Mumof2's Personal Finance Blog

Do you help with other peoples budgets? I have helped a few family members get their money back under control...most do okay..some do okay for a bit then when they start to get ahead they get off track again.

But I do my moms budget for her, I write up her budget, I pay her bills (she is almost 81 and has no idea with computers) she has a 14 yr old that lives with her (has since birth), she was getting into so much dire straits with her money and stressing herself out I told her I would get her back on track...it took us 18 months and she was doing great...now don't think is much of a spender as she isn't but things in her house got old and started not working so she had to replace it, a boy in school and all his activities and she is on a limited budget..she rarely ate out unless a special occassion...this year has been so much better for her, she has been able to buy a few things she has wanted and not needed...she asks my permission to buy things, as i have certain accounts for certain things..and I rarely say no..as she deserves it and doesnt really do much for herself...her bills are paid and she isn't stressing over them...she is much more relaxed and happy...now she is saving for the 2 of them to go over to the US next year to visit friends...Ii am so glad that we were able to take this journey with each other and she is so much better off...I pay all her bills online and I have a book I write receipts numbers in so hers are in the back so if anyone calls about a bill (some do a couple years later) we have the info...she is free and happy to live out her years stress free...or at least as stress as you can with a teen LOL...

I have taught our daughters the same thing, we were never really taught about money, so it was trial and error for us...but we do okay now...I just hope that the smarter people get about money and the more they teach each other about it maybe the world would be a much better place with less debt...hers hoping

I am hoping that we will be debt free by the end of the year..that means we can save for a newer car and then a house deposit next year...I didn't reach my goals for this year but going to do a blog next year on saving for a house and car...maybe a $10,000 blog and $20,000 for a house...does anyone else do this to help them stay on track and be accountable?...I know everyone here are in different places with their debts and finances but does blogging make you stay more accountable??

Although I am going to go through next years budget in the next few days to see if this achievable

I am hoping that we will be debt free by the end of the year..that means we can save for a newer car and then a house deposit next year...I didn't reach my goals for this year but going to do a blog next year on saving for a house and car...maybe a $10,000 blog and $20,000 for a house...does anyone else do this to help them stay on track and be accountable?...I know everyone here are in different places with their debts and finances but does blogging make you stay more accountable??

Although I am going to go through next years budget in the next few days to see if this achievable

I am hoping that we will be debt free by the end of the year..that means we can save for a newer car and then a house deposit next year...I didn't reach my goals for this year but going to do a blog next year on saving for a house and car...maybe a $10,000 blog and $20,000 for a house...does anyone else do this to help them stay on track and be accountable?...I know everyone here are in different places with their debts and finances but does blogging make you stay more accountable??

Although I am going to go through next years budget in the next few days to see if this achievable

have done a bunch of my christmas shopping and stocking for our kids...also the people we are giving money to I have a few of those envelopes done so about two thirds done with christmas...still on budget and want to try and pay off CC by end of year...staying on track so far and feeling happy!! How are you all going with your christmas shopping and preparations??

Payday today...have all bills paid and have managed to put $2500 on the CC...half way to paying it off...hopefully by the end of the year!!

My daughter has had a debt for a couple years that she has been paying off...one that we didn't think she owed but being a govt dept it has been an uphill battle...I got sick so we stopped fighting with them and she continued to pay them...yesterday I called them and stated a few facts and said we were going to fight it until we were satisfied...she said she had to make a few phone calls that was at 2pm yesterday...today they have credited her account with $1800 and written off her debt...that is one more hassle we dont have to deal with...my daughter is extremely happy....I am feeling accomplished this week...and it payday this week so more christmas shopping and payments to the credit card

Recieved our payment from the owners of the old house it was only $1000 but better than putting up with what we were...its now been put into savings for our house deposit.

Finally did some christmas shopping yesterday...used the CC but thats fine...it beats trying to go shopping closer to christmas...my illness just cant handle so much stimulation at once so will get done before it gets to busy...not doing a lot this year and the christmas budget just goes back on the CC...so all good.

Not much happening here doing good at neuro..dont need to see her again till the new year..so will save some money there.

The budget has been doing good and the the best thing is we don't have any stores near us (walking distance) so I need somone to drive me if I want to go...I hate asking so I don't...not that I buy much...had to pay for a prescription the other day, I have a bad chest infection and needed the meds but didn't have our card for free meds hubby did and I was with my daughter so just paid it...not worth going home to get.

Today I went to get our daughters dog his biscuits...he only eats one kind..and its over $30 for a 1.5 kilo bag..we are members and apparently get 15% off for this month...he asked if I wanted to use the discounts I'm like sure anything to save a dollar...it cost me 16cents for the purchase...couldnt believe it...so almost a free bag of dog food....happy with that...

Didnt make my neuro appointment as I was at the docs with my chest infection as I had trouble brathing and I have a biopsy next week on my face to make sure I don't have skin cancer...sun over here is brutal

Well I woke up feeling horrible today..I had a doc appointment and she said since the move I have pushed to to long and my illness is kicking my butt so I need to back off and rest more..and that I look like crap (her words) I love this doc she is to the point will go to the ends to help her patients and fights the system every chance she gets...she is awesome.

Then we had tribunal today for compensation...really wasn't feeling it but wanted to get it over and done with and be done with this company (housing)...the point of this claim was not really about money (although it did cost us a bit) but to get the owner to see who he really has working for him..they lie to him and us..and it was the only way to get his attn as we have no contact details for them...and they really are lovely people (owners)...and I wanted to just inconvenience the company...because they annoyed me so much...they came in and were disorganised, couldnt answer questions on dates and then stated the owner didnt know why we here today and was offering nothing...so the lady said they had wasted everyones time if they couldnt negotiate etc...then they were asked to leave while they spoke to us...if we didn't come to a settlement today then we would have to come back to a magistrate later...and I just want to focus on my health...the outcome was they have to pay us $1000 compensation, so we are happy...the owner isnt but hopefully now he can see what they are like even the company owner wasnt to happy with how disorganised they were....so we have some extra $s and are done with them for good...and they have 14 days to pay!!

Almost the middle of october and I usually have a majority of my christmas shopping done and yet this year I have only have 2 gifts that I bought months ago...with the move and everything I am just not feeling it this year and I find it so hard to buy for the kids now...they are adults and anything they want or need they buy for themselves..so I'm just not feeling it...anyone else feeling it this year or have started their christmas shopping?

Whats the average that people spend at christmas? We only buy for our kids, my mom and her great grandson that she is raising (she has had him since birth) so it doesnt cost a lot although I tend to give our girls a good amount of money for whatever they want to get or do.

When we moved into this house they had a dishwasher...we had one in our last house but sold it as they had one...well i never looked at the house before we moved and my hubby and daughter never looked in the dishwasher...well it doesnt wash well and it has rust marks...so we asked if we could buy one ourselves and replace and just change back when we move...so happy we will finally have a good one and will take so much pressure of my neck and shoulders...not an expense that we wanted but well worth it.

Starting to get some nicer weather here for a few days then back to rain...but getting a lot done so feeling accomplished...even though I am sore as hell...my body is hating on me right now...but will rest over the weekend as I get ready for our housing tribunal

Well it not financial but I just love how this place is coming together...slowly but surely...still have all the outside to do and a bunch of extra stuff the girls are going to sell...but my daughter and I keep saying each week while we live up here in the hills we had better see a koala in the trees...well...

my daughters dog kept barking this arvo...so hubby went to see what the matter was (he barks at most things) and he yells out its a koala...we had one sitting on our fence just looking at us...so I took some photos and a video of it on my fone...he was like 2 metres from us...he then after about 10 mins walked the fence then the clothes line...almost fell a couple times but he managed not to and now he has been asleep in a tree for a couple hours..its my first wild koala that I have seen up close and it was in our yard!!

This week was pay week, got all bills paid, paid my daughter back, and got my ice account back towards it should be...should be back there by end of month...then will chuck extra at the CC to get rid of it.

Had a couple extra payments this week as my hubbys son ended up in hospital with suspected heart attack so we had his daughter for the night...he is home doing better but he also had to put his dog down due to old age and she was going downhill...so we had to pay for that..but other than that everything is on track.

We are finally getting some warmer weather, I love warm weather...love summer and being spring here everything is blooming..love it!

Its payday this week have revised our budget to get our 2 remaining debts paid off and work on getting our ice account back up...so will update after we pay everything later this week.

Still moving stuff from storage, should be done this week hopefully then we can save the $160 a month and put that where it is needed.

Being up in the hills really affects my ears which is making my dizziness worse lately..so still trying to adjust to that...but getting there..have been menu planning and that has been going well...hoping the rest of the year continues being great...feel so much better since we have moved

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.