This is a Suze Orman motto. Right now I am putting it in play. I have just managed to adapt to my new crazy work schedule and have managed to figure out a new bill paying routine. Life is getting better!
I am taking a page from Suze Orman and putting people first. I have some friends who live in the UK. I've not been to see them since late 2006. We e-mail and talk on the phone, but it's just not the same. One of my friends has been ill this past year and just became very ill. So ill that he has been in hospital for two weeks. As of now, the doctors don't know what is wrong; they just can't seem to find what is making my friend so sick. I spoke to his wife the other day and she is very worried, so much so that they are going private with their medical instead of staying in the National Health Service.
I got off the phone and thought about them and some of my other friends, both here in the US and in the UK. I have several freinds that are substantially older than I am. It seems right now they are all getting sick and ill and this greatly distresses me. Honestly, I've been so wrapped up in me that I feel like I've neglected them and have not touched based, so to speak. I went to bed on Monday with a heavy heart. I woke up on Tuesday and watched the Obama Inauguration and decided a trip to the UK was in order.
I am in desperate need of a new computer (a thing) and do need to replace my gutters and renovate my sorely outdated and in need of repair bathroom (money and things) and I want to keep funding my E-fund (money). I picked out a week, did my fare research and booked my flight last night. I can stay with friends for most of my trip and I'm figuring out the rest of my itinerary, if I need a hotel or a car or if I can do this by public transportation and bumming rides and couches off of people.
The new practical personal finance person in me says "Oh, you really should not do this trip! You know, planes, trains, automobiles and the various and assorted miscelleanous expesnes that crop up can really stretch the budget. I also have to get animal sitters for my animals as well-:).
But my friend is very ill and I really feel a strong need to go over and see him and his wife (plus a couple other friends as well). I'm hoping that this illness will pass. I'm hoping he will be up and running around by the time I come over. I hope for many things. The new lap top will wait, the gutters suffice for now and maybe I'll really become a Tool Belt Diva to fix my own bathroom. I'll WILL find a way to make this work
People first, the bathroom and computer can wait.
Showing posts with label suze orman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suze orman. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, August 27, 2007
Budget Update
Since this is Monday, it is time for a budget update as a part of my new leaf on life.
As I stated in my previous post, i got an overdue check for a freelance gig and have have earmarked it for my car fund. Only $5895 to go.
I also started my budget planning in earnest as I had said I would. I use propane to heat my house and right now propane is at a cheap cheap price. I have asked my supplier to fill the tank and sort of get a jump on the winter.
I also got a bread machine on freecycle and made my first two loaves of bread. One a french bread and one an herb bread. The herb bread was pretty good, the french bread a bit damp (too much liquid?) but so easy to make. I'm hoping to use the bread maker at least once a week to make a fresh loaf. I figure it cost me about 60 cents to make the bread (including the electricity for the bread maker). It costs me about $3.29 for a loaf of any bread at the grocery store.
My list of needs and wants is actually very small, I don't have much to ad to the previous post at this point. I need slippers, I want a new TV. I don't think I"ll need too much in the way of winter clothes at this point, (socks, a new pair of gloves).
Now you may say, What has budgeting got to do with Bankruptcy and bouncing back from it? It's all about planning and being fiscally responsible. I need to start now making those changes that will help my credit score and allow me to be the responsible person I was. Planning a budget and sticking to it is the first step.
I reccommend you use some sort of software. Quicken, Microsoft Money all have budget worksheets. Do some research and check out the various budget sites. Below is the snowball method of paying down your debt (taken from the web site, http://www.personalfinancebudgeting.com/). If I remember correctly, Suze Orman uses this method as well. According to my cousin, this is how her son was able to pay off all his debts in less than two years and buy an amazing home as well.
Use the snowball technique.
Identify your smallest debt (debt one).
Pour every available cent each payday into paying down that debt. Pay the minimum payment on the other debts.
Once you have paid off that first debt, identify the next smallest one (debt two).
Add the amount you had been paying on debt one to the minimum of debt two, and pay that amount.
Let the snowball grow with each debt you eliminate.
As you continue, your snowball will get huge, and your progress will seem to multiply.
Keep a chart of your progress.
Plan ahead how you will celebrate the successful elimination of each debt along the way. But don't celebrate in ways that would slow your progress. Be tenacious. Don't let anything get in your way.
As I stated in my previous post, i got an overdue check for a freelance gig and have have earmarked it for my car fund. Only $5895 to go.
I also started my budget planning in earnest as I had said I would. I use propane to heat my house and right now propane is at a cheap cheap price. I have asked my supplier to fill the tank and sort of get a jump on the winter.
I also got a bread machine on freecycle and made my first two loaves of bread. One a french bread and one an herb bread. The herb bread was pretty good, the french bread a bit damp (too much liquid?) but so easy to make. I'm hoping to use the bread maker at least once a week to make a fresh loaf. I figure it cost me about 60 cents to make the bread (including the electricity for the bread maker). It costs me about $3.29 for a loaf of any bread at the grocery store.
My list of needs and wants is actually very small, I don't have much to ad to the previous post at this point. I need slippers, I want a new TV. I don't think I"ll need too much in the way of winter clothes at this point, (socks, a new pair of gloves).
Now you may say, What has budgeting got to do with Bankruptcy and bouncing back from it? It's all about planning and being fiscally responsible. I need to start now making those changes that will help my credit score and allow me to be the responsible person I was. Planning a budget and sticking to it is the first step.
I reccommend you use some sort of software. Quicken, Microsoft Money all have budget worksheets. Do some research and check out the various budget sites. Below is the snowball method of paying down your debt (taken from the web site, http://www.personalfinancebudgeting.com/). If I remember correctly, Suze Orman uses this method as well. According to my cousin, this is how her son was able to pay off all his debts in less than two years and buy an amazing home as well.
Use the snowball technique.
Identify your smallest debt (debt one).
Pour every available cent each payday into paying down that debt. Pay the minimum payment on the other debts.
Once you have paid off that first debt, identify the next smallest one (debt two).
Add the amount you had been paying on debt one to the minimum of debt two, and pay that amount.
Let the snowball grow with each debt you eliminate.
As you continue, your snowball will get huge, and your progress will seem to multiply.
Keep a chart of your progress.
Plan ahead how you will celebrate the successful elimination of each debt along the way. But don't celebrate in ways that would slow your progress. Be tenacious. Don't let anything get in your way.
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