MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611 
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 11:28:06 GMT -5
I need to fix some macaroni & cheese for the boys and then hit the paperwork again. I got lot of it filed or shredded yesterday -- it took about 9 hours of real concentration to get that done -- and need to finish it today. There is too much stuff in these papers that need to be addressed right away for me to slack off. This remaining stack is the most recent stuff. It's only about 3 inches tall now, which is a HUGE improvement over 3 stacks that were about a foot tall each.
I'm not sure what needs to happen here after the paperwork is processed, but this room is a HUGE priority. It's very confusing in here right now.
And I'm determined to get on the exercise bike for a while today. I can't go to Disney World with my family in 2 weeks because I'm too damned fat and couldn't walk around all the parks. There's a big fair in early September though, and I want to have enough stamina in my legs to walk around with them rather than having to beg off and stay at home again.
So today I'll work on the paperwork, get on the bike, and... I guess I'll get the "obveeyus trashez" out of this room first, including under this desk. The top of the desk is in good shape right now, and I need to get the under part taken care of.
(Should this post be in Listzilla? Admins, please move it if you think it's in the wrong spot.)
Off to the macaroni now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Celeste on Jul 13, 2010 12:03:23 GMT -5
You put the thread where you want it, Miscy.  And I'm VERY impressed by the amount of work you and Colin have put in over the last couple days. Inspired, as a matter of fact. Well done! |
|
|
|
Post by Starting Again on Jul 13, 2010 12:18:53 GMT -5
MISC,
Wow, 9 hours! You've come a long way on just a handful of pokes (from earlier thread)!
I've just been doing 20 min a day for a week or so. I'm sure it is not enough, since I've been accumulating paper for years.. But it is a start. ...I've got paper in numerous files, some spilling over, but they are not very organized even in the files. I don't have a regular 2 or 4 drawer file cabinet but only plastic and cardboard boxes.
I have one nice heavy coffee table/storage container that contains financial papers. It needs a place other than the dining room where it gets in the way of the dining table chairs. There is now room in the living room, I think... but it will be a chore to move it.
One half of my dining room table is my "office", covered with recent file containers (nice baskets etc). I almost want to keep it that way (but tidier) because it is so convenient. I live alone and don't use the dining room table otherwise. (Squalorous living - I eat sitting in my recliner).
Big containers of other "stuff" leave no room for a possible file cabinet. A messy house gets in the way of cleaning it... And the house (a small crowded condo) gets messier as I move things around. I can't stop or it will remain messier!
I've had problems with weight myself. I yo-yo a lot. Right now I'm on the way up. I guess I shouldn't say that, but just pull it up short. ...I don't have room for extra sizes of clothes, but on the other hand without a job I don't have money to buy new ones when I change sizes. Life is tough. I walk every day but should do more. And food is so good!
I don't have a husband or kids (or even a job) so I have time to take care of things... but I still don't. I am spending some time on a handful of online college courses. I was a high-paid professional but lost my job 5 years ago.. my savings won't last much longer.. my job situation is another part of my "messylife". (I'm talking too much)
...I really appreciate this forum as a place to be honest and to be motivated.
messylife
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 13:21:28 GMT -5
Change in plans.
Some of the paperwork I have to process are bills, but my Quicken and my bank statements haven't been dealt with since May. I've got to straighten that out before I can cut even one more check.
Right now it looks like we've got about $200 to last until Friday, which is fine, but it's not enough to buy more than a couple of tanks of gas and a few groceries without breaking the bank. I have to figure out how much we really have. I can't believe I've gotten this so far behind. Last pay period I got us $105 in overdraft charges. I have GOT to start respecting Colin's hard work more. $105 is a chunk out of a work day for him, and that's just WRONG. This has to stop.
So I'm doing this paperwork instead of that paperwork.
I'll be taking breaks today though, unlike yesterday. My brain gets full of figures after a while and I need to step back for a few. Like now.
I'm going to get something to drink and then hit it again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Celeste on Jul 13, 2010 13:33:20 GMT -5
Makes sense. Go for it!
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 14:33:55 GMT -5
Break time.
Anyone out there?
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 13, 2010 14:35:04 GMT -5
Good for you, MiSC! You have identified what will make the most difference, and you are tackling it.
I am still going at the paperwork, too, right along with you. I keep finding more stashes from previous attempts to get it all into one place so I could go through it. Of course, it never got gone through, and was lost in the shuffle. 
Together, we will tame our paper tigers.
messymimi
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jul 13, 2010 14:58:20 GMT -5
I agree - it makes sense to get the financial stuff taken care of first so you don't pay extra in overdraft fees.
Am I the only one who carries around a debit card AND a check register to keep track of how much is in there? I could never ever wait til I got home to enter it into a program -- I'd be overdrawn for sure.
It's gotten too where groceries have climbed up there and it's a real challenge to keep enough on hand and get the supply just right when we're about a week away from payday. I just got done doing that today so I know how hard it is. What we bought today HAS to last til next Wed. So I'll be cooking from scratch and making it work.
Good luck to you!!!!!!
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 15:12:29 GMT -5
Mimi, I've got boxes of those papers too. It was pressing when I put them in those boxes, but I've waited so long now that what used to be bills have become warnings of collection involvement, which I obviously do not want. So I'm dealing with the warnings now, and trying to figure out what I have so I can get those addressed asap.
After I get these numbers done, I'll be able to go through the paperwork I was working on yesterday and figure out what I can pay whom. Every single outstanding bill is a medical bill, that much I do know. The credit cards and vitals (utilities, phone, etc.) are all paid up, but the doctors' accounts receivable folks have waited just about as long as they're going to, I have a feeling. If I weren't such a compulsive spender this would be a whole lot easier. But as it is, there are debit card entries anywhere from $1 to $1000.
I mean, come ON, a $1 debit card transaction?? I never carry cash though. There's a $20 bill in the car for gas emergencies, just in case, but that's it. I used to have $200 taped to the bottom of my desk, but that was devoured at least 2 years ago. I wish I had that back. It was a little bit of a buffer if we ever needed one. And I guess we did need it at some point, but I'd like to tape $200 (or more) back under there again.
There are SO many things to save for. Colin's trip back home ($900), repairs on the NW corner of our house ($400), birthday parties for the boys (coming up in September and November), and of course Christmas shopping needs to be started by mid-October at the latest if I'm going to be ordering anything online (and that's just about the only way I buy stuff.) Colin's birthday is in 2 days. Is there any money allowed for a present? Nope. We'll do well to get him a cake.
And there's one thing I want for myself (besides ornaments): A bigger tree (for said ornaments). The 7'5" tree I want is about $400. Someday I WILL get that tree.
But of course that's the lowest priority of all.
Heck, we spent almost $400 just buying the kitten and getting all his stuff! Vet visits too. There've been 2 of those so far, and another one needs to happen next week. I bought pet healthcare insurance, but they don't cover shots or physicals. (All illnesses, accidents, surgeries, and medications are covered though, for the rest of his life no matter how old he gets to be, so it's well worth the monthly bill.)
Hmmmm. Writing this post has helped me prioritize a bit.
But... Break over. Back to it.
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 18:52:13 GMT -5
I can not figure out where I've gone wrong. Something is TERRIBLY amiss, and I have to track it down. The bank thinks we have $255.00. But my records have us at -$720.00.
I have to have missed a deposit somewhere, but I can. not. find. it.
I'm cold and my brain is mush, but I've got to find that money.
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 13, 2010 18:56:31 GMT -5
Dear MiSC,
Maybe not carrying cash is part of the problem.
Science research has shown that when we use plastic, whether debit of credit, it doesn't register with out brains as actually spending money. People who use a card spend more. Why do you think McDonald's finally gave in a began to take a card? They test marketed using plastic in some stores, and found that people spent 48% more when using a card than when spending cash.
So, maybe from now on, when Colin gets paid, you take a certain amount of cash out of the bank. Put that cash into two envelopes, marked "food" and "gas." Then, until the next payday, no food is bought, from gum to coffee to groceries to restaurant meals, unless it comes out of the food envelope. Same goes for gas.
When you spend cash, it hurts. It hurts to see the money go away, and you think more about whether or not you really want to buy that thing. It also makes you wonder, as the money dwindles, whether or not you will have enough for groceries at the end of the week if you get that lunch out today.
It teaches your subconscious that the amount of money you have is finite, something a card cannot do.
A written budget, and cash envelopes for food and gas, then later, maybe for things like clothes, birthday gifts, back to school, or others as you need them, might help you get control of your spending in a way nothing else can.
Just think about it.
Meanwhile, I will keep after the paper, too.
messymimi
|
|
MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
|
Post by MiSC on Jul 13, 2010 20:29:36 GMT -5
I have to share this. The boys were after me to play with them a few minutes ago, but I told them I really needed to work on these numbers. Alex asked what I was looking for (he'd heard me talking on the phone about it to a friend), and I told him that the bank thinks we have money, but my figuring, my papers, told me that we didn't have money. He was sitting on my lap while I was looking over yet another statement, and Sean came up and started to ask me something.
Alex put his finger to his lips and whispered, "Shhhhhhhhh! She's got her brain on!"
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 13, 2010 20:33:51 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this!
messymimi
|
|
|
|
Post by Starting Again on Jul 13, 2010 21:56:30 GMT -5
I've got to put my brain on too. But where o where did I put it?
|
|
beeble
New Member
Joined: September 2009
Posts: 9 
|
Post by beeble on Jul 13, 2010 22:04:15 GMT -5
I totally agree with the cash suggestion. If overspending is an issue, that's the way to go. It'll both stop the overspending and allow you to rethink what you're doing.
Not only should you only use cash, you should leave your debit and credit cards at home, otherwise it's just too tempting. You have the emergency $20, there's no reason to carry cards if you had cash for groceries and gas, except that you'd want them there in case you want to buy things you don't need. And even if it's something you think you do need, it's better to have to go home, think about it, and then if you want it the next day, having to figure where it's coming from in the cash-only budget and actually go back out to get it.
You can also use this to help you save. I have a few change jars - one right by the entryway where I put keys, so I can dump right from a pocket into that, I also have one in the kitchen to dump change if my hands are full of bags from the market, and one that's just silver change that I transfer the smaller, entryway change into when it fills up (and there's a larger penny jar as well). This seems like a lot, and it may be for someone else, but having more of them, in places I use them, has made it much easier for me. And it only takes emptying one of the jars into a change machine and getting from $40-100s of dollars back in bills to see how worthwhile it is.
If I have a bunch of dollar bills as well, I'll chuck one or two into the change jar. Then, if I'm going out and short, or want something frivolous, like a coffee or magazine, I feel ok pulling a few of the bills out of the change jar, they're for extras as I saved them from other shopping.
You can use the change as just a basic, beginning savings account, or for something big - you could have a change jar for a vacation and have your kids go through the original pocket-emptying one and put all the quarters in it, but you can also use the change for little things. When I was a kid we'd get to use spare change for pizza nights, so there could be a treat that didn't come out of anyone's pocket.
I think you're certainly right on the overdraft fees - besides that the money is work hours, it'd also have been a nice present for your husband's birthday, or a quarter of the tree you want, that you just spent on nothing and now don't have.
In addition to the overdraft fees, though - how much did you pay in fees using other ATMs or POS terminals, like using your debit card in stores to pay with? Add those up too and then consider the debit card thing again.
In addition - no more balancing the checkbook problems. If you have your fixed monthly expenses like utilities, cable, etc., and you take ONLY the budgeted money out in cash (and don't use the debit card to take extra cash to supplement), you'll know what's there and this won't happen again!
|
|
