Poll (just curious): do you save, budget, or just hope?

[TanksHill]

I wish I could do A.
Currently I mostly do b.
In the recent past I was a big fat C.

 

[Sunny]

Well I really cant save money. All our bills take up almost all of the paycheck. When we get a paycheck. I save back what is needed for the bills. And what is left barely pays for gas till the next payday.

But I am saving up all our pennies, nickels, and dimes in an old wine bottle I found at my old work. I think there is maybe some thing like $20 in there. In just a few months.

Right now we are selling stuff around the house to buy a Blue Bowl Consentrator for gold mining. We are slowly saving enough to maybe have one by the end of the month. Then we can get the gold out of our black sand. Then we will be saving the gold for a rainy day. Or rather for a down payment on our own place one of these days. Hey its a dream..

I also live cheaply. Or as cheap as I can. And I also hope our income gets larger so we can save some money. Or at least go out to eat at a resturant for once. Or go see a movie. I havent been to a movie theater since 2004..

 

[big brown horse]

I live way below my means.

Each month I give myself a small, strict budget with a tiny bit of breathing room.

Then I save all the rest and it doesn't get touched unless tshtf.


If I really need/want something outside of my usual expences, I will save up for it seperately.

 

[SKR8PN]

Being self employed, I learned a long time ago to put a little "cushion" back, then just sorta "go with the flow" . When I am busy and times are decent, I buy what we need when we need it, and try to get ahead a little bit. When things slow down, we hold back until we can pay cash.......or until things improve.

My parents were both pretty frugal. They used to give me all kinds of heck, because I liked to enjoy the fruits of my labor..... as in race cars, motorcycles, wild women and other wasteful things.
But I looked at it this way.......... Ya only get to ride this ride we call "life" one time. No refunds, no returns and no do overs. Might as well enjoy the heck out of while ya can!!

 

[big brown horse]

But I looked at it this way.......... Ya only get to ride this ride we call "life" one time. No refunds, no returns and no do overs. Might as well enjoy the heck out of while ya can!!

Good attitude! I agree, live life to its fullest, just don't go into debt while you do.

 

[jynxthecat21]

I wish I could save enough to pay for big purchases, it seems like we live paycheck to paycheck of course all my animals are to blame.:/ But I just keep trying and I figure one of these days it will sink in that the simple life is the way we need to go.

 

[abifae]

a) save up for it in advance, either in a cookie jar or with actual real accounting so that the money is earmarked for that purpose, and then not buy the item til you have all the money actually in hand;

b) consider your monthly or quarterly budget (I just mean generally, your financial situation) and see that the money currently available for discretionary spending will adequately cover that expense, and then just remember not to 'double-spend' that money on anything ELSE that month/quarter;

c) buy the item if it seems important enough and if you feel reasonably sanguine about it not putting you into serious debt, and figure it will all work out in some fashion as time goes by.

i save up in advance. actually i keep a couple thousand in savings to buy things that come up and then replenish after large purchases. for example, the quarter cow i just bought.

 

[FarmerChick]

I don't "really" have a budget. I know the "bigger" bills I must pay and make sure money is in checking for those lol

I know if I can spend more money grocery shopping or be very careful if some bills hit me, like stupid property taxes right now.

Under $300 purchase I don't care too much about. Tony and I can spend up to that without consulting each other....over that amt. it becomes a partner decision usually but not always lol

We save all the time. Automatic withdrawl from his paycheck goes into savings, into 401K, and I always bank an emergency fund which is in the house.

With doing a cash business with the farmer markets I always have cash on hand each weekend.

Most things go on a credit card which I get rewards and are paid off quickly. We are doing OK.



I go with the flow also. Money doesn't freak me out too much in life.

 

[VickiLynn]

Save?
Budget?

Just Hope?

All of the above. I budget for regular expenses, have a GKW (God Knows What) fund for emergencies and a savings account for future projects, trips, etc. Then I hope prices don't rise too quickly and no body gets sick or hurt (we have a very high insurance deductible).

 

[lnm03]

I am trying to learn how to make a budget. I am tired of the just hope, which is where weve been for quite some time now! I sat down today and wrote a budget and Im going to try my hardest to stick to it!