Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

Well we went shopping today got some great deals on groceries but we did extra as our house guest will be here in 1 day...we are a bit excited...

so our monthly food budget is way over and we are having a birthday bbq dinner this weekend for my hubby so that will add to it but we have budgeted for the extra person

other than that things are on track and going well

Have managed to pay off $730 off the dreaded CC so it is coming down slowly...will take a few months and not happy that it is this high but sometimes you just have to use it...but making progress..

my first goal is to get our ice account back to $2000 then get $2000 into an account for when wmy friend is here...guess we need to buy her a ticket home LOL...she could live here forever but I think she would miss her family a bit....

then it will be onto the CC and then onto saving for a house....

Well what a weekend we had....sat down and got my budget sorted after it just got so far out of whack...felt good about it...then we all came down sick...so hubby had to go to doc to be checked out (he has copd) and he has bronchitis...

Then my hubby goes to the bank to do some banking and the when he is done the car wouldn't start..so had to get a call out (free) but it cost us almost $200 for a new car battery and he picked up on something else that needs doing with the car which will be around another $400 so that is booked in for tomorrow.

Then my daughter was selling her older fone ($1000) as she just upgraded and the 2 guys that came to look at the phone run off with it...we tried to chase them in the car but they ran fast by the time we got into the car they were gone...pretty sure they live in the area (they are sudanese) we called the police gave a good description of them and their clothes, my daughter called and the got the phone where they won't be able to use it at all and I called our insurance to see if it was covered..and it was so my daughter only had to pay the $100 excess fee but will get the other $900 so although an ordeal it wasn't as bad as it could be...one thing I am good at is having good insurance "just in case" and those guys have a phone they can't use and the police have their description and the phone description and serial number etc...

So here is hoping this week is uneventful and we can just recoup and try to feel better

Was frustrated this morning ove the budget completely going out of the window and being trashed....now after redoing it I don't feel as bad...still going to be behind where I wanted us to be...but can catch up..so this is what I am hoping
1. the money I took from the car acct (800) should be replaced in april as well as the normal monthly car payment (saving up for a car not actual payment to a company)
2. my ice acct I like to have 2000 so that should be fully funded to that BY mid may then wont add to that for awhile
3. want 2000 in bank for besties ticket home and things to do while she is here (2000) that should be fully funded by mid may.
4. the dreaded cc should be paid off by mid july..

we can then start saving again...we do have extra money suppose to be coming in from a couple of things (cc purchase that we didnt authorise) and money from his son that he owes us....but I didn't add them in as not sure 100% when we will get that money...if we do will go straight on the CC to get it paid off earlier...also have taxes coming in but its not a big amount (around 300) so told hubby he can have that to do whatever he wants for his b-day

So although our budget was completly trashed yesterday we can recover pretty well and get back on track...fingers crossed nothing else comes up

Well when it rains it pours...doing good on our budget and then murphy hit big time!!

First bought my bestie plane ticket over here but she was having trouble getting travel ins over there so was able to get it while she is over here which added an extra $800 to the plane ticket...I had budgeted $3000 for her whole trip and 1 ticket and ins cost me nearly $2600 so that has been blown out so need to save for her ticket home and while she is here.

Then mine and my hubbys cell phones have been real bad lately yes they ae both 6 years old so needed replacing...but due to my ill health and my hubby being retired they wouldn't let us add to a plan so had to buy out right which maxed out our CC and also had to use some of our car money...found out when the store went to put in my sim to my new phone that my battery was bowed and he said I was lucky that it hadnt exploded...but now we have phones that will last a long while

now today I am going to sit down AGAIN and see how to get everything back on track and get our accounts back on track....fingers crossed it won't take to long and nothing else comes up...I can find free things to do with my bestie for a few weeks...she is here for 3 months....I am so excited...but frustrated about the budget

Well my friend should be heading over to Australia in the next 3 or so weeks (no exact dates yet) I can't wait...she will be here 3 months I have money set aside for her plane tickets and to do some things while she is here...she won't have any expenses other than her shopping she wants to do...I know how our food bill will go up but that we expected...same with gas as we will be doing more day trips but we can cover those...so excited right now...even though we are not where we wanted to be with the budget we are doing well.

Well I looked at our budget last night and I think we can be back to where we want to be in the next couple of months...albeit if nothing else happens.

So I was looking at our CC statement and noticed a $423 payment to a games online place...its not something we have done so had call and get it sorted so the company is working on it and we will hopefully get the money back and we have ordered a new card....we don't use it a lot but have lately but need to get it paid off again...and if we get some money back from his son who we lent money to for a bond and we get it back soon and then pay off the rest we should have it paid off in may...

As for the ice account we should have that back to where it needs to be in april...

so although we are behind a couple months we can catch up and start saving again and we just hope nothing else comes up...wish us luck

Well mini skip has been filled and picked up...backyard is looking great...picked up a few good half price sales at the store today which wasnt in our budget but stuff that we wanted to get and was on sale so why not..right?

Well I haven't tackled the budget yet but it is pay week so going to do that tomorrow and see how far off track we are and the best way to get my accounts back to where I want them...my first priority is get my ice account back to $2000 which isn't a lot but its a start...then it wil be to pay off the CC again...have done so well barely using it...so I am hoping to get it paid off in 3 months or sooner...

Still waiting for my friend to get her passport so I can buy her ticket over here...can't wait...but I have that money in a seperate account....wow this is depressing me so maybe I need to get my budget out now and work on it...see how I go

This week has been an expensive one, first we had our neuro physio appointments to pay for...then we had to get in a yard guy to do some work that we just don't have the energy for or tools (we had to trim trees etc) so $200 later our yards look great and now the new fence is up we can get back into the yards and start getting things back on track....today we had to order a mini skip to get rid of all the rubbish and old stuff that we are no longer using...we have to be wary of snakes in the yard and our animals and now they don't have as many hiding places...after that we shouldn't have anymore outlay for the yards for a while.

we have been over spending on food lately I'm sure the grocery prices have gone up again...so will have to keep a closer eye on prices of things.

This week I really need to go back through the budget and rejig it and get back on track...the last month has been tough and just gone off track on our budget but has been hard doing everything including 3 other family members budgets...but we will get there

Well opened up a new account so I can track my savings and also keep the money I have allocated to buying my friends tickets and while she is here doing the things we want to do...I have a budget and want to try to stick with it....can be hard...but I figure I will keep the account when she leaves and just add money into it for when we buy our house for the things we might want to do to the new house...so have a couple of years for that.

Been busy catching up with family since the wedding..so nice a couple of them stuck around for an extra week....and its much nicer weather so we have lots we want to try and get done around here while we can...have a few doc appts this week we need to pay for but will get a few dollars back but we have the money for that...so heres to another week..

Able to add another $300 to savings today...I know that it will go down when I buy my friends plane ticket in the nex few weeks but its nice to keep adding to it for now....

Spent $95 today on groceries but other than that no spending...have started to get some of my chrstmas presents...so can start knocking those off the list...I like to shop all year for christmas..get some great deals

nothing else to do this week other than catch up with family and rest...next week have lots of expenses with doctors so need to rest up for that

Almost missed my brothers wedding as I was down with my illness from doing way to much lately...but I made it and it was beautiful and right on the beach the loud music and height (ceremony was outside on balcony) but my bro knew I hadnt been well and had chairs for us...so that made it easier...only cost $100 in a card...and a shirt for my hubby!

have my ice acct back to where it should be so have reached that goal, not sure about what Im going to do to pay it off have a few expenses coming up over the next few months when my friend is here...so will give myself a few days and then go over the budget...weather has been hot and I have been struggling so going to do nothing for a few days and rest up ready for my appt next week and just give my body the rest it needs...but have lots of family down that are staying for a few days so thought would try to catch up with them as well.

so far the budget is going well have a couple of paydays to go this month so will see what happens....now to add the CC to our debt list

Well we are in the middle of helping my step son move..its not going well we are all down sick and injured (which we all have anyways but this is just making it worse) and its been over 105 each day and will be for next couple of days...so its not helping

we also had to go over and do my moms internet (as she has no idea) so each night we are not getting home till 8-9pm and so we have been having take away...which we don't enjoy we prefer to cook..so it hasnt been settling well

We had to take dog to emergency vet as he was pooping blood and in pain...but lucky it was only an intestinal bug and he is much better after being on meds but an added expense.

so hopefully today we can finish getting everything moved for my step son...I need to do my neices budget and set up some of her banking for her today...we still have a wedding to get ready for on monday so hopefully we will get some rest and feel better or my health will really deterioriate again and I dont or want that

next week is pay week so my goals for this month are to get my ice account back to $2000 (currently $89), to pay off a majority of our CC owe around $2500 plus...and to save some money....might not reach these goals but hoping to make a big dent if nothing else

It has been a busy couple weeks and this next week isn't any different wih us having to help my hubbys son move...still recovering from helping my mom move...but its family...on the good news he has enough money for the move so he won't have to borrow from us..which is great...

have lots of appointments this week that are going to cost...we have my brothers wedding in a week but don't think we need to buy anything for that...except some money in a card..

I just looked at the CC we hardly use it but used it both jan & feb...hoping to pay it off in march if not definatly april...hate owing money...but it was things like a new washer...which is a dream and so quiet compared to our old one...but being short I almost have to climb into it to get to the bottom of it...LOL

I know I have some expenses coming up as next month we are hoping my bestie will be visiting us still waiting on passport...is taking forever...it sucks...but hopefully next month and she is hoping to stay like 3 months...can't wait so will have some expenses while she is here going and doing things and visiting places

so going to spend the week resting as i can and going through the budget to try get the CC paid of asap

Well today our washer broke..can't complain it is over 14 years old so we had to go and get another one...got a pretty good deal for over here and paid $77 for the delivery, installation and taking the old washer with them...so worth it don't need the hassle right now of trying to get rid of it ourselves.

Also have his son who is moving next week and he wants to borrow money for the move so we will have to discuss that...always something coming up I'm just hoping that next month no unexpected expenses come up so we can get back on track.

Finally got our US taxes done..was a bit of a chore and since my itin number has been changed or whatever they are doing with it...I started the process oct last year to get a new number or update it...but it still hasnt been processed yet so more forms for that so god only knows how long it takes or what we will have to do for it to be processed...since we cant do online it takes 6-8 weeks anyway and last year they sent a check to us which takes 3-4 weeks to process over here anyways....but its not money we count on or add in to our budget at all...but glad it is done for now.

Was invited to another wedding today so have to put that into our budget...its local so should be able to attend and not have it cost much at all.

We changed our internet company and it costs us around $700 plus for everything (fetch box etc) and then we signed my mom up as well so paid for her box and first month as well...so we had to use the CC again..which I hate but the old company their internet dropped out constantly so far with this one no drop outs...so much nicer...so worth the expense in the long run.

So now we have the CC to pay off hopefully in march we can do that I hate owing money..other than that not much else going on here except waiting for my friend to get her passport so I can buy her a ticket to come over here...cant wait

Have been busy finding my mom and niece a place to live and getting them moved in...has been a long and tiring process but it is done now has completely worn me out. Last year I managed to help my mom get rid of all her debt by helping her budget...she paid for her move to the city and everything else she needed to do on her own..she is happy with that. My mom is one of those people who would give anyone her last dollar before helping heself and family can take advantage of that...but not anymore and she is better off because of it.
My niece left an abusive husband and took her son who took her to court so has lawyers bills, etc he wouldn't even give her their clothes or anything so for last couple years she has struggled financially, she has also been "dumped" with her grandson (who is 11 months) so has to pay for everything for him as well as her daughter won't look after him more than a day or so...and then my niece late last year was diagnosed with a heart condition so has made everything that bit more stressful...so they have moved in together and I have just written up their budgets this weekend and mom is still doing good and will be adding to her savings a bit more...my niece is struggling financially but she makes enough to cover her bills each month and by end of year she should be debt free and can start saving for the first time in a long time...will be a tough year but will get there.

my youngest DD wants me to help her with her budget as she wants to do a couple overseas trips that will help with her college(uni) degree and give her a step up into her field so have to get that done this week....so have been busy with budgets lately.

Now I am just trying to recoup my energy levels this week ready for some doc appointments, and my brothers wedding in march...and hoping my friend will have her passport by then and can get her butt over here...almost 4 month we have been waiting for her passport...it takes forever...not sure if it was affected by the shutdown over there or not but they need to get it done

I'm just wondering how people have learnt about money, when I was growing up we didn't have much money but I never felt like we missed out but we were never taught about money. Everything I have learnt over the years of being married and having kids is self taught and by trial and error...it works pretty well now for us (we still learn though) and we rejig our budget as we need to...we have taught our kids what we have learnt about money one is really great on saving and the other does ok but is a lot more social and like clothes so spends more but she does spend her own money so its on her and they both like to travel as well.

I actually do my moms budget now as it makes it easier on her and family asks me to help them with their budgets (how to do one) etc...so just curious on how others have learnt about budgets/money tc and do you help others?

We still have to do US taxes even though we live in Aust which is frustrating as it can be complicated and now they have changed a few things...in Aust we do the in july and january for US...so now we need to sit down and try and do them and I am still waiting for my new itin...so we are trying to get taxes done and in and signed off our list.

Still waiting for my friend o get her passport so she can come visit...it has taken 10 weeks already it takes forever over there it seems to get things done, but it gives me more time to save for when she is here.

Also have my brothers wedding in 3 weeks...but we have everything we need for except the money for their wishing well...

I put all my coins in a tin that I have...well in 1 month it was full so I took it to the bank and had $107 in the bank was going to save up till december but filled it to quick so I have added this money to the bank and now I have a jar to put coins in...

also we used the cc for hubby to buy some stuff..but I hated having money owing so used savings to pay it off!!

Took our cans back and made $33...was suppose to be $32.70 but the guy gave us $33 so not complaining.

In our state we get 10 cents back on all soda cans/bottles etc. we also collect them when are walking makes a few extra $ a year so money went into my tin but haven't decided what I'm doing with the money yet...probably just just go into savings but have till december to decide

was able to make a car payment today to our account, also add to our savings (although this will go down when we buy the plane ticket) and put some into our ice account as well as our regular bills.

Will update our side bar as most of these bills get done once a month have a couple of pays this month but will add to the ice account until its back to where I want it to be.

Next week is pay week and I am so glad that I will finally get some money back into savings...I have re looked at the budget and we are hitting our financial goals so far this year...can't believe it is already february...this year is going fast...

Have been eating lots of salad mostly from our garden so have been saving money there.

I have also started tins for both our girls for when they move out..just so they have money to do a big first grocery shop and all the bits and pieces they might need...not sure how much I am going to put in or how often yet as neither will probably move out for another couple years...so should have a good amount in there for them...

hoping to buy my friends ticket to fly over here soon...it is taking forever to do her passport over there

This last week has seen me with bad shopping habits...I really hate shopping but the last week I have ordered quite a bit of stuff...yes we need it and will use it but it has really left us behind where I want to be...I am really annoyed at myself but I do this on occassion...but have the budget back out today so I can see how far off track we are and get myself back on track with our goals...

Also no more spending other than my mad money..no matter what...I have told my hubby not to let me spend...his reply "you never buy yourself anything so when you do I am happy...so buy what you want"..its usually true but hate weeks like this...how do you stop yourself from doing this

I love to see what others spend on things like groceries, home decorations etc...and yes sometimes it makes me so envious...you have so many choices to buy in the US and prices for groceries are quite a bit cheaper than over here (aust) same with movie tickets we pay the cheapest $11 a ticket (on special deals) for one person...buying a econd hand car over here starts at $10,000 for a half way decent one...but then I think of our healthcare where we don't pay for surgeries (or we don't pay a lot) or scans etc...which is great when you have chronic illnesses and see doctors at least every couple of weeks...and our wages are much higher..my daughter worked in a grocery store while studying she was on $22ph...plus had sick days and annual leave paid for. so although I am envious of some of the things that you have I am also envious of some of the things we have and think of how much better some of you would be financially if you had our health system over there....I know if we were healthy and lived over there we woud have a much better life, we would have our own house, newer car and a lot more savings...but since I'm not healthy I would rather stay here...what do you think about the differences?

Well my mom lives 5.5 hrs away from us but is moving to the same city as us to be nearer to the services she needs (she is 80) she is also raising a 13 year old (great grandson) so better schooling for him...well she has been trying to do everything herself and she tripped over a piece of wood from her bed that had been taken apart and hurt her arm...when I called her she told me that she had fallen and hurt her arm I finally convinced her to go to the hospital...which she did and now it is plastered but so hard for her to keep packing and cleaning readu=y for her move...since I can't travel we are lucky that a couple of myy neices were able to go help her out...but not what she needs and she is hating it...she is so independant still and hates asking for help...hopefully we can get her moved this weekend and get her arm checked again by a city doctor..heres hoping nothing else happens as the kids starts school again next week (just finishing up summer break)...and just want her to be able to move and relax...will be easier to help her when she is down here in the same city

Really had to get a new cabinet for our dvds so went to my favorite shop only to find that they are retiring and closing down...they make really good heavy furniture so bought a cabinet instead...spent most of our savings but worth it I think and it will last for my lifetime...other than that no spending!

So yesterday was my birthday so decided that we would have pizza...thankgod as it was 113 here yesterday the hottest day in recorded history and just hot to do anything but sit in front of the air con...but it was nice...and cheap.

it was also payday yesterday so was able to add to my ice account (will update at end of month) so getting that heading back in the right direction I usually have $2000 but want to try and get it closer to $5000 but that will take time but that what I want it to get to...when we buy a house I would love it to be around 6 months worth of bills but that is a few years away.

Ordered a couple things online today but they are for my health/body so hopefully it works.

I know it's only the first month of the year but it's nice to see all of our accounts have money in them. It's a great to see that our goals are starting off...I know our savings will drop when we bought the tickets for our friend to come over to visit us...but everything else is looking good.

The weather here has been horrendous so have had the aircons and fans on a lot...its 113 here tomorrow...such a hot day its my b-day so just having pizza with a few family members but we are buying it not making it...its a splurge day but way to hot to cook or do anything else...but will hopefully get a good deal.

Ordered 4 blankets for winter...know its summer here but they are so thick and I know it will save us money in winter as we wont need the heaters as much and will last us a few years.

other than that we haven't been spending any money....feeling positive about this month...and the rest of the year

These are what I do try and save money

1. Have a written yearly budget, use what you know your base income is, also allow you to know best times to plan holidays etc

2. put money away in seperate accounts for annual bills, car, bills etc

3. always revise insurances etc before they become due for better deals

4. set an amount for groceries and gas and use cash each week - use only that amount, whatever is left over put in an envelope so you can buy things on sale etc.

5. menu plan and stick to the grocery list, this includes, dinas, breakfast, lunch and snacks.

6. Always turn electronics off at the wall when not in use.

7. if it cost over $100 use the 24hr think and then buy or forget about.

8. keep up with car/equipment maintenance to stay ahead of costly repairs.

9. have madmoney that is not accountable to anyone but yourself...you can spend on anything you like

10. use whatever rewards and coupons you can to save what you can

11. remind people that when you buy something cheap your not saving money unless you put the extra savings in the bank..its just a good deal