budget

My organize and pay bills on time entry is the same as this one. I am going to use the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover system and see how it goes. I feel in control for the first time ever!

If I have the money in the bank I will just buy stuff. Not silly stuff. Home repairs, things that I really NEED, but I need to stop spending my way into debt. I don’t use credit cards but I overspend on the house. I will be working a second job soon and that will help, but I need to really figure out a plan

Yikes!

My student loan from hell is going to garnish my wages in spite of all my efforts to pay the damn thing. I am going to be way short of money next payday as they start taking money until the consolidation goes through. It won’t do any
good to freak out.

But, how to budget? I am right on the edge right now. Falling behind if one extra thing comes up. I would take time off from school to work more BUT I took time off when my father died and when my daughter flipped out. We have a five year time limit to complete our Master’s. So, I will find a way.

So, budget? Oh my GAWD!!!!!!! This month car insurance, car registration and another truck repair bill.

I am having a yard sale. Trying to do a clean sweep! However, my mother the pack rat has moved in and seems to be fighting things every step of the way. Any money earned will go to much needed home repairs.

I should be able to get tuition together if my work did the reimbursement for last semester. If not and it goes into the payday of the 12th when they start taking my wages for a month or so, I am in deep yogurt!

I am hoping that the light at the end of a the tunnel is not an oncoming train. I worked an overtime day last pay period, and today was time and a half. I am hoping I get another extra day tomorrow. But it is unlikely.
Increasing income is the easiest way to dig myself out of this upside down hole. I increased my deductions for the four pay periods or so, in order to get the max amount of money so I can pay the fun things this month like auto insurance, car registration, and tuition. Fixing the crashed drivers side door of my van is not possible for now. The deductable is 500.00.
I don’t have a time line yet, but know that I am going to overcome this challenge.

I consistantly spend more money than I make. I am not realistic about my income, my expenses and my little indulgances. I get discouraged when I make a budget because I clearly don’t have enough money to meet expenses and I make an okay salary as a nurse.
It has been suggested that I cut expenses. However, the majority of the money go to meet mortgage, car payment, utilities, HELOC payment. Just the basics puts me upside down and that is before clothes, food, gas etc.
As I see it. I need to make a much more realistic budget. I need to add in expenses like Christmas, birthdays, home repair, car repair, emergency funds, etc.
I need to find ways to cut some spending. Like putting the above ground pool filter on a timer for only eight hours a day. Make efforts to keep electric use to a minimum, like turning all unused computers off! (six computers in house!).
The collective already carpools for errands. Dorothy needs to pick up stuff at Staples, and I need something from Home Depot, and Mom needs post office stuff, we go together, even though it takes longer.

I know that I need to work overtime. I know. I know. But census has been low at work and nurses are being sent home!!!! So, I guess I can look into registry work during the summer. If I could just pull off one extra day per pay period my income is so much higher that I can pay extra on bills!!

I may look into a way to triple my income by quitting work next year and taking in medically fragile foster children. However, I cannot do this until I finish my Master’s degree in one more year!