My gf and I have spent $4800 this month :(

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Svnla
You don't know what else you can cut back?

Let see, let start with restaurant, cash withdraw, cc, entertainment, gift, groceries, misc purchase. You should look at those really close and able to cut them down at least 25%.

Make a list of Have To and Nice To Have and start cut back on Nice to have.

Restaurants we have cut back, but we could stop going out altogether.

Most of the cash she used on business trips. $40 or so was going to the rennaisance festival.

The CC payments I want to spend alot on.

Entertainment is usually lower, but the rennaisance festival tickets were $40.

The birthday gift was only $20.

The last two could be a bit lower though.

 

[kyparrish]

Wow.

 

[MBentz]

Take away her plastic.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: redly1
time to wake up to reality and punt one or more of those cars for a cheaper one

Or punt it altogether.

I'm not going out buying tons of tvs or computers. It just seems that we are being pinned down by CC debt and student loans from college.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Misc Purchases: $356

Hooker fees?

Condom fees.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: MBentz
Take away her plastic.

She hasn't used it in months. It's all cash/debit now.

 

[MBentz]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: MBentz
Take away her plastic.

She hasn't used it in months. It's all cash/debit now.

Good man.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Misc Purchases: $356

Hooker fees?

That's a lot of hookers...

WTF. I don't know about you, but I don't like the 10 cent whores you get at the corner below the stop sign. The real ones cost hundreds an hour.

 

[Neurorelay]

Look to a credit union to roll the credit debt into a lower interest five year loan.

Sell both cars and buy a $2000 beater. Better yet (public transportation).


Only thing being uncertain, it is nice and all you are helping her pay down her debt, but not even being engaged is a worry.

How is the house hunting going?

Best of luck.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
Look to a credit union to roll the credit debt into a lower interest five year loan.

Sell both cars and buy a $2000 beater. Better yet (public transportation).


Only thing being uncertain, it is nice and all you are helping her pay down her debt, but not even being engaged is a worry.

How is the house hunting going?

Best of luck.

I can sell my car for a bit more than I owe. I'm not sure we can with hers.. there is a demand for STi's, but not Foresters. Public transportation won't work because it's really sparse around here, and she needs to be able to travel for work.

I'm not worried about not being offiially engaged. We would be, but I don't have $2500 to drop on a ring right now.

The house hunting is ok. I've decided to wait until next spring when our lease is up. Hopefully, we'll have some stuff paid off and be in a better position.

 

[MithShrike]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Here are our expenditures for the month. I'm selling my car to save $550 or so. I don't really know what else we can really cut back. There are a few little things, but mostly we are putting left over money into paying off her CC's.

Car Insurance: $51
Car Maintenance & Fees: $54
Car Payments: $1030
Cash Withdrawals: $207
CC Payments: $678
Furniture Payment: $108
Gas: $170
Groceries: $252
Misc Purchases: $356 (Seriously Examine This!)
Rent: $905
Renters Insurance: $70
Student Loans: $326
Utilities(ELectric, Gas, Internet, Cable, Phones): $340
Washer / Dryer: $30

Cliffs:

Be a lazy bum and keep living with mom and dad.

I got rid of a few things...

4577

 

[fleshconsumed]

Your car payments and CC debt are killing you. I don't know about your living situation, but I suppose 900 for rent in NY is good. Do you need Renters insurance? Cut back on gifts, entertainment and restaurants, $220 each month for entertainmanet is bad. I used to spend ~$40/month on DVDs, not anymore, just too expensive. Try finding a cheaper gas station, over here prices vary by as much as 20 cents a gallon, consider using regular if you're using premium. Change oil yourself, 5 gallons of castrol cost $10 at wallmart/target, but oil shop will charge you at least $18 for generic oil and $30 for namebrand from a bottle. $250 is pretty conservative for food for two, but you can still cut it even further if you don't buy overinflated items like namebrand cereals and junk food like chips. Buy at aldi, if you have to buy at your regular grocery store, look for sales. Walmart has some cheap misc food like sereal/juices/chips as well. Cut the cable (who needs it anyway?) find cheaper option for internet, I would imagine in NY it shouldn't be a problem. Carefully examine your cash withdrawals and misc purchases, most of the time people spend a lot of money on some junk they don't really need. Think before you buy and only buy what you really need. I know 50% off sounds good, but do you really need the item? And most of all, cut back now and try to pay off your debts as soon as possible.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: fleshconsumed
Your car payments and CC debt are killing you. I don't know about your living situation, but I suppose 900 for rent in NY is good. Do you need Renters insurance? Cut back on gifts, entertainment and restaurants, $220 each month for entertainmanet is bad. I used to spend ~$40/month on DVDs, not anymore, just too expensive. Try finding a cheaper gas station, over here prices vary by as much as 20 cents a gallon, consider using regular if you're using premium. Change oil yourself, 5 gallons of castrol cost $10 at wallmart/target, but oil shop will charge you at least $18 for generic oil and $30 for namebrand from a bottle. $250 is pretty conservative for food for two, but you can still cut it even further if you don't buy overinflated items like namebrand cereals and junk food like chips. Buy at aldi, if you have to buy at your regular grocery store, look for sales. Walmart has some cheap misc food like sereal/juices/chips as well. Cut the cable (who needs it anyway?) find cheaper option for internet, I would imagine in NY it shouldn't be a problem. Carefully examine your cash withdrawals and misc purchases, most of the time people spend a lot of money on some junk they don't really need. Think before you buy and only buy what you really need. I know 50% off sounds good, but do you really need the item? And most of all, cut back now and try to pay off your debts as soon as possible.

Yes, I need renters. that way if there is a fire or something I am not out of all my possesions.

Our cars require premium, so we are stuck there. I try not to drive much, but we need to get things done.

We usually grocery shop at Super Walmart. It's cheaper than the regular stores.

Basic cable and internet are not being cut. I would rather ride a bike to work first.

The cash withdrawals are mostly for her travelling. It does semm higher than it should be to me though.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Car Insurance: $51
Car Maintenance & Fees: $54
Car Payments: $1030
Cash Withdrawals: $207 --wouldn't this fall under misc.
CC Payments: $678
Entertainment: $85
Furniture Payment: $108
Gas: $170
Gifts: $20
Groceries: $252
Misc Purchases: $356
Rent: $905
Renters Insurance: $70 --this is high and probably not necessary.
Restaurants: $118
Student Loans: $326
Utilities(ELectric, Gas, Internet, Cable, Phones): $340 --get cable internet/basic cable/voip, electric and gas shouldn't be more than $160 in an apartment. should be able to save $100. cell phones? lower your plans.
Washer / Dryer: $30

just a few suggestions.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Here are our expenditures for the month. I'm selling my car to save $550 or so. I don't really know what else we can really cut back. There are a few little things, but mostly we are putting left over money into paying off her CC's.

Car Insurance: $51
Car Maintenance & Fees: $54
Car Payments: $1030
Cash Withdrawals: $207
CC Payments: $678
Entertainment: $85
Furniture Payment: $108
Gas: $170
Gifts: $20
Groceries: $252
Misc Purchases: $356
Rent: $905
Renters Insurance: $70
Restaurants: $118
Student Loans: $326
Utilities(ELectric, Gas, Internet, Cable, Phones): $340
Washer / Dryer: $30

Cliffs:

Be a lazy bum and keep living with mom and dad.

Hoo-ray for the live-in nookie!
It's a whole lot cheaper than the rent-a-cookie
Your life, though it may seem small
Is not about the living in at all!

The significant other picks out the paint
The decorations and ceramic angels that look like saints
You stand in the corner, bitch and moan
But you're banging her, right there at home

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Car Insurance: $51
Car Maintenance & Fees: $54
Car Payments: $1030
Cash Withdrawals: $207 --wouldn't this fall under misc.
CC Payments: $678
Entertainment: $85
Furniture Payment: $108
Gas: $170
Gifts: $20
Groceries: $252
Misc Purchases: $356
Rent: $905
Renters Insurance: $70 --this is high and probably not necessary.
Restaurants: $118
Student Loans: $326
Utilities(ELectric, Gas, Internet, Cable, Phones): $340 --get cable internet/basic cable/voip, electric and gas shouldn't be more than $160 in an apartment. should be able to save $100. cell phones? lower your plans.
Washer / Dryer: $30

just a few suggestions.

I just keep the cash separate... personal preferance.
Renters insurance is only $125 a year, and it is quite necessary.
I already have basic cable/internet/voip phone, and only a 300 minute basic cell plan ($141 for cable/intenet/voip, $127 for electric/gas, $72 for cell phones).

 

[everman]

It would be a good idea to see a CFP. They can help you plan your finances better and prepare for the future.

 

[IronWing]

Track everything. Between the cash, the misc, and the CC payemnts you have over $1200 you can't account for w/o thinking about it. Save every receipt and use something like Money or Quicken or OpenWallet (whatever the open source program is called) to figure out where all that unaccounted for spending is occurring. Ask for receipts for all cash purchases.

The reason I recommend using financial software to track expenses is that it advances the timeframe for acknowledging an expense from the time the CC bill arrives to the time you buy stuff. Paying the credit card bill stops being an "expense" to become simply moving money from one account to another. In other words, you know where you stand throughout the month with no quietly building shocks.

Your grocery bill is low so my guess is that alot of that unaccounted for cash is going toward food.

$70/month for renters insurance seems very high. Edit: saw you last post, nevermind.

Dump the cable. See where you can cut on phone, maybe a cheaper plan?

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: everman
It would be a good idea to see a CFP. They can help you plan your finances better and prepare for the future.

What exactly can they point out that I don't know? I'm not being sarcastic, its an honest question.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Car Insurance: $51
Car Maintenance & Fees: $54
Car Payments: $1030
Cash Withdrawals: $207 --wouldn't this fall under misc.
CC Payments: $678
Entertainment: $85
Furniture Payment: $108
Gas: $170
Gifts: $20
Groceries: $252
Misc Purchases: $356
Rent: $905
Renters Insurance: $70 --this is high and probably not necessary.
Restaurants: $118
Student Loans: $326
Utilities(ELectric, Gas, Internet, Cable, Phones): $340 --get cable internet/basic cable/voip, electric and gas shouldn't be more than $160 in an apartment. should be able to save $100. cell phones? lower your plans.
Washer / Dryer: $30

just a few suggestions.

I just keep the cash separate... personal preferance.
Renters insurance is only $125 a year, and it is quite necessary.
I already have basic cable/internet/voip phone, and only a 300 minute basic cell plan ($141 for cable/intenet/voip, $127 for electric/gas, $72 for cell phones).

[pirate] Yearrgh![/pirate]

It's NOT about the little bills, man! It's about your future! Where's your head at? Hers? If you two are committed to making this work, you'll find a way.

But take my advice (FWIW); if you're not totally jazzed about her and where HER head is at, then it's no good, man. The feel/vibe is everything. If you think she's just there for the ride/free lunch, then 99.9% sure she is; kick her like a soccer ball to the curb.

But, if you feel good about it, then go for it. Bills be damned. A good partner is hard to come by. But you better be sure. In your little head, NOT the BIG head. Mr. Big Head lies...bastard.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Track everything. Between the cash, the misc, and the CC payemnts you have over $1200 you can't account for w/o thinking about it. Save every receipt and use something like Money or Quicken or OpenWallet (whatever the open source program is called) to figure out where all that unaccounted for spending is occurring. Ask for receipts for all cash purchases.

The reason I recommend using financial software to track expenses is that it advances the timeframe for acknowledging an expense from the time the CC bill arrives to the time you buy stuff. Paying the credit card bill stops being an "expense" to become simply moving money from one account to another. In other words, you know where you stand throughout the month with no quietly building shocks.

Your grocery bill is low so my guess is that alot of that unaccounted for cash is going toward food.

$70/month for renters insurance seems very high. Edit: saw you last post, nevermind.

Dump the cable. See where you can cut on phone, maybe a cheaper plan?

I know where every penny goes (except for some of the ATM withdrawals she makes on business). It's all in a series of Excel worksheets. Her credit cards aren't being used anymore. I just consider it all past debt from college and pour money into paying them off.

No cash towards the food, We just go to Super Walmart a couple times a month and spend $125-150.

 

[kyparrish]

pics of the GF worth thousands of dollars a month?

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
[pirate] Yearrgh![/pirate]

It's NOT about the little bills, man! It's about your future! Where's your head at? Hers? If you two are committed to making this work, you'll find a way.

But take my advice (FWIW); if you're not totally jazzed about her and where HER head is at, then it's no good, man. The feel/vibe is everything. If you think she's just there for the ride/free lunch, then 99.9% sure she is; kick her like a soccer ball to the curb.

But, if you feel good about it, then go for it. Bills be damned. A good partner is hard to come by. But you better be sure. In your little head, NOT the BIG head. Mr. Big Head lies...bastard.

She's great. I love her. She was just dumb in college and should have found a better way to get by then with her credit cards. But I can't do anything about it now, except to get rid of them.

 

[dug777]

MISC purchases, $356? Cut back on your miscs?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: ironwing
Track everything. Between the cash, the misc, and the CC payemnts you have over $1200 you can't account for w/o thinking about it. Save every receipt and use something like Money or Quicken or OpenWallet (whatever the open source program is called) to figure out where all that unaccounted for spending is occurring. Ask for receipts for all cash purchases.

The reason I recommend using financial software to track expenses is that it advances the timeframe for acknowledging an expense from the time the CC bill arrives to the time you buy stuff. Paying the credit card bill stops being an "expense" to become simply moving money from one account to another. In other words, you know where you stand throughout the month with no quietly building shocks.

Your grocery bill is low so my guess is that alot of that unaccounted for cash is going toward food.

$70/month for renters insurance seems very high. Edit: saw you last post, nevermind.

Dump the cable. See where you can cut on phone, maybe a cheaper plan?

I know where every penny goes (except for some of the ATM withdrawals she makes on business). It's all in a series of Excel worksheets. Her credit cards aren't being used anymore. I just consider it all past debt from college and pour money into paying them off.

No cash towards the food, We just go to Super Walmart a couple times a month and spend $125-150.

I am sorry if I sound like the broken record but:

Make sure that you're not dumping YOUR hard-earned cash into paying off her debts.

IOW, she has to be contributing to the household.

I understand if you make $2K/mo and she only makes $1K, but the percentage should be equal, you know?

It would suck if you paid off all her debt...and then she bailed.

I have a buddy who put his ex-wife (two kids ) thru school under some sub-law of the VA/GI Bill loan. She got a college degree for free...and then split.