Want to see my budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Since sunday I have eaten beans and rice for every meal - lunch and dinner, except once I had pasta and once hamburgers. the buns were in my freezer (i save extras) and the meat was $2.85 and we used no fixins except ketchup.

This doesn't make any sense. It's only Tuesday. When was the last time you went to the grocery store? What's for dinner tonight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since sunday I have eaten beans and rice for every meal - lunch and dinner, except once I had pasta and once hamburgers. the buns were in my freezer (i save extras) and the meat was $2.85 and we used no fixins except ketchup.

This doesn't make any sense. It's only Tuesday. When was the last time you went to the grocery store? What's for dinner tonight?

BBQ chicken, corn, and a veggie - I buy and freeze thighs when they are on sale for like $1/lb. This is like a special nite for me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have DH quit his job, he can care for the kids and cut the grass. Plus no more 180 a month is work expenses for him.

Not much benefit to his working. Especially since he works 13 Hours a day 6 days a week. Not work it.
If it was 40 hours a week, I might feel different.

OP, is your husband a resident?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

2500 Mortgage
101 Storage--can you purge some of this and move to a smaller/cheaper unit? Or a smaller facility?
2000 Childcare
725 Student Loans
175 Cell--even within an existing contract you can change your rate plan to reduce these costs
305 Credit cards--definitely do something about that 25% interest rate, that's ridiculous. but be careful about balance transfer fees/hidden costs
100 Power--do you have a programmable thermostat?
40 Trash
20 TV--I'd kill netflix or equivalent until you're back on your feet financially
75 Water
40 Cable--is this for internet?
45 Gas
90 Grass--can you maybe find a neighborhood kid willing to do this for less?
250 Auto Loan
80 Auto Gas
40 Parking
80 Auto Insurance
145 Life Insurance
100 Doctors
60 Vet/Pet Meds
50 Gym
600 Grocery/CVS/Pet
175 Amazon Subscribe/Save
60 Restaurant--cut back or eliminate altogether
150 Shopping--what is this?
150 ATM/7-Eleven--what is this?
35 Gifts
120 DH Work Expenses--???

8311 - TOTAL

I wonder if you guys would do better switching to a cash allowance kind of system for the CVS/7-11/shopping expenditures. Each of you get a certain amount a month. I'm guessing from the presence of these categories that you have a fair amount of random, impulse type buys. It's easy to do those when you can just charge them and not have to think about it. Having to actually pay cash and have a physical reminder of how much you've already spent might help rein it in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since sunday I have eaten beans and rice for every meal - lunch and dinner, except once I had pasta and once hamburgers. the buns were in my freezer (i save extras) and the meat was $2.85 and we used no fixins except ketchup.

This doesn't make any sense. It's only Tuesday. When was the last time you went to the grocery store? What's for dinner tonight?

BBQ chicken, corn, and a veggie - I buy and freeze thighs when they are on sale for like $1/lb. This is like a special nite for me!

I feel like you are trying to get pity from people by talking about what you eat. But honestly, there is plenty you could cut from your budget that would allow you better food options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I wonder if you guys would do better switching to a cash allowance kind of system for the CVS/7-11/shopping expenditures. Each of you get a certain amount a month. I'm guessing from the presence of these categories that you have a fair amount of random, impulse type buys. It's easy to do those when you can just charge them and not have to think about it. Having to actually pay cash and have a physical reminder of how much you've already spent might help rein it in.

this sounds like a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since sunday I have eaten beans and rice for every meal - lunch and dinner, except once I had pasta and once hamburgers. the buns were in my freezer (i save extras) and the meat was $2.85 and we used no fixins except ketchup.

This doesn't make any sense. It's only Tuesday. When was the last time you went to the grocery store? What's for dinner tonight?

BBQ chicken, corn, and a veggie - I buy and freeze thighs when they are on sale for like $1/lb. This is like a special nite for me!

I feel like you are trying to get pity from people by talking about what you eat. But honestly, there is plenty you could cut from your budget that would allow you better food options.

oh please - i get berated for not answering everyone's detailed questions like my menu for a week, so I divulge what I ate for 3 days - I am just answering a question. Obviously I cannot obtain pity for anything on DCUMs - that's like going to a butcher for bread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have DH quit his job, he can care for the kids and cut the grass. Plus no more 180 a month is work expenses for him.

Not much benefit to his working. Especially since he works 13 Hours a day 6 days a week. Not work it.
If it was 40 hours a week, I might feel different.

OP, is your husband a resident?

yes. with a private university degree too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have DH quit his job, he can care for the kids and cut the grass. Plus no more 180 a month is work expenses for him.

Not much benefit to his working. Especially since he works 13 Hours a day 6 days a week. Not work it.
If it was 40 hours a week, I might feel different.

OP, is your husband a resident?

yes. with a private university degree too.

I mean, he is legal (and a US citizen, born/raised USA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have DH quit his job, he can care for the kids and cut the grass. Plus no more 180 a month is work expenses for him.

Not much benefit to his working. Especially since he works 13 Hours a day 6 days a week. Not work it.
If it was 40 hours a week, I might feel different.

OP, is your husband a resident?

yes. with a private university degree too.

I mean, he is legal (and a US citizen, born/raised USA)

OP, don't answer that.
why does it matter?

[Anonymous]

I am not the OP but I thought they meant medical resident.LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not the OP but I thought they meant medical resident.LOL

Ha me too!! Hence the anticipated salary change in 2-3 years!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not the OP but I thought they meant medical resident.LOL

Ha me too!! Hence the anticipated salary change in 2-3 years!

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not the OP but I thought they meant medical resident.LOL

Me too!!!

I only get asked this type of question when applying for a job. Aside from that, why does it matter if her husband is born/raised here or elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

If DH is a medical resident then your tight finances are temporary. Your childcare costs will decrease in a few years too (unless replaced with private school tuition). Track your spending for a month, switch to cash for all purchases and cut out impulse buys for a couple of years. You'll be fine.