It Pays to Plan $200 Giveaway
Posted by Don on August 25th, 2008 filed in Contests
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We’re interested in hearing if you budget your expenses, and if you do, how do you do it? Do you scratch it all down on paper? Do you use excel? Do you just try to budget using your online banking? If you have a budgeting tip we would love to hear those as well! We want to help everyone get on top of their finances, and the first step is to begin a budget. |
The deadline for entries is 8:00pm EST September 8th (09/08/2008)
There are three ways to win:
1. Subscribe To Our Blog By Email
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2. Tell Us If You Budget and How You Do It (By leaving a comment)
Simply leave a comment on this post, make sure to include your email (it will not be published). Your comment must be about how you currently budget your finances. If you’re not budgeting anything you can simply say you don’t, but we would prefer you explain why you haven’t budgeted.
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Leave a review of a credit card you own on our Credit Card Finder. Simply include your email with the review and we will give you an extra permanent entry into all future contests. All reviews are checked by hand to insure that they are valid. Your email will only be used for contacting you if you win.
You may enter using all methods, which will increase your chances of winning. As long as you are subscribed you will be automatically entered into future contests.
A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the contest and will be notified by email. We will require your mailing address to send you your gift card. We will only consider winners in the United States and Canada. You will have 3 days to claim your prize, after which we will select another winner at random.
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342 Responses to “It Pays to Plan $200 Giveaway”
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August 25th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
We don’t really budget. We just try to to spend too much money. We pay the bills, buy groceries and try not to be to frivolous with whats left over. Great giveaway, thanks!
August 25th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I don’t do a traditional budget. I review my expenses every few months though.
One thing I do to ensure I’m saving enough though is to pay myself first. I direct deposit part of my paycheck into my savings account and 401(k) account before I even get a chance to spend it.
The way I see it, the rest is just spending money. Pay yourself first automatically and life is easy. No budget needed.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I try to budget and hubs does not- so its hard, he is not a worry kindof guy and I am more like is it a really needed item or a want. We struggle but are starting to read and get financial help
August 26th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I don’t budget because I really don’t spend too much money. I just make sure I take out a certain amount of money for my spending that week, and if I do go shopping or grocery shopping, that I don’t spend more than I’ve made that week.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I don’t really budget I just keep track of how much more I can spend for the month by checking my online accounts often.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Having a lower income, I absolutely have to budget, but I don’t do anything formal. I do check my account online a couple times a month. I know approximately how much I spend on necessities each month, so it’s easy to figure out how much I have for savings and to spend on other stuff. I guess the majority of my “budget” is impulse control. I make sure not to put anything on my credit card (rewards card, of course) that I can’t pay off at the end of the month.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:41 am
I just try to be aware of all our expenses. To do that we only have one credit card and use that consistently to keep track of our expenses. Also we do all our banking online which keeps us up to date on a daily basis.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I don’t really budget my expenses but I am very careful what I spend. Some weeks I don’t need to buy much and I don’t. Other weeks there are more needs so I must spend more. I use lots of coupons and try to win things!!!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I budget by buying a lot of can goods and non-parishables when they are on sale…then I drive 55mph to save on gas consumption.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:15 am
We used a program for budgeting. For 6 mos we recorded every nickel spent. Using those numbers the program compiled a budget. We review this and alter any item we felt necessary.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I budget by checking my accounts online every single day. I know to the penny how much money is in our accounts. I pay all of my bills online, so I know when and how much is coming and going. We also get all of our deposits automatically online. We try to be paperless in the financial world.
I am also in charge of the money, so I tell my husband when and how much he can spend! HA HA! Don’t worry, I’m pretty generous!
THANKS!
August 26th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I budget the old fashioned way, I divide my paycheck up into envelopes for bills or things that need to be paid. Such as one envelope will be for groceries, one for electric bill, one for phone, one for credit card, oil heat, ectera. We also have one for entertainment or eating out and once it is used up, we wait until next paycheck for more. I find that this works best for me, it is something I have been doing since I got my first job at 16 some 25 years ago and I find that it keeps me on track. I would love a simpler method and have tried some, but never stuck to them, this always worked best for me and keeps me from getting into financial trouble.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I do my best to follow a budget, but that has become increasingly difficult as prices have risen though wages have not. I divide all of my bills based on my 2 paychecks I receive each month so that my expenses in that area are divided equally between the pay checks. I try to buy food on sale and rarely purchase anything “unneccessary.”
August 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I am currently not budgeting as I was terminated from my job and for the first time in my life (I’m 51 yoa) I am unemployed and job hunting. I am just not purchasing anything but the absolute necessities. I am broke and I hate it so I am too discouraged to even try to make a budget until I obtain employment.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I don’t budget. After the bills get paid there’s no money left to budget with!
Thanks
August 26th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I am extremely strict with budgeting. I allot a certain amount of cash per week, say $200. I spend only cash and that way I can see the money leave my hands.
It’s a great way to learn about yourself. It really helped me cut down on shopping rather than being shocked by a cc bill each month.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:03 am
When you live paycheck to paycheck there isn’t really too much to budget, sigh.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Budgeting is extremely important to me and my family. There has to be some rhyme and reason to how you pay your bills.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I clip coupons like Edward Scissorhands and I hide the debit card from my husband.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I don’t really budget, it is one of my downfalls.
Wo do not eat out or spend money on entertainment - movies, etc.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I budget but am fairly loose about sticking to it.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I budget with the use of lists and a calendar. I rarely go to the store without a list and buy just the things on the list. I write when bills are due on the calendar and check it a couple of times a week to make sure they are paid on time. This system works for me. email: debbe1954@yahoo.com
August 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am
There is not a time in my adult life that I have not had to budget especially since I have moved to Panama City Beach FL with cost of living higher than I’m used to.
When my daughter was five my parents took her from me due to my alcoholism. I moved to florida April 4 2007, the day my daughter turned 19, with 10 1/2 years sobriety, my car payed off and money saved for the move after years of working two and three jobs.
mothers day 2008 I saw her get her associates degree with 3.8 GPA. Even though she lives five minutes from me, she sent me a card saying thanks for being at my college graduation, standing beside me and cheering me on. She is now going to FSU to get bachelor degree in teaching. I’m getting my Associates in Accounting degree online.
I got laid off work in June and have not found a job since. I have unemployment but it doesn’t come close to paying the bills. I live off of Ramen noodles three meals a day.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:33 am
We absolutely have a budget and have had one for about 30 years. We always “paid ourselves first” by putting aside savings even before we got our paychecks. We track all our spending and put it in an Excel spread sheet in small categories. Categories include: groceries, electricity, natural gas, gasoline, clothing, pets and so on. We have lots more categories! By examining our categories month to month and over several years, we have an excellent idea about our living costs. With this knowledge, we can predict, plan, and invest better. We can also see where we can trim our spending because the facts are at our finger tips. Although it is a bit of work to do this, we suggest it for anyone who is serious about saving money and investing for the future. Just as people who are serious about losing weigh should keep a food log, people who are serious about their money should keep this sort of money spreadsheet. You will probably be amazed at what you discover about yourself and your finances when you start doing this! It’s an eye-opener for many people!
August 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
We don’t have the “traditional” budget. We know what are monthly bills are, we try to take the “extra” money each month and divide it between our savings and fixing up one more room in our home, paint, new blinds, decor etc…. most months there isn’t any “extra” these days, but we manage to pay the bills.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Don’t really budget now, have been thinking about using the envelope and cash system.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Budgeting is an absolute MUST for me, because my current income is very small. The pen-and-paper method works best for me so that I can adjust my payment amounts each month and still remain within my income limits. So far, so good-Thank God!!
August 26th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I never used to budget but since we retired and now receive monthly checks instead of weekly I find that I have to or if I don’t there is too much month left at the end of the money!
August 26th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I don’t budget, I know that I should.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Yes. We budget all our expenses. My husband and I keep close track of all our expenses. We put just enough away each week for those expenses. What’s left over, we divide into an emergency fund, gift fund and a small amount for savings. We’re very strict with ourselves and try not to buy anything, without having the full amount saved first. We even use coupons and discounts whereever possible. Especially with the way the economy is right now, we find that budgeting is a must. thanks for this giveaway.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:21 am
We have decided to double pay the mortgage every six months. This way we will get extra payments for the year.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:27 am
NO BUDGET - NO MONEY - would love to win this contest prize - then at least I could buy my wonderful disabled wife of more than 38 years something new!
August 26th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I run out of month at the end of my money.
I would love to win some extra money…….
August 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I pay the rent and utilities first, then pay insurance, then buy cat food. If there’s anything left, I buy groceries.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
we don’t budget per say but we know our boundaries
August 26th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I budget down to the penny because I am on a mission to pay off my cards. I use an excel spreadsheet, I obsess about it and then I hord money here and there for large payments like a squirrel.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I am such a penny-pincher and budgeter to the extreme that I am accused by friends and family of having concealed my true age and having grown up during the depression…I got these skills from my Grandmother and I am proud to be parsimonious!
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
August 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Our recurring expenses (utilities, monthly credit card statement) are paid automatically by arrangement through our checking account. Dollars to pay annual bills (property taxes,
insurance, savings for emergencies) are deducted in equal amounts from directly deposited paychecks and go to an interest bearing money market account. Not exciting, but we don’t worry as much about money any more. Thanks for the contest.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
We started to do a budget and it has really helped us to see where everything is going
August 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I budget our food allowance each week, it helps to set a limit and keep a mental note in your head
August 26th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I budge because I need to. I try to only spend the alloted cash that I put away each week for need items.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
We don’t write everything down but we don’t use credit cards so if we can’t pay cash for something we don’t buy it.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I sort of have a budget in my head, but nothing on paper. We need to be better.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I tried to budget but each time I get on a schedule and attempt to stck to it something always comes up to throw it off and then I give up and go off the budget Women handle finances better than men they are not only more organized they can stick to it more successfully than men
August 26th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
We have the hardest time with our food/eating out money. We opened a separte acount and each payday put in X for food/eating out. We know tht once it is gone, ther is no more. We have started paying better attention to sales, and coupons, and now usually have money left over at the end of the pay period. We know use the leftover to go out to eat with.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
We make a budget because we are trying to pay off some debt.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I budget by clipping coupons,paying cash for everything and big time bargain hunting. Credit cards aren’t welcome with me anymore.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I budget for food and entertainment but I always leave a little bit of discretionary money that I deposit in savings if we don’t use it.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
We don’t really budget because we really don’t understand how to stick to one. We always end up going over, and not having enough money at the end of the month to pay expenses.
dcadmar at gmail.com
August 26th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
We have been married 48 years; and since DAY ONE, I have handled the money, budgeting our whole pay checks, physically dividing the cash into budget envelopes marked for nearly every expenditure we would have weekly, from food, to dry cleaning, paperboy - everything. My Mom always did it and taught me to be frugal and do the same. We never had a bill come up that we could not pay because the funds had been budgeted. I clip coupons, shop sales - but only in local stores - enter contests for tickets, etc, so entertainment budget is kept light. We are not, never have been, never will be rich, but we are able to keep afloat comfortably.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
We don’t have a specific budget. I know generally what to expect with expenses, but we don’t do a good job with spending too much on non-necessities. We do save, but could do much more.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
i generally do not budget for things, but my husband will. for large expenses, he will write out our major financial obligations to see how much we would owe per month.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I have a limited income and I “always” budget my money. I buy store brands,shop at Wal-Mart and I don’t waste money on useless things.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I am low-income, and I have to keep track of what must be paid on the first of the month in a 5-column pad, a page for each month. Rent, utilities, and a few indulgences are the main things I pay. What’s left over is almost half my income, so that goes for food mostly. Sometimes I am able to save for things like a trip, or a book. It simplifies things to keep track of how much I have to pay each month.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I keep my budget using Excel. But I always found that I spend too much on dining out and buying snacks/drinks. So now I’ll put away certain amount of cash in a seperate coin purse and whenever I dine out or buy food, I’ll just use that money. In that way, I can control my budget. This method works so well now I’m doing the same thing when I do travel budget.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
My budget is pretty simple. I have my paycheck deposited into my bank account: 75% goes into checking and 25% goes to savings. Each month, I pay all bills with my checking account first, then I use a small portion for necessities. Usually I forget about the funds allocated into the savings account because it’s only to be used for major purchases (college, car, house, etc).
Every once in a while will I treat myself or put extra money into savings. I believe in living below my means, so I rarely get into trouble with bills and such.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
this is how i budget by going on a diet, and that stopped all the fastfood spending and i started buying only what i need and not what i want and then i’ll try to have a coupon for that.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I pretty much have the grocery shopping bill down to a science. That’s about as far as my budgeting goes unfortunately.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I’m on soc. sec. so I pay all bills at once before we spend on other things.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:34 am
I allot a certain amount of money per each necessity each month and save the rest.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:48 am
I have a variable income, so I have a prioritized budget where all the bills get paid, then whatever is left is split proportionately between charity, savings/investing, and fun money fund. If my income is less than my basic expenses then I take from my emergency fund or fun money fund and add whatever was taken out as a “bill” for the next month.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:00 am
This has always worked for me. When I cash my check, I get a fixed amount of cash. That’s my spending money and I know when it’s gone, it’s gone. I only use credit cards at the gas station for convenience. This really helps me think about my purchases and keep spending under control.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:01 am
WE TRY TO BUDGET
August 27th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I don’t really budget. I pretty much know what I’ve got to pay and juggle very well.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:35 am
I use a spreadsheet to budget so I can keep track of what I have paid and what is coming up. Any extra goes into savings for emergencies.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I pay for everything with a my debit/credit card is how I budget. I only carry a few bucks for an emergency that’s it. And buy in bulk!
August 27th, 2008 at 5:56 am
I try to budget. I know how much I have to spend after all essentials are paid for, as housing food, insurance, gas, etc… Then I try to keep track of how much I am spending with the remaining money I have monthly.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Have never had nor wanted a credit card. Have had a couple of store accounts but rarely used them. Over the years always paid bills by check but now use debit cards and think they are great idea as you cannot spend what you do not have with them. Now use online banking also to keep track of my balances and pay bills. Actually am better off financially now that am retired than ever before in my life. Have 4 financially successful adult children who give me funds every month. Never thought of it at the time but as a single parent with 4 children to raise there was never extra money for pension funds or savings and the like but as it turns out getting them all through college was probably the best pension fund I could have had. Go figure.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:24 am
I write every penny we spend down and NEVER spend more then we make in a week. It means we miss out on alot- but it also means we don’t pay interest on anything (except our mortgage!)
August 27th, 2008 at 6:48 am
We don’t budget, but we are very frugal with our money. When we do shop, we always look for good bargains and for the most part, only buy the things that we really need.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I don’t budget,i don’t save,i spend too much and it all works out well in the end.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I budget, you have to in this economy.
I just pay the bills and then make the best choice of what to do with the rest.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I’ve started a budget, but I haven’t worked out all the kinks yet. Right now I have estimated income and estimated expenses simply listed in word. We’re keeping receipts to see if my estimate is accurate, then we’ll fine tune it from there.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
The main way we budget is to never charge more to a credit card than we can pay off at the end of the month. If you never get behind on your credit charges you don’t have to worry about paying interest and having your debt pile up. The main reason to use credit is for convenience, not to spend more than you have.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:53 am
My way of budgeting is spending as little money as possible! We’re trying to save to buy a house so we’ll give ourselves goals: i.e. do not spend more than $100 in groceries. It’s become like a game to see who can spend the least and buy the most.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:20 am
don’t really have a budget, but i am cheap.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:53 am
if i don’t have the cash in my pocket, i don’t buy
August 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I don’t budget, I’m not much of a spender.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I have to keep a pretty tight budget. I only get paid once a month and need to ensure it lasts.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
We try and set a limit on groceries and activities for the month. Then the rest os fixed bills so we try and stay on top of our spedning that way.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am
very frugal with my money
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
August 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
We have found that one of the best ways to curb our spending is to leave all credit cards at home, tucked away in an inconvenient location.
Online banking is then how I stay on top of our expenses, as we just can’t rely on mere checkbook balancing. We live very Spartan each month until the mortgage is paid.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
we just pay all bills. Not much money and we don’t spend alot.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I’ve recently started budgeting. I have the regular expenses (rent, utilities, groceries, monthly savings, etc.) and then beyond that I give myself a weekly cash allowance - for going out to lunch, a new pair of shoes, etc. If I have allowance left at the end of the week, I can either roll it over to the next week or put it in my savings at ING, where I get a good interest rate. I try to do the latter, but sometimes am not so good about it…
August 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Thank you for having this. We have started a budget but it quickly fell by the wayside with back to school shopping. We just try to buy only what we need and save at least 10% each week. thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
August 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am
My husband and I keep a spreadsheet to track all of our income, expenses and expenditures. That way we can see what we’re earning and spending each month and decide where we need to cut back.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I know I should budget but I don’t. I just don’t overspend and just recently started to put aside the money I save from coupons and the change we collect into a savings account.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
My husband made an excel spreadsheet for our budget, which is pretty extensive and detailed. We each have a small “allowance” that we can spend however we like, but other than that, it’s pretty tight and strict.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:59 am
We really don’t have a traditional budget. We just do not buy any extras, until the bills are paid and the food etc is bought. i would love to figure out a way to better budget our money. I do save money by using coupons, buying when there are sales or deals and comparison shopping!
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
We use Dave Ramsey’s method. Cash only and no debt is the way we play. It is actually really nice because we always have at least 1000 dollars in the savings account just in case.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Passive budgeting. We review our stuff online with Mint to see our finances at a glance. That tells us how we’re doing in various categories. I’ve given some serious consideration to separate online bank accounts for everything and splitting my money that way to keep it safe and give us a set amount of spending money, kind of like the old “envelope” system. Haven’t gotten too far with this yet, though. If anything, the envelope system will be next, just to get a handle on eating out vs. groceries.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:20 am
try it , it will work
August 27th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Of course we budget. We have to and we do it by the skin of our teeth lol
August 27th, 2008 at 10:29 am
We use Quicken to keep track of everything. My husband and I are both cheap so it works wonderfully for us to stick to a budget!
August 27th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Since my husband is disanled and I was lais off. I only spend what I get from unemployment and I make every penny count. Week by week. I also use a spreadsheet so I can visually see what we are spending.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Honestly I keep it all in my head for the week then figure it out later.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I rarely budget. It’s sort of on “in my mind” sort of budgeting. Which is probably a really bad way to handle my money.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:07 am
We use Quicken and have a rough idea of what to spend in each category. But really, we buy what we need and try not to go overboard ever.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:12 am
We tracked all spending for two years. It was a lot of data, but it made us really see where money was going.
Now we don’t have time for that kind of detail, so we do a lot of automatic transfers, so that we pay ourselves first. Anything left over is Ok to spend!
August 27th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I don’t do a budget, typically. I just try not to spend money on anything unnecessary and always look for good deals.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I just check my online banking accounts constantly so I always know what is available and what is not. It basically does the checkbook balancing. So i know where my money is going.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I like to buy used items to help me stay with in a budget. I will buy new items but when it comes to books, clothes, etc used it the way to go.
And I’m not afraid to buy no-name products
August 27th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I combine coupons with sales, I re-use as much as possible and keep my eating out to a minimum.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I track every penny in and every penny out and have done for years. Knowing what’s coming in and what’s due and planning accordingly is what has kept me out of debt and continues to do so even in these extra-tight economic times.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I track all of our finances in a self created spreadsheet. I used to be a financial advisor but never really practiced anything. I have decided that with a family no frivolous spending is stupid so we budget just about everything.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:43 am
We write down everything so we always know what we have. If there is something large we want we write in down and work to save for it. We’ve never had credit card debt, and I am very thankful for that!
August 27th, 2008 at 11:46 am
We currently budget on an Excel spreadsheet by listing all of our expected income and proposed expenses. It’s not fancy and I would love to come up with a better way, but it works for us currently.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:47 am
We charge everything on a card that gives us money back and pay off the balance each month.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
We do a zero-based budget based on Dave Ramsey and print out budget sheets from his website. It’s nice to know how much we spend and when that money is gone, it’s gone o we need to spend wisely.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
well i al ways make a list and then i put so much on the bills and then after words get the things i need or want and say if its some thing that cost a lot i save for it or wait tell is go’s on sale or even try and shop a round for it thanks. and yes this would be grate if i won this it would help out a lot
August 27th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
We also do not do a traditional style of budgeting. I have an alloted spending amount a month and this helps my husband figure out cash flow. Works for us! We don’t spend more than we make and work to save as much as possible.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Though we have lived together for eight years and been married for four, we just recently combined our finances to help with budgeting.
We looked at trends for costs (gas, groceries, etc.) and bills. We only shop now with a pre-agreed upon list, we have stopped using credit cards, and even a frappucino is a joint decision so we don’t attempt to hide, feel guilt or splurge on something wasteful. This has made us appreciate every penny and really have the ability to save up for great things like vacations and furniture instead of burning away cash on trinkets.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
We don’t specifically budget our money but we make every effort to not spend on unnecessary items/luxuries. We also put everything on our Discover card (except our mortgage) so every month we can see a detailed view of where the money was spent. The Cashback Bonus is nice to get this way too!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I use the You Need A Budget budgeting program, along with Quicken for long-term planning. I’ve probably reached a point where such careful tracking isn’t really necessary, but I like watching every penny.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I budget by having a separate bank account for groceries, one for savings and a checking account for writing checks. I allocate funds into each account every month. That way I don’t go over budget in my groceries.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I don’t really budget, but I do have an idea in my head about what we need. Why don’t I budget? Well, I’ve tried, lots of times, lots of methods. It just doesn’t stick for me. I’m not good with money at all (and it shows) - hopefully I can find some good tips here to help me out.
I also blogged about your giveaway here:
http://robynsonlineworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/lots-of-giveaways.html
Thanks!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
This is a bit embarrassing, but we’re horrible at budgeting. We set aside envelopes every payday and put the alloted amount of money into each envelope. A little old school but it works for us.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I don’t really do much budgeting as I tend to be rather frugal. I keep track of where my money is, what I’m spending, and follow my investments, but most of that is recorded for me online with no effort on my part.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
We’ve been tweaking an excel worksheet that I’ve had since I was single and sans kids.
But a great budgeting tip is to (if you can help it at all), use your credit card like a debit card with perks and only buy what you have money for and pay the total amt each month. 
August 27th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
We don’t really budget. We just try not to spend excessively. I keep very little cash on hand, and use just 2 credit cards. When we pay the credit card bill every month, I roughly make sure that what we spent is less than what we take in.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
We don’t focus on the term “budget”. We focus on getting what we need for the least amount of money we can get it for or for free. We do this with grocery shopping, hotels, tickets, etc. You name it, I’m not paying full price and usually no where near it.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
We use and excel spread sheet to track spending. Last month’s sheet is copied to the next month to give us a basis for the new month’s budget.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
My husband and I have a very strict budget that we maintain in an Excel spreadsheet and using Quicken. We’ve been married since our teen years (we’re in our 30s now) so our budget has changed dramatically but we still have one!
August 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Our ‘budget’ is miserable right now - it’s an after-the-fact accounting of what went where using our online banking information. I KNOW we need to set a budget ahead of time and stick to it… but we just can’t seem to discipline ourselves to do it.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
My husband and I are both real estate brokers (and parents!)and the market is bad right now. We have eliminated vacations, and going out to dinner, movies etc.. It’s not easy, but the economy will change, allowing us to add these things back in the future :o)
August 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
We primarily use an Excel spreadsheet to help us keep track of our adoption expenses. It has been so helpful!
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
August 27th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
My husband does all the financial “paperwork” and he swears by Quicken.
I am the sensible one when it comes to purchases; he spends a lot of money needlessly and I clip coupons.
I’d rather save my money for my children than spend on myself. I do believe though, that a few rewards now and then are crucial or it gets too discouraging and you’re apt to blow it all.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
No budget but everything important gets paid, for the most part!
August 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
We simply combine any extra income after expenses we have into our savings account, as well as other savings practices like using coupons, rebates, buying at garage sales, etc…
August 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Thankfully, neither my husband nor I are spendthrifts. It’s actually rare that we want to buy something (other than food or pay for electric, gas, etc.). We don’t keep a budget, yet we still put money away for retirement.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
We don’t necessarily do a budget, but we track all of our spending online and have most of our monthly expenses taken directly out of our account so that we don’t happen to miss any payments. We go over our expenses periodically to see if we have any room to cut unnecessary expenditures. Great giveaway!
~Tanya
the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com
August 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I am using Excel to keep track of our major expense(s) to date: our son’s education at college. It’s very easy to exceed what you thought was your budget, so a spreadsheet helps.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I have a monthly budget made out, I pay the bills and manage to save some too.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I don’t exactly make out a budget, but I track every expense on Quicken so I always have a handle on where our money is going and we can stay in the black.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I keep our household budget in a book each month. My husband goes online to get all of the in and out information and then I keep track of it in my book so that we can compare one month to the next.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I don’t really budget anymore these days. With lost jobs and medical expenses, I just try to get by. I charge groceries, use one credit card to pay another, and other riduculous ideas that I wouldn’t have considered ten years ago before American’s economy (and my personal economy tanked). Back then, I had a retirement fund, health savings account, and put some money away every month. Boy, things sure have changed.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
It’s a bit hard for us to use a traditional budget because our income isn’t the same from month to month, but what we do is keep track of our income and expenses from the previous month, then create a zero-based budget for the current month, assuming the same income as last. Not always perfect, but it works for us most of the time.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I kind of have a budget, but it is mainly just jotted down on paper what bills are due, etc. My husband has not received a steady full time paycheck in years, so it is really hard to budget. We are hoping when he goes back to work after labor day it will be steady enough to make a budget & to pay down some more debt. We’ve really been working on hard on getting rid of debt! When he used to work steady, I used quicken for my budget & finances.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
We don’t really budget, either, but we make plans about where specific checks (from extra work like tutoring, health care reimbursal) will go — pay down debt, savings, etc.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I just graduated college so I do not have a budget beyond paying for rent, food and student loans! Once I catch up on those I’m going to plan a real budget : )
August 27th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
being a single mom of a teenager, on a very limited budget, I don’t use credit cards. I mark on my calender what I own on what day and what money is coming in,
August 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
When money is tight, you need to be able to differentiate between a “want” and a “need”. You might “want” a vacation or a latte, you “need” to pay the rent and eat.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
We don’t budget we just try to get the bills paid. Someone has claimed our money before we even get paid.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I use Quicken and if I have to look at our money in the future, I use a piece of paper and a calculator.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
We are so bad at budgeting!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I budget using our Quicken program. I input all the deposits and withdrawals before the month begins so all the decisions are made on purpose ahead of time.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I budget using an excel spreadsheet…if I want some extra spending money, I’ll work a little overtime, otherwise, I stay strictly to the budget!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
i try, i really try, every pay i try, really
August 27th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Even though I know I should budget, I don’t. I’m ok on day-to-day expenses, but I really need to sit down and do some planning to increase my savings
August 27th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I have not budgeted (or worked)in a long time, because I can’t stand the system of commerce set up by men in this world, and the damage it has caused our planet. Unfortunately, I will have to temporarily work in some sort of toxic environment to feed myself and the animals I take care of in order to survive. That’s when I’ll have to budget my pennies(comical practice) and devise a plan to work for myself!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I have a budget and stick to it faithfully. For the last ten years, I’ve kept a notebook that has a page for every month of the year that lists all my expenses. I pay all my bills online on the same day of the month every month using the list in my notebook, so I know that all my bills will be paid on time. This method and my budget have given me a pricelss peace of mind, and have been an integral component in remaining financially stable.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
i do not budget really, i know how much money i have so i know what i can spend and thats it.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I must admit, I am at my wits end with budgeting. I have created a million different budgets(okay, slight exaggeration). I’ve tried keeping track on Excel, on paper, in word, in my checkbook, etc. etc. and I still have yet to find what will work. Someday soon I hope I will get it together.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I’ve never written/set/planned a budget. I do note down all of my purchases, try to use cash only, and I keep most receipts around just in case. I guess I’ve always been frugal with my spending.
If I did have a budget I’d use MS Access.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I’m very sad to say that I don’t budget. I’m sure if I did I would be in a much better financial position than I am right now. I’ve tried to budget before but am not good at sticking to it. Maybe I’ll try again.
Thanks so much!!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
August 28th, 2008 at 4:20 am
I really don’t understand how people cannot budget. My husband and I sat down and figured out our monthly bills. From what was left over, we determined what we could spend and what we should save.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:36 am
My budget… after I pay my monthly bills, I make sure to have $400 on me for two weeks at a time…
August 28th, 2008 at 5:11 am
I try to budget with my online banking account. Of course the money always runs out before all the bills are paid but I’m trying my best. This prize would be such a great help. Thanks so much.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:20 am
We budget by checking ads and using coupons at the stores where the items we want are already on sale. We buy our children’s clothing at end of season clearance sales, and we have downgraded to one car to save money. This is how we are paying off debt and saving for a home/retirement.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:31 am
We use the Dave Ramsey Budget form and the cash/envelope system with our groceries to make sure we don’t overspend. We also meal plan to make sure we are using all the groceries we buy. We have to be extremely careful because we are on one income so I can stay at home with my son. We also tithe 10% first when my husband gets paid and God always makes sure we have enough.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I have a rough budget. We know what our bills will be each month and plan accordingly but things like groceries will fluctuate.
I shop sales as much as possible to save money. If I see something on sale I will pick it up and save it to give as a gift for birthdays/Christmas. I almost never pay full price for a gift.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:01 am
MY BUDGETING PRACTICE NEEDS HELP!! IT CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF A POST IT NOTE INSIDE MY CHECKBOOK WITH MY MONTHLY EXPENSE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DON;T STICK TO MY BUDGET VERY WELL!!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Every month I go through my credit card and put the expenses into quicken so i can see what im spending. i try to make smart decisions about money. i dont buy things just because they are on sale or a “a good deal”, unless i also need it.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:05 am
We budget our monthly expenses into 4 main categories. Utilities, Food, Misc. and Savings.
Our food and Misc. budgeted money goes into an envelope and we do not use more than the cash in those envelopes.
Savings, goes into our savings account, and utilities stay in checking to pay the bills.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I know I should budget, but thinking about finances is so stressful that I don’t. Hey, I was an English major– I don’t want to deal with numbers.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I’ve always paid the bills first.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:44 am
We budget by using Quicken to track all of our spending and bills. We also use coupons whenver we can and take advantage of sales.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I actually budget in two ways - I write it all out by hand and I also use Quicken. For some reason I pay more attention when I right it out on my own but I like it in Quicken also for the tracking capabilities.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:05 am
We also use Quicken - we enter all our receipts and can do charts and things to show us where we spend our money. It appeals to my OCD accounting background. We are also obsessive coupon cutters and only buy things on sale (unless we absolutely can’t help it, and then we still try to get it at the cheapest place possible).
August 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Another Quicken fan here. Tricky to get started but well worth the effort to have such a complete picture of our finances. There are some features of the budget process within Quicken that I would like to see upgraded, but overall it is a huge help! Thanks for a great contest!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I have had a budget for myself since I can remember, i have it typed and printed in small font and taped inside my check book. then when I got to pay bills it is always there.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I have to budget and the best way is using envelopes for certain things so i do not over spend.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:34 am
We just started…better late than never…and put a percentage of our paychecks into savings…easier now that the kids are older and working…and making some of their own $.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I budget on Excel, but I go thru my credit card slips every few months so I can see just how well reality is stacking up to the budget.
We budget on a monthly basis, but since we get paid every other week, we end up with two extra paychecks during the year, when we get three paychecks in a one month. One of them goes for vacation and the other goes for Christmas. This keeps either from being a budget buster and keeps us from having to budget during the year for those two huge expenses.
Thanks for having the giveaway!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I keep our family budget on an Excel spreadsheet. It includes payees, amount, dates due, and on some of them, when the amount will be paid off. I even include items such as gasoline, groceries, car repair, and miscellaneous as well as regular “bills.” For the few paper bills that still come to the mailbox, we have a large manila envelope to keep them in until they get paid. This really works for my household.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Excel…mortgage, utilities, food, insurance, and all other necessities come out first. Then, we budget with what’s left over - Fun, savings, house/car maintenance.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
We don’t really budget but we do put some into our 401k each month.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
We put all our expenses one credit card, and pay it off every month. We keep all our charges in one place and monitor it online throughout the month so we know our spending doesn’t get out of hand.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
We live on a fixed income. I’m afraid our strict budget consists primarily with don’t buy it unless all the bills are paid and you have the cash in your pocket. Have a blessed day.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Don’t use credit cards unless its and emergency. And the key thing is to identify between a Want and a Need. There is a huge difference. Oh and coupons help too.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
No, I don’t really budget, just try to keep expenses down as much as possible.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I don’t really budget in a big way, but I do have a budget for “fun stuff” like going out to movies or buying clothes and stuff I don’t need.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I try to budget but it is really hard because my husband doesn’t. He believes that he can’t take money with him when he goes so he tends to over spend on everything. He always seems to make enough to cover the bills so I really can’t fault him but I am a worrier
August 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
My husband and I both track our finances using Quicken, although we don’t always stick to it. We need help in that department, but luckily we are both pretty frugal.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
We budget using Microsoft Money. I download everything to it from online accounts and then put them in the proper categories. So far it’s worked pretty well for us.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Just by paying the bills first and then using what little I have left over for food & misc household expenses. It’s REALLY hard a lot of the times, but I try to do the best I can!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:41 am
We currently are not sticking to a strict budget, but one thing we do try VERY hard to do is only use credit cards for ABSOLUTE emergencies.
Steph
August 29th, 2008 at 4:41 am
We don’t really budget - just pay the bills as they come and save in our 401K
August 29th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I don’t have a written out budget but I keep it in mind especially come the end of the month and I’m trying to figure out how much to move to savings, etc.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:00 am
My husband and I do not have a hard and fast budget. Basically we try to keep our expenses low, cut out many of the unnecessary items and always pay our credit cards in full every month.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:20 am
We always pay our bills and savings (401K) first. What’s left is then used for other expenses, entertainment, clothes, ect. Some months are harder then others, case in point Back to School expenses. Who knew those kids would cost so dang much!
August 29th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I love to budget my money. It has become a lot of fun. I use coupons that I get in the newspaper and I often buy items that are on sale. If I had ten million dollars in the bank I would probably keep doing the same thing. Also, thanks for the gift card.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:42 am
We are always searching the grocery store flyers for what is on sale. Then we look to see what we need and look through our coupon box to find the coupons that go with the items needed and on sale which we can use.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I currently budget using Excel, but I also track my expenditures the old-fashioned way — using a ledger notebook! I don’t know why, but I seem to do better that way!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I do on-line banking and set my bills to be paid on pay-day. That way I can’t spend additional money until all the bills are paid.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Forget bars and expensive nights out, take turns going to different friends houses, bring a covered dish, play board games, cards, BBQ outside, and get to know your neighbors.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I pay ALL bills on each payday and whatever is left over is for food, gas and fun. Bonuses and overtime are different each month so budget planning is difficult.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I use a budget, it helps me stay on track to plan dinners around sales
August 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Budget? Hmmm… does making sure I have a $100 buffer in the checking account count?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
We just take care of all the bills first, then decide each month how much is fun money; the rest goes in the bank. Thank you!
August 29th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I have budgeted my money since I got my first paycheck when I was 18. I am one of those purpetual list makers so every month I make my budget and I stick to it. I am disabled now and live on an extremely low income so my budget comes in very handy at this time in my life.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
We used to do it in Quickbooks but now we do it on paper as it changes every once in awhile and it’s easier for us to do it on pen and paper. Thanks!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I have always budgeted. First I wrote everything down and soon learned that life is full of surprises which don’t appear on any ledger sheet. I now budget in my head and have a phd in saving money. My motto is never pay retail and always use creative problem solving everyday.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
We have online banking and check it frequently. When it gets low, we curtail our spending. When it gets REALLY low we transfer a few bucks from savings to tide us over. It works.
the_other_alice_(at)yahoo.com
August 29th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I write down EVERYTHING I spend - if I buy a pop, I write it down, etc — it helps me realize where my money is going each month when I balance my books.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I keep my budget in my mind…..well, it works for me. I write nothing down, but I can tell you where every penny goes, and how much I have left after each purchase or expenditure.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I don’t budget but I spend money wisely.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I really don’t budget, but should. I should figure out a way to get my credit cards paid off.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
We use the envelope system–with cash–for groceries, clothing and entertainment. And, we avoid using credit cards as much as we can!
August 29th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Yes, I budget ahead in pencil in a plain old steno notebook, but when bills come in the numbers/amounts are changed as necessary then are entered over the penciled estimates in ink.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:37 am
We use a combination of Microsoft Money and a cash envelope system (for more accountability).
August 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I created a spreadsheet with columns for groceries, bills, fuel, repairs/emergencies, clothes, construction (I’m remodeling my home), and misc. expenses. I keep track of my receipts and try to enter them as I go, although I usually fall behind and have to play catch-up entering them in! Since I know my projected monthly outgoings for bills and so forth, and I also have a savings account with a little padding for emergencies, I have some wiggle room to purchase non-necessity items. I haven’t found it necessary to set a certain limit for each category every month, because I always buy the most affordable items/services that I can find, coupon avidly, and will not buy something unless it’s an essential, OR if it’s something above and beyond basic needs, I will not buy it unless I know for a fact that I am squared away with monthly expenses and have more than enough to spare.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
everyone has a budget and mine’s tight
August 30th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
We do budget each month, first off comes our tithe to the church and mission organizations, then bills, then savings, then whatever’s left we bank.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I date all my bills on the outside of the envelopes as I receive them, then I pay off the ones that must be paid by their due dates, and put whatever I have left at the end of the month toward my credit card bills.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I’m not budgeting but I know I should be. I guess it is because I’m terrified that my lifestyle will need to change and that I’m hemorrhaging money. Said, ain’t it?!
August 30th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I dont really budget, I’ve been stashing away all small bills though. It really adds up!
August 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
With prices these days I have to budget. It is really hard at times because we help raise 3 of our grandchildren. It is rewarding though to know that I can budget and still have a few dollars to spend on the kids each month for sun stuff.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am
I don’t budget per se, but I use circulars to find the best grocery prices online in my area and then make one trip out. I also use my robswaterfuel.com to double my fuel economy. Lastly, I always pay off my full credit card to save interest costs.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Every Sunday I always prepare my dinner menu for the week,clip coupons, and check my Wednesday newspaper for the best grocery deals. On my bills I write the amount due and the date it is due on my calendar I keep in my desk drawer.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:38 am
I keep a spreadsheet that I enter all my bills in, including minimum payments, due dates, I update it whenever a bill comes in, it helps me greatly in planning out paying my bills!
August 31st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I try to budget, but on my income there isn’t much to work with.
August 31st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
We take our financial pulse every few months with a rough expenses vs. income chart (in Excel or on paper) and lots of discussion. The rest of the time I use Quicken to keep tabs on everything. Works for us!
August 31st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Tithe first, then pay your bills with shelter and food first. If nothing leftover, I know I am living beyond my means, in which case I downsize and/or ge rid of wants that are needs until I am at a place of saving at least a little something
August 31st, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Currently, we are budgeting by just trying to live as cheaply as humanly possible, since right now I am not working so we are living off only my husband’s salary. However, his salary is not enough so when this method fails we have to take out of savings.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’m only responsible for budgeting the money that I bring in, for groceries, gas and incidental expenses. This consists of knowing how much I need for gas to get myself around for two weeks and making sure that I plan two weeks of meals, using coupons and store sales.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I allow for the normal monthly necessities like electric, gas, water and groceries. I always buy a gas gift card for the entire month since the gas has gone up so. We have cut down on going to movies and festivals. We play games at home to entertain ourselves. Times will hopefully get better.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:45 am
I finally had to stop my spending and now try to pay down the debt I find myself in. I printed out some blank calendar pages and wrote all my expenses and all monies coming in. I now follow that calendar to keep track of every penny. Now that I do that I noticed I’m not even thinking of spending any extra money.I want more money at the end of the calendar to put into a savings.
September 1st, 2008 at 4:54 am
we only use cash to buy things - credit cards are used in emergencies only
September 1st, 2008 at 7:09 am
I budget the way Dave Ramsey says to
September 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am
I don’t do a traditional budget.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Unfortunately, I don’t budget. I received a promo @ work & this is something that I definately need to set up.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
Well, if you can say that paying bills about three months behind is a budget…then, yes, we’ve got a budget of paying three months late on everything…LOL.
Seriously though, no, we don’t really have a budget. We are always behind on bills and can not get cought up to save our lives. We are forever getting disconnect notices and eviction notices…as well as always having late fees for everything.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Write down all bills and subtract from money coming in. Anything that is left, we choose as a family what we can do with it. Simple and sweet.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I use an excel spreadsheet that I designed for our budget. It lets me know what bills need to be paid each pay period. We don’t have to budget per se though because what I do is pay our bills, if there’s ‘extra’ money leftover, it goes towards extra principal on our mortgage, a larger payment on student loans or into savings. I only leave out just what we’ll need for the next two weeks and about 75% of that money is just for groceries. We’ve really cut back on frivolous spending. We’re currently doing a 5 year get out of debt plan - after 5 years, besides our mortgage (although it includes a good chunk of this too), everything should be paid off. Thanks.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Well I’d like to say something really clever, but I basically watch my due dates and make sure that it arrives on time. Some bills will allow you more of a grace period than the actual due date so I take it and run with it. That way it doesn’t affect my credit.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 am
I do not budget
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 am
I don’t have a written budget but definitely watch what I spend
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 am
My budget is my husbands weekly paycheck and sometimes it has to be stretched further then others but I find really watching what I charge and not impulse shopping really helps. Sometimes its hard with credit cards but I don’t charge anything I can’t pay off in a month or two.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 am
I use a budget. I really feel it is helpful in staying on top of what we spend each month.
I keep a log of our monthly output in a notebook. That way I see how much utilities are going up and I can adjust the money needed to compensate.
I always estimate what I think Utilities will be and check to see how close I am.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
We’re now teaching our 17 year old granddaughter to budget her money. She has her frist job, and we’re encouraging her to save at least 10% of each check
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
We don’t budget. We just spend carefully and it seems to work out fine.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I am actually one of those people who just don’t know how to budget. I have been getting better lately and plan to keep doing these few things to get me on track:
- bring my lunch to work everyday
- carpool with girlfriend to work (we work about 15 mins apart)
- quit going out to dinner as much (we go about once a week if that)
- buy bulk at the grocery store and use Air Sealed storage bags
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I budget my money ,It’s better to do this way for me.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:52 am
I do have a budget…have for years. Every year I update the master budget in Excel, but then use Quicken on a daily/weekly basis to manage bill payments. Has worked out fairly well in terms of staying on top of finances…
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
I do my banking online but don’t really have a written budget. When bills arrive I pay them. We don’t have any debt so after the regular bills are paid the rest of our money stays in the bank. We prefer to keep life and finances simple.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I have become the DCQ (Debit Card Queen) in the name of budgeting via online banking. I debit 99% of the time instead of using cash or credit cards and check my bank account online 1-2 times a day to see exactly what I’m spending and what I have left. If I’ve spent too much somehow, I can almost always pinpoint exactly when and how it happened. I also use text alerts to let me know when I go beneath a certain balance in my checking account or when a deposit has been posted. This keeps me on top of my bank account at all times.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I use my computer, wamu account and my memory at my budget tools. I would like a better system!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Who doesn’t budget these days. We get paid every 2 weeks. I quit using credit cards as this years resoulition. It really makes it rough. I hit all thrift shops, yard sales, buy food on sale. We fill the gas tanks on pay day. When I make a trip to town I make all errands in one day. I buy grogeries to last the 2 weeks. Could really use this card. Please enter me, thank you
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
We put money into savings first, then pay bills. 2 months a year (feb and august), we give up impulse shopping and put all the savings towards vacation!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
My husband and I do the finances together. ANYTHING I spend on cards, credit or debit, I write down, as well as cash withdrawls.
My husband is old fashioned and ticks things off as they come through our account and keep me informed of our balances. - he is an avid saver, so what is left goes into savings for retirement.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I use microsoft excel, all my bills are on auto pay so I never forget them and ruin my credit score.
At the end of the month, excel produces a chart and I can see where my money has gone. If its a lot on clothes or going out, I know to cut back. Its one thing written down on paper, but another when the pie chart says you spent more on nights out than the rent.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I started using a budget tracker which is Excel based. I did a search for free budgeting software. It definitely helps me see where our money is going. We’ve stopped using credit cards, and have found it difficult to stop buying the things we COULD wait on, but it seems to be working. Still don’t feel completely comfortable that we have a handle on things, partly because my husband seems to be in denial…..
September 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
we don’t exactly budget, but we know where our money is down to the penny at all times.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I am a CPA so of course I budget. Quickbooks is the best.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
We budget on an Excel spreadsheet we created - it tracks all spending and divides our budget into accounts (food, gas, clothing, etc.)
September 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
We don’t have a written budget but we set aside a certain amount each week to limit how much we eat out, how much gas we use on errands, and how much to spend on clothes.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I do not have a budget. I pay the bills first then everything else I pay cash.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I started getting out of debt years ago and accomplished that, I now ask myself do I really need to add another monthly bill, which is most times no, and now I have minimum monthly expenses, life is simple and easier now, and I can use my cash I earn in a month to buy things I enjoy or invest it in things to make more money…
September 4th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
First, I save all my receipts from store purchases. I write down the amount I purchase from each online transaction. Then I use my online banking to get an idea of how much I’m spending on a weekly and monthly basis. Rent and food has to be factored in my budget also. To save money, I always buy things when they are on sale even if I have to wait awhile. Buying things in bulk size also helps cut costs. It’s tough trying to balance a budget while going to college and paying tuition for the semester, but I’m doing ok. I need all the help I can get.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
My wife is a CPA. She wants to know where every penny goes. It does make you save because when you see that you have spent $700 at Starbucks this year, you freak.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Since becoming debt free a few years ago, we still use credit cards, but we pay them off within a month or two in order to avoid interest payments.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
10% goes straight to savings every pay check. The rest is all for bills
September 6th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I direct a percentage to savings out of every paycheck, then we cover the bills. After all the obligations are met we leave the rest in our checking account for a rainy day or to build up for something fun, like a getaway or a family gift. We don’t keep a written budget. Everytime we’ve tried something unexpected comes up and it throws all the numbers off. So we keep the bills paid and take like as it comes. We make it a point to live within our means.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I now make my coffee in the morning and take on the drive to work instead of stopping and buying.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Its easy to budget money when theres none to budget
September 6th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Since my income dropped about $20,000 budgeting is a way of life. I’ve always used coupons, shopped specials and clearance. But, even more so now. We run our errands as a military exercise, all on one day to save gas, use the “green” bags when we shop because you get a bit of credit for it. We stopped ordering pizza, etc.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:48 am
No budget but I try to spend as little as possible so I have cash in the bank for emergencies. I have a very short list of expenditures to keep track of.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
We are on a budget and actually, it is working out really well. We have a family of 5, myself, my husband and our 3 children. Money is tight, but we have everthing we need and then some. In order to make ends meet, and enable us to live the lifestyle we want, we are actually downsizing with many of our unnecessary material possessions. We are using the money that we make from selling off some of our useless possessions, and taking that money to use towards luxuries like dinner out once a week, new clothes for the kids, a new tv, you get the idea. We are able to pay all of our bills without tapping into our savings and we still have money from the sale of our items to purchase the extras that we either need or want. We have actually cleaned out our attic, basement and garage of tons of stuff we were not using and hadn’t looked at in years.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
We don’t budget much since we’re living paycheck to paycheck but we try to save money by using grocery coupons when we shop
September 6th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I budget and keep track of the money I spend with a financial software program. It really helps a lot!
September 6th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
We are going to play a fun gift exchange game for Christmas and help even needier families by anomiously giving them Walmart gift cards where they can purchase gas, groceries etc. instead of buying gifts for everyone in the family. On a fixed income it is hard, but if posible sharing with others helps them and you! Thanks!
September 6th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
We use coupons and only buy on sale.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I learned my lesson years ago not to charge things on a credit card if you couldn’t pay the balance off when the bill came. I don’t stay on a budget so to speak, but do keep track of everything I spend.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:16 am
We just do basic budgeting. We know approximately how much each bill should be, when it’s due, & make sure we have more than enough to cover it, while keeping expenses down for emergencies.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:35 am
I don’t budget per se but I don’t spend hardly anything outside of the bills. Pay is twice monthly and so each paycheck is designated toward certain bills. Anything left over is used for groceries, gas, incidentals and needs to be stretched until the next pay period. If there are extra bills then I cut back even further on groceries/supplies, etc.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:35 am
I budget by what I make paying myself first then the bills . I have when and what bill I pay. I use only 2 credit cards and pay them off whenever I use them.So I never put too much on them that I cannot afford.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:54 am
We use a computer program, but also go over everything on paper once a month or so because I personally like to actually work through figures myself. They stick in my head better that way, and we can brainstorm to rework the budget if there are new things to add.
September 7th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I am learning the hard way to live on a tight budget now. After living with a roommate that was not responsible for his share of the bills, I find myself living back home with mom, only a part time job, and not good credit. This win would help me catch up a little bit. Thanks for the chance!
September 7th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I have a set amount of money as a checking account ‘cushion’ when I go below that, we restrict discretionary spending until the amount returns. We plan ahead for vacations and holidays and adjust the ‘cushion’ figure.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:35 am
We started an actual real budget about 5 months ago. We were really surprised to see how much of our money was just disappearing but we couldn’t really say where it was going. Now we know! We use cash envelopes for everything except rent, insurance and our last 2 credit cards that we are working so hard to pay off. Every spare penny that we have goes to those credit cards. Once they are paid off we can make the decision about where that extra money will be used. And we’ve finally got savings! We’ve got an Emergency Fund plus another fund that contains 6 months of living expenses just because you never know what life may have in store. This is really working for us and I’ve already got a budget done for each month until December 2009!
Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
September 7th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I do budget. I do the envelope system. Fill the envelopes each pay day and when they are empty the spending stops. That way I always know I have enough to pay bills
September 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I have a written budget for typical bills. The “extra” is for groceries, gas, entertainment. I’ve tried the envelope system before and liked it, but have fallen off the wagon as of late. The envelope is great - the visual cues of real cash make a difference. When the envelope is empty, I can’t spend anymore until next month.
If you write down all expenses for one or two months, you really see how you can piddle away money. We waste too much on eating out, when we could be paying off debt.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
We budget everything. When we get a paycheck we pay bills, get groceries, put aside for fuel then if anything is left over the extra goes toward paying down credit cards.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I make a budget each month, leaving a cushion of a small amount of cash that I put in savings, unless some type of emergency pops up.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Budgeting would be a whole lot easier if my husband wasn’t such a splurge shopper. He’ll see something, like it, and buy it…reguardless if he is going to use it more than once. He’s like a big kid.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I’m a chaotic budgeter. Most of the time I am very thrifty. I have to be - I have a very small income and just barely meet monthly expenses. But after a while it seems like I just have to buy something. It is usually something I’ve been looking at for quite a while, but when I decide to get it I don’t shop for the best price.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I am temporarily living on an extremely tight budget. Which, believe it or not, makes budgeting much simpler. There are just two categories: the things you have to pay for or purchase; and the things you don’t. The don’t, just don’t. Simple. Does make for some repetition at the supper table and the boredom of a blank tv screen since the satellite dish is on vacation, but the library lends books for free so I’m catching up on my reading!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
no budget, no money to budget, pay bills and buy groceries and there’s nothing left to budget
September 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I shop around, and when I find something on sale, I stock up.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I budget on paper.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I do budget on my computer file.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
No, I don’t budget but I know I should. I guess I am scared to start because I won’t be able to buy whatever whenever I want!
September 7th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Trying to save as much as I can, along with enjoying some indulgences - in one word - Balance!
So far I’m doing great
Thanks for the giveaway!
September 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I do have a budget. I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of every dollar coming in and every dollar being being spent…whether it be for “living” expenses or “extra”. The spreadsheet is very detailed. I try to break down the expenses (mortage, utilities, phone, garbage, sewer, insurance, water, fuel, groceries) and extras (car repairs, clothing/shoe purchases, vet expense, entertainment, vacation, co-pay, college expense, presents). I estimate my budget for a year and try to budget for unexpected expenses. As actual figures are paid I change my spreadsheet. At the end of the month, I am able to see the actual amount of money that came in, what was paid out, and what (if any) is left over for the month. At the end of the year I can total each “expense” and see what I spent on a particular “expense” for the year.
September 7th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
We have to budget, since we live paycheck to paycheck like many others. I have a notebook with each bill, amount, date due and paycheck date it will be paid out of.
September 7th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Although, I know I should…I don’t budget
September 7th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I use two checkbooks one for monthly bills and the other is for periodic expenses. This separation of my pay into separate accounts helps me remember that money down the road is earmarked for auto insurance, future vacation or new dishwasher.
September 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I live on a fixed income of disability. So I budget very carefully. Just hope when bills are all payed that I can manage to fill my car twice through the month which is very hard to do with the price of gas today. So I can go visiit my grandchildren and my sister that is sick.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
We are budgeting maniacs! And I have to say “excel” all the way.
We start planning the next year starting in October: What big items do we want to buy? A new couch? Replace fence? Etc. Where can we cut back? Less cable? Better electricity rate? Drop pest control? (Umm, no, we hate bugs.) We estimate all income, plan monthly budget items (utilities, mortgage, eating out, …) and yearly budget items (home repairs, vacations, furniture, electronics …) and, of course, savings! We track every penny in and out (it only takes a few minutes a day) and try to come in under budget as much as possible.
So, maybe it isn’t “fun”, but it is very empowering and stress-reducing, so that makes our lives much happier.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
We have a semi-budget. Bills are paid on a priority basis. Mortgage, utilities, all the way down to groceries. We have changed to paying cash for almost everything and now don’t have any credit card bills. That makes it easier to get all the necessary bills paid. We also put a big chunk into each of our 401(k)s. Keep a good handle on your expenses and you will be amazed at what you spend.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I do follow a budget. My theory is to pay myself first. I put close to 40% of what I make into savings or investments, and then live off of whats left. Although that may seem drastic to many, it works for me, and the money I invest never really hits my wallet anyway.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I budget by the week. Every Saturday, I make a list of my bills and how much I expect to make that week. I always pay my student loan bill first, then my credit card. Everything else goes into savings. I live with my parents so I don’t have many bills.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I try and budget, it just does not always work out. I keep excel speadsheets and know we have enough coming in to cover what is going out, but not nearly enough savings. 10% per payment check is crazy in my mind, but what works for some does not always work for everyone. maybe we will try it.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
i just buy as little as possible for as cheap as possible, the rest comes fairly easy
September 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I know I need to budget but somehow I have much difficulty doing so
September 7th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I keep a meticulous budget on paper in a notebook, divided up by weeks. I know exactly where we stand at all times, how much we can afford for miscellaneous expenses, where we need to “crunch”, and everything gets paid on time. I love having a highly organized budget, and couldn’t imagine trying to run a household without one!
September 7th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I make a flexible monthly budget.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I stick to a budget every month, bills are non-flexible. Some is put into savings automatically and I budget up expenses that re regularly incur. The rest is broken down into petty cash and once that’s gone, it’s gone. No dipping into savings unless it’s an absolute emergency.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:27 am
We really do not budget, but we do try to spend ONLY within our means. Most of the times it works, other times my charge bills come in higher than expected. I ten withdraw money from the savings to pay bill in full. Refuse to pay finance charges!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:48 am
I currently don’t budget as I haven’t found a method that works for me yet.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:49 am
We have budgeted for the last 4 years because we were spending way too much - we do a cash budget and it has helped a whole lot!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:49 am
We budget by cooking at home and watching more movies on TV!
September 8th, 2008 at 5:13 am
We are helping our budget by buying a freezer and stocking up on sale items, cuts down on gas costs and our overall food budget has dipped quite a bit
September 8th, 2008 at 6:26 am
as I have gotten older I have found that the peace of mind of not being in debt weigh outweighs the immediate satisfaction of getting something I dont really need so staying on a budget gets easier and easier!
September 8th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I use Quicken. I keep track of every item that I purchase on a credit card and keep it in categories. At the beginning of each month I look back at last year and review the 3 months forward to see if there are any “big” items coming up - i.e car insurance. Then I look at what my income will be and budget accordingly.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I don’t budget, per se, but I do keep track of my spending. I use Quicken, which gives me an update regarding my monthly income vs my monthly expenses on the home page. So I know on a daily basis how I’m doing. I also never pay for anything by credit card that I won’t have the cash to pay for in full when the statement arrives. It works for me.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:23 am
SO does our budget, by keeping track of the bills monthly via lists and folders.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:33 am
we stick to a budget as best we can. Always keep your reciepts and record them when you get home. We have monthly spread sheets and we compare them from last year to see if we can cut down.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I don’t budget. I find it impossible to stick to a budget.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:04 am
We use a note book organizer that holds our bills the for each month has lines to write them out. We figure about 3 months ahead of time.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I have a very basic budget set up. I keep a spreadsheet of all our monthly expenses and income. We use our credit card for everything that isn’t a bill (and pay it off every month), but I don’t break that down into any kind of grouping or try to keep track of what we use it on. If the bill is a bit high one month, we just generally cut back on everything the following month.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:37 am
no budget here..my hubby and I split up
the bills equally..and try to stay away
from credit card spending..
September 8th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I use a sort of intuitive budget. I’m actually too scared to sit down and do it. Somehow it all works out, which is no way to run a household, I’m told.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
We have 2 separate sets of checking/savings accounts. We have 1 set for bills/groceries and savings and the other we use for “fun money”,trips, etc..we use the fun money account for little things we want or sometimes save it for a trip or something! We have our checks direct deposited with a set amount going to each set of accounts. (Obviously the bulk going to the bill/savings accounts!) This works well for us and we know that we can spend whatever is in the fun money account without worrying about spending bill money!
Thanks for the giveaway!
September 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am
i make a layout of my spending on Excel every month, and i try to see where most of my money is going, it really helps me out
September 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Being a disabled person on a fixed income leaves me no choice but to budget. The bills are always paid first, I have a certain amount planned for food, entertainment (which is hard considering that I have 2 teenagers), and to be honest with you, there is not much left for anything else.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:34 am
We budget. Everything is put into an excel spreadsheet for all incoming funds and outgoing funds. We have it set up for each month and through the end of the year.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
To stay on budget, I take out my cash for the week on Fridays. If I run out of $$ before the next Friday, I just have to go without or search for change in the couch cushions.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I use Quicken. Have for about two years. I update it daily, although it isn’t needed, I perfer to. I have it set up for possible pay checks, as well as expenses for up to a year. That way we can forcast any difficulties in the future.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I am trying to budget, but it’s hard when someone is always getting married or having a baby. I have hard time not buying for other people.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I don’t really have a written budget, because we are self employed and income varies. I just try to be as thrifty as possible, and I always do my grocery shopping with sale papers and coupons. That helps enormously. The last time I went shopping, I spent $92 and saved $68!
September 8th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
My husband and I budget although we do tend to indulge in things we want every now on then. To keep on track, we are big fans of Quicken.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I never bother to budget anymore, because its always messed up within a day anyway.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I don’t budget even though I know I should. I’m one of those people not great at it.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I pay my bills online and try to balance each payment to not exceed my bi-monthly paycheck!
September 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
We don’t really budget.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
We do have a budget in place, but it is not very strict. It helps us know we are on track and living within our means.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Definitely need to have a budget these days!! At the moment clipping coupons helps!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
We use Quicken to help with our budget
I’m a subscriber
September 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I do a budget at the first of the year and then i review it every month. At first I put it down on the computer so i can change it easily but i will print a copy and keep it handy so that i can checl on it without having to go on line. even though some things like rent will be stable there are others that vary wildly especially now. That makes it a little more challenging to stick to a budget but we try.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
lets just say i could use some help in that department!