stick to the plan, physically, financially, career, life

I have been cutting the coupons out fo the weekly paper. I have never really used coupons before and I really put some concentrated effort into making sure I took my little box with me to the store the other day and sat in the parking lot and went through them and what I may decide to purchase. I found all the items ai was looking for other than two. It was interesting and kinda neat at the same time because I bought some stuff I normally wouldn’t buy. I stayed within my budget AND I saved $19 at teh same time.

this is definitely habit I am going to keep up.

Whites one week, darks the next. saving money and energy.

adding a new month to my budget at the end of every month so I have less work at the end of the year, I will always have a rolling budget and adjust as I see fit. Same with categorizing expenses, doing it as I go or at the end of each week make it easier to see that I am sticking to my excel spreadsheet budget.

Without the cleaning job at Gary’s, I need to really stick to a budget something wicked and definitely tight. I got it down so I can at least make ends meet as long as there is no emergencies. I will feel better once I have some savings in the bank, tax return time can’t come soon enough for me. But it is forcing me to review my finances on a weekly basis and think about every dollar I spend while still making sure I have some fun in my life.

The other weekly ritual that I have been incorporating is making a weekly plan list for my one day off the last three weeks. I make sure there is something fun to do and also try and take care of some of my chores during the week on my work days. I am getting a better handle on my mornings.

Last thing is the paper. I am not sure if I already posted this but I have been opening my mail everyday and making a decision about every thing I open right away and file it RIGHT AWAY! That is making all the difference in the world.The other thing is how I told my daughter to organize her bills, twelve monthly folders in a plastic bin, as you finish the month it goes to the back of the bin, when you reach a year, you throw away last years stuff and fill in with the new year, you always have a rolling year of bills. Keep 7 years of income tax, car stuff separately, insurance and lease. Now that I gave her such great advice, I am doing the same and I feel so much more organized.

picking one task every morning to help with my clean sweep has been very helpful as well.

I also made my grocery list the day before shopping and cut my coupons, I saved 5 dollars this week. Go me!

I have spent hours and hours creating my budget. I love those excel spreadsheets but then I don;t take the time on a weekly basis to go back to them and keep up to date. My goal for the next two months will be to reveiw my budget every friday, balance mmy checkbook and then pay my bills immediately. My goal to keep money in reserve in case of an emergency doesn;t help in me rebuilding my credit becauase I end up paying everything late. With the bankruptcy last year and looking forward to eventually having a loan for my masters degree I will need to re-build my credit.

I just put the envelope on my dresser or the counter and they pile up and pile up. I have been good this past couple of weeks and opened the maile immediately when I get home, file what needs to be filed and throw away the rest. It is working pretty well so far.