How do some of you survive financially?

How do some of you survive financially?

I was reading the thread on expensive pocket books and I was amazed as to what some people spend on bags. I know that different people have different priorities but we are barely getting by and each month is becomes more stressful. I work two jobs and FH has an okay job.. We have a combined income around 80,000 and we don't live large by any means and we can barely pay our bills! What do some you ladies do?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

I think you hit the nail on the head with priorities. I also think that if you really want something, you can always find the money for it. People have different incomes and different levels and degrees of debt, so to wonder how people survive is really pointless. The point is that they DO survive. JMO.

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

you learn where to budget, cut corners, look for sales and save....save every piece of loose change. it adds up. A few weeks ago I was bored and wrapped all of our loose change, I had over 50 dollars. That 50 bucks helped pay my student loan.

I clip coupons on sundays and my supermarket doubles up on coupons so that helps with groceries. we buy a lot of stuff at BJ's like chicken and meats and we just freeze everything.

We make a large meal and make leftover containers that we take to work with us. So that saves right there, no need to worry about buying lunch in the city where it does add up.

We have a wedding and a house to pay for and we just save everything we can.

Instead of going to the movies we'll wait the 6 months for a movie to come out on DVD, rent the movie, pop some popcorn and make movie night at home. Which is always a lot better then sitting in a theater

We also make a date for once a month to go out to diner. Its something we look forward too and since I work days and he works nights we enjoy that one day where he is off from work and we can just have 'us' time away from things around us, by having a wonderful diner at our favorite place.

We also write on the calendar when bills are due, when we get paid and just budget accordingly. We also allow room for little pleasures. this way we can have the wedding, the house, and still be able to enjoy the things we love to do.

its just a matter of saving, looking for sales, and keeping a budget.

ETS: and not using credit cards. I dont have any and he has one. We only use it for gas or in case of emergency. I think credit cards is where it causes the most debt. (I also worked for a credit card company and I wish I knew then what I know now about credit cards. I had a few too many and I am sure paying for it now. Literally) So everything is in cash. If i dont have the cash at the time, then i'll just save and when I do then I'll get the item

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

BUMP

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

FH owns his own business and I am a SAHM. We have a 4 bedroom house and 3 cars.

IS TOUGH!!!!! We dont splurge on stupid things. We have plenty saved up. That has helped us tremendously. I am not always a bargin shopper but I try. I am not one to run out and buy that $800 bag but I bought myself a $200 one and Im just as happy

PLUS I know if we were in any serious trouble we have a loving family to bail us out. Thankfully we never had to use that route

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

2 fairly nice incomes, saving, and treating ourselves once in a while cause we deserve to.

edited to say yabbobay said it best

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

You learn to budget by what you earn and what exepenses you have. Both my Hubby and I make an excellent living are aren't hurting by any means but we still budget ourselves and clip coupons and such. We have a 'play money' fund for each of us and if I want to save up my 'play' money for a few months and buy a $700 bag then its a little treat for me. I'm not really a bag person so we usually use that money for vacations. We like to go away a few times a year.

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

It all depends on your lifestyle and your prefernces and income of course

We have 2 good incomes, we rent, no kids, etc. We like travelling so that's what we do. Some people like Louis Vuitton, that's what they do.

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

FI pimps me out on the weekends.. Just kidding!!

We both make very good incomes and don't have that many expenses. Besides our apartment, our car payments and the usual expenses...we don't have cc debt, so that saves us a lot of money. Like someone said above, we make in a week more than our monthly bills. We both work hard for our money, so enjoy the finer things in life if we can swing it.

I also cut coupons!! I think it's fun, and who doesn't like to save money when you can??!!

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Kim

Making your monthly expenses in 1 week is definatelt key.

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

I think whatever floats your boat is cool.
People work hard, so enjoy the money
I spent a lot more money than I thought I ever would on my wedding, but it was worth it.
Some ppl think it's foolish to spend that much, but everyone has different priorities and preferences.
As long as you're happy

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Like some of the other girls said, FH and I make decent money and have no credit card debt. The only debt we have is car and mortgage payments. We're both cheapskates too - we don't normally splurge unecessarily on things - we'll wait until it goes on sale and then buy it. You can ALWAYS find what you want for cheaper online somewhere .

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

I thank all of you for your replies. I am currently a teacher for a Catholic school but am thinking of leaving teaching all together. Just am not sure of what I would like to do. Isn't that crazy? It's the only thing I have done for the past ten years! Big changes are coming! I just don't know what they are yet! LOL...Any suggetsions? I have a Masters in literacy as well!

Re: How do some of you survive financially?

Everyone has different jobs, different education levels, different priorities and different spending habits. You have to remember that just because someone spend $800 on a designer bag does NOT mean that they can afford that bag. Many people rack up incrediable amounts of debt or don't save at all. And then there are those that live or did live at home, with no rent or bills to pay really.

There are also women who LOVE designer bags but could care less about having taking a trip someplace or having a new car every 2 years. We all just spend our money differently.

Don't feel bad because you don't have an really expensive bag. If you really, really want one, bring lunch to work for a few months and save that money and buy the bag.

How I save money: I ALWAYS use coupons and I always shop where they are doubled. I buy on sale, with a coupon and sometimes I can even get the item for free that way. I didn't go nuts on maternity clothes. I was lucky that I was working from home so I didn't need as much but everytime I saw a really cute designer outfit I had to think 'Do I really want this $145 pair of pants that I will wear for a few months or am I better off getting the $35 pair.' I always opted for the $35 pair. Now, in my 'regular' size maybe i would buy a nice pair of expensive pants but since my pregnancy clothes will not last very long I chose not to.
But put a pair of boots in front of me and I have very little will power

Re: How do some of you survive financially?