[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

I found THIS about credit card rebates and thought you might find it interesting Jonas.

Statistically - yes you will spend more using a credit card. However like the article states 80% of it is behavior!

Personal finance is 80% behavior. You need to cut out habits that make you spend more. You do not build wealth with credit cards. Use common sense. When you play with a multi-billion dollar industry and you think you're going to win at their game, you are naive. You cannot beat the credit card companies.

If you lack self-control, then whether you use cash, credit, or debit it makes no difference. The objective is to get back some of what I do spend. I am not trying to beat the credit card companies.

I have been working more hours to make up what I lost.

Like both the article and I say use some common sense. You know how much I dislike wasting my money even when it was my own fault!

For example I was going to spend money on a motorcycle license this summer but that is still for the most part tabled.

I wanted to get an Elite Xbox 360, but that can wait until later this summer or even Christmas. Hopefully it will come down in price a bit. Also, I am waiting to see if I could get a good deal on Ebay.com.

I am still saving right now to have about one years’ worth of my salary in immediate savings. Of course this figure was based on how much I made in 2007. At the moment it appears I'll be making significantly more than that.

My savings program is simplicity itself. Dump as much money as I can into my savings each paycheck. That way I will be forced to have just enough to pay the rent and balances on the one card I use 98%. And that credit card is used for shopping items I need.

Then there is what I call ‘punishment savings.’ Every time you eat out needlessly put that same amount or double that into your savings!

Use dietary disciple. If you really want to save money set your diet to where your body is satisfied and it gets everything it needs in a day. I wanted to eat a light dinner yesterday, but I fell asleep late and wound up eating noting.

The common theme I see in the news articles, documentaries, etc is that they spend money they don’t need to.

Like the one of the subjects in the ABC News World News Now Article; he said his limit went from $1,000 to $14,000. I have a credit card that has a higher limit than that and the balance is “$0.00.” I am willing to guess his income is at least three times my own.

Now if you read and watch the news article I see no mention of some calamity (i.e. job loss, illness, natural disaster) that strikes their lives. They “… took advantage…” of the credit that he was offered.

The fact in cases such as these is simple. People didn’t control themselves and now they are getting hung over – ‘getting the shakes.’ Not enough will power in my assessment. I could go out and buy drugs and get doped up and then blame the dealers. That blame would be partially theirs but mostly mine. Why, because nobody in his or her right mind sells a product nobody wants. It only becomes an issue when the larger whole is in danger or if those of the higher social-economic class become compromised.

For example Afghanistan; the reason opium sells is because ‘somebody wants it.’

Payday loans have gone through the same thing. People in the military in certain states could testify to this. Here is an idea why not simply band payday lenders from areas around military bases? Why not make it illegal for payday lenders to lend to miltary personnel? It is all about the money and keeping the machine moving! You have to keep the machine functional that means tweaking and repairing it, but not replacing it.

WHEN AMERICANS AS A WHOLE DECIDE TO SAVE MORE THAN THEY SPEND THUS RADICALLY CHANGING THE NATURE OF OUR ECONOMY… WAIT THAT ISNT’ GOING TO HAPPEN LOL!

I have a few ideas for savings idea. "What I Saved In 2xxx." For exmaple my savings account online post how much I saved the previous year. So each year you can deposit that amount. Just a little game to play to help save you money.

[jonasdatum]

I wanted to review my simplicities of saving money:

1) Spend money on what you need first.

2) Dump all your money into a savings account. If you don't spend it, you can't lose it.

3) Find out what you use the least and minimize it or remove it. Like cable, do you really need cable?

4) Rebates, coupons, and discounts.

5) Refurbished or certified pre-owned. If you don't need it new why bother?

6) Do it yourself if at all possible.

7) Sacrifice quantity but not quality.

8) Don't by white bread it is often the inferior product!

9) Acceptable Debt: Anything that you can make up the difference in the moderate term and social economically advance in the long term; for example, a college degree or vocational training.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

It's not really so much the price of the jeans that makes the difference--it's use/care/quality.

I bought one pair of jeans from a store called....Gadzooks(?????) in the mall. Those jeans had holes in them by the end of the first month and had cost about $50.

I've bought Wranglers in the local farm store for $19 and had them last for years and years--my hubby wears these all the time and gets oil/fertilizer/chemicals on them, washes them in harsh detergents, and it generally takes about 5 years before you wear holes in them (not that they don't rip when hooked on barbed wire or something--they're tough, not indestructible) he still wears them as "work jeans" when they get holes in them, so he can wear them for a REALLY long time.

Mudd brand jeans lasted me for quite a while--even as work jeans. I'm pretty sure that they don't make that brand in mens jeans though....

I think Levi's are pretty decent in the staying power--Lee's also. Get them at a farm store--they are generally about 1/2 as much, and maybe they are made more heavy duty??? I don't know that for sure, but it would make sense to get heavier grade denim to farmers who are going to be hard on them. And no, they aren't all "nut-huggers" if that's what you are worried about--you can get them in all the same styles you would find them in at the mall. Carpenters and such. ***BTW, Wrangler butts drive more women nuts (in a good way) than you might realize. The first thing that attracted me to my hubby was his absolutely fabulous, drool-worthy, @ss.... ***

Actually, you can "guesstimate" how long a pair of jeans will last by checking how thick the denim is--good denim is between 1/16 and 1/8 inch thick. Jerk on the seams "apart" in a few spots to see if they will hold together. After that, once you find a brand you like that stays together for a long time, you can just continue to buy those.

Does that help?

I need at least 5 new pairs of jeans. The data provided will prove most useful, thank you.

[jonasdatum]

I am happy to say that although I've occassionally had to eat out I have written most of it off since it involved social-networking and most of the food met my dietary requirements. I've brought in the past 3 weeks. I haven't eaten a salad in a very long time. Best part is they were reasonably priced. The other meals involved social network development and met dietary requirements.

That being said, I also need to tighten up a bit. All recreational activities that involve large expendature for the summer are for the most part scraped. Unless all aformentioned conditions are met. Everything has a price and now I must pay it. To bad, I was looking forward to that Xbox 360 Elite before 2009. Well I'll have to wait until 2009. LOL, unless I catch one on Ebay for under $200, doubt it though.

Everything cost something.

[hewee]

That is good to hear. Your right you should have a year or more in saving in case your out of work. The more the better.
For me I had to move so rent went from $300.00 to $825.00 so I am not going to be able to save like I did and will also need to buy things for my new place because I was renting a room before but now have a whole place of my own so need washer, dryer and some other furniture. Even a mower for the yard. But sure is nice to have a place that has room.
Plus too money from saving and order a new computer from Dell but hey this old one I got in 2001 has 98 on it has been good but I need a new one for the next 7 or 8 years.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

That is good to hear. Your right you should have a year or more in saving in case your out of work. The more the better.
For me I had to move so rent went from $300.00 to $825.00 so I am not going to be able to save like I did and will also need to buy things for my new place because I was renting a room before but now have a whole place of my own so need washer, dryer and some other furniture. Even a mower for the yard. But sure is nice to have a place that has room.
Plus too money from saving and order a new computer from Dell but hey this old one I got in 2001 has 98 on it has been good but I need a new one for the next 7 or 8 years.

Hmm yea I've thought about moving myself, but few other residences have both the great deal on maintenance/rent and space. Also looking deep into finally getting a cell phone. If I only hadn't spent hap-hazardly I'd have all the things I needed this summer and all the fun I wanted to. Now since I blew it I must deny myself most of the fun as well.

You are renting a house or an apartment? Unless you're entertaining people often there is no need to buy new furniture aside from what you need.

I have to put some new duct tape on the couch now that I think about it.

The only new furniture I 'need' to buy is a new desk since it has one foot in the grave. I need a new computer, but I don't want to spend more than $500 on it.


http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...-shopping.html

[hewee]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Hmm yea I've thought about moving myself, but no few other places have the price for maintenace/rent that I pay. Also looking deep into finally getting a cell phone. If I only hadn't spent hap hazardly I'd have all the things I needed this summer and all the fun I wanted to. Now since I blew it I must deny myself most of the fun as well.

You are renting a house or an apartment? Unless you're entertaining people often there is no need to buy new furniture aside from what you need.

I have to put some new duct tape on the couch now that I think about it.

The only new furniture I 'need' to buy is a new desk since it has one foot in the grave. I need a new computer, but I don't want to spend more than $500 on it.

I had to move because the lady I rent from sold her place to go into a care home. I also had a hard time trying to find a place and a very short time to find a place too. Was there for 17 years and now days they really check you out before renting. I am disable so had to get paper work from SSA to show my income and wait for that to come. Good thing was after paying cash for about 15 years I got a credit card 3 years ago and have a good credit history now. If I did not do that then I would not have any history and would of had even a harder time finding a place.

But just now finding out and all the looking I have done the pass couple of days going to
I am renting a center unit of a triplex. It is like 3 duplex's. I had lots of things two sheds that was a whole lot more then I remember because now it fills up the garage and I trashed a lot of it at the other place too. Still got even more to go tru and trash because I just don't need to keep things like I used to. Lots of the things are what I used for work before and boxes and boxes of these things are not needed.

I just got some like new and I mean really nice furniture that is like new. Going to pick up the sofa living room set on Monday. I will even get the pillows and that nice big rug.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/fur/750956978.html
I never had anything that looks so nice and for that price I said great. Nice and firm too so good on the back.

So want to find something go to http://www.craigslist.org and look around. Find your town and bookmark it. They even have free link where things are free. Was a lot of funny things listed in the free section too like free fill dirt, river rock, 500 lb rock, 57" Projection TV that does not work. You know they they want you to take away because they don't want to move it but you can still find something free that your want. But so many things are listed to buy there it is unreal and I found a "Beautiful Cherry Wood L-Shaped Desk" that I said I could not look at till this morning but then it was to late. I was the first to call and could of had that very nice desk for only $150.00. But there are so many new post I will find another one. May not look as nice as that "Beautiful Cherry Wood L-Shaped Desk" but get something like it for about the same price.

Dining Room Wood Table and Chairs
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/fur/750527579.html

Oak wood roll top desk
http://sacramento.$269.org/fur/750396920.html

Also was told that sometime you can do even better at getting some from craigslist if you place a ad asking for what you want. That way you can get something before they even post about it so your be first in line at getting something.
Dustin was looking for a small boat and had a hard time getting one because by the time you see the ad or see the ad and look at it it is sold. One guy he called said he sells thing at there site all the time and he was who told him to place a ad asking for what you want. That guy said he looks at what people want first and calls them before he puts up a ad to sell something. Dustin posted an ad asking for the boat and got it almost right away.

So find a new desk there and a computer too for sale or for free.

I just ordered a new Dell Vostro 410 but it was $1758.35 after taxes etc. Mine I got now is old but works so so but it is almost 8 years old so time for a new one.
If you want even a new one you can get them for less then that. They had Vostro that cost more then the $794 mine started at but after getting what I want and upgrading it came out cheaper getting this one.
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=brcw512&s=bsd
You can get them from $269 and up.
http://www.dell.com/content/products...=04&l=en&s=bsd
I looked it mine before I moved and free things and free upgrades changed twice before I got it and it even came out cheaper by the time I placed my order.

I did buy a new washer and dryer at Sears that will be here in the morning. But if I knew about craigslist sooner and look I could of saved a lot of money or maybe even gotten one for free.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

I had to move because the lady I rent from sold her place to go into a care home. I also had a hard time trying to find a place and a very short time to find a place too. Was there for 17 years and now days they really check you out before renting. I am disable so had to get paper work from SSA to show my income and wait for that to come. Good thing was after paying cash for about 15 years I got a credit card 3 years ago and have a good credit history now. If I did not do that then I would not have any history and would of had even a harder time finding a place.

But just now finding out and all the looking I have done the pass couple of days going to
I am renting a center unit of a triplex. It is like 3 duplex's. I had lots of things two sheds that was a whole lot more then I remember because now it fills up the garage and I trashed a lot of it at the other place too. Still got even more to go tru and trash because I just don't need to keep things like I used to. Lots of the things are what I used for work before and boxes and boxes of these things are not needed.

I just got some like new and I mean really nice furniture that is like new. Going to pick up the sofa living room set on Monday. I will even get the pillows and that nice big rug.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/fur/750956978.html
I never had anything that looks so nice and for that price I said great. Nice and firm too so good on the back.

So want to find something go to http://www.craigslist.org and look around. Find your town and bookmark it. They even have free link where things are free. Was a lot of funny things listed in the free section too like free fill dirt, river rock, 500 lb rock, 57" Projection TV that does not work. You know they they want you to take away because they don't want to move it but you can still find something free that your want. But so many things are listed to buy there it is unreal and I found a "Beautiful Cherry Wood L-Shaped Desk" that I said I could not look at till this morning but then it was to late. I was the first to call and could of had that very nice desk for only $150.00. But there are so many new post I will find another one. May not look as nice as that "Beautiful Cherry Wood L-Shaped Desk" but get something like it for about the same price.

Dining Room Wood Table and Chairs
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/fur/750527579.html

Oak wood roll top desk
http://sacramento.$269.org/fur/750396920.html

Also was told that sometime you can do even better at getting some from craigslist if you place a ad asking for what you want. That way you can get something before they even post about it so your be first in line at getting something.
Dustin was looking for a small boat and had a hard time getting one because by the time you see the ad or see the ad and look at it it is sold. One guy he called said he sells thing at there site all the time and he was who told him to place a ad asking for what you want. That guy said he looks at what people want first and calls them before he puts up a ad to sell something. Dustin posted an ad asking for the boat and got it almost right away.

So find a new desk there and a computer too for sale or for free.

I just ordered a new Dell Vostro 410 but it was $1758.35 after taxes etc. Mine I got now is old but works so so but it is almost 8 years old so time for a new one.
If you want even a new one you can get them for less then that. They had Vostro that cost more then the $794 mine started at but after getting what I want and upgrading it came out cheaper getting this one.
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=brcw512&s=bsd
You can get them from $269 and up.
http://www.dell.com/content/products...=04&l=en&s=bsd
I looked it mine before I moved and free things and free upgrades changed twice before I got it and it even came out cheaper by the time I placed my order.

I did buy a new washer and dryer at Sears that will be here in the morning. But if I knew about craigslist sooner and look I could of saved a lot of money or maybe even gotten one for free.

Hmm seems that you got everything on order. I am still packing stuff I don't use, but I consider investments like collectables. Granted I should have packed them up better a year ago, but they are all in good condition and some are in decent condition so when I get 60 or 70 they should still sell for a small profit.

At my job many customers recommend craigslist.org but I don't feel comfortable yet with it. There is little to no go-between from what I've seen on the site like Ebay.com and Ubid.com.

[hewee]

Try to get a home after all these year without a place of my own and do it with less money too so craigslist is a great place. You got to watch out just like any place that sells thing.

Yea it pays to pack things up right and if it's metal you have to also protect it from rust because I had lots of nice lamps but after 17 years in the shed I got more then dust because I got lots of rust spots on them. So may look nice if I clean them up and pain them but you then got to take the time cleaning and redoing them too.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

Sometimes it is more financially responsible to remain a single income family than to pay for daycare/gas/vehicle expenses than to stay at home and save that money--sometimes it even works out better because you eat more at home and less at restaurants--which not only saves money, but also strengthens family ties (which to us is extremely important).

However, I currently don't have more than a part time job because I simply don't have the time--I'm a full time student, a mother, and I'm a housewife. What little time I have to myself I use to keep myself sane by doing "me" stuff.

Hewee,
We ALWAYS pay ALL bills in full....credit cards are the only exception, and we pay as much on them as we can, and sometimes we do get them paid off in a given month--but we don't let them get out of hand. This month though, plans were changed, so we HAD to rely on the credit cards. We'll get through this, but as I mentioned, it will be difficult--and we are only making about $500/month more than you and have three of us living on it--with rent taking up most of that $500 extra we do get. Ours is also mostly fixed since my hubby is on salary....however, since my hubby works at a Cooperative, his salary is based largely on the market conditions of the farming community around us--it's TOTALLY different than having a normal 9 - 5 job. Right now we can't afford to move or change jobs, so we are stuck with it. It's going to have to be one helluva good job offer with a moving bonus to get us uprooted because we can't take that sort of chance right now otherwise.

Jonas,
While telling your family off may work for you, I can't afford for that to happen. We rely on family to provide free daycare on occasion, and to borrow stuff (like pickups) from when we have a breakdown, etc. The ties with family are already strained, it's not within our best interests to snap them now.

http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...o_threadsearch

http://forums.techguy.org/5459899-post218.html


- Watch the first 5 minutes.

Please explain to me why it is more financially responsible to have only one income? I don't get it?

[jonasdatum]

I am currently searching for a new land line service. I have yet to decide if this service will include long distance or will that be exclusively done on my cell phone when it arrives.

I am paying $70 to a land line and manage to reduce that bill a bit. But as an adaptive organism I must change or destroyed. Verizon is currently looking good.

http://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail...ionUnpublished

Verizon > Phone > Local

Verizon > Phone Long Distance

I don't want to pay more than $10 a month on land line service.

Any recommendations? Thank you.

'If' this all goes according to my initial plan I can cut my bill by $20 to $30 a month.

Update > I Am Getting Screwed > Adaption Required:

I'll go into some detail with this. I currently pay about $70 a month for a land line by MCI. I ordered a cell phone and it should cost me $50. However I still need a land line, though be it at a limited capacity. Verizon owns MCI. When I contacted MCI they said their Net Value Plan no longer exist. So now I should be paying about $35 for my reduced plan change. However Verizon has a number of plans that cost [if the data on their website is accurate] virtually nothing at base price. The plans are at a fix rate.

I await your comments & suggestions.

[jonasdatum]

Hello, I have had to go into ultra-cheap mode:

'Luxury Foods' (which met or exceeded dietary requirements) have been diminished considerably. I have taken a hybrid approach when it comes to buying my cereal. For example I'll buy minimal-cereals because they are cheaper, but the higher end foods that have more nutritional value I'll buy in bulk only if it is on sale. So lets say 1 high quality box for every 3 of the cheaper brand.

Going Out: Only to expand my social network. Leisure excursions are restricted to minimal or no spending.

Education: Only to acquire new skills; invest in myself.

Phone/Internet: I have a cell phone (update pending on related thread) finally. My landline will be reduced. If all goes well it will save me $10 or more in monthly expenses.

Budgeting. I have more restraints on my budget. I'll do my best to restrict food budget to $200.

Work: I'll be spending more hours at work.

My fault, but my responsibility; Too much wasted money this year, I am so annoyed!

[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Hello, I have had to go into ultra-cheap mode:

'Luxury Foods' (which met or exceeded dietary requirements) have been diminished considerably. I have taken a hybrid approach when it comes to buying my cereal. For example I'll buy minimal cereals because they are cheaper, but the higher end foods that have more nutritional value I'll buy in bulk only if it is on sale. So lets say 1 high quality box for ever 3 of the cheaper brand.

Just be careful that you are still getting your dietary requirements so that you don't get sick. You can buy a lot of groceries for one trip to the doctor, especially if you don't have the top of the line insurance.

One type of meal that is really cheap, fast, & easy is salads (we've been eating them a lot here too.) They are also good for you if you put some little extras in there. Try a local farmer's market if you know of one--buy some spinach, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and eggs to put on your salad. I also like to buy those Tyson chicken strips--I can nuke them in the microwave, they cost about $8 for a bag (but if you only use one or two at a time, they go quite a ways). Cheese is ridiculously expensive, but dairy is another one of those things that is directly impacted by the high costs of fuel and feed crops, so it's just expected. If you have a local dairy you can often buy things cheaper.

It sounds odd, but I've been saving money by buying locally raised honey. Not only is it cheaper for me to buy it from them than from the store, but I've virtually eliminated the allergies my family had, so we have been able to quit buying allergy meds (which are ridiculously expensive). Thanks to HannaB for that nifty little tip! Unfortunately honey won't prevent colds.... So I am unlucky to have gotten one of those a couple of weeks ago....

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

Just be careful that you are still getting your dietary requirements so that you don't get sick. You can buy a lot of groceries for one trip to the doctor, especially if you don't have the top of the line insurance.

One type of meal that is really cheap, fast, & easy is salads (we've been eating them a lot here too.) They are also good for you if you put some little extras in there. Try a local farmer's market if you know of one--buy some spinach, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and eggs to put on your salad. I also like to buy those Tyson chicken strips--I can nuke them in the microwave, they cost about $8 for a bag (but if you only use one or two at a time, they go quite a ways). Cheese is ridiculously expensive, but dairy is another one of those things that is directly impacted by the high costs of fuel and feed crops, so it's just expected. If you have a local dairy you can often buy things cheaper.

It sounds odd, but I've been saving money by buying locally raised honey. Not only is it cheaper for me to buy it from them than from the store, but I've virtually eliminated the allergies my family had, so we have been able to quit buying allergy meds (which are ridiculously expensive). Thanks to HannaB for that nifty little tip! Unfortunately honey won't prevent colds.... So I am unlucky to have gotten one of those a couple of weeks ago....

LOL please don't dig up old memories. Thank you for the concern. The cereal is the minimal of what I would by as far as my dietary requirements. I am still eating my mixed vegetables, etc. So I am not worried as far as my health. Salads are expensive so I do not buy them often.

Now here is an update to my cell phone situation:

Tech Support Guy Forums > Community > Random Discussion >
Cell phone shopping

http://forums.techguy.org/6092336-post27.html
http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...ml#post6092336

I am for the time being satisfied with my service. One thing I decided early on when chosing a cell service provider was that I 'really' don't want a contract. If I become disatisfied I can simply dump them and resell the phone to mitigate my loses if any. Unfortunately my next phase of my social-networking / economic modification has been set back. Yesterday I called the phone company for additioanl information before I made my decision and came to discover that one of the plans online is not to supposed to exist! This was there no monthly fee local service.

So that leaves me with taking a gamble and attempting to get the service via the intermet. If all goes well I'll save some money. I will try that and my current phone provider again.

Every time I try to cut a concer somebody breaks my knife .

[jonasdatum]

Does anybody here have this land line plan?

AT&T One Rate® 10¢ Nationwide Direct Plan