xchevellephil Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I cant understand what me and the wife are really doing wrong. We dont go and blow money like crazy, only have one credit card, got a cheap trailer house with free rent, (on wifes grandparents land) almost paid for, our 2 of our 3 veh. are paid for, (70' Chevelle, 97' Escort, and the 04' Chevy truck... not paid off yet). We got a small loan to help while I was at college which was less than $1,000. We have full coverage on everything we own, the escort because of the small loan, chevelle cause the house is on it and the truck and the house since either are not paid for. I am down in the dumps, and feel guilty for even going out to eat at Mcdonalds once a week. ( i eat sandwich's for lunch, the past 2 years.) We dont expect alot, but want to have fun be happy and give the best for our 16 month old daughter. The hard part was yesterday when i seen we were $200 over drawn. I I graduated college 3 months ago and had a 3.55 gpa or so and got an associates in applied science. (Not the best but more than most my friends got, that still live at home...) Trying to get my wife into college cause she is wanting to be a dental hygentist like my mom. Anyone got the same problems? any input would help, wife and i both work 45+ hrs a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenr74 Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Man I know what you are saying. Not that I wish this on anybody but try going from two good incomes then getting divorced and working for less. Paying $850 a month for child support while trying to finish school and pay off the ex's student loans since she is so "poor". Anyway, I've just found lots of cheap things to do for fun. My Banshee is my last prized possession. Can't remember the last time I went to a movie or even a decent date for that matter. Things happen for a reason though. Eventually you will get a good job and money will be flowing. Then you can just sit back a laugh about "the good old days". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banshdog Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Money is always an issue, I can imagine what it would be like if I didnt have to budget or worry about bill due dates. Hang in there man, sounds to me like you got a good head on your shoulders and are going in the right direction. sooner or later, money will not be such a problem. You still may not be rich, but enjoy and appreciate all that you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimp559 Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Cut the cigs and beer out and you would be suprised how much you have extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fixitrod Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I know what you mean. I'm doing good now but it goes up and down. I think having everything paid off makes it harder than having some debt to tell you the truth. Think about it. If you own a home you can borrow against the equity to help cover other things. If you have a car payment your most likely not paying to fix a car, just driving a nicer one. You don't want to go to far in the hole of course. Now, you have to remember, we are raised to think we need stuff and money. That's the American way. When I was in the Army, I couldn't pay $14 I had on a lowes card. That sucked. But, some of the best times I had were staying home and playing with the kids all the time becasue we had no money to go anywhere. Life was much more simple. My wife and I played a lot of yahtzee and rummy. That's what your daughter really needs. Not a bunch of money. She'll work someday and make it just as well or hell, maybe even better than you or I. Don't let the money issues bring you down to much. You're only here one time. Today will come and go. It all works out in the end. Just keep working and playing and looking out for your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledofthezep Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I feel your pain man. Hell, I don't even have they money but I'm still going to the dunes this weekend, I'll find a way...always do. Don't get too down on yourself man, thank god for credit, which is what got you where you are today it sounds like...along with 90% of all Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 im only 18 but having been working at a real job since i turned of age, before that it was little shit like mowin lawns and what -not. but, to me, it seems like i hav less money now than i ever did before, but im makin like 2-3 times as much. i dont get. i dont drink nearly as much as i used to, and i dont even eat out anymore (well at resaurants ). its like the more i get the more i spend, but keep having les and less to show for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tithead Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 im only 18 but having been working at a real job since i turned of age, before that it was little shit like mowin lawns and what -not. but, to me, it seems like i hav less money now than i ever did before, but im makin like 2-3 times as much. i dont get. i dont drink nearly as much as i used to, and i dont even eat out anymore (well at resaurants ). its like the more i get the more i spend, but keep having les and less to show for it. im in a way like that to, i do save quite alot of money but if i see somthing i like, iv got to get it................ ......that sounded quiet girlish. well, i do have a bit saved for emergencies, im not working just know though so i dont know how long it will last but things will pick up for all of us....i hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 hey whered you get that avatar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireHead Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 I have been in the same situation, but now I am an a different one and would rather be back where I was most of the time. When I was in college, I didn't owe much money, but between school and work I there wasn't much time to do anything, let alone spend money that I didn't have. The situation that I am in now is basically one in which I have a great job that pays more than I could ever figure out what to do with, but it involves working very long hours. I don't have time to do anything now, so all I cna do is save the money htta I make in hopes that things will get better. I rent a condo right now, but I should buy a house, though I don't have time to look for one. I need a new car, but I don't have time to deal with that either. To put things in a different perspective, I have had my Banshees and Sandrail since I graduated from college with my B.S. degree, since then I have used them a grand total of 4 weekends over three years. Thats it. I can understand that I maybe shouldn't have had time to ride them while I was working on my M.S. degree, but I figured atleast I would have weekends off when I went to work for real. My point is that it all depends on how you look your situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotton eyed Joe Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 My wife is an accountant (getting her BA in 2 months) and I'm self employed, so she knows how to run a business, and I know how to be broke. It just comes with the territory. First off, every dollar has a place. This might sound stupid, but do this. Write out your entire monthly expenses. NOT your trips to McDonalds, gas for your 70 chevelle (funnest damned car I ever owned btw....70 SS 396 400TH 12 bolt) and the strip clubs. Then add up what it takes to get by each and every month. Subtract that amount from what your net income is each month. It should have a positive number. Take that number and decide how much you need for gas to work, and maybe a few extras. THIS number is your allowance, the rest goes into savings. If you run out of personal money too damned bad. Me and my wife have done this for the last 3 years, and she was unemployed for 1.5 years, and we made it through pretty damned easy. Now that she has a job, we have our budget "forecasted" until next summer where we sell this fucking chicken coop we are living in, and buy a new house that isn't in a ghetto. It takes a bit to stick to it, and i used to run out of cash by wednesday, but that happens when you're buying shit you don't really need. Now, I can survive the week on 1/2 of what I get because I stopped buying a drink here and there, or a sandwich or what ever... and I just pocket that now. I put it into a "drag bike fund" for this winter and thats all its there for. I even have a change jar that typically has around $150 in it every 6-8 months. That doesn't sound like much over 6-8-months, but go cash that shit in, and you have $150 in your hands right there. Budgeting is trickey, and you have to stick to it. If you waiver, it won't work. Have your wife become an accountant. lol.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
. Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 yeah, what he said I used to go to the convenience store in the morning (wawa) and buy enough food and drink to get me through the day at work (usually about 5 bucks), which came out to be 30 dollars a week, and then when I got done my route, I'd stop at mcdonalds sometimes or something like that to grab something small while I was doing my paperwork. All in all I was spending an extra 40-50 bucks a week just in stupid crap I dont need. Every time you want to buy a soda.....dont......every time you WANT to buy something.....dont.....Every time you NEED to buy something go ahead. You'd be surprised how much you save just doing that. Do like he said, write down how much you bring in, in a week, and then take all your bills and add them all up. You now know how much you have to play with for gas and food and extras, and can figure out what to do with that money. Personally, I drive my truck to and from work, and thats it. Gas is to expensive, and I try not to spend over 4 bucks of gas a day if I can. I went from filling my gas tank up once a week to once every 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeechozen1 Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 get into sales of some kind, I got kicked out of high school when I was a Junior and I still make over 50g's a year, not bad for a dumbass 24 yr old ehh Im still always broke though, if I made 100k a year I would still manage to spend 101! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locogato11283 Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 i guess i dont worry about it too much bein that i live with my dad still but ive been busting my ass since i was like 10(21 now). i saved a ton of money up from that time till now, which for a 10 year old is a pretty good feat. ive always wanted to work early then play for the rest of my life. thats why i just bust ass now so i can play later. i can tell you from personaly experience that having a construction background has made me what i am today. my dads been in the dirtwork business for 25 years. i know all of his contacts which helped me to get one of my duplexes built. it really helps to know people is what im getting at. i dont know exactly what kinda work you do but rental property right now is pullin in some hella good business. yes im 21 and own 2 duplexes. but they werent handed to me. i have busted ass for them. i guess what im tryin to say is that ive never given up for anything. if i get low on money to spend, i just work more or find something else for money. i guess staying busy is what brought me here today. i am a supervisor on my parents concrete foundation crew, i have a fairly large mowing venture which has pulled in around 15,000 alone this year, my 2 duplexes and i go to school full time. i guess im just rambling now but i feel what you are saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Giggles Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 xchevellphil,it sounds like your in your early 20's???don't exspect to much man, your young,got a family and all the other things that are essential that it takes to support your family. Your wife gets her career going things will change. I'm 47 years young and I figure my fun and finacial freedom has just begun,I lucked out on finding a girl that was a real go getter,we paid are first house off about 10 years ago and still live in the same house,she works at General Motors and I work at a feed mill not great money but it's ok. sure I had the toys over the years and I seen the toys go too over the years but today I have the toys back again and enjoying them with my family the way you will to some day. Hang in there Phil things will get better,your young and it sounds like your going about it the right way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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