tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332424052024-02-27T23:04:40.215-08:00Living on a BudgetOn this site I'll share my personal experience living on a budget. My goal is to provide enough real life examples so the reader may take some ideas from this blog.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1167364610280351832006-12-28T19:49:00.000-08:002006-12-28T19:56:50.290-08:00Increase Income, Reduce expensesFor the last 6 months or the last 2 quarters of the year I have been able to increase my income and reduce my expenses. I took advantage of overtime offered at my J.O.B. and sold some unused items I had laying around. It wasn't a dramatic increase in income but it was something. My expenses were also lower relative to my income but still not were I want them to be. I'll write more on what I'm doing to increase my income.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1157081160295906242006-08-31T20:06:00.000-07:002006-08-31T20:26:00.303-07:00Tracking Income and ExpensesRecording income and expenses has always been a chore for me. The way I record my income and expenses is with a financial software called <a href="http://www.quicken.com">Quicken.</a> With Quicken all of my income and expenses can be seen by a click of a mouse. But be aware of the "junk in junk out" saying. You must be able to track your everyday expenses accurately for the information to be useful. The way I do this is by using my debit card on all my transactions. It is accurate, saves time and you will always know where all of your hard earned money went.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1156787198841023842006-08-28T10:33:00.000-07:002006-08-28T10:46:38.853-07:00Average Family IncomeI heard today that the average family income is $35,000 to $40,000 a year. My current job doesn't pay me the average. So what can I do about it. Should I just give up and go to the welfare office. Or should I get motivated and look for ways to make more money. I think the latter is the appropriate step for me. Let's see I make around 14,208 a year my spouse makes about the same let's say $14,200, combined income is $28,400. That is well below the average-no wonder I need a budget. Not to worry though, I have some side work in mind.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1156528663948773492006-08-25T10:46:00.000-07:002006-08-25T10:57:43.956-07:00Money rule #1 Stop spendingThe first thing I did to start my budget was to be able to admit that I needed one. It is more about changing my habits than about saving money. I have to stop spending money on stuff that I don't <strong>need. </strong>I almost broke this rule when co-worker offered me to buy a pocket pc. I was really tempted but I remembered my rule - stop spending on unnecessary stuff.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1156474577900959422006-08-24T19:52:00.000-07:002006-08-24T19:56:17.900-07:00Overview of BudgetI must admit that this is not my first time in attempting to follow a budget. I think I have started and quit about five times. I know this time it will be different. There is steady income coming in and I am more focus on my goal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33242405.post-1156368394399055982006-08-23T14:21:00.000-07:002006-08-23T14:26:34.416-07:00Budget LaunchToday I start my blog. I am new to blogging but was compelled to share my experience with the blogging community. <br />I have just started to live on a budget and let me tell you, it is tougher than I thought. I will be sharing my ups and downs as I pursue my goal to be Independant of debt. Who knows, someone might even get a few ideas from my blog.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2