This is really embarrassing :(

ShesSoCold

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

novella1186

ShesSoCold said:

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

Congrats on the bolded! That is so exciting! (And see, that's exactly why I want to get my ass in gear and stop fucking up my finances!) 

ShesSoCold

novella1186 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

Congrats on the bolded! That is so exciting! (And see, that's exactly why I want to get my ass in gear and stop fucking up my finances!) 

Thanks so much! I'm so excited - H and I are finishing up his resume and cover letter tonight to send out. It's scary now that it might actually be happening though!

For me, honestly, now that I stopped being a dumbass and we got out of stupid debt, I'm like a money hoarder now. I grocery shop at three stores to get the best prices on different things and save everything I can. When I had all these credit card bills, for some reason, I didn't care as much. It felt like it would always be there, no matter how much I paid. But now they're gone and I get to look at these big fat (for me) savings accounts and I get all excited. 

[Deleted User]

ShesSoCold said:

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

How much money do you need to move across the country?  I have a 5 year plan.  In 2019, we will be moving from Chicago to Denver.  I have home improvement projects for the next 4 years, downsizing projects, gardening projects, stuff to learn (how to can and pickle) and do (convert VHS home movies to digital).  I haven't really thought of having a savings plan in place.  I mean, that makes sense, hiring movers, shipping everything across the country, and one or both of us might be unemployed for a time, or we might not get as much selling the house as we'd like.  Is there a magic number?

ShesSoCold

adk19 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

How much money do you need to move across the country?  I have a 5 year plan.  In 2019, we will be moving from Chicago to Denver.  I have home improvement projects for the next 4 years, downsizing projects, gardening projects, stuff to learn (how to can and pickle) and do (convert VHS home movies to digital).  I haven't really thought of having a savings plan in place.  I mean, that makes sense, hiring movers, shipping everything across the country, and one or both of us might be unemployed for a time, or we might not get as much selling the house as we'd like.  Is there a magic number?

We pulled $10,000 out of our asses. Got it from absolutely nowhere but wanted to be sure we could pay all our bills and living expenses if only one of us has a job for a while and assuming we'd both be taking pay cuts. The cost of actually moving will be higher that I thought (u-hauls are freaking expensive!) and we're actually going to be leaving here with $20,000 liquid but I'm hoping to save that extra to add to our down payment if we like it and stay and buy next year. I mean, ideally we'd be able to support ourselves with jobs immediately, but I wanted a nice buffer JIC.

We're planning on moving from Chicago to northwestern Montana, where the COL is low, but there aren't as many jobs and obviously, they pay a lot less.

ETA: Part of our "moving" money is also "emergency come home" money in case of an emergency or something at home and we need to travel unexpectedly. 

lyndausvi

adk19 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I manage our money for H and I and everything we have is in joint accounts (I have one individual account for an inheritance I received but he knows what's in there). I've been pretty good with our finances lately and we're able to save quite a bit each month, typically. We rent and our only debt is a car payment.

I don't use an app or a spreadsheet or anything but most of our bills are usually about the same every month and I pay all our bills with credit cards to get the miles and points. Then I just have one or two big bills each month. H and I each get a cash allowance per week and our checking account is usually $50 or less because I've moved anything after the bill and allowance money to savings. There's usually one or two unexpected expenses per month (new work boots, Hawks tickets, motorcycle parts, stuff like that) so we adjust accordingly and I make up for it the next month if we don't hit our savings goal. 

Semi-related, but we're only about a month away from having our goal savings account to move across the country! Yay!

How much money do you need to move across the country?  I have a 5 year plan.  In 2019, we will be moving from Chicago to Denver.  I have home improvement projects for the next 4 years, downsizing projects, gardening projects, stuff to learn (how to can and pickle) and do (convert VHS home movies to digital).  I haven't really thought of having a savings plan in place.  I mean, that makes sense, hiring movers, shipping everything across the country, and one or both of us might be unemployed for a time, or we might not get as much selling the house as we'd like.  Is there a magic number?

We moved from Indianapolis to Aspen.   It cost nearly $5K to pack, load, move and unload our truck.   We had a 1 bedroom with a storage unit. 

Then you have to add in possible deposits, first month/last month if you are renting.  If you are buying then DP and closing costs.    Then all the crap you need to buy to set up a new place.    It's amazing what you need to move in a new place.  Curtains?  Rugs?  Shelving unit?  Just stupid stuff that you wouldn't think of "needing".

Traveling to/from costs money.   Hotel, food, gas.   Any pets?  

Will you have already have a job?

It's crazy how much that shit adds up.

southernbelle0915

@ShesSoCold - why the move to NW Montana? Family? Amazing skiing?

ShesSoCold

southernbelle0915 said:

@ShesSoCold - why the move to NW Montana? Family? Amazing skiing?

Lack of family.  

LOL I'm kidding. H and I have always wanted to move away from Chicago (too many fucking people!) and he's always wanted great hunting, I've wanted mountains and hiking and stuff. I don't even know how we stumbled upon Flathead Valley area in Montana but we researched it and went there a few years ago and LOVED it. Went back, loved it even more. Did more research, loved it more. 

So basically no reason other than we're nuts, but we're young and child-less so why not, right? 

southernbelle0915

@shessocold - all are solid reasons. What an awesome adventure! 

redheadbride15

ShesSoCold said:

southernbelle0915 said:

@ShesSoCold - why the move to NW Montana? Family? Amazing skiing?

Lack of family.  

LOL I'm kidding. H and I have always wanted to move away from Chicago (too many fucking people!) and he's always wanted great hunting, I've wanted mountains and hiking and stuff. I don't even know how we stumbled upon Flathead Valley area in Montana but we researched it and went there a few years ago and LOVED it. Went back, loved it even more. Did more research, loved it more. 

So basically no reason other than we're nuts, but we're young and child-less so why not, right? 

I'm jealous of your plans! I love, love, love that part of the country too! We've been to the area 3 times - Glacier, Kootenai, and Missoula, and also to the Beartooths north of Yellowstone. H and I often fantasize about moving out there, but there are absolutely no job opportunities in our fields. So instead we fantasize about saving up enough money to get a vacation home out there, or to do an early retirement. Unfortunately these simply remain fantasies... the likelihood of it actually happening is low while we deal with big city jobs, big city expenses, and the possibility of adding kids to the mix. Perhaps we need to re-frame our attitude to match yours!

ETA - We got engaged in Glacier National Park, so that makes another thing that makes NW Montana extra-special to us!

ShesSoCold

redheadbride15 said:

ShesSoCold said:

southernbelle0915 said:

@ShesSoCold - why the move to NW Montana? Family? Amazing skiing?

Lack of family.  

LOL I'm kidding. H and I have always wanted to move away from Chicago (too many fucking people!) and he's always wanted great hunting, I've wanted mountains and hiking and stuff. I don't even know how we stumbled upon Flathead Valley area in Montana but we researched it and went there a few years ago and LOVED it. Went back, loved it even more. Did more research, loved it more. 

So basically no reason other than we're nuts, but we're young and child-less so why not, right? 

I'm jealous of your plans! I love, love, love that part of the country too! We've been to the area 3 times - Glacier, Kootenai, and Missoula, and also to the Beartooths north of Yellowstone. H and I often fantasize about moving out there, but there are absolutely no job opportunities in our fields. So instead we fantasize about saving up enough money to get a vacation home out there, or to do an early retirement. Unfortunately these simply remain fantasies... the likelihood of it actually happening is low while we deal with big city jobs, big city expenses, and the possibility of adding kids to the mix. Perhaps we need to re-frame our attitude to match yours!

A few months ago H's boss offered to basically just give him his business. It's a huge opportunity and it would have doubled our income immediately. We sat down (several times, really) and talked about the pros and cons of everything - the business, family, money, everything. It came down to this - do we want to live here, in an area we hate but that is near family and be able to afford most big things we want or move to where we believe we'll be happier day-to-day, without our families or much extra money? We chose moving. That's obviously a very personal decision and not every couple would choose what we chose. 

My best friend's aunt and uncle moved to the Keys after visiting there annually for like 15 years. They hated it and moved back in like 8 months. Hopefully that won't be us, but who knows?

sarahufl

I am odd- I don't budget. I never really have.

I do always know how much money I have and how much I owe on credit cards. I have also never been in debt (except my student loans, which I paid off 8 years early). Credit cards never carry a balance. I coupon, sale shop and just generally don't have big expenses.

I also hate  using cash because I don't know where it gets spent. I look at my credit cards online every day and if it starts looking like I am spending too much in one category (clothes, eating out, etc) I just stop doing it.

I think it is important to not wait till the end of the month to look.

Maggie0829

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

southernbelle0915 said:

kvruns said:

southernbelle0915 said:

Confession: I have no idea how to "balance a checkbook". I don't even know what that means. I haven't had a checkbook at all in like 3 years.

Record what goes in, what goes out and right what the balance of the account is.

1,000 starting balance

Spend 300, Balance is 700

Get paid 1000, Balance is 1700

Spent 100, Balance is 1600

etc.

I think it is a phrase that sticks around even though most people don't write the balance in a checkbook anymore but still means accounting for your bank account total and knowing what goes in and goes out

I glance at my statements every month and I'm like "hmmmm... yup, looks good." Does that count?

Oh gosh that gives me anxiety just thinking about only looking at my bank statements.  Because by the time the bank statement comes to the house (or even if you look at it online) then you still aren't seeing the current amount in there.  When my checkbook gets off by a few cents compared to my online bank I have to find my mistake because it will bother me if my paper checkbook doesn't match my online checkbook.

Well you are. . . if you like never use checks.  I thikn DH and I write 2 checks a month- one to the Landlord and one to my barn owner for board.

Everything else is paid for online.

I have a balance on a credit card that I'm paying off; Like many others here, it was for dental work.  Dental coverage for adults SUCKS in the US, WTF?!  But it's not a huuuge balance, thankfully.  My credit card actually has a pretty low limit- and I'm good with that!

I don't really have any significant savings right now, they dwindled over time, but I'll be working on remedying that once my credit card is paid off.

Don't beat yourself up if you are carrying a balance, it's really not the end of the world.  It's just something to work on resolving in the short term.  If you have money in savings that could resolve the balance, I'd pay it off or at least 3/4 off if you aren't comfortable taking that much out of savings.  Then start working your savings back up.

I rarely use checks.  But if I get my statement in the mail then that is most likely 3-5 days after the 1st of the month and I have already paid 3 bills online by then so that statement is not right anymore.  Also I set up payments for other bills ahead of time.  So I need to manually keep track of how much is in my checking account because if I set up 5 bill payments all to be taken out over the course of 2 weeks but don't note that anywhere then I may forget and spend the money in my checking account because the online bank says I have enough.  When in reality I have already spent $X amount out of my checking but of course it won't show up until the money has been taken out on my chosen pay date.

blushingbride8888

I SUCK at finances. I'll go really strong and be super proud for months and then have a bad day and it all goes to crap. I just handed my finances over to FI for good because apparently I'm a child and I can't control myself when my Stitch Fix comes in. I also decided to become a barre instructor four months before the wedding which is ironically incredibly expensive. Who knew?

I feel your pain. FI swears by his excel spreadsheets. He's got it all down to the penny. I don't know how he does it, honestly.

FutureMrsPlasters

We use Quicken. Well, HE uses Quicken. I was always that person having my bank do all of my bill paying and transfer to savings for me. Occasionally I would be a little short for a few days because my paydays are every other week, not set days. I got by just fine and my bills were paid. 

Now my pay goes into our joint account and he has a schedule for paying all the bills on various dates. I have a card for a different (attached) joint account and use it for gas and groceries etc.. Other things that are bigger, like our invitations, my kiddo's plane ticket to our wedding, etc.. we talked about and used the card for the bigger joint account because he had already budgeted them, along with all of the larger expenses for the wedding. 

It still feels weird having a joint account and I give him receipts for everything I do...It's probably not necessary, he knows that $30 at the gas station is not bubble gum.

FutureMrsPlasters

I grew up in Montana and my parents are in the Missoula area... I've done my time in the cold and am LOVING the south now!! It is really beautiful there though and I like to visit. In the summer.

PrettyGirlLost

Maggie0829 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

Maggie0829 said:

southernbelle0915 said:

kvruns said:

southernbelle0915 said:

Confession: I have no idea how to "balance a checkbook". I don't even know what that means. I haven't had a checkbook at all in like 3 years.

Record what goes in, what goes out and right what the balance of the account is.

1,000 starting balance

Spend 300, Balance is 700

Get paid 1000, Balance is 1700

Spent 100, Balance is 1600

etc.

I think it is a phrase that sticks around even though most people don't write the balance in a checkbook anymore but still means accounting for your bank account total and knowing what goes in and goes out

I glance at my statements every month and I'm like "hmmmm... yup, looks good." Does that count?

Oh gosh that gives me anxiety just thinking about only looking at my bank statements.  Because by the time the bank statement comes to the house (or even if you look at it online) then you still aren't seeing the current amount in there.  When my checkbook gets off by a few cents compared to my online bank I have to find my mistake because it will bother me if my paper checkbook doesn't match my online checkbook.


Well you are. . . if you like never use checks.  I thikn DH and I write 2 checks a month- one to the Landlord and one to my barn owner for board.

Everything else is paid for online.

I have a balance on a credit card that I'm paying off; Like many others here, it was for dental work.  Dental coverage for adults SUCKS in the US, WTF?!  But it's not a huuuge balance, thankfully.  My credit card actually has a pretty low limit- and I'm good with that!

I don't really have any significant savings right now, they dwindled over time, but I'll be working on remedying that once my credit card is paid off.

Don't beat yourself up if you are carrying a balance, it's really not the end of the world.  It's just something to work on resolving in the short term.  If you have money in savings that could resolve the balance, I'd pay it off or at least 3/4 off if you aren't comfortable taking that much out of savings.  Then start working your savings back up.



I rarely use checks.  But if I get my statement in the mail then that is most likely 3-5 days after the 1st of the month and I have already paid 3 bills online by then so that statement is not right anymore.  Also I set up payments for other bills ahead of time.  So I need to manually keep track of how much is in my checking account because if I set up 5 bill payments all to be taken out over the course of 2 weeks but don't note that anywhere then I may forget and spend the money in my checking account because the online bank says I have enough.  When in reality I have already spent $X amount out of my checking but of course it won't show up until the money has been taken out on my chosen pay date.

But all my credit card info is available online as well, so I dont even bother with paper statements. I can just log into my accounts and see what the balance is, transaction history, pending payments, etc.

I get paid once a month, so on pay day I pay all my bills, and my checking account balance takes into account pending payments. So what I see is what is there, no need to manually balance anything.

flbride2015

I use the Mint app and a spreadsheet a friend sent me. The spreadsheet is for the full year and I inputted every paycheck and monthly bill that comes out of my account. It's great because I can see when in the month I'll be low in my account or where I'll have extra that I can move into savings. It's also great because if I make a purchase today, I can see how it'll affect my balance later in the year. I can tell you how much is in my account on any given day thanks to that spreadsheet. I'm a nerd when it comes to numbers and spreadsheets though. Lol.

That being said, I'm terrible at saving. It's definitely something I'm working on.