Frugalhousewife's Personal Finance Blog

Budget Committee Meeting

(Frugal Housewife) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:56:47 PST

When dh and I got serious about our finances, we started having bi-monthly budget meetings. It may sound a bit silly, but it was the only way I can get his input on anything. Otherwise, he just tells me to handle it all.

At our last meeting we took a closer look at our "life...

Jury Duty

(Frugal Housewife) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:14:27 PST

I did my civic duty today and went to jury duty. That meant missing work and, since I am a part time employee, receiving no work pay. Thankfully I was given a strike by one of the lawyers and can return to work tomorrow. I did end up spending all day there. My only spending was...

This Past Week & Update

(Frugal Housewife) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:50:54 PST

First I updated the totals for my goals. The vehicle fund had its first addition. Hopefully we will not need another vehicle for several years so that will be a long term fund.

The house fund got a small addition. We have a very long way to go with that one. I try to focus on...

I Don't Owe, but Off to Work I Go

(Frugal Housewife) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:43:19 PST

Today was my second day back at the part-time teaching job. This money will go into savings. I have been packing snacks to take to work so there is no extra spending. I was even good and ate lunch at home despite the temptation to pick up take out on the way home.

Grocery Shopping

(Frugal Housewife) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:18:12 PST

Today is the last day both dh and I are off until I start work so I dragged him grocery shopping. I did tempt him with a free meal thanks to a mystery shopping job before we went to the grocery store. I will admit that taking him with me has its pros and cons. He is a big help...

Computer Monitor Fading Away

(Frugal Housewife) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:52:41 PST

It is not exactly fading, but it does have an annoying short in it. The monitor is old since we got it two hard drives ago. Dh and I decided to splurge on a flat screen since we were going to have to buy a new one anyway. I spent a good part of the morning researching and comparing...

Another Savings Goal

(Frugal Housewife) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:07:26 PST

Dh announced today that he would like to start a fund for a new or newer ATV. I can tell we have come a long way. A year ago his thought would have been to take out a loan for one. Now we are going to save for that purchase. I need to find out the price range before I set a goal...

New Goals

(Frugal Housewife) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:57:16 PST

First dh talked me out of my panic from yesterday regarding the house situation. It will be two years before we even think about building and a lot of changes can take place in that time.

In the meantime I set new goals for the full emergency fund and the house fund. I have...

Surprise #2

(Frugal Housewife) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:52:05 PST

Ok so if things happen in threes, I am due one more surprise for today. I am not sure I can take another one though. The second one is that we will (most likely) not be able to build a house. It is not due to funding but instead to zoning laws. We do not live in or anywhere near...

Bit of a Surprise

(Frugal Housewife) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:27:13 PST

I found out today that the teaching job will last twice as long this quarter as last. At first thought I was not exactly happy. Then I did the math and that helped ease the pain a bit. I will definitely be raising the savings goal amounts. I just need to sit down and figure out...

Grocery Shopping & Food Bill

(Frugal Housewife) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:54:19 PST

I went grocery shopping this morning and picked up several sale items. I go to two stores as one doubles coupons and ends up being cheaper on some items. I went a bit over budget but the snack cabinets were bare. Also some of the items were for an Easter cookout and others will...

Being Thrifty

(Frugal Housewife) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:43:20 PST

I suppose it would be a good idea to back up my frugal housewife name. When I say frugal/thrify, most people seem to think "cheap". Those are two totally different things. I do several things that might not save much and others that save more.

A few of the minimal savings things...

Debtfree Female Seeking $$ for Savings

(Frugal Housewife) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:57:05 PST

First of all, thank you again to everyone who replied with good wishes regarding my debt free post. I am grateful for the encouragement. Being surrounded by people who complain that they have to be in debt and cannot afford to save gets old quick. I prefer the financial company...

Debt Free!!!

(Frugal Housewife) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:45 PST

The payoff on the truck loan went through yesterday so dh and I are officially debt free! I was expecting some sort of confetti explosion, fireworks, sounds of heavenly angels. I have resisted the urge to run up and down the street yelling "we're debt free, we're debt free".

This...

One Loan Down

(Frugal Housewife) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:28:58 PST

Dh paid off the loan on our piece of land today. That means that we paid off our 3 year loan in only 8 months!

I mailed off the last payment on the truck loan yesterday as we received a paper bill will the final amount. It should post by the first of next week.

I am amazed...

See A Penny...

(Frugal Housewife) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:59:30 PST

Does anyone remember the following childhood poem?

"See a penny, pick it up,
All the day you'll have good luck"

At what point did it become "see a penny heads up and only then should you pick it up; otherwise you will be cursed from henceforth and forever"? I have found three...

Cheaper to Not Payoff Debt.......Yet

(Frugal Housewife) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:09:47 PST

I finally received my paycheck for teaching and was going to pay off one of the loans. The problem was that if I mailed it, the payment would not be received in time to avoid further finance charges. No problem, I thought as I headed to the website. An online payment costs $15 though....

I Caved

(Frugal Housewife) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:17:07 PST

After some discussion with dh, I decided to give teaching another try. This time around the money will go into savings and not into paying down debt. I rearranged some other obligations and will be teaching four days again. This time both classes will be the same, which translates...

Tax Refund Deposited

(Frugal Housewife) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:58:54 PST

I was very excited to find our federal refund money in the bank account today. I transferred all of it over to one of the loans. Now if the state money would hurry up and hit the bank, we could be debt free by the first week of March. Since we are so close, I am getting antsy to...

The Budget

(Frugal Housewife) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:40:56 PST

I love that I can view dh's paycheck online several days before he receives. I use Excel to do a monthly budget. In Dave Ramsey fashion I designate where the money will go before we get it.

We are getting a bit more breathing room since we have been doing this almost a year....