where's the money go?

R

rgi

Cathlete
Does anyone else ever wonder about this?

My husband and I both work and make decent salaries, but it seems I can never get us past the living week to week scenario. We get pizza once a week, and that's the extent of us eating out, don't do the Starbucks thing, and to be honest, really don't spend foolishly. So...where's the money???

My New Year's resolution is to figure this out and get us on a different track, once and for all!!!
 
rgi,

Once you keep track of your money, you'll know where it goes. You will be surprised on how much little stuff you spend. It all adds up.

I think it's always a good idea to keep track of it. Good for you.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
 
I'm in the same boat but when gas, food, electric, transit, and water go up, there's not much left. I don't do the Starbucks things either. I brown bag it to work and we get pizza once a week. We don't go to the movies but we'll occasionally order a pay per view and don't go out to restaurants. I don't know where you live, but in NY, it's pretty close to impossible to make ends meet.

Marcy
 
I was asking myself this very question a couple of years ago, so I started keeping track of every single penny I spent. I take out X dollars every Friday and keep track of everything I spend. It seems silly to ask for a receipt for a pack of gum, but it's the only way you'll know where it's going.
 
I really need to start keeping track, too. In the past I've done the write down everything I spend thing and in addition to giving me some insight into where the money goes it also helps curtail some spending. Just like when tracking food intake sometimes I would not buy something just because I didn't want to have to write it down. Personally I find it a lot harder to keep a spending diary than a food diary. I've been doing WW for almost three years now and have tracked almost everything I've eaten but when my DH suggests doing the same with money I find all sorts of excuses not to do it. I always think to myself "I just have to buy this one last thing then I'll start". Needless to say STS is on my very long list of "one last thing".:7
 
I know as a single mom with a teenage boy, just about all of my little income goes just for the "basic" living expenses (lot rent, insurance (car,mobile home), food, electric, water, heat, gasoline,etc.). It's not fun! (And without child support in another 1 1/2 years, I really don't know how we'll live).....

Can anyone tell me if it's cheaper to live in the southern states (like Tennessee)? (I live in Michigan and it's expensive.)

Thanks.
Patti
 
Patti -

I live in NJ, and can tell you to not head this way! I've always heard it's cheaper down south, and hopefully someone can give you a little insight.
 
Patti,

I'm moving to Georgia next month from NY. I can tell you that housing, insurance (car) and gas are cheaper. Gas is 30 cents a gallon cheaper than in NY. I think food and water are about the same. I'm pretty sure gas (heating) and electric will be cheaper as well. Real estate taxes will be about the same for me but I'm getting a lot more house for the money.

Marcy
 
Marcy,

I live in Suwanee/Sugar Hill, a suburb north of Atlanta. Where are you moving to in Georgia? There are several Cathe Fans from Atlanta that I get together with. Hopefully you will be close enough to join us for our next outing.

Gas is definitely cheaper in GA than in the northern states. We have been in a severe drought so watch your water consumption or they will likely stick it to you.

Carolyn
 
Carolyn,

I would love to join you on your next outing. I will be moving by the end of January, early February to Kennesaw or Marietta. I hope that will be close enough. I was hoping to meet some of you since I won't know a soul when I get there.

Marcy
 
Well, I just blew $120 on P90X - on a freakin' whim! It's that whim stuff I've been having a problem with lately. I'm going to be forced to curtail that immediately. I wish I had a bit more, because living in NY I'd like to be able to take advantage of theatre and restaurants more (although I could just choose that over workout tapes, right). Ugh. It is definitely a challenge. I've taken to really checking my on-line bank statement at a minimum, once a week. It keeps you aware of where you're at and gives you a clear picture of where the money goes. And I only shop with a debit card so I always have that record.
 
Oh I used to wonder where the money goes all the time. I am not good about writing down what I spend, I do love electronic gadgets though, so I got this neat little thingy that scans your bills/receipts, reads it and organizes them in a software program. Sometimes you have to manually make some adjustments but then it calculates everything for you and gives you daily/monthly/yearly reports. LOVE IT! www.neatreceipts.com

I am self-employed and also use it for tax records, it is approved for IRS record keeping. I just collect a stack over one week, scan it in and at tax time, or whenever I need a report, I click a button, and there it is.

I don't have to keep stacks and stacks of receipts, I just keep it on electronic file.

Works phenomenally to figure out what you spend on groceries, electricity, gas, etc. It sure was an eye opener for me, now if I could get DH to stick to the budget, it'd be working a lot better.
 
My DH is fanatical about accounting for every penny. He uses Quicken, and I give him a receipt for every single thing I buy. Whenever I make the mistake of asking where the money goes, he gives me a report broken down by category. While I'm glad someone is paying attention, I must admit it doesn't change my behavior much. ;)
 
Rgi, I know what you mean. For me, it was my kids who were getting every nickel. There are so many things! ie lunches, clothes,etc. I don't know if you have kids but that's a biggie.

I does help to write everything down. It's like dieting. You don't know your actually eating/spending til you see it on paper. It may help to monitor the little things like ATM fees. Be sure to take money out of your bank whenever possible.

Good luck!

Phyllis http://www.rykat.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/arrowhead.png


http://www.picturetrail.com/pwmatt
 
Someone above who lives in Michigan wanted to know if it is cheaper to live in the south. I live in southern Indiana and I have some friends who moved down here from Michigan about 7 years ago. The cost of living is cheaper, but the pay is lower. For example, my friends both worked making around $15 an hour...so together, they made $30 an hour. They moved here and both made $7 an hour, which gave them a salary of $14-$15 and hour.

It is cheaper to live here, but don't expect to make the same amount of money as you do up north. I don't know why it is that way. Plus, we are in a rural community. I guess it would be somewhat of an even trade :)

Sara
 
I have become more fanatical with my money, the older I get. I guess I'm learning more and see people that just throw away their money on junk. When I was 25 my mom showed me how to budget so that you have money when you need to pay your mortgage, car insurance, etc. It's taken me a long time to get disciplined with it but I finally am. I keep a ledger with all my separate accounts and disburse my money that way so I always have money to pay all the important things. When I get a raise, I will absorb the money into one of the other accounts. My budget is actually set up for about 10K less than I'm making so if I lose my job and have to take a lower salary I can.

For the person that asked if it is cheaper to live in the south, I would say that it is all relative. I moved from Chicago to South Georgia about 19 years ago. Yes, houses, gas, taxes are less expensive but the salary range is lower too.
 
Hi,
I just wanted to say "Thank You" for those who responded to my question about living in the South. The lower cost of living but lower pay will be a trade off to much nicer weather, right!

Thanks again for your responses! I appreciate it!
Patti
 
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