Comments on: You’ve Got a Budget, Now What? http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/ Encouragement for a Simple Home Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:35:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: lehall http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-16110 lehall Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:57:10 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-16110 I use You Need A Budget. It is structured enough to be a zero-based budget but flexible enough that we can roll with what happens. It works really well for us. www.youneedabudget.com I use You Need A Budget. It is structured enough to be a zero-based budget but flexible enough that we can roll with what happens. It works really well for us. http://www.youneedabudget.com

]]> By: Susan http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-14754 Susan Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:56:12 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-14754 I have really enjoyed your post today. My husband and I have been married for 15 wonderful years. We have always had a "budget", but truly the only real guideline seemed to be that neither of us would spend more than $50 without consulting the other. As of November of last year, we have a budget in place and we have been sticking to it faithfully. The Lord has truly blessed our decision and has allowed us to already pay off a nice chunk of debt. We are hoping to be free by the end of this year (other than our mortgage, which we see as "acceptable debt", but plan to tackle next). Budgets are tough at times and there are frustrations involved with waiting on things when the budget simply doesn't allow for them, but oh, the rewards! Great reminder for why a budget is essential. .-= Susan´s last blog post ..<a href="http://busylilhomemaker.blogspot.com/2010/04/painted-flower-pots.html" rel="nofollow">Painted Flower Pots</a> =-. I have really enjoyed your post today. My husband and I have been married for 15 wonderful years. We have always had a “budget”, but truly the only real guideline seemed to be that neither of us would spend more than $50 without consulting the other.

As of November of last year, we have a budget in place and we have been sticking to it faithfully. The Lord has truly blessed our decision and has allowed us to already pay off a nice chunk of debt. We are hoping to be free by the end of this year (other than our mortgage, which we see as “acceptable debt”, but plan to tackle next).

Budgets are tough at times and there are frustrations involved with waiting on things when the budget simply doesn’t allow for them, but oh, the rewards!

Great reminder for why a budget is essential.
Susan´s last blog post ..Painted Flower Pots

]]> By: Louise http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-14551 Louise Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:44:51 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-14551 I haven't got a budget working right now but I use another system, which I guess is similar to the envelope one. I have accounts with one bank for my expenses, pocket money and something in particular, which is currently driving lessons. Then I have online saving accounts with a different bank so that if I do dip into my savings, it takes about three days for the money to get to my account. I'm saving for a housing deposit and a car, and I have an emergency fund. Excessive, perhaps but when I log in to view my day-to-day finances with the first bank I can't physically see or access my savings with the second bank. To help my savings and to curb any "naughty" spending I keep a change jar, and I have a savings goal of $200 a month and I allow myself a treat every month, currently a magazine. I haven’t got a budget working right now but I use another system, which I guess is similar to the envelope one. I have accounts with one bank for my expenses, pocket money and something in particular, which is currently driving lessons. Then I have online saving accounts with a different bank so that if I do dip into my savings, it takes about three days for the money to get to my account. I’m saving for a housing deposit and a car, and I have an emergency fund. Excessive, perhaps but when I log in to view my day-to-day finances with the first bank I can’t physically see or access my savings with the second bank. To help my savings and to curb any “naughty” spending I keep a change jar, and I have a savings goal of $200 a month and I allow myself a treat every month, currently a magazine.

]]> By: Good Reads: Spring Fever : Domestic Cents http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13767 Good Reads: Spring Fever : Domestic Cents Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:04:56 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13767 [...] You’ve Got A Budget, Now What? from Small Notebook ~ A budget is no good if you don’t use it! [...] [...] You’ve Got A Budget, Now What? from Small Notebook ~ A budget is no good if you don’t use it! [...]

]]> By: Jessica http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13641 Jessica Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:23:21 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13641 I use Mint and really like it. The only problem I've had is that ING won't allow them to pull your balance info, so I have to keep an eye on our savings accounts separately. But that is on ING's side, not Mint's .-= Jessica´s last blog post ..<a href="http://onthisharvestmoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/school-daze.html" rel="nofollow">School Daze</a> =-. I use Mint and really like it. The only problem I’ve had is that ING won’t allow them to pull your balance info, so I have to keep an eye on our savings accounts separately. But that is on ING’s side, not Mint’s
Jessica´s last blog post ..School Daze

]]> By: The website that saved my marriage » Half-Assed Housewife http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13630 The website that saved my marriage » Half-Assed Housewife Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:03:37 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13630 [...] really liked this post from Small Notebook on what to do with a budget once you’ve got one. Rather than feeling constrained by ours, I [...] [...] really liked this post from Small Notebook on what to do with a budget once you’ve got one. Rather than feeling constrained by ours, I [...]

]]> By: Shannon http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13629 Shannon Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:44:18 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13629 My husband and I also had to sit down and look at our budget due to him losing his job, and I think everyone needs to do it once in a while. Sometimes you have no idea what you are spending unless you sit down, uninterrupted, and go over it. We actually found that there were so many things we could cut back on and we barely notice - I love looking at my budget now. It used to scare me, but it really helps keep things managed and stress-free! Good article! .-= Shannon´s last blog post ..<a href="http://midwesternmamai.com/?p=537" rel="nofollow">Groupon…</a> =-. My husband and I also had to sit down and look at our budget due to him losing his job, and I think everyone needs to do it once in a while. Sometimes you have no idea what you are spending unless you sit down, uninterrupted, and go over it. We actually found that there were so many things we could cut back on and we barely notice – I love looking at my budget now. It used to scare me, but it really helps keep things managed and stress-free! Good article!
Shannon´s last blog post ..Groupon…

]]> By: nicola http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13624 nicola Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:20:48 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13624 excellent, post, as always! we live frugally and i write a lot about it, both on my blog and for our local examiner. i just posted an article about where to start, but in the archives you can find an article about creating a budget. here is the link if anyone is interested. http://www.examiner.com/x-22477-Oakland-Frugal-Living-Examiner nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com .-= nicola´s last blog post ..<a href="http://whichname.blogspot.com/2010/03/february-in-review-march-looking-ahead.html" rel="nofollow">february, in review. march, looking ahead.</a> =-. excellent, post, as always!
we live frugally and i write a lot about it, both on my blog and for our local examiner. i just posted an article about where to start, but in the archives you can find an article about creating a budget. here is the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.examiner.com/x-22477-Oakland-Frugal-Living-Examiner
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
nicola´s last blog post ..february, in review. march, looking ahead.

]]> By: 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget: Yes, You Need a Budget :: Money Saving Mom http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13623 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget: Yes, You Need a Budget :: Money Saving Mom Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:13:18 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13623 [...] within 6-10 months, it’s very possible you can have it lowered by 30-50% or even more.Always give yourself grace, though. If you’re ever feeling frustrated or stressed about it, step back and remind [...] [...] within 6-10 months, it’s very possible you can have it lowered by 30-50% or even more.Always give yourself grace, though. If you’re ever feeling frustrated or stressed about it, step back and remind [...]

]]> By: Adam S http://smallnotebook.org/2010/03/01/youve-got-a-budget-now-what/#comment-13621 Adam S Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:02:38 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=1825#comment-13621 It's interesting how differently people look at money; when I have cash in my hand I just want to spend it! I personally don't budget on paper. While I think always having a good snapshot of your finances is crucial through Mint or something similar, I tend to follow David Bach's method of paying yourself first (automating your savings and bill payments), and paying attention to the frequent little expenses that add up and learn to minimize them (latte factor). I would be the worst at trying to keep cash in different envelopes each month. As long as I set aside savings and necessary expenses first, it's easy to decide what to do with the rest. Budgeting is similar to dieting in my opinion: counting calories works for some, but not others. In addition, you don't have to "diet" to eat healthy foods. It’s interesting how differently people look at money; when I have cash in my hand I just want to spend it! I personally don’t budget on paper. While I think always having a good snapshot of your finances is crucial through Mint or something similar, I tend to follow David Bach’s method of paying yourself first (automating your savings and bill payments), and paying attention to the frequent little expenses that add up and learn to minimize them (latte factor). I would be the worst at trying to keep cash in different envelopes each month. As long as I set aside savings and necessary expenses first, it’s easy to decide what to do with the rest. Budgeting is similar to dieting in my opinion: counting calories works for some, but not others. In addition, you don’t have to “diet” to eat healthy foods.

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