since. At this point I have no mortgage, no credit card debt and we live on my husband's income only. My last full time job was as a waitress making $2.01 an hour in a rural town.
What is your budget buster?
My biggest budget buster is not house payments, but cars. My husband loves cars! Since he works so hard, seven days a week, I do indulge him with a new car once in a while.
What is your favorite money saving tip?
My biggest money saving tip is, it doesn't matter how much you earn, it is how much of your money that you keep that counts. Pay yourself first. I always sat down with my tips and paid myself 10-15% before I ever paid the bills.
If you had an extra $1000 what would you do with it?
I would just save it.
What is your best resource for frugal living?
My best financial resources were all the good financial books that I have read over the years.
Let us know if you would like to be profiled in the Frugal Five
What is your financial life?
I have been interested in saving money all my life. I am older and have 1 adopted daughter. My husband and I live in the North Georgia Mountains. My father died when I was nine and suddenly there was no income coming in. I got a job at age 12 and started saving part of everything I earned. I got married at age 20. At that time I was making $1 an hour. I saved my money and bought my first house at age 21. Since I knew nothing about investing and there were no IRA's back then, I concentrated on paying my house off, which I did when I turned 32. I have lived mortgage free ever since. At this point I have no mortgage, no credit card debt and we live on my husband's income only. My last full time job was as a waitress making $2.01 an hour in a rural town.
What is your budget buster?
My biggest budget buster is not house payments, but cars. My husband loves cars! Since he works so hard, seven days a week, I do indulge him with a new car once in a while.
What is your favorite money saving tip?
My biggest money saving tip is, it doesn't matter how much you earn, it is how much of your money that you keep that counts. Pay yourself first. I always sat down with my tips and paid myself 10-15% before I ever paid the bills.
If you had an extra $1000 what would you do with it?
I would just save it.
What is your best resource for frugal living?
My best financial resources were all the good financial books that I have read over the years.
Let us know if you would like to be profiled in the Frugal Five
Sunday, July 29, 2007
New tires yes a budget buster
When we got our car inspected last month and then had to get a repair, they also said our tires were getting bad. My husband agreed and since we worked at Sears and National Tire and Battery for years, I had to go with his opinion.
I was trying to hold off as long as I could until I had the cash, but I had to put almost $600 on the credit card. This is the first time in years, I have put something on the credit card that I won't be able to pay off immediately. I feel like I am getting hives and I don't feel comfortable in taking it out of emergency fund.
My goal is to get it paid off within 3 months or sooner. I really need to tighten the belt over the next 8 weeks. I got my sister's wedding- hotel room, 3 tuxes to rent plus the rest of my dress and I don't have all the cash saved up. Total of $1000
Yikes I hope I am not heading into a downward spiral. I need the frugal mojo here.
I was trying to hold off as long as I could until I had the cash, but I had to put almost $600 on the credit card. This is the first time in years, I have put something on the credit card that I won't be able to pay off immediately. I feel like I am getting hives and I don't feel comfortable in taking it out of emergency fund.
My goal is to get it paid off within 3 months or sooner. I really need to tighten the belt over the next 8 weeks. I got my sister's wedding- hotel room, 3 tuxes to rent plus the rest of my dress and I don't have all the cash saved up. Total of $1000
Yikes I hope I am not heading into a downward spiral. I need the frugal mojo here.
Frugal Meal Planning week of July 29th
Here is what we are having for dinner this week
Sun Mother in Law birthday party just having pizza
Mon Asian ground beef (basically ground turkey or beef with a bag of cole slaw, some soy sauce, onions, mushrooms-yummy)
Tues Chicken Pad Thai Hubby asked for this since he had it last week while on a business trip. I picked up some thai noodles and some Chicken pad thai sauce.
Wed Ham and cheese calzones
Thurs Pasta of some kind
Fri Clean out the fridge night....
Sat Pizza
For more dinner ideas Dine Without Whine -is a great menu planning service for active families
Sun Mother in Law birthday party just having pizza
Mon Asian ground beef (basically ground turkey or beef with a bag of cole slaw, some soy sauce, onions, mushrooms-yummy)
Tues Chicken Pad Thai Hubby asked for this since he had it last week while on a business trip. I picked up some thai noodles and some Chicken pad thai sauce.
Wed Ham and cheese calzones
Thurs Pasta of some kind
Fri Clean out the fridge night....
Sat Pizza
For more dinner ideas Dine Without Whine -is a great menu planning service for active families
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wash, rinse, repeat isn't frugal
Where do you think those "wash, rinse and repeat" directions on the shampoo bottle came from? The manufacturer they want you to use more and more. The more you use the more you buy
I've found that I can cut the cost of certain items by as much as half by just using less. Beauty and cleaning products seem to lend themselves to this especially well. I have even added water in the end especially on the shampoo and it still works fine!
Here are things that I have cut in either half or by a third and have not noticed a change
Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Toothpaste
dishwasher soap
laundry detergent
So use less and watch your dollars save up!
I've found that I can cut the cost of certain items by as much as half by just using less. Beauty and cleaning products seem to lend themselves to this especially well. I have even added water in the end especially on the shampoo and it still works fine!
Here are things that I have cut in either half or by a third and have not noticed a change
Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Toothpaste
dishwasher soap
laundry detergent
So use less and watch your dollars save up!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Friday Freebies and coupons
Enjoy your freebies!
Bowflex® | Strength Training Book & DVD
Free American Baby Subscription
CUTIVATE® LOTION - Save Our Skin for itchy skin
the healing garden skin organics free sample
NESCAFÉ Taster's Choice - Sampling Free coffee
Sign-up for great baby freebies and deals
Estée Lauder perfume sample
Body Shape™ free trial offer
Welcome Credit Panda readers
Hello Credit Panda readers
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Lots of clicks from you! I am a frugal work at home mom. I am a little obsessive, compulsive about making ends meet, living on a budget and saving for retirement. I think we are a typical family, not necessarily living paycheck to paycheck but worry about the cost of living and the typical "What if's" of life. I have been writing this blog since 2004 so there are lots of parts of my life in different posts but to summarize. I have 3 boys,. I stopped working out of the house when the twins were born. I had worked in the financial services field for 10 years.
In 2000 is when my husband and I got serious about paying off the credit cards and living the debt free lifestyle. I started to read Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and almost everything I could get my hands on. We paid off our last credit cards in 2003/2004. Our debit card is what we primarily use when we are out shopping now. If we do have to use the credit card, it is paid off immediately. For example, we went to Disney this summer and charged the card I paid it off immediately.
Frugality is a choice now rather than a necessity. However since we are primarily a 1.5 income family, I need to work on our emergency fund a bit more. So for the next few months we are trying to live below our means rather than right at our means. My husband works on commission in a team setting-so if the team doesn't meet the goals-their commission is low. Living with variable income isn't always fun!
2007 mid year financial goal check in
2006 end of the year financial goal check in
2005 end of the year financial goal check in
So sign-up for our weekly newsletter! If you are looking for a specific topic, you can use the search button at the topic to review!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Lots of clicks from you! I am a frugal work at home mom. I am a little obsessive, compulsive about making ends meet, living on a budget and saving for retirement. I think we are a typical family, not necessarily living paycheck to paycheck but worry about the cost of living and the typical "What if's" of life. I have been writing this blog since 2004 so there are lots of parts of my life in different posts but to summarize. I have 3 boys,. I stopped working out of the house when the twins were born. I had worked in the financial services field for 10 years.
In 2000 is when my husband and I got serious about paying off the credit cards and living the debt free lifestyle. I started to read Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman and almost everything I could get my hands on. We paid off our last credit cards in 2003/2004. Our debit card is what we primarily use when we are out shopping now. If we do have to use the credit card, it is paid off immediately. For example, we went to Disney this summer and charged the card I paid it off immediately.
Frugality is a choice now rather than a necessity. However since we are primarily a 1.5 income family, I need to work on our emergency fund a bit more. So for the next few months we are trying to live below our means rather than right at our means. My husband works on commission in a team setting-so if the team doesn't meet the goals-their commission is low. Living with variable income isn't always fun!
2007 mid year financial goal check in
2006 end of the year financial goal check in
2005 end of the year financial goal check in
So sign-up for our weekly newsletter! If you are looking for a specific topic, you can use the search button at the topic to review!
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