Have you ever made a budget, only to realize you're spending too much?

[el numero uno]

I've been writing down my expenses on a excel sheet in my phone. Turns out I'm spending too much on trivial things.

If you ever asked yourself where your money did go, try writing it down.



PD: My gf and my mom laughed at me for doing this, ha! I still think it's a great tool to help you save money

PD2: bodybuilding related, you may be speending too much on suplements!

[Mr Anabolic]

It's very simple...

 - Always live below your means.

 - Don't use credit cards.

 - Don't get married.

 - Don't have kids.

[Simple Simon]

It's very simple...

 - Always live below your means.

 - Don't use credit cards.

 - Don't get married.

 - Don't have kids.

 - Dont take investment advice from Goodrum.

fixed

[Mr Anabolic]

fixed

Thanks... I forgot that one.

[el numero uno]

It's very simple...

 - Always live below your means.

 - Don't use credit cards.

 - Don't get married.

 - Don't have kids.

I think people understimate the power of interest.

A uncle in law bought a new 25,000 Nissan on credit. $4000 right off the bat and $600 a month, during 5 years. When you do the math... oh boy, he ended up paying 40,000.  

Adjusted for inflation, those $25,000 would be the equivalent to $29,000 not 40 grands. 

[loco]

If you are disciplined and have a good credit score, you can get approved for and use cash back rewards credit cards.  You could be getting $600 to $1,000 cash back a year, even more, on rewards alone.

Just pay it off at the end of the month or every two weeks.  Never carry a balance and never pay interest.

[Mr Anabolic]

If you are disciplined and have a good credit score, you can get approved for and use cash back rewards credit cards.  You could be getting $600 to $1,000 cash back a year, even more, on rewards alone.

Just pay it off at the end of the month or every two weeks.  Never carry a balance and never pay interest.

Discipline is the key.  Even responsible people get in trouble using credit cards because of some financial issue, job loss, divorce, car repairs, etc.

[Mr Anabolic]

I think people understimate the power of interest.

A uncle in law bought a new 25,000 Nissan on credit. $4000 right off the bat and $600 a month, during 5 years. When you do the math... oh boy, he ended up paying 40,000.  

Adjusted for inflation, those $25,000 would be the equivalent to $29,000 not 40 grands. 

Anyone who buys an expensive new car, who already lives hand to mouth is basically a moron.

[loco]

Discipline is the key.  Even responsible people get in trouble using credit cards because of some financial issue, job loss, divorce, car repairs, etc.

That's what an emergency fund is for.  Anyone with a decent job should have at least 3 months worth of expenses saved up.  Better yet, have 9 month worth saved up.

[el numero uno]

Anyone who buys an expensive new car, who already lives hand to mouth is basically a moron.

Yes. A friend of mine made a similar purchase last year, with the difference that he had to ask for money for the initial $4000. What a horrible decision.

[8 INCH not biceps]

I've been writing down my expenses on a excel sheet in my phone. Turns out I'm spending too much on trivial things.

If you ever asked yourself where your money did go, try writing it down.



PD: My gf and my mom laughed at me for doing this, ha! I still think it's a great tool to help you save money

PD2: bodybuilding related, you may be speending too much on suplements!

Small mind thinking what you should be doing is thinking about how to increase your income so you dont have to worry about trivial spending, I think you need to hire vince goodrum life coach services.

[240 is Back]

cut all the little things that you can.   that helps.  buy quality ONCE for the essentials.  If you have to spoil the kids, trick them into wanting things like desks, laptops, ipads, etc... things that'll last 10 years and you can always use.   Plastic lego sets don't usually appreciate in value lol.

oh, and make more money.  solves most problems.  Get good, then get better.  never stop studying.

[SF1900]

Invest in Caliber Fitness Solution, the worlds leading innovator in health, fitness, and nutrition.

I just put down a cool 30K in Caliber Fitness stocks.

[Henda]

Budgets are depressing as I hate spending money,I hate budgets and never do them, as long as you aren't a fucking dumbass with spending and be aware roughly of what you are then you will be fine.
I hate spending money so much that when Ive been renovating a house for last year and a half I checked my bank balance only twice in that period so didn't have to face up to the costs, hence the hate for budgets and seeing in black and white what your outgoings actually are

[OlympiaGym]

Getbig should be called Getpoor. Everyone is always on here talking about how to save pennies. Start hustling, get some income and stop whining

[Grape Ape]

It's very simple...
 - Don't use credit cards.

Advice for the weak.

Responsible people use reward cards exclusively for everything possible, and get a substantial amount of free money for doing nothing other than not handing over cash at the time of transaction.

EDIT:  Just read Bevo's post who said the same thing.

Either way to the OPs point, yeah, I've tracked stuff (mint.com is awesome), but then I realized, yeah I spend too much on coffee, and could save....but I LIKE it, so fuck it.

[240 is Back]

Either way to the OPs point, yeah, I've tracked stuff (mint.com is awesome), but then I realized, yeah I spend too much on coffee, and could save....but I LIKE it, so fuck it.

tell me about this.  Do you buy really nice beans and grind them?  Or some higher end kcup thing?  I'm very new to coffee, enjoying it maybe 1-2 times a month. 

[Nether Animal]

Small mind thinking what you should be doing is thinking about how to increase your income so you dont have to worry about trivial spending, I think you need to hire vince goodrum life coach services.

[Grape Ape]

tell me about this.  Do you buy really nice beans and grind them?  Or some higher end kcup thing?  I'm very new to coffee, enjoying it maybe 1-2 times a month.  

The price contrast is more about buying coffee when out then drinking it at home.

At home, I use k-cups, and buy a brand called SF Bay coffee or something, and on Amazon Subscribe and Save it's only like 28 bucks for 80 servings.   Contrast that with 3-4 bucks or so per if you go to Starbucks or any boutique shop.

There is a high end k-cup made by nespresso, and it's absolutely awesome.  Those come out to almost a dollar a serving, and could easily surpass buying from a store depending on how much you drink.

[240 is Back]

ah, cool.   about 2 summer back i drank those frappacinos 1-2 times a day.  essentially milkshakes.  i put on 8 or 10 pounds of pure fat.  these days i drink coffee black or maybe with a little creamer, kcup.  i wouldnt know how to order a coffee at starbucks haha

[Simple Simon]

Small mind thinking what you should be doing is thinking about how to increase your income so you dont have to worry about trivial spending, I think you need to hire vince goodrum life coach services.

To some people increasing income stretches further than asking daddy to increase your allowance.

[HTexan]

It's very simple...

 - Always live below your means.

 - Don't use credit cards. ( wrong, cc's help with credit score if used correctly )
 - Don't get married. (Wrong, 2 incomes are better the one most of the time)

 - Don't have kids.

fixed.
If you really want to save money. Cancel all the extra stuff you pay monthly for. I.e Netflix Hulu, xm radio, cable

[Board_SHERIF]

Get rid of Cable/Satellite - use an antenna for HD signals for local channels + PirateBay + Netflix
2lb coffee beans are approx $10 and last months, pod / starbucks waste of $$
limit eating out to once per month
only buy on sale items when grocery shopping, buy multiple of items you always use
Time gas purchases when price goes down

[HTexan]

Get rid of Cable/Satellite - use an antenna for HD signals for local channels + PirateBay + Netflix
2lb coffee beans are approx $10 and last months, pod / starbucks waste of $$
limit eating out to once per month
only buy on sale items when grocery shopping, buy multiple of items you always use
Time gas purchases when price goes down

Sling tv is cheap and decent.

[Rambone]

If you are disciplined and have a good credit score, you can get approved for and use cash back rewards credit cards.  You could be getting $600 to $1,000 cash back a year, even more, on rewards alone.

Just pay it off at the end of the month or every two weeks.  Never carry a balance and never pay interest.

Yep, I do this as well. Just set up your autopay to pay the remaining balance and don't be stupid about spending. I've got the Citi business card through Costco and get 4% back on already cheap gas there. That alone makes it a good deal for me plus it's 2-3% back on pretty much everything else.