Create New Habits

on September 14, 2010
in Responsible Spending Challenge

Well, it’s nice to hear that 1) I’m not alone in being a budgeting disaster and 2) others have overcome the same issue and become money mavens.  That gives me hope! And… I’m happy to report that the Husband and I aren’t starting from scratch. 

 

We learned a lot over the years, and a while back, we actually paid off our credit cards in full.  Yay!  I am so glad we have zero credit card debt.  Paying off that debt felt so good, and I will never willingly go back.  I actually FROZE my credit cards in a block of ice to prevent myself from using them.  If you have credit card debt, do what we did and call the companies to negotiate a lower rate and/or transfer your balances onto the card with the lowest rate if necessary.  A great book for explaining credit card debt and credit scores is The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke.

 

We also made the (very wise) decision to become a one-car family last month, sold my car, and put more than $6,000 towards our car loan for our second car.  We save so much now insurance, gas, and repairs.

 

Here are some other great resources that people recommended in my comments section last night:

 

 

What I’ve realized is that we have to create new habits NOW or our overspending issues will only get worse.  I will admit that I use shopping as a way to satisfy myself emotionally.  When I am lonely, I shop.  When I am bored, I shop.  Also, I like pretty things and feel like I “deserve” to shop because I make money.  The problem is that I’m already spending outside of our day-to-day means, and if this continues as we earn more money, we will simply eat up our savings with our bad habits by spending even MORE.  I’m tired of looking at my bank account and wondering where all my freaking money went. 

 

I’ve tried to change my financial habits many times before.  We’ve succeeded in many ways, but we have a long way to go.  I’m hoping our new budget, which I’m going to approach in a new manner (see last night’s post), will be just the thing we need.

 

Also, apparently you guys like it when I admit I am human, not a blogging autobot, and struggle with things like overspending.  😉

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So I will be sure to update you on our situation!

 

In other news…

 

Went for a glorious 5.0 mile run this morning in 48:15.  I’m really proud of my pace for moderate runs lately!

 

Pre-run snack:

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Post-run breakfast (Kashi Go Lean, Peach Greek Yogurt, Chia Seeds, and a Banana):

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Things to do!

 

Bid for my Gingerbread Cookies for cancer research here!

{ 86 comments }

 

  • Freya (Brit Chick Runs) September 14, 2010, 9:53 am

    You seem to be totally on top of the budget thing! And I really thank you for posting about it – since reading your post, I’m looking into ways of controlling my budget, cos atm I feel totally out of control! Not with spending necessarily, but just knowing where money is and accounts etc. So thank you!

  • Holly @ couchpotatoathlete September 14, 2010, 10:00 am

    Caitlin I do like that you are a human being and that real life happens sometimes! And I love the robot moves too 🙂

    Good for you for paying off credit card debt — my husband and I paid off the last of ours earlier this summer and it is like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders!

  • Sarah @ Sarah's Shaping Up September 14, 2010, 10:01 am

    As a college student who will be taking on grad school loans within the next year or so, thank you so much for the links. When it comes to budgeting and money, I have no clue what I’m doing. I will definitely be taking a look at the links provided. 🙂

  • Val @ Balancing Val September 14, 2010, 10:02 am

    I love simple dollar and bargainbabe.com!

    Lol, love the robot but the readers are right!

    Not like struggling is a GOOD thing, but it helps people feel like they aren’t alone 🙂

    I’m halfway through Dave ramseys book. It’s 9.99 on kindle if you have that or it on an iPad.

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg September 14, 2010, 10:02 am

    Lol…I love your robot pics 🙂

    Thanks for the list of links– I’ll be sure to check them out!

  • Amanda September 14, 2010, 10:02 am

    You and your husband are at a great place to start developing new spending habits. Because your husband just finished school and you just moved, you’re at a perfect place to mentally change up some things and start a new path. Good Luck, once your new choices become habits it won’t be nearly as hard!

  • Madeline - Greens and Jeans September 14, 2010, 10:07 am

    Those are great links! It can be insanely overwhelming as a young person just starting out. Between student loans, car payments, and regular bills it is easy to drive yourself crazy! Thank you for the links!

  • Natalia @asideofsimple September 14, 2010, 10:07 am

    I love this post about creating new habits. It’s so true! Much of what we do has been “learned” so why not learn some new, healthier habits? Can’t wait to check out those links, thanks!

  • Michele September 14, 2010, 10:10 am

    Interesting how you commented about shopping because you feel you deserve it. That’s something I’ve also struggled with. It took some serious advise before I finally realized it is NOT about what I deserve (of course I deserve things) but simply about what I can afford. Learning the difference is not easy.

  • Kristina @ spabettie September 14, 2010, 10:10 am

    it’s good that you learned this and are actively making positive moves. so many people refuse to look at it and get into a bad place.

    I could not imagine having credit card debt that I felt was insurmountable… I felt AWESOME when I paid off my car, and that is what I’d consider an acceptable debt 🙂

  • Leah @ L4L September 14, 2010, 10:12 am

    I’ve called the credit card companies asking for lower rates and just get denied. I’ve played the balance transfer game as much as possible as well, taking advantage of 0% transfers and lower interest rates. It still seems like we are spiraling into a black hole. The thing is, we don’t even use our credit cards and haven’t in at least a year or two but I loaded up a massive amount in college and it seems impossible to get out. Part of the problem is that I haven’t really had an opportunity to increase my income at all so I can put more towards them but we always make the minimum payments at least. It’s pretty discouraging. I feel your pain. At least you don’t have credit cards to deal with any more.

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) September 14, 2010, 10:14 am

    To supplement a few new fall wardrobe goodies, I go through my closet and take “gently used” items to plato’s closet. You don’t get much cash for them, but usually it’s enough for me to buy one or two new fall staples at the mall!

    I lvoe listening to Dave Ramsey… he is more fiscally conservative than I am (he’s a little extreme in my opinion), but he is very inspirational!

  • Sarah September 14, 2010, 10:15 am

    Great resources that I will be checking out (Love me some NERD KERF!)
    Would you please do the robot more often? 🙂

  • Danielle September 14, 2010, 10:16 am

    Hi!

    I’m a new runner and working my way up milage wise. I’m up to 6 miles now and experiencing knee pain. I am going to purchase some knee sleeves in the mean time and have my acupuncturist treat my knees when I go but do you have any other suggestions I can try before I get to the doctor? 🙂

    Thanks!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday September 14, 2010, 10:16 am

    Luckily I don’t have a problem with overspending. I have never had student debt, car debt, or credit card debt. My only debt now is the first I’ve ever had in my life: my mortgage. And I’m on track to paying that off in the next few years.

    A good piece of advice is to have money automatically deducted from your account to go into savings that way you can’t spend it.

  • Camille September 14, 2010, 10:16 am

    While I have never been in credit card debt, my boyfriend does have quite a bit and it has ended up being one of the things that I most want to take care of. It causes so much stress!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) September 14, 2010, 10:21 am

    Yes, while I don’t want anyone to suffer hardships, it is always nice to not feel alone in struggles. I think honesty is the best way we all learn from each other in all aspects of life. thank you for sharing yourself Caitlin. It is appreciated! I hope you have a great day!

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story September 14, 2010, 10:27 am

    Love the robot pictures! Absolutely fantastic. 🙂

    Thank you for all the budget links! I am working on paying off credit card debt right now myself. It’s hard work but each card that gets paid off feels like a HUGE victory. 🙂

  • sarah k. @ the pajama chef September 14, 2010, 10:27 am

    way to go! new habits are hard at first but they get better. we only have my husband’s school loans to pay off (no credit card debt) and i cannot wait to pay them off! we’re working to pay them off faster so i might look into some of the resources listed. thansk!

  • Kelly September 14, 2010, 10:30 am

    I think everyone struggles with money and budgeting, it’s rough. I hope you and the husband figure it out!

  • JenATX September 14, 2010, 10:32 am

    hehe i like the blogger autobot pics

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) September 14, 2010, 10:34 am

    ok, your pictures are HILARIOUS! love it 🙂 and i love NERD KERF…i feel like kath does a great job of balancing everything and creating simple systems to help budget everything from time to money. i love watching your journey too because i know there’s so much i could learn from it!

  • Wei-Wei September 14, 2010, 10:35 am

    LOVE the robot photos – and thanks so much for sharing the links! I’m glad that you decided to share this with us. 🙂

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter September 14, 2010, 10:38 am

    I really like your honesty. I love that I can really relate to you too. I was a nanny this summer and started making some serious dough. Well, I also spent a lot of it on clothes, and I’ve been feeling pretty guilty. Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one stuggling with this.

  • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 10:43 am

    Suze Orman would tell you to defrost your credit cards and cut them up! Seriously, cut those suckers up girl!

    • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 10:48 am

      Cut them up but DON’T CANCEL THEM! Because then you increase your debt to credit ratio and your credit score will go down. 🙂

      • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 10:53 am

        Well, if they’re paid off you can cancel them 🙂 Credit debt is the worst debt you can have on your report. Mortgages, student loans, etc money borrowed on assets. Credit debt finances “wants and needs” against nothing.

        • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 10:55 am

          I meant “mortgages, student loans, etc money borrowed on assets are “positive debts” while credit debt finances “wants and needs” against nothing making it bad debt.”

        • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 11:02 am

          So I just wrote an article about credit scores (haha irony). It’s not published yet but I’ll cut and paste some of it:

          Myth #2: Canceling Credit Cards You Don’t Need Will Increase Your Score

          Canceling cards you’ve had for a long time can have a negative impact on your credit in two ways: First of all, it eliminates a source of credit in your name and will increase your debt to credit ratio, which determines 30% of your FICO score. Furthermore, it eliminates valuable data, and 15% of your FICO score is determined by the length of your credit history. As a result, many financial advisors would recommend that you destroy unneeded cards – but don’t cancel the account.

          Myth #3: Asking for Credit Limit Increases Hurts Your Score

          A common misconception is that asking for your credit limit to be increased is bad for your score; however, if you receive a credit increase and do not increase your debt, your credit score will go up! Why? Per the explanation for Myth #2, your debt to credit ratio determines 30% of your score. If you owe $1,500 on a card with a $2,000, your debt to credit ratio is 0.75. If you ask for a limit increase to $4,000, your new ratio is 0.375, and your credit score will increase. The key, of course, is not to increase your debt just because you have more credit.

        • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 11:04 am

          Not for people who have 5+ credit cards and dept store credit cards though. I think it’s really a case by case basis. Blanket assumptions are hard to apply to everyone.

        • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 11:05 am

          Hmm do you know the logic behind the 5+ cards? Just wondering because I might need to supplement that article.

        • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 11:06 am

          Do I know the logic? Um…huh? Not sure what you mean. i don’t have 5+ cards, but know and have seen many people that do. They get in over their heads and use the cards as a way out.

        • Amy September 14, 2010, 11:13 am

          Isn’t a huge factor of a credit score, the credit vs. debt ratio? If you eliminate say a $2500 card with $0 balance on it, you are lowering that ratio. You want the credit to be super high and debt to be super low. If you close an account that has high credit and low debt, you could actually hurt your score.

        • Sarah for Real September 14, 2010, 11:15 am

          I’ve heard about the myth that there’s some magical number of cards you should or shouldn’t have. For example, one myth says that anything more than 3 cards is bad for your credit. I recently researched this and found it to be totally untrue.

        • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 11:15 am

          Oh no, see the key is to pay off the cards and then don’t put money back on them. If you can successfully do that, it will be good for your credit score because you have more credit (and less debt) in your name. Also, canceling cards eliminates credit history, which also contributes to your overall credit card.

          That being said, yes if you cannot exercise self control and continue to create debt, you should probably cancel them.

      • MelissaNibbles September 14, 2010, 11:15 am

        I think all of these are case by case examples. You should definitely talk to a financial planner or specialist. The right financial plan for one person is going to be different from another person. Just like a healthy living plan 🙂

        • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 11:21 am

          Yes re: case by case. But there are so many crazy myths out there about credit scores! It’s so confusing. Definitely pays to do your research and ask a professional.

    • Sarah September 14, 2010, 11:07 am

      I got a letter from one of my credit cards last year saying that they were adding an annual fee – but no rewards. I don’t care what it did to my credit score, I had zero balance on it and had another one (with rewards) that I used more. I cancelled it! I hate that trying to be responsible and not have a card that is costing you money to use (when those weren’t the original terms of agreement) can affect your score.

      • Julia September 14, 2010, 11:14 am

        The same thing happened to me recently. It was my backup credit card that I only used for places that wouldn’t take AmEx (my primary card). I knew it wasn’t good for my credit score but I couldn’t bring myself to pay an annual fee for a card I rarely used!

      • Amanda @ Cakes and Ale September 14, 2010, 11:15 am

        Definitely don’t cancel cards after you pay them off! The longer your credit history (the longer you’ve had a credit card), the better your credit. Your credit is also based on how much available credit you have. If you cancel a card, whatever your available credit was on that card will lower your overall available credit, hurting your score. Very bad if you’re looking to buy a home.

      • Ari September 14, 2010, 11:15 am

        Although yeah, in this case, I’d cancel. The amount it will hurt your score (and thus cost you more in interest) probably wouldn’t be more than the annual fee over the long haul. But still, if you’re going to want a mortgage, car loan, or any major credit in the next year or so, I’d suck it up and pay the annual fee, especially if it’s a really old card, because you could save at least that much in interest – probably a lot more – by having a higher credit score.
        And yes, that does totally suck. Okay, I’m done!

    • Ari September 14, 2010, 11:12 am

      Definitely DON’T cancel them, no matter how many you have, unless you know you’re not going to be applying for any major credit for a loooong time and even then, only cancel store cards. You should also use them every once in a while, just for a sandwich or something, and pay them off, to avoid the card issuer canceling the card because of inactivity.

      Also, asking for a credit limit increase could ding your score in the short term – because they have to make an inquiry into your file, which shows lenders you’re shopping around for credit – but it will help you in the long term. So, again, don’t do that unless you’re 6+ months out from apply for any major credit.

      • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 11:17 am

        Re: the annual fee, yes I’d probably cancel a card with an annual fee unless it was my oldest card.

      • Anne September 14, 2010, 11:33 am

        I just had this discussion with a friend of mine, about wanting to cancel cards, but concerned that it would negatively impact my credit. She told me that she cancelled one and 6 months later bought a house, so I shouldn’t be too concerned. I’d just like to cancel at least one if not two (and get rid of my one with an annual fee).

  • Carly (Swim, Run, Om) September 14, 2010, 10:44 am

    I like Robot Caitlin! … the DANCING Robot Caitlin. I do a killer Robot. My signature dance move is Wash the Window, though.

    I don’t like Mint either, but I do like Quizzle. It’s a free online budgeting service sponsored by Quicken. You don’t link up your bank accounts like with Mint, and I’ve found that if you let it calculate your budget for you it can be a bit off. But it’s great for a general overview of where you are with your finances.

  • Amber K September 14, 2010, 10:48 am

    Great links! And I think it’s funny that I just recommended something that a ton of people already had! Ahh well, it’s a process. People actually think you are a blogging autobot? Awesome. I love the robot pictures. 😉

  • Jess September 14, 2010, 10:54 am

    I think you’ve made an amazing first step by being honest with your spending habits and creating a budget – just like your blog name suggests, you are at your Healthy (Financial) Tipping Point by doing those two things. And as your tagline goes, your every day (financial) decisions will add up to something amazing over time! 🙂 So get ready to watch your bank accounts fatten up!

    Thanks so much for being honest and open about being human. One of the things that I find to be inspiring is when someone is willing to share his/her challenges and has a game plan in place for how they are going to overcome them. Not someone who is perfect, never has a bad day, always makes the “right” decisions, yada yada boring.

    The fact that you are real about your successes, your struggles, and how you work hard towards your goals makes you awesome!

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) September 14, 2010, 10:57 am

    *GASP* You’re not an autobot ?! shoot!! 😉

  • Anne September 14, 2010, 11:05 am

    Caitlyn – I just wrote a post about how I set up a budget to figure out just how exactly I’m going to save the money I need for the wedding. My cousin had sent me her excel spreadsheet that she uses (and she has 3 kids, two cars, and a mortgage). It was great! If you need any more help, let me know. I’m still at the “now I must follow the budget” stage in lieu of spending willy-nilly. Good luck with yours!
    Anne

    • Anne September 14, 2010, 11:34 am

      Sorry, I meant “Caitlin”, maybe I’m watching too much Teen Mom.

  • Mary September 14, 2010, 11:07 am

    go you for being honest and admitting that you need to seriously budget your $$$ it’ll take time but I know you’ll get to where you want to be financially and then you’ll live happily ever after :

  • Amber from Girl with the Red Hair September 14, 2010, 11:09 am

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – to that group of photos.

    You are hilarious. That is all.

  • Jill September 14, 2010, 11:10 am

    I’m glad that you’re using your blog platform to try to encourage your readers to get in financial shape too! It’s sooooooo important!
    I know you and your husband will find success with this as long as you stick with it. My husb. and I have friends who spend, spend, spend and sure they have a big house and travel all the time, but they’re stone-cold broke with NO savings. We feel envious at times, but it really feels good when we think about how much better off we’ll be in the future. Stay strong, girl!

  • Tina September 14, 2010, 11:11 am

    I think you make a pretty good autobot. 😉

    It is always nice to see the real struggles other bloggers face. It makes them more relatable. I always try to remember that on my blog and share openly about things.

  • Maissa September 14, 2010, 11:16 am

    I too like it when you admit that you arena human being. 🙂

    I had a recent financial struggle, I quit my jobnand ended up being unemployed for much longer than anticipated with limited funds. It has been a challenge but i have learned so much about responsible money management and what I actually need versus what I want.

    I used to shop for comfort too, until I realized that I was going to have to chose between clothing and my apartment, which I LOVE. Definitly agree that figuring out priorities is key to a successful money makeover, so is budgeting, I actually found KERF’s tutorials incredibly helpful.

    I am excited to see where you go with this, and don’t ever be afraid to admit you are human, it is why we as readers keep reading – because you are relatable.

  • Kacy September 14, 2010, 11:31 am

    Taking action is the best way to get a handle on over-spending. When I get in a budget crunch it’s usually because I’ve been in denial and once I realize what I’ve been doing I’m able to get back on track very quickly.

    Good luck!

  • Jean@RoastedRootsandPumpkinSpice September 14, 2010, 11:34 am

    Love the robot dance! Good luck with your money management. Cutting back may seem difficult at first, but it gets easier as you get used to it.

  • steph September 14, 2010, 11:36 am

    umm your robot is too too funny. i love it

  • Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat September 14, 2010, 11:38 am

    You are certainly more on top of the money matters than I am. With law school, I’ve got loans on top of loans, and I usually have some sort of debt on my credit card (but usually its a low one). One day, when I start making money, this will be different!

    I love the robot pictures 🙂

  • Jackie (Peaces of Earth) September 14, 2010, 11:47 am

    hahaha!!! Hilarious robot pics.

    Thanks for the links!! I’m in need of those myself. It’s hard balancing everything, but taking an honest look at where you spend your money is eye opening to say the least. I just did it and it really helped!! Good luck with your new budget. 🙂

  • suki September 14, 2010, 11:49 am

    If you don’t want a credit card cancellation to affect your credit score, only do one a year! ONE A YEAR.

  • MoniMeals September 14, 2010, 11:57 am

    I think it is important to remember that many people struggle with credit card dept, even people who pretend they are doing just fine! There is a lot of all “show” out there.:)
    I LOVE THE ROBOT PICS!!!! thank you for the chuckle!

  • Christie {Honoring Health} September 14, 2010, 12:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing this, Caitlin. I am in the same boat and it has something that I have been wanting to talk about for a while from the how lack of financial health impacts overall health.

    I need to hone in on our spending and even face some hard choices like cutting luxuries that we have become accustomed to (like cable/dvr, high grocery bills, paying extra on our car and maybe even going down to one car).

  • Stephanie September 14, 2010, 12:16 pm

    I’ve been thinking alot about setting a budget for myself. I recently moved to a new job with a bigger pay check and I figured it would be a great opportunity to put some money in savings. Well that has not happened I have just been spending more! I obviously can live on a lot less, since I was previously doing it. So this blog was a great reminder that I need to sit down and hash out a reasonable budget. Thanks!

  • Susan September 14, 2010, 12:22 pm

    Do you have thrift or consignment shops nearby? I do 80% of my shopping there. The Banana Republic dress pants and INC cardigan I’m wearing today came from a second-hand store and were probably $15 combined.

  • Kylie @ A Hungry Spoon September 14, 2010, 12:24 pm

    Thanks for sharing about your experience with budgeting. My husband and I also became a “One-Car House” earlier this year. Isn’t it wonderful?! We decided that 2 cars was more of a “convenience” for us than a necessity, and it’s been working out quite well.

    Have a great day!

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous September 14, 2010, 12:29 pm

    Hooray for getting out of debt! My sister and I have a joint credit card that has expired that we’ve been trying to pay off for FOREVER. We’re slowly chipping away at it. Other than that, I don’t have any debt (well, besides my taxes I’m trying to pay off!) I’m not in an idea situation, but I know it could be A LOT worse!

  • Samantha @ Food Edu September 14, 2010, 12:32 pm

    I love how you discuss non-food topics here as well. Learning to budget is difficult, but once you get used to it, it really gives you a ton of freedom and peace of mind (well it does for me anyway 🙂
    The taxes thing is really difficult when you run a business. I just got married and we are making a bee line to the CPA this month to figure out how our tax situation will change and how to best reduce our tax bill for the business. A good accountant is so worth the price.

  • elaine! September 14, 2010, 12:34 pm

    Oooh, thanks for reminding me about Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly! I used to read those blogs like crazy, but the “Finance” category of my RSS reader hasn’t been getting much attention from me lately. :/

    By the way, the authors of Get Rich Slowly also have a health and fitness blog: Get Fit Slowly. getfitslowly.com

    You know, I didn’t like Mint until I got the iPhone app. It’s still really slow and somewhat annoying, but it’s helped me curb my spending habits. There isn’t really another good online alternative since Wesabe closed. 🙁 You could always try Microsoft Money. It’s not as convenient as Mint because it’s not a web app, but it’s a really powerful tool for keeping track of your cash flow.

  • Jacqueline September 14, 2010, 12:35 pm

    You just read my mind! My husband & I put together a budget plan yesterday too. He’s been unemployed for 16 months & just landed an awesome job. We are determined to stick to our budget.
    Thanks for posting links, I’m going to check them out.
    How do you keep track of your budget? Spread Sheet, website etc.?

    • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 1:19 pm

      excel spreedsheet 😉

  • Aj September 14, 2010, 12:59 pm

    Thanks for all the tips! We are actually very lucky and are both graduated (or have graduated in my case HAHA) from doctoral programs with no debt – credit cards or student loans. But that comes from living a very very careful existence. Trips we take are trips to visit family. Dinners out are rare and are at very inexpensive restaurants. Etc. It’s hard to be nearly 30 and living like a student but so worth it. In terms of the credit card debate, I have only had one problem in which my parents were adding my name to all their credit cards (not that I had access to them – I WISH). As people with nice incomes who had qualified for their mortgage long ago, this meant huge lines of credit. When I initially applied for my own credit card, I was turned down because it looked like I had WAY TOO MUCH credit in my name, even though I was clearly not listed as the person responsible for the debt. Any my parents don’t carry credit card debt…it was simply the amount of the lines of credit available. Since then I have been taken off all but one of their cards and have 3 other cards in my name and 1 car loan. I carry no debt beyond the car loan and my credit is perfect. I would say carrying credit is good, as long as you don’t accumulate debt with interest. But do check into if a card will deactivate without use and use it once monthly for a small expense to keep it active and pay it off right away.

  • Christine September 14, 2010, 12:59 pm

    This has NOTHING to do with your post, but I was reading message boards on thebump.com and saw this post. I couldn’t believe it – I was like “I know operation beautiful!” Had to share 🙂
    http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/42508385.aspx

    • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 1:20 pm

      yay!

  • Sonja {ActiveFoodie} September 14, 2010, 1:00 pm

    Thank you for sharing your budget struggles, it can be so frustrating sometimes, and it helps to hear how other people deal with it as well. 🙂 We’ve put together a budget too, and it has helped. I also allocate my salary into two separate checking accounts. One checking account goes to paying all the bills, and the other checking account is for monthly essentials like gas, food, Target trips, etc. It has helped. We can do it!!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing September 14, 2010, 1:04 pm

    A budget is SUCH a good idea! I spend way too much money and then look at my account and have NO idea where it went… um trips to Target, that’s where.

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat September 14, 2010, 1:08 pm

    Just coming out of university and entering the ‘real world’ has been a bit of a shock for me in terms of how many additional responsibilities there are (I thought going into university was a lot!), and it’s made me think a LOT lately about my finances. I’m trying to budget myself but being a clean-eating blogger makes it hard!!! You’re definitely not the only one on the overspending wagon! 🙂

  • Angela September 14, 2010, 1:14 pm

    It took me forever to get out of debt and while it feels great to have a clean slate, I feel like I’m in a similar position as you. I’m basically living paycheck to paycheck rather than saving so its great to hear how you’re working through it. Its definitely given me some motivation to do the same.

  • Caitlin (EatFeats) September 14, 2010, 1:15 pm

    Thank you for those links! I have no idea how to manage money, so I just don’t do anything with it. It is sooo bad and it is probably the one thing keeping me from total independence. I WANT to understand finances and investments, it is just all so overwhelming when you are starting from square negative one.

  • Wendy Irene (Give Love Create Happiness) September 14, 2010, 2:22 pm

    Those pictures are so cute! We are also a one car family and it saves a lot of $ on maintenance and insurance as well.

  • Natalie September 14, 2010, 6:39 pm

    I was just curious as to why you didn’t like mint.com? There are things I don’t like about it but they are minimal enough for me to look past 🙂 I just wondered if there were any specific reasons you didn’t like it or if you just didn’t care for it in general?

    • Caitlin September 14, 2010, 7:08 pm

      I didn’t like how it doesnt really know what everything is and i have to go back and edit stuff. might as well just do it myself.

  • Catherine @ Life 2.0 September 14, 2010, 7:21 pm

    After reading your post yesterday, my hubs-to-be and I sat down and made a list of financial goals! Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Marika September 15, 2010, 4:38 am

    Hahaha… love the robot poses. Good luck with sticking to the new budget!

  • Sana September 15, 2010, 8:09 pm

    You are a human!!! Sigh. I am not looking forward to being out in the “real world” with scary things like debt.

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