tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post3355579044584421614..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Track your spendingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54166391887098804862017-05-26T13:03:53.696+10:002017-05-26T13:03:53.696+10:00Until I started writing it down I had no idea I wa...Until I started writing it down I had no idea I was spending close to two thousand dollars a year on two coffees a day.<br /><br />For goodness sake, that is a holiday somewhere and until I saw the cold hard facts, I was oblivious.<br /><br />I still buy the occasional coffee but would spend no more that $500 a year and I have always packed my own lunch.<br /><br />KellieLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84954070181096928682017-05-25T17:11:58.984+10:002017-05-25T17:11:58.984+10:00It is so much about trying this and that...our bud...It is so much about trying this and that...our budget over the years has changed according to our circumstances, children at home then gone, working then retiring, the biggest thing is to stay aware, communicate well and be flexible. Oh and have fun now and then too - fun is one of our budget categories!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209722078916803400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-11250900662810894152017-05-25T15:20:51.842+10:002017-05-25T15:20:51.842+10:00great posts & i could re-read your posts over ...great posts & i could re-read your posts over & over, tweaked or original.<br />my spending has reduced heaps over the years, though i don't get much growing i have a reasonable supply of fresh produce from our markets & their gardens, i live alone now & so my spending is much less; the only time it goes up is when i have visitors as i usually have to buy a bit more food. i am still trying to grow veges, carrots have come up so far, nothing from the cabbages yet. i have chooks for eggs & they don't cost much to feed either, they eat everything! <br />i did up several accounts with the bank to cover, rates, car, vets, house, loan, etc with my main account being for use with what was left over. it helps, also i have Centrelink doing Centrepay for my power & phone.<br />great advice as usual Rhonda<br />thanx for sharing<br />selina from kilkivan qldselinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173172460099566314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54702640611917823182017-05-25T12:52:33.045+10:002017-05-25T12:52:33.045+10:00I agree with Lisa - your hair looks great. And as...I agree with Lisa - your hair looks great. And as MrHM stated - sound advice is always sound advice and a welcome read. I've tracked our spending for a couple years now. It's interesting to see from year to year where you can make progress and where uh-oh's happen. I use a good ol' pencil and paper. Our electric isn't very reliable. Lady Locusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-89395573961804489592017-05-25T07:45:22.782+10:002017-05-25T07:45:22.782+10:00We did this too and it paid off greatly. We were e...We did this too and it paid off greatly. We were eventually able to edit lots of expenses out of our lives--luxuries or foolishness that had started to seem like necessities. One key for us was to put EVERYTHING on the table. We challenged and questioned every expense and over time our household budget shrank significantly as we eliminated (in addition to the big things) magazines, television, a land line, the newspaper, and so on.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08859125602809246773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-15393026555220339832017-05-25T05:15:32.602+10:002017-05-25T05:15:32.602+10:00Very nice series of posts. When I was first starti...Very nice series of posts. When I was first starting my frugal life, I would write down my expenditures in a little 2inchX3inch notebook. It was easy for me to keep in my purse and use. <br />I would also deduct any credit card purchases from my check register as if I had written a check. When the credit card bill needed to be paid, I'd add up all my entries in the register and then actually write the check. Doing it this way meant that I wouldn't overspend in the month.<br />SJ in Vancouver BC CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-40911138842347759932017-05-24T22:35:52.240+10:002017-05-24T22:35:52.240+10:00It looks like you've got a different haircut -...It looks like you've got a different haircut - it's very flattering! :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12503930255842185609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4665735894151140902017-05-24T22:32:45.844+10:002017-05-24T22:32:45.844+10:00I love you budgeting posts. My husband and I try t...I love you budgeting posts. My husband and I try to cut back wherever possible. We got rid of our home phone. Both our cars are paid off. We only have a house payment , water bill and electric. We shop at discount stores, Aldi's, Goodwill and Salvation Army. Your sight has given me such great ideas to incorporate into our life style. Thank you and also to every one who posts their comments. I glean alot from everyone. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5718655762782247002017-05-24T19:16:55.185+10:002017-05-24T19:16:55.185+10:00I'm so loving these back-to-basics posts on bu...I'm so loving these back-to-basics posts on budgeting. You could nearly recycle your entire 10 years of posts and tweak them accordingly....I never tire of the solid, basic, down-to-earth messagePhil Poggeauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10528068263542083696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-25158123368590515562017-05-24T18:02:30.329+10:002017-05-24T18:02:30.329+10:00Wants and needs is something I am mindful of. We h...Wants and needs is something I am mindful of. We have got to a stage in life that we have what we need in the house and take care of what we have. We need to replace things every now and then but keep it within our budget and planning. I don't follow trends so I'm content to have the things I love around me. I agree it has to be sustainable to us and we tweak things where needed. I still treat myself every now and then but I am happy with some craft things or a new tea towel lol. It so often comes back to being content I think as well as thankful that our needs are met.<br />I hope the fox is keeping away Rhonda. I was so sorry that Kathleen met her end that way.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12393720461476425311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-44231881363048374792017-05-24T17:56:30.880+10:002017-05-24T17:56:30.880+10:00I loved that store too!I loved that store too!Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09903034261104463234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-28537532764990985912017-05-24T15:56:48.233+10:002017-05-24T15:56:48.233+10:00Hi Leigh,
We give meat fat to the chooks we don&#...Hi Leigh, <br />We give meat fat to the chooks we don't have old oil or rotten meat. When I was growing up, everyone wrapped their rubbish in newspaper. Some people buried that in the backyard, others put it in the rubbish bin.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38983706931895186202017-05-24T14:28:23.212+10:002017-05-24T14:28:23.212+10:00Thanks to your books Rhonda we tracked our spendin...Thanks to your books Rhonda we tracked our spending for a month. Now we have our normal weekly budget plus a budget for the whole year, reduced our utility bills and noticed some areas where we could really save. We also use an Excel spreadsheet and I record all of our expenses at the end of each month and Excel then compares it to our forecast for that month.<br />It is a great feeling as we are in control. It really takes away the stress of the unknown if that makes sense.Home Is My Havenhttps://homesmyhaven.blogspot.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-20846245151944880562017-05-24T13:44:53.022+10:002017-05-24T13:44:53.022+10:00Hi Rhonda, just wanting to know your thoughts on ...Hi Rhonda, just wanting to know your thoughts on how to dispose of messy garbage! I mean meat fat, old smelly oil, rotten meat etc. I have reduced my use on plastics hugely over time but am trying to not use a plastic bag to line my garbage bin ( inside). We receive the local rag (paper) occasionally, and I've been wrapping smelly stuff in that. Any other ideas? We compost and feed the chooks most waste. (Not that there is much!)Leighlumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697994987449147422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-58644874154389360372017-05-24T12:31:19.782+10:002017-05-24T12:31:19.782+10:00I am off and on with vigilance.... it has to do wi...I am off and on with vigilance.... it has to do with time for me... sometimes I buy lunch out; others I pack. But things I am consistent with are not buying water in bottles when I am out; avoiding snacking when out; errands on one day when I work (I only leave home twice a week to work); make our soap; bake bread; hang laundry when I can; less lights on in the house; reduced our TV service and no long distance; and drive my car for a minimum of 10 years (it is 100 miles round trip to my job, so I end up with about 450,000 miles in 10 years). I pay cash only. And, if I decide NOT to buy something, that extra money goes into savings or to pay down my house. It's a good start for me because it keeps me mindful! <3 mattymattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749881104429358524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-58257412022796546972017-05-24T10:43:39.360+10:002017-05-24T10:43:39.360+10:00Excel would be a great way to record your outgoing...Excel would be a great way to record your outgoings. I wish we had more of those little warehouse stores and Asian shops. A new Asian supermarket open near here and I have to get over there soon and check it out. I'm sure I'll find a good price on rice, chickpeas, lentils, spices etc.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-89356370664804933552017-05-24T10:32:03.325+10:002017-05-24T10:32:03.325+10:00I have been tracking my expenses for a long time n...I have been tracking my expenses for a long time now. I use an Excel spreadsheet. One advantage is that it's easy to see how my electric and water bills vary from month to month.<br />I do grocery shopping twice a month. The warehouse store I go to has coupons for things I usually buy (toilet paper, coconut milk, quinoa etc.)<br />I buy rice and chickpeas from an Indian store because they have the best price in my area.Nil @ The Little House by the Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05812637017406376233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-60253143237689378702017-05-24T05:48:32.444+10:002017-05-24T05:48:32.444+10:00Great advice. I wish we still had Woolworths, I lo...Great advice. I wish we still had Woolworths, I loved that shop. 😟Living Alone in Your 60'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848266282669835475noreply@blogger.com