Comments on: Monday Q&A-Specificity and budgeting http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/ cheerfully living on less Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:14:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kristin @ klingtocash http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18214 Kristin @ klingtocash Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:56:39 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18214 We have a very detailed budget. I use the Dave Ramsey plan so every dollar has a name at the beginning of the month. I like this because whatever is left on paper gets applied against the debt snowball. At the end of the month, whatever we have left because we didn't use up all the funds we budgeted gets donated to charity and applied to the snowball (in addition to what we already gave to charity and applied to the snowball). We have a very detailed budget. I use the Dave Ramsey plan so every dollar has a name at the beginning of the month. I like this because whatever is left on paper gets applied against the debt snowball. At the end of the month, whatever we have left because we didn’t use up all the funds we budgeted gets donated to charity and applied to the snowball (in addition to what we already gave to charity and applied to the snowball).

]]> By: jen b http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18210 jen b Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:30:52 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18210 <a href="#comment-18198" rel="nofollow">@Terri Young </a> I know this does not work for everyone, but we use our Discover card for gas, and only gas. I budget $100 for gas every two weeks (every paycheck) and send it straight to the Discover card. Of course, if I check the balance and we only spent $80 on gas since the last payment, I can send less. We rack up "cash back" until we have $50 worth and then we apply that towards the balance to get $50 of free gas. This only works for us because it is only one thing to keep track of on this card. Keep receipts, it is the only way to see how much you are spending on gas so you can adjust your budget and make sure you have enough (or budget a certain amount per fill-up, say $30, and then count the number of fill-ups) @Terri Young
I know this does not work for everyone, but we use our Discover card for gas, and only gas. I budget $100 for gas every two weeks (every paycheck) and send it straight to the Discover card. Of course, if I check the balance and we only spent $80 on gas since the last payment, I can send less. We rack up “cash back” until we have $50 worth and then we apply that towards the balance to get $50 of free gas. This only works for us because it is only one thing to keep track of on this card. Keep receipts, it is the only way to see how much you are spending on gas so you can adjust your budget and make sure you have enough (or budget a certain amount per fill-up, say $30, and then count the number of fill-ups)

]]> By: Terri Young http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18198 Terri Young Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:17:04 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18198 I feel like gas is really killing us. I keep track of all the same things you do Kristen- $400 for groceries, $50 for clothes, etc. But, gas is about the only thing we don't keep track of, and it's all I can figure that's eating away all of our money. Makes me sad.... :( I guess I'd better start figuring it out, can't ignore it. I feel like gas is really killing us. I keep track of all the same things you do Kristen- $400 for groceries, $50 for clothes, etc. But, gas is about the only thing we don’t keep track of, and it’s all I can figure that’s eating away all of our money. Makes me sad…. :( I guess I’d better start figuring it out, can’t ignore it.

]]> By: Frugal Dreamer http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18191 Frugal Dreamer Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:47:23 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18191 Great post! I can see how $50 could last your family, I know I don't buy clothing ever single month! And shopping second hand really helps! :) Your way of life is inspiring! Great post!

I can see how $50 could last your family, I know I don’t buy clothing ever single month! And shopping second hand really helps! :)

Your way of life is inspiring!

]]> By: Kristen http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18189 Kristen Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:06:13 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18189 Susan-yep, that's for our whole family. Usually it ends up being more than we need, and the money in that account kind of piles up. lol We're going to take some money from there soon, actually, to replace our chest freezer, which is dying. I know $50 doesn't seem like a lot, but fear not....we're all well-dressed, in nice, stylish clothing. I'm pretty picky about what I will dress my family in! Susan-yep, that’s for our whole family. Usually it ends up being more than we need, and the money in that account kind of piles up. lol We’re going to take some money from there soon, actually, to replace our chest freezer, which is dying.

I know $50 doesn’t seem like a lot, but fear not….we’re all well-dressed, in nice, stylish clothing. I’m pretty picky about what I will dress my family in!

]]> By: Susan http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18187 Susan Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:50:47 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18187 Kristen, is that $50.00 clothing budget for each person in your family? A month? I know you get some good deals, but surely that doesn't cover all your family for the month...right??? Kristen, is that $50.00 clothing budget for each person in your family? A month? I know you get some good deals, but surely that doesn’t cover all your family for the month…right???

]]> By: Adrienne http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/monday-qa-specificity-and-budgeting/#comment-18180 Adrienne Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:10:57 +0000 http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=3447#comment-18180 I currently have a budget for each category then put cash in a bag for catgories I'm trying to control. So for gifts, restaurants, shopping we go to the cash bag. When there's no money left there's no spending. For other variables such as electricity, gas for the car, etc. I have a set "budget" but I don't control it (if I need more gas I buy more gas). Every 6 months I check what I've been spending on those and adjust if needed. If I have to adjust up for say gas then usually the cash bag goes down by that amount. I currently have a budget for each category then put cash in a bag for catgories I’m trying to control. So for gifts, restaurants, shopping we go to the cash bag. When there’s no money left there’s no spending. For other variables such as electricity, gas for the car, etc. I have a set “budget” but I don’t control it (if I need more gas I buy more gas). Every 6 months I check what I’ve been spending on those and adjust if needed. If I have to adjust up for say gas then usually the cash bag goes down by that amount.

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