Comments on: Not tracking our spending has repercussions

By: RainyDaySaver

RainyDaySaver — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:56:50 +0000

I found buying a house to be an amazing — yet extreme — way for my husband and I to figure out exactly what we were spending our money on. Once we started house-shopping, the calculators came out. We’re pretty frugal people, and it’s still tough to make sure we’re living within our means now that we’ve bought a home. Our entire budget had to change in a way that would let us save more money but not make us miserable. It’s all about balance.

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:36:43 +0000

Ron: $1,000/month was probably high, but the point was we don’t really know. But your point about teenagers is well-taken.

Dr Dean: Sloppy is an accurate word.

LLC: It’s a bit bigger, but my wife already has your mindset about downsizing the junk. My old Commodore 64s won’t be making the move.

By: LeanLifeCoach

LeanLifeCoach — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:19:30 +0000

mbh…

It shouldn’t be so difficult, should it? But it does make the difference. We’ve been tracking every dollar spent for 18 months (virtually). Still we “misplaced” 6K last year. Tracking just receipts wasn’t enough, we need to take a more detailed approach to every dollar. I hope quicken works for you!

Congrats on the new house! Hopefully it is smaller… (less room to acquire more stuff!)

By: Dr Dean

Dr Dean — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:09:33 +0000

Congratulations on the new home. I know you have been looking for a while. I have no worries-you will get your spending in order.

We all get sloppy from time to time. (I know I have.)Those who are successful with money, realize it and make changes, well before it gets to be a big problem.

Good luck.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:22:08 +0000

$1000/month for food. Now I don’t feel so bad. Ours was $1,300 but for a family of five!

Unlike me, most PF bloggers don’t have teenagers and their friends eating everything in the house … yet.