An era of fiscal responsibility

[firelily]

So I was working out my finances with a coworker because she's been budgeting herself like crazy and has saved an obscene amount of money in the past month or two. So much that by the time she goes to Italy with her girlfriend in August, they'll be able to pay for the trip and have like $2000 spending money each. Goddamn

Comments

[cranberryink]

How responsible of you! Good luck!

[firelily]

Thanks!! I think I need all the luck I can get because it's pretty hard for me to change all my bad habits. But I'm going to try!! :) There's NO reason for this to not work out. No reason, that is, except for my unreasonable spending habits!

[moxcord]

you should read "The richest Man in Babylon"

put away at least 10% of your earnings and you'll really see a difference! I wish I was rent free! We never ever eat out, never go to movies, we do a lot of free things like hiking, free concerts, camping :)

[firelily]

I would love to never go out to eat except maybe a couple times a month. That would make SUCH a big difference! The problem is that we don't LIVE together and Joe never has food in his apartment, so it's harder to make it work. But we might start trying to get our act together in that respect and cook more at home. We'd save so much!

Also, I've been putting away $200 a month anyway, which is roughly 10% of my monthly net pay. But I can totally afford to put a lot more in savings, so I should.

I bought myself one of Suze Orman's money books, and I still haven't read it. Hahah! A lot of good use that turned out to be!

[moxcord]

no food in his apartment - sounds like that boy needs to grow up and be a man and cook his woman some damn dinner!
even if its just easy mac!

[firelily]

Hahaha! He does cook for me sometimes...and it's always good. :) He loves the food network so he's always wanting to try out recipes! We just need to get motivated on the weekends to go grocery shopping and whatnot. It's easier when you plan meals. He's never had to do that I think...it's a shock when your mom's not around to cook you dinner like usual. Hah. I think I figured that all out when I went to college, but he didn't go away to school. We need to shift him into cooking for yourself mode. Much easier on the wallet...

[beckynicky]

Oh I am impressed and kind of jealous with that kind of planning

[firelily]

Well, don't be too impressed...I've lived with my parents for the past 4 years, and for the last 3 I really haven't been saving that much at all! I should have been doing this a long time ago. Not now, when I'm going down to 80% pay and then 50% in the fall!! Eeks. But hey, I guess it's good to do it now instead of never!

[jwenie]

It makes me laugh, cause I make about $400 every two weeks...maybe $500 if I work at YPI.

[firelily]

Yeah...that totally sucks. And you live in NYC! I really don't know how you do it. There's really no excuse for me to not save tons of money since I make a lot when I have very few bills.

[jwenie]

It doesn't really suck, it's life. I've always been an organizer, so I have everything figured out how I need it to work.

The plus is, I'm living doing what I always wanted to. I'm making art and surviving. A little more money in and a little less out would perfect the situation.

I'll get there.

[jegambade]

on the topic of eating out: it can be a fun 'date' to go grocery shopping and get a few things and then make a meal together. :) (just be careful - sometimes when Rob and i do this we buy some really expensive ingredients)

[firelily]

Yeah, I'm guilty of that ALL the time. Somehow running to the store for a few things to make a meal turns into a $50 grocery bill. And I'm never quite sure how I got to that point. Hehehe...I blame expensive cheeses!