Comments on: Financial Shape in 2008: Monthly check-up http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html Helping You Be a Better Home Economist Fri, 25 May 2012 01:25:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susan http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276157 Susan Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:54:02 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276157 I just found your blog and have been reading all afternoon. It is so late in the year I think I will wait until Jan to begin my Financial Shape plan but in the mean time I am going to master this coupon thing...Thanks for all the tips I just found your blog and have been reading all afternoon. It is so late in the year I think I will wait until Jan to begin my Financial Shape plan but in the mean time I am going to master this coupon thing…Thanks for all the tips

]]> By: Angie http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276156 Angie Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:31:37 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276156 I am just learning to be more frugal and do more with less. It hasn't been until recently when my husband and I both changed jobs with reduced incomes that I even considered living on less. Now, we have to. I'm be reading this an other blogs very closely. Thanks for a place to learn and get support. I am just learning to be more frugal and do more with less. It hasn’t been until recently when my husband and I both changed jobs with reduced incomes that I even considered living on less. Now, we have to. I’m be reading this an other blogs very closely. Thanks for a place to learn and get support.

]]> By: Stephanie Ashcraft http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276155 Stephanie Ashcraft Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:08:58 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276155 Today I spent $38.53 for $128.15 of original price items using the sales ad and coupons! Over the last few months, I have been using Dave Ramsey's envelope system. Over the last month, I feel that by using coupons I have been able to add to my food storage even with being on a strict budget. It's a great feeling! Today I spent $38.53 for $128.15 of original price items using the sales ad and coupons! Over the last few months, I have been using Dave Ramsey’s envelope system. Over the last month, I feel that by using coupons I have been able to add to my food storage even with being on a strict budget. It’s a great feeling!

]]> By: Ashley http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276154 Ashley Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:59:43 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276154 What extra income-earning things do you do, Crystal? What extra income-earning things do you do, Crystal?

]]> By: Anna in IL http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276153 Anna in IL Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:36:44 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276153 I'm not sure that #27 (Mama Making $ From Home) is the kind of link you wanted... It looks more like a commercial site than a blog, to me at least. I’m not sure that #27 (Mama Making $ From Home) is the kind of link you wanted… It looks more like a commercial site than a blog, to me at least.

]]> By: Jessica http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276152 Jessica Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:49:03 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276152 At this time last year, my husband and I were very stressed because he unexpectedly lost his job. We chose to keep our daughter in daycare because we have no family or backup nearby for babysitting while he went on interviews, etc. It took him 6 months to find a new job. Thanks to careful planning we did not have to dip into savings during that time. We were even able to pay cash for a new to us car last month. Our only debt is our mortgage, which I pay down extra whenever possible. I hope to have more babies and stay at home with them whenever the next one comes along. At this time last year, my husband and I were very stressed because he unexpectedly lost his job. We chose to keep our daughter in daycare because we have no family or backup nearby for babysitting while he went on interviews, etc. It took him 6 months to find a new job. Thanks to careful planning we did not have to dip into savings during that time. We were even able to pay cash for a new to us car last month. Our only debt is our mortgage, which I pay down extra whenever possible. I hope to have more babies and stay at home with them whenever the next one comes along.

]]> By: Shawna http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276151 Shawna Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:39:21 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276151 We paid off my husband's car in August and owe less than $900 on my car, which will be paid off before the end of the year. We owe $900 on credit cards and these will be paid off by the end of the year as well. After this we only owe on our mortgage and will start applying the monies from the car payments to the ballon note mortgage first and then we will start paying off the main mortgage. We paid off my husband’s car in August and owe less than $900 on my car, which will be paid off before the end of the year. We owe $900 on credit cards and these will be paid off by the end of the year as well. After this we only owe on our mortgage and will start applying the monies from the car payments to the ballon note mortgage first and then we will start paying off the main mortgage.

]]> By: Sheila http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276150 Sheila Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:47:41 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276150 Well Crystal, back in January I posted my goals for 2008 and here it is September and I'm thinking, "Where did all the time go?!" I don't get much time to visit blogs now that I've started homeschooling my boys and am trying to just learn to incorporate that in our schedule without letting everything else fall apart. But I just happened to see a link to this blog somewhere else and remembered that I had made goals with your 2008 financial challenge and decided to come over here and read. So I'm convicted that I've totally lost sight of the goals I original put in play and am reminded that my main goal was to leave evidence of savings for my husband to see. As of last month my husband was voicing his concern that we aren't saving ANYTHING and since then I've been prayerful and this month purposefully put a certain amount in savings before I took out a portion for groceries and household use. My husband doesn't want a formal budget, but I still feel like I can at least be sure that in my withdrawing and spending for groceries and such I can set aside a certain amount in our savings account and be able to point to it at the end of the month or whatever for my husband to see. I really feel like a total failure when it comes to finances, not because we're in debt (we're not except for our house payment) but because I'm not savvy about financial planning, or being a "home economist" as you say! I want to do better without spending hours taking away from the important time training my boys and caring for our home and the relationships within it. So my simple goals are to: Set aside an amount for savings Plan meals ahead and buy groceries accordingly Thanks so much for inspiring so many to take up this God-glorifying role of "home economist." Blessings (sorry for my long comment too :) Sheila Well Crystal, back in January I posted my goals for 2008 and here it is September and I’m thinking, “Where did all the time go?!” I don’t get much time to visit blogs now that I’ve started homeschooling my boys and am trying to just learn to incorporate that in our schedule without letting everything else fall apart. But I just happened to see a link to this blog somewhere else and remembered that I had made goals with your 2008 financial challenge and decided to come over here and read. So I’m convicted that I’ve totally lost sight of the goals I original put in play and am reminded that my main goal was to leave evidence of savings for my husband to see. As of last month my husband was voicing his concern that we aren’t saving ANYTHING and since then I’ve been prayerful and this month purposefully put a certain amount in savings before I took out a portion for groceries and household use. My husband doesn’t want a formal budget, but I still feel like I can at least be sure that in my withdrawing and spending for groceries and such I can set aside a certain amount in our savings account and be able to point to it at the end of the month or whatever for my husband to see. I really feel like a total failure when it comes to finances, not because we’re in debt (we’re not except for our house payment) but because I’m not savvy about financial planning, or being a “home economist” as you say! I want to do better without spending hours taking away from the important time training my boys and caring for our home and the relationships within it. So my simple goals are to:

Set aside an amount for savings
Plan meals ahead and buy groceries accordingly

Thanks so much for inspiring so many to take up this God-glorifying role of “home economist.”

Blessings (sorry for my long comment too :)
Sheila

]]> By: gina http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276149 gina Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:09:09 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276149 after doing the burying my head in the sand thing we finally bit the bullet - sat down and took a look at what was going on with our money. It was scary to do it and got even scary when we realized that we were burying ourselves deeper and deeper in debt. i've been trying to save money with the cvs thing and couponing at the grocery store but clearly its time to take drastic measures. We are putting our house on the market this week. We hope to selll fairly quickly and put a good portion of the money towards our credit card debit, car loans and student loan. We are planning on purchasing a house that cost about half of what our current one is worth, putting a decent down payment on that home. Our church is havine a Dave Ramsey course and we are going to take it together. After 27 years its about time we were able to talk about money without both of us freaking out. We plan on budgeting and getting off this debt merry go round we've been living on all these years (incur debt, refinance pay off the credit card bills etc - breathe easy for a couple of months and then start all over again.) My goal for September is to start taking the classes - amd hopefully with God's mercy and grace get the house sold quickly so we can get started on a better way of life Thanks for all the encouragement and great tips ... =) gina after doing the burying my head in the sand thing we finally bit the bullet – sat down and took a look at what was going on with our money. It was scary to do it and got even scary when we realized that we were burying ourselves deeper and deeper in debt. i’ve been trying to save money with the cvs thing and couponing at the grocery store but clearly its time to take drastic measures.

We are putting our house on the market this week. We hope to selll fairly quickly and put a good portion of the money towards our credit card debit, car loans and student loan. We are planning on purchasing a house that cost about half of what our current one is worth, putting a decent down payment on that home.

Our church is havine a Dave Ramsey course and we are going to take it together. After 27 years its about time we were able to talk about money without both of us freaking out. We plan on budgeting and getting off this debt merry go round we’ve been living on all these years (incur debt, refinance pay off the credit card bills etc – breathe easy for a couple of months and then start all over again.)

My goal for September is to start taking the classes – amd hopefully with God’s mercy and grace get the house sold quickly so we can get started on a better way of life

Thanks for all the encouragement and great tips …

=)
gina

]]> By: maria http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276148 maria Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:56:34 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276148 I just wanted to write and let you know how greatful I am to your website. I started running a full budget this month. I was very excited because I saw the savings for the month of August more importantly I was getting lots of freebies with help of coupons and bid discount ideas from your site. I live in Louisiana and we knew we were going to be hit by the hurricane recently, but knew we would be ok since we live on higher grounds. We had more than enough food to last us(my family of 4) in addition to my mom and 2 sisters who stayed with us during until we were out of hams way. We had 8 loaves of bread (thanks sara lee coupons!!)and still have a few loaves left. We just got back electricity less than 1 hour ago. With that money I saved buying groceries and watching what we spend, I was able to buy lots of fuel for our generator and make up for the money we will be missing due to not working for a few days. just wanted to let you know how much our stockpiling of groceries has helped us during this time. I just wanted to write and let you know how greatful I am to your website. I started running a full budget this month. I was very excited because I saw the savings for the month of August more importantly I was getting lots of freebies with help of coupons and bid discount ideas from your site.

I live in Louisiana and we knew we were going to be hit by the hurricane recently, but knew we would be ok since we live on higher grounds. We had more than enough food to last us(my family of 4) in addition to my mom and 2 sisters who stayed with us during until we were out of hams way.

We had 8 loaves of bread (thanks sara lee coupons!!)and still have a few loaves left. We just got back electricity less than 1 hour ago.

With that money I saved buying groceries and watching what we spend, I was able to buy lots of fuel for our generator and make up for the money we will be missing due to not working for a few days.

just wanted to let you know how much our stockpiling of groceries has helped us during this time.

]]> By: Cheryl http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276147 Cheryl Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:09:46 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276147 You have inspired me to join your financial goal group. I put your blog on my site, a link and an encouragement for everyone to check out your inspiring blog. Thanks for inspiring me and for all the great advice and deals you put on your site everyday. I am a huge fan. You have inspired me to join your financial goal group. I put your blog on my site, a link and an encouragement for everyone to check out your inspiring blog. Thanks for inspiring me and for all the great advice and deals you put on your site everyday. I am a huge fan.

]]> By: Chris from St. Mary's http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/09/financial-shape.html/comment-page-1#comment-276146 Chris from St. Mary's Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:03:10 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/09/financial-shape.html#comment-276146 I became debt free in May and wondered what I was going to do now. Saving money was foreign to me (unless I absolutely had to). In May I found Dave Ramsey, then MoneySavingMom and Get RIch Slowly blogs. GRS led me to ING and Mint. MSM led me to more rebates and coupon deals. I started in mid-May with $1250 in savings. As of today, I'm at $3200 and aiming for 5200 in about a year. I switched bank accounts to free up my money that was tied up to avoid "fleas." I took on a part-time job for the summer, and started throwing all the rebate checks in. I've cut down bills farther than I did when I was doing the debt snowball. I've been in a couple of studies at U of M. Nothing major, but nothing requiring a spinal tap, either. With Mint, I was able to budget to see where my money was going, and I'm not spending as much anymore. The goal is to be at $3800 at the end of the year so I feel more comfortable switching to a high deductible plan and getting an HSA. I became debt free in May and wondered what I was going to do now. Saving money was foreign to me (unless I absolutely had to). In May I found Dave Ramsey, then MoneySavingMom and Get RIch Slowly blogs. GRS led me to ING and Mint. MSM led me to more rebates and coupon deals.

I started in mid-May with $1250 in savings. As of today, I’m at $3200 and aiming for 5200 in about a year. I switched bank accounts to free up my money that was tied up to avoid “fleas.” I took on a part-time job for the summer, and started throwing all the rebate checks in. I’ve cut down bills farther than I did when I was doing the debt snowball. I’ve been in a couple of studies at U of M. Nothing major, but nothing requiring a spinal tap, either.

With Mint, I was able to budget to see where my money was going, and I’m not spending as much anymore.

The goal is to be at $3800 at the end of the year so I feel more comfortable switching to a high deductible plan and getting an HSA.

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