What's Your Biggest Spending Challenge? Let's Fix It!

[Jan Ferrante]

Often it is one spending habit that brings down our entire budget.

Do you have one that creates havok with your budget plan?

Knowledge is power.

What pops up first?

This might be your biggest challenge.

Share yours with us and also let us know what you think a good solution would be.

We can help each other by brainstorming solutions.

[Jan Ferrante]

My biggest spending challenge is weekend spending when my husband is home.

He goes to town for things that are not on our grocery list which seem to add up a lot. Or he does the grocery shopping so we also end up with things not on the list.

Also, I have to continually remind him to take cash from the right account for his spending allowance at work. Failure to do this creates one more account for me to manage and also creates a money leak.

THE FIX?

To create and STICK TO a grocery shopping day every week so that it's done before he gets home. It does save me time when he does it, but in the end I lose control of the food we eat and how much we spend. That usually means more junk food and going over budget.

Another really nice benefit to this is that it makes meal planning 100% easier as well as shopping the sales flyers.

So I have to ask myself 'What do I want more?' The extra hour it takes to go shopping or a healthy diet with less junk in the house and a working budget?

No brainer.

Another fix for this is to do some baking before he gets home so that he doesn't feel the need to go and buy treats. It's healthier and cheaper.

Make It Easy

As for his using the wrong account (he has overdraft on one of his accounts that was paid and isn't supposed to be in use), I have asked him to only use our main account and to take the whole amount out at one time so that it's easier for him to manage. If this continues, I will just be sure to have the cash ready for him when he leaves for work.

Still not sure of the reason that he feels it necessary to continue to use this account but when push comes to shove, the main concern is how can I work with him to make it easy for him to use the right one.

Sometimes wailing and gnashing of teeth is just a waste of good energy. 16 years of marriage has helped me to learn that :0)

[Louise Lotz]

My biggest problem at the moment is paying off my credit cards.

LL

[Jan Ferrante]

Paying off credit cards is one of the main objectives of 'Making Change', using a two pronged approach - reducing spending and then putting everything that you can to pay off the cards and not using them again to add to the balance. Nothing worse than paying interest!

If you have a lot of cards, I found it helpful to consolidate where possible (to the lowest interest card of course) and then to use only one card only when necessary. I use a card that I get store points on so there is a little payback but over time and experimenting I've found that the more things I can use cash to pay with the better, regardless of credit card points and to put every dime possible with every pay to pay down any balances.

The more that get paid the easier it gets because there is less to manage as well - less chance of missing a card payment or having something slip by etc.

[Louise Lotz]

How do I join this group - or am I already a member?

L

[Louise Lotz]

Jan, the credit card advice is really good. I have already cut up the credit cards and have come to the same conclusion about using just one card. Your thinking is so in tune with what I am experiencing that I am very impressed. There is just me and my brother that I need to cook for. - Is there cooking, recipes and food plans somewhere? We are both on a diet at the moment, so every time I make a meal I am now cutting the portion size and freezing half, which before we used to eat. Last night I put some leftover potatoes on top of the cottage pie, and although it seemed like a thinner layer than usual, I thought, hold on, that extra inch of potato is not going into me. Isn't that worth it? And this morning I woke up to find I have lost weight again. Even though I know it is hopeless because I have so much to lose - now I have really got going on this and also my exercise programme - there is no looking back. Anyway, there is very little left for us to eat on once the credit card bills are paid. My main money comes from the three lodgers. And I have a part time job as a local government councillor, which is very rewarding. That only brings in a small amount though. So we really have to economize. I am thinking of going out to look for work next week. But it is difficult as all the other commitments do not seem to leave me with enough time. I put the Christmas tree up yesterday and that seemed to generate a new clutter problem but at least I tackled most of that straight away.

[Jan Ferrante]

Hi Louise, my debt seems to increase proportionally with how many credit cards I use, go figure!

I find that the biggest advantage is that they are easier to track so things don't get by me like they have.

You are doing so amazing on every level, you are inspiring the heck out of me :0))

It's not hopeless at all, every little bit of weight that you are losing will keep adding up too and with every bit you are getting healthier too - I find it easier to exercise as the pounds go as well.

The Fit Yummy Mummy System includes meal planning information - if you go to this site and sign up for the free newsletter you will get all kinds of information. I think that you will be notified when Holly puts up a new blog post - there is always really good information about all kinds of weight loss/health stuff.

You are on the right track in reducing portions. That's one of the biggest surprises that I had - when I actually measured what I was eating I was shocked - the next best thing is to check the calorie count on the box - that's an appetite suppressant!

I'll see what else I might have on meal planning/recipes etc.

I do have some but they are not geared right now towards saving money/weight loss. It would be a great thing to do though.

I am going to do more home baking/cooking, that always saves money - the groceries are sky high these days and be more proactive about getting my garden in this summer.

We have our Christmas tree up too, the girls decorated it today. But I put all of the leftover decorations and containers away, no mess!

I've just posted the rest of the Making Change system, you should get it in your email and I will also post it in a new thread here.

You are making some bold moves Louis - I can't say how impressed I am with your efforts and dedication - it's nice to see that's it all 'paying off' for you a little at a time.