I have spent the last two days working on a budget. I am very happy with the results. Today I reviewed my credit card statement because the billing cycle ended yesterday. We have only one credit card and it has a huge balance. I currently have a 13% interest rate. I called the company and asked for a lower interest rate and was told no. Oh well, I am going to tackle this debt and get it paid for as soon as possible because I paid $102 and change in interest. Holy Smokes! I am beginning this billing cycle with a balance of $8583. I paid the minimum payment today of $188. I plan to make another payment on Thursday with the remaining money from my check. I have scheduled automatic payments of $180 each Friday beginning Jan.31 until the last Friday in May. I hope to make additional payments and have the card down to $4000 by the start of June.
Up next, the grocery budget. Oh boy, mine is out of control. Anyone have any secrets to share?
Have a great night everyone!
Credit card debt stinks!
January 25th, 2014 at 01:41 am
January 25th, 2014 at 02:48 am 1390618111
Groceries is my big expense... I try to keep it under control by meal planning. I make sure I have several inexpensive meals (usually vegetarian which is cheaper) in the plan. So tonight it was polenta and a salad. It fed three of us for about $3. Another one is scrambled eggs with homemade tortilla strips, green onions and salsa mixed in. Also inexpensive: baked potatoes and broccoli with cheese. I have a chicken night and a fish night, so those are more expensive.
We don't really buy cereal (cereal is outrageously expensive in my opinion) and my husband buys beer only rarely (I don't drink - I'd rather spend my money on dessert!). I only buy fruit in season or on-sale. We buy one orange juice for the week and cut it with water. There are probably a lot of other things I don't buy, but I can't think of them because I don't buy them!
We make a lot from scratch - all of our cookies, cakes, salad dressing. I don't buy prepared foods.
I make a big batch of something in the crockpot and freeze it in dinner portions (and whatever is left over in a lunch portion to take to work).
Anyway, those are some of my strategies... Good luck!!
January 25th, 2014 at 04:16 am 1390623367
January 25th, 2014 at 04:57 am 1390625869
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/best-pre-screened-no-fee-0-apr-ba...
January 25th, 2014 at 05:31 am 1390627903
The biggest secrets I have with groceries is: 1.know your unit prices and keep an open mind where you can get the best prices. For example, I've been known to get brand-name tuna at the drugstore if it was cheaper and 2. eliminate waste. Its one thing to buy it and eat it and another thing completely to buy it and have to toss it because you lost track of it. Check to see what you are throwing away unused and either buy less of it or develop an exit strategy for it.
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