Figuring out Finance

Getting it together financially

So my life has fallen apart. Financially speaking. I am just unable to keep a budget, save or make it to day 5 after I get my paycheck with a $20 bill in my hand.

So, where to now? I’ve been getting it together and Figuring out my Finances.

Correction. I’ve been trying to get it together.

The final push that inspired this move? I need to buy a car. My parents were kind enough to give me a good chunk of what I’d needed, but I spent a sizable amount on goodness knows what? All I know is that for that kind of money there should be a flying monkey sitting on my ceiling fan and a talking dog to keep it company.

By Leanne Naidoo • July 10th, 2009

First there’s the drawing up of a draft budget - detailing how much you think you’ll need to spend on various things. Then you no doubt look at the monies coming in and the debts you have stacked up and try to make it squish together so that it fits into your ‘ideal’ draft budget. [...]

Here is an except from my ol’ Finance Diary. This one has no commentary really because honestly I think I was stark raving mad! Though it is good fun to read.

Thursday
I’m going to make that phone call.  I’m going to go on my first date in 4 years on Saturday.  Good grief.  GOOD GRIEF.   What [...]

I swear I am not an alcoholic, a gambler or an addict. Well, except for one tiny exception. I have trouble saving. Mostly I put this down to the small problem I have of being unable to stop spending. This tidy little cycle spins its web from pay stub to pay stub. It’s a carosel [...]

Golly, It feels like I’ve been dieting for years. Wait a minute I have! Here’s the brighter side though, I have been going to my local library for far longer. Accompanying all those absorbing books were the fines I racked up when I returned them. I’m not joking when I say sometimes it might have [...]

Entertainment. Movies, dinners, online music purchases, a drink at the local bar and even a cheeky romance novel from the bookstore - the receipts from all these will have to go into your entertainment folder. And boy do they add up. Without these little distractions the enjoyment meter in our lives would be rather low.
So [...]

Thursday
Today was my appointment with the Doctor.  My first gynecologist appointment.  There was a startled moment when he asked me to take my clothes off and wear a gown with the open end in front.  I think I stood still and held that gown for at least 30 seconds.  Then I thought ok… let’s be [...]

Every week I have a $150 to spend on my groceries and entertainment. This week I spent half of it on a single item. Here was my logic behind buying a pair of sneakers:

Wednesday
Sneakers… I have terrible sneakers.  I’ve never been remotely interested in fitness until I came to work for a company that had [...]