WFMW - Finances

I've been working on my finances lately. So, I thought I would share a couple of things that work for me.

1. Write it down - Either write your budget (yes, I used the budget word) on paper or in a spreadsheet. I use Excel. I have all my monthly expenses written down, and additional lines for things that come up. Don't forget to give yourself some fun money / slush money. Or you won't likely stick to whatever you've written down.

2. Be realistic - Debt doesn't happen overnight, so fixing whatever ails you won't either. This is saving money, paying off credit cards or other debts, getting out of living paycheck to paycheck, etc. Try to set a realistic goal of what you want to accomplish. If you want to save $40 a month, figure out where that $10 can come from each week. For me, I know if I want to save a certain amount, I pay myself first. It does actually work.

3. Stay on top of it - Check your bills / payments frequently. I check my accounts several times a week. Sometimes even daily. If you aren't the type to do this, write it ALL down. Find some way to make yourself be accountable to YOU.

4. Give yourself permission - You deserve the best. This doesn't necessarily mean whatever is right in front of your face at this moment. It means, in everything. So, give yourself permission to put yourself first. I have to do this with myself. Maybe others don't. But I do. I also give myself permission to splurge once in awhile.

5. Have checkpoints and new goals - If you know your end goal is years away, or even months, having an interim checking point helps to stay on track. So, for me, I have a big goal, but then smaller goals that make up that goal. For example, if I want to save a certain amount of money this year, I might check to see where I am monthly to make sure I'm on track. But, then I also have maybe a 5 year plan. Or want to put money in different types of investments. Pick one, do that for a year, then add another. Breaking things down into manageable chunks helps me be able to see the bigger picture that can be accomplished.

These things worked for me when going through the adoption, financing the adoption and buying my house, etc. Whenever I have a bigger goal in mind, I try to stick to these basic principles. Maybe simple, but it works for me!! :)

Now, go over to We are That Family and see what types of things work for others, day to day!!! :)

Peace.

Stay the course

About once a week (or more), I check my bills, finances and bank accounts. Is that excessive? Not for me. lol. It keeps me on track... if I was a better money manager (and I feel like I'm pretty good, when I'm not shopping too much)... I might not feel the need to look at it so often. But I do. This helps me adjust/re-adjust where and when I need to. This year, though, I'm going to try to be more diligent about my actual budget, so maybe I won't have to adjust as much.

I'm going to soak some black beans tonight, so we can have beans and rice, tacos, and stuffed peppers. I think all of these dishes will be made with the beans... unless I'm tired of them, and then I'll break out the ground turkey! ha.

The jury duty thing is going to be fine, since I only have to go one morning a week, for the next 8 weeks. I've decided to make up some of the time by working 1/2 hour extra a day. I am trying to remind myself that I used to be away from Mia more than this when I worked up north... Last week was a little tough, because it was our first full week back to work and daycare. I'm hoping we're both a little less touchy this week.

I bought some Borax at my last shopping trip, and now am going to try to find the other ingredients to make my own washing detergent.... but, only if it is more economical. I'm definitely glad I've gone back to the cloth diapers (except when she's at DC). I like not putting so much in the landfills. And, as someone pointed out, even though I have to wash them... i wasn't accounting for the fact that it takes energy to make the other ones, gases/chemicals, the labor to take them to the landfill and then they don't decompose. SO. I'm definitely more into the idea now...

That being said, Lil M has started the beginnings of potty training. So... it's all good.

Peace.