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Message |
    
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7131
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 8:24 pm: | 
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Self-proclaimed internet addicts:
If you had a program installed on your computer which would automatically disconnect you from the internet after a preset amount of surfing time, would you use it and if so, would that serve as a means of reducing your dependence on internet surfing to a manageable percentage of time a day? |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 343
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 9:39 pm: |
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This is like walking into a bar to get advice about quiting drinking.
J.B. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2813
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:49 am: |
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Yeah, I know JB. I hesitated to post because of that.
My latest problem is that I am trying to institute a budget for myself and it isn't working because I shop online too much.
Arg. |
Marge N Averra
Citizen
Username: Marge_n_averra
Post Number: 29
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:23 am: |
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Now, budgeting I can help with. Here are some ideas:
#1: Before you buy, ask yourself if you really need this or just want it. If you just want it, how much do you want it - a lot or a little? If only a little, delay gratification. Wait it out a day or two and the impulse might pass. If a lot, still wait it out a while. This helps you spread out those "must have" purchases.
#2: Give yourself a credit-card free week. Don't even put your credit cards in your purse or wallet - get out $100 or thereabouts spending money. That's all you get to spend this week. That'll help with impulse internet purchases, too - if nothing else, it will help you to delay until next week, and that delay might help you get over the bug to buy. And spreading out your impulses helps a little.
#3: If you have any credit card bills that roll over month to month - start paying those babies off, NOW. Credit is a disease, but you can cure yourself of it. Another idea is - NO "I just want this" purchases until your cards are paid off. And if you are only paying for "needs" but still can't pay off the cards, think about how to trim down those needs - this is very do-able.
#4: If you have your credit card bills down to zero, start double-paying on your car loan and nay other loans until they are paid off.
#5: If you manage to keep your credit balance down to zero and your car and other major loans are paid off, but have a mortgage on your house, start double-paying whenever you can. This will reduce your disposable income (helping you control those impulses to buy) and will make a huge, enormous difference in how much interest you have to pay on your house.
I have other ideas, too. I am a penny-pincher born of penny-pinchers. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2815
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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Thanks Marge, all good advice.
I probably exaggerated it, just trying to cut back on extranious spending. Since I don't even look at the credit card bills (hubster does the finances) I don't have that reminder every month of how much I spend.
Unfortunately I have my credit card # memorized, so taking it out of my wallet doesn't help curb my internet spending impulses. 
Which brings me back full circle. I'd spend a lot less if I wasn't on the internet so much... |
Blew
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1362
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:22 am: |
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Wendyn, don't know if this will work for you but TS and I do this.
At the beginning of the month we move a specific amount of money (your budget) into our each one of our own personal checking accounts (we can use our bank cards as credit cards so you can use this for your online purchases still). Then we can use our own money HOWEVER we personally want without discussing it with eachother. None of the other persons business. In theory this is our mad money to spend on clothes, going out, etc. but it's actually enough money that we end up using our cards on transportation, gas, food, etc. Often at the end of the money we need to move some extra cash to replenish our accounts...but oddly enough seeing our bank statements dwindle each time we take out money forces us to curtail our spending a little. For instance we might see our bank statement and it only has $300 left in it and we go, "holy poop on a stick it's only the 12th of the month I better slow down a little this month. It acutally works and I say that because EVEN with our "cheating" which is what I call it when we need to move more money into our account on the 23rd of the month, we have actually be SAVING money slowly.
One cute thing that has come out of us having our "own" money supplies is now when we go out for dinner and the other one offers to pick up the tab it actually has some meaning. I'm always appreciative when TS pays, because now I have a bit more mad money for the month. When all our money was shared in one account the concept of "taking the other one out" seemed a little false to me. It also is sorta a fun competition to see who can make it to the end of the month without needing to cheat. We both may go over for a few months straight and then all of a sudden one of us has a stellar month with lots left over and then it's "back on".
Give it a try. Maybe it will work for you too. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2816
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 11:29 am: |
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I've mentioned this to hubster and he says "you are welcome to have your own account but I don't want one". Which pretty much defeats the purpose for me. One of our issues (and don't all couples have them) is that he thinks I spend more money because I buy more small stuff that adds up. I think he buys less but more expensive stuff and that it pretty much equals out. In addition I buy all of the stuff for the day to day (groceries, drugstore), the house, the kids (clothes, gifts for bday parties). Plus there is his golf habit....
We are fortunate that we haven't really needed to budget in the last few years. But I am considering working part time, and we are doing some preliminary house hunting. If either of those things happen we will have to institute a true budget!
Going out to eat is another thing we need to curb. Between Starbuck's debit cards and the habit of breakfast AND dinner out both weekend days, it is really adding to our expenses and our waistlines. 
In any case I am positive that if I curb my internet addiction (not starting off well this week) it will help my finances too. Maybe if I get hypnosis. |
Blew
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1365
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 12:02 pm: |
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Well lucky for me TS and I both are on the same page when it comes to money. We both WANT TO SAVE because we want to do some big projects and have some sembelance of financial freedom. Also I find in every relationship one person needs to force the other to go along with an idea when it's important (in business terms be the Stakeholder).
Maybe budgeting is important enough to both of your survivals that you might need to pressure the hubster into getting on board with the budgeting project. No one said anything about him NOT being able to golf. I guess the reason why the budget works for us is because we don't REQUIRE anyone to stick to it. IT'S more like a suggestion. Or as I stated earlier a fun challenge -- that admittedly we sometimes (ok almost always) fail at. But even with our all of our failures it really helps us to save...which is why we continue to do it. Maybe your hubby needs to realize that there really isn't any penalty for him trying it your way. I mean for us, both of our bank accounts are at the same bank. It's just a matter of which buttons we press (1 my account or 2 the mutual account). Nothing stops me from hitting the 2 button for everything. TS might get annoyed eventually but since we are both on the same page about our finances neither of us generally do it unless we needs to. I can't remember the last time I questioned TS' mutual account usuage. TS is trusted. TS sometimes teases me when I need to dip into the mutual account but like I said for us it's a fun game. It's sorta like playful teasing. I sorta like it, because it fuels my fire to try to stay on my budget next month.
Did I mention that our budgets ARE VERY GENEROUS. When I tell people our monthly budgets they usually can't believe it. Then I have to explain that transportation and food comes out of it (but this really is just an excuse because I'm embaressed that I can't stay in that generous of a budget). Essentials are supposed to come out of the mutual account, but I already said we are loose with that sort of stuff.
I say try something new. Pressure the hubby to get on board. It worked for me...and now I like it. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2818
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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Before we were married we got a joint mutual fund to start saving for a house. So hubby proposed, everything was great. Then I found out he used some of that mutual fund money for my (very nice) engagement ring.
Says I: "If I had known you were using some of my money I would have asked for a bigger rock". 
In any case it isn't a bad idea. Another idea I had was to pay our mortgage as if we have a more expensive house. This would get us used to paying a higher amount AND pay toward our mortgage as well. Hmmm.
Oh and I never tell him not to golf. I just complain later about being alone with the kids all day.  |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 403
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:01 pm: |
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Thank you for sharing your system Blew. I just copied it and pasted in an e-mail to hubby, who has been trying to pressure me into following a true budget for years. I'm not that bad of a spender, but I truly do not pay enough attention, and always spend more than I think I did. Your system is one I think I could live with without feeling that he is sanctimonious and irritating (the kind of guy who doesn't need a new shirt 'cause he already has one).
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1300
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:34 pm: |
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Wendy, before you go seeking a more time-fulfilling job, I'd like you to know:
Today at work I wrote a paper for school. I have been doing the research and readings for close to a month (at work, naturally), and haven't had to sacrifice any of my at-home time.
Resourceful use of the web. Resourceful use of time. Can't think of a reason in the world to give up this gig... |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2821
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
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Sorry I didn't get back to you all I was just
- checking my email
- designing new custom window shades for the girls' room (didn't order)
- looking for a new windbreaker for girl #2 (didn't find one)
- trying to find a small missing part for my range (had to call but I got it ordered!)
- calling hairdresser for girls (forgot it is Monday)
- checking the news on 3 different sites
- checking the rest of MOL to see if I missed anything
Oh and I did answer my phone once, and told the guy to send me an email and I'll take a look at his (data reconciling) problem.
Lynne, if my use of the web was resourceful I wouldn't feel as guilty! |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1301
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:50 pm: |
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You want to do some homework for me? It might alleviate your guilt.  |
Blew
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1366
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:24 pm: |
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MJH, I hope it works for you. It definitely works for us. It's flexible, low stress, low maintenance and oddly enough it makes us pay attention to our spending (just enough) that we usually don't go crazy. And I've actually seen our savings grow.
I remember when we first started this system, we were going to take any leftover money out of checking and move it into savings (to speed up the saving process and because I already stated we have large monthly budgets so we SHOULD HONESTLY have alot leftover). And occassionally we do do that. But it's sorta more fun to take the excess amount and use it the next month and have EVEN more money to go mad with. If we were maybe a bit more ON TOP of our finances we might do that, but I find I'm too lazy to do the move over into the other account.
It's a little sad that I'm sharing my lazy-man's way to save money. I mean seriously, who am I to be giving financial advice?. Although I will admit, TS was the creator of the system...she's definitely the brains of our operation. I think this method stemmed out of us dating for very many years and enjoying our own personal financial independences from eachother. Once we got married it was odd to share resources COMPLETELY. We still wanted the freedom to do what we pleased with OUR OWN monies and not have to explain ourselves to anyone. This method allows for that "within reason" (meaning within your budget), which is perfect for us. If we needed or wanted to buy some big ticket item outside of our budget WE SHOULD be talking about that with TS. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13061
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:26 pm: |
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When I spent a few months tracking every single expense, small and large, the increase consciousness led me to spend less overall. Just a thought.
I heard a good rule for windfalls: divide it and spend it in three places: past, present and future. Past means debts, if any. Present means have some fun and indulge yourself. Future means put some away into long term savings.
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Blew
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1367
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:33 pm: |
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May I one day get a windfall. Hasn't happened yet. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13062
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:38 pm: |
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You could define a windfall loosely as money you don't need immediately, which would include your month-end extra money.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6968
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:44 pm: |
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We're on the weekly allowance system. I choose to stash mine & bring lunch every day. Tom - we did the same thing. Actually tracked expenses for awhile. It led to some major habit changes.
Unfortunately, the money we are saving goes back into my mother's illness. But, that will end at some point & then we'll have good habits. I hope! |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2824
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 3:52 pm: |
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We are in the process of doing that right now.
We've been together since college so we've almost always shared expenses and income. Although I vaguely remember how to balance a checkbook.
And Lynne, did enough homework when I was in night school. It sucked big time. Plus I have absolutely none of the same skills as you, so I would be pretty useless.
But I've started a fight with Straw in the education section, so that should keep me busy for a while. |
Blew
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1371
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:51 pm: |
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Ick, Education section and Straw both..at the same time? I think I'm going to be ill.
Nice try dividing up $100 into three places. I mean you could but I'd just as soon use it the next month.
I've made it this far without balancing a checkbook. I don't think I am ever going to (I HOPE). The beauty of my system is that it is relatively effortless and doesn't require balancin a checkbook. Clearly I am earning enough money AND living within my means (I guess). Before this system though, I DEFINITELY DIDN'T. I remember not that long ago living paycheck to paycheck and bouncing checks. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6976
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:21 am: |
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In terms of kicking the habit, Brett's mystery illness will distract me for yet another day.
It's all his fault.  |
Marge N Averra
Citizen
Username: Marge_n_averra
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 3:34 pm: |
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I have to admit that I've been hitting reload trying to find out if Brett has any news yet, too. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6987
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 3:42 pm: |
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MOL is like a soap opera. Or crack. Maplecrack Online.
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Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 162
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 8:42 pm: |
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WENDYN!!!! I got busted today at work. Frickin, fracking, flucking, flip!!!!! Not because I am behind deadline (actually ahead), not because I haven't asked for more work (and it has been given to me), not because of mistakes (c'mon, this is me), but because it doesn't look good to others. WTF!!!!! What am I supposed to do now? Run up phone bills and email the whole world like everybody else? This was a nice distraction until the warm weather gets here and I go 'socialize'. AAAAAAAAAAA!!! So when you all see very little activity from me, you know why. Oh, well. Guess I will go write that book I was supposed to write 6 years ago. |
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