New Here - glad to find you :) *LONG*

akiko117 · 02-18-2008, 07:01 PM

Hello.

I am new here and so glad to have found this site. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get my finances in order, but I'm confident it will be the last time. I just found out this past Wednesday that the childcare center where I have been working the past 8 years will be closing down. In 2 weeks. I immediately went into panic mode and started trying to figure out the best way to budget our income. I have been fortunate enough to find a job already. As soon as I found out on Wednesday I stayed up late creating a new resume and sending it to anyone and everyone. I have had three interviews since Friday and accepted a position today making $2 more per hour than I am making at my current job. Phew! LOL Anyway, I could slip back into comfort mode, but I am determined to take all that I can from this experience. One of those lessons is going to be PLAN for an emergency! You never know what is right around the corner. I have a friend who lost his job and has been looking for another for 3 months. I am very VERY lucky to have found a job this quick, but who knows what life has in store for me next. My ultimate goal is to get to the point where instead of living paycheck to paycheck, we are living on our previous month's income. I got this idea from software I purchased, but not sure if I can post the name of it here. I have for so long been in a position where I could sit down and write our income and expenses, and seen that there should be tons of money left over. Yet, we are constantly bouncing checks and going into a panic when some small unexpected bill shows up. I think the best way to get us out of this method of living is to budget, budget, budget.

Oh wow that got long.

LOL Feels good to get it out there though! By the way, I am Autumn, 25 year old mother to 2 (DS-8 and DD-4), married to Ron for 8 1/2 years. I look forward to getting to know you all!

72Tiger · 02-18-2008, 07:05 PM

Welcome aboard. Budget was the key for me too. Good luck!

Xin Lu · 02-19-2008, 06:39 PM

Cool, welcome to the board Autumn. You are a little bit older than me but it's amazing that you've already been married for 8 years!!! (I'm turning 25 in July.) Best of luck attaining your plan to spend less, and come back often to chat with us!

akiko117 · 02-20-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xin Lu

Cool, welcome to the board Autumn. You are a little bit older than me but it's amazing that you've already been married for 8 years!!! (I'm turning 25 in July.) Best of luck attaining your plan to spend less, and come back often to chat with us!

Yeah I was only 16 when I got married.

Thanks for the welcome guys!

shayob · 02-28-2008, 07:16 AM

Welcome Autumn, I just found this site as well and have enjoyed reading many of the interesting ideas out there. You are definitely right that the key is budget but there is another key as well, awareness. Knowing where all your money is going, being aware when you are spending. It is often so easy to spend and not even realize where it has all gone. You might want to try keeping a money journal, where you and your husband keep track of every penny that's been spent until you see where things are going. Also you said you got a $2.00 an hour raise, that's GREAT! So now you know you have that "extra" money, take it out of each paycheck and put it aside.

I'm sure with 2 children it must be challenging saving money but you can do them and yourself a great service by making saving money fun. Take them to the dollar store and explore for just the perfect item and explain to them how silly others are to pay more for the same thing you are getting at such a great deal. You might also want to check out one of the bloggers on this site, his name is Jeff Yeager, he is the Ultimate Cheapskate, he's funny and creative, a true cheapskate. I saw him recently here in AZ at a book signing and I loved him. My fiance and I got his book and are actually having a lot of fun trying to find ways to be cheap.

There are so many things you can do to be successful in your quest to be in charge of your life and obviously you are going to succeed since you are active in that quest by coming here and exploring. Find what works best for you, not everything will, but try things that interest you, get your family involved and make it fun instead of a chore that way everyone wins. Pick up the challenge to be frugal and enjoy!

USCGamecocks · 02-28-2008, 10:25 AM

Welcome, I'm new too and I can tell I'm going to fit in just fine here.

Lynnae · 02-28-2008, 04:19 PM

Welcome, Autumn!

My husband lost his job twice last year, and it's amazing how quickly that will make you want to change your finances. Fortunately he's finally employed in a stable job again. I'm glad you found a job right away!

I think I'm using the same budget software that you are. I started in January, and I just love it!

akiko117 · 03-02-2008, 10:53 PM

I am loving the software.

It has been such a help! Thank yo guys for the kind words. I really appreciate it!

02-18-2008, 07:01 PM	#1
akiko117 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6 Reputation: (10)	New Here - glad to find you :) LONG Hello. I am new here and so glad to have found this site. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get my finances in order, but I'm confident it will be the last time. I just found out this past Wednesday that the childcare center where I have been working the past 8 years will be closing down. In 2 weeks. I immediately went into panic mode and started trying to figure out the best way to budget our income. I have been fortunate enough to find a job already. As soon as I found out on Wednesday I stayed up late creating a new resume and sending it to anyone and everyone. I have had three interviews since Friday and accepted a position today making $2 more per hour than I am making at my current job. Phew! LOL Anyway, I could slip back into comfort mode, but I am determined to take all that I can from this experience. One of those lessons is going to be PLAN for an emergency! You never know what is right around the corner. I have a friend who lost his job and has been looking for another for 3 months. I am very VERY lucky to have found a job this quick, but who knows what life has in store for me next. My ultimate goal is to get to the point where instead of living paycheck to paycheck, we are living on our previous month's income. I got this idea from software I purchased, but not sure if I can post the name of it here. I have for so long been in a position where I could sit down and write our income and expenses, and seen that there should be tons of money left over. Yet, we are constantly bouncing checks and going into a panic when some small unexpected bill shows up. I think the best way to get us out of this method of living is to budget, budget, budget. Oh wow that got long. LOL Feels good to get it out there though! By the way, I am Autumn, 25 year old mother to 2 (DS-8 and DD-4), married to Ron for 8 1/2 years. I look forward to getting to know you all!

02-19-2008, 06:39 PM	#3
Xin Lu Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 237 Reputation: (40)	Cool, welcome to the board Autumn. You are a little bit older than me but it's amazing that you've already been married for 8 years!!! (I'm turning 25 in July.) Best of luck attaining your plan to spend less, and come back often to chat with us! __________________ Blogs I Write: The Baglady @ http://baglady.dreamhosters.com Wise Bread @ http://wisebread.com/xin-lu

02-28-2008, 07:16 AM	#5
shayob Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 14 Reputation: (16)	You can do it! Welcome Autumn, I just found this site as well and have enjoyed reading many of the interesting ideas out there. You are definitely right that the key is budget but there is another key as well, awareness. Knowing where all your money is going, being aware when you are spending. It is often so easy to spend and not even realize where it has all gone. You might want to try keeping a money journal, where you and your husband keep track of every penny that's been spent until you see where things are going. Also you said you got a $2.00 an hour raise, that's GREAT! So now you know you have that "extra" money, take it out of each paycheck and put it aside. I'm sure with 2 children it must be challenging saving money but you can do them and yourself a great service by making saving money fun. Take them to the dollar store and explore for just the perfect item and explain to them how silly others are to pay more for the same thing you are getting at such a great deal. You might also want to check out one of the bloggers on this site, his name is Jeff Yeager, he is the Ultimate Cheapskate, he's funny and creative, a true cheapskate. I saw him recently here in AZ at a book signing and I loved him. My fiance and I got his book and are actually having a lot of fun trying to find ways to be cheap. There are so many things you can do to be successful in your quest to be in charge of your life and obviously you are going to succeed since you are active in that quest by coming here and exploring. Find what works best for you, not everything will, but try things that interest you, get your family involved and make it fun instead of a chore that way everyone wins. Pick up the challenge to be frugal and enjoy!

02-28-2008, 10:25 AM	#6
USCGamecocks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 123 Reputation: (19)	Welcome, I'm new too and I can tell I'm going to fit in just fine here. __________________ Timemakeover.com - Time Management Articles & Resources

02-28-2008, 04:19 PM	#7
Lynnae Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 69 Reputation: (11)	Welcome, Autumn! My husband lost his job twice last year, and it's amazing how quickly that will make you want to change your finances. Fortunately he's finally employed in a stable job again. I'm glad you found a job right away! I think I'm using the same budget software that you are. I started in January, and I just love it! __________________ Lynnae beingfrugal.net

02-18-2008, 07:05 PM	#2
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 292 Reputation: (33)	Welcome aboard. Budget was the key for me too. Good luck!

03-02-2008, 10:53 PM	#8
akiko117 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6 Reputation: (10)	I am loving the software. It has been such a help! Thank yo guys for the kind words. I really appreciate it!

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