Weekly accountability.

als1982 · June 2016

I'm not sure if anyone is still doing these, so I'll get it started.

1. How MM was your week?

2. Any progress toward goals?

3. GTKY: What was your major in college and is it useful in your career?

als1982 · June 2016

1. Fair. We tend to eat out for most weekend meals, but usually only eat twice a day. We have essentially cut out alcohol, so that's been a big money saver. Other than meals and a Costco run ($50),we didn't spend on anything else.

I was able to pick up about $30 extra through Easy Shift, which I'll send to mortgage principal. I also did some cleaning and posted a bunch of stuff for sale on eBay.

2. Not last week, but this is a 3 paycheck month for me, so Thursday we'll get an extra $2K to put towards H's student loan. The last few months have been slow going, so it'll be nice to have this extra boost!

3. My undergraduate degrees are in history and political science and my master's work in American history. So no, it's definitely not directly tied to my job.

cbee817 · June 2016

1. How MM was your week? It was pretty good- groceries ($143), Target returns (-$42), ON Returns (-$36), soil/mulch/misc plant stuff ($100), sandals for the girls ($0 - returned 2 pairs that were really slippery and bought 2 different pairs that will hopefully work out better).

2. Any progress toward goals? Yup- $500 went to savings, DH's checking account should be closed next weekend now that we have a joint checking account and his paychecks are going into that one. We got a great price from California Closets for a built-in linen closet. Their finishes are really nice and it was over 33% less than Home Depot's quote installed (and HD's quote didn't have installation). Can't wait to get moving on the bathroom gut- it's going to be great when it's done.

3. GTKY: What was your major in college and is it useful in your career? My undergrad degree is BA in Mathematics with a minor in Economics. I got a MA in Economics a few years later while working full time. It has definitely helped my career so far.

formerlyjessica490 · June 2016

1. Spendy- $22 Home Depot, $100 at the mall, $36 Pet Store

2. We put our first contriubution into our Roth Accounts! I increased my 401K to 9%. Also, $610 towards the driveway

3. I have a degree in marketing. It has not been useful yet, but I've been applying for jobs at my work and so far no luck, but I am waiting to hear back on one more right now!

hoffse · June 2016

1) Saturday we rented a tiller at HD ($65) to till up the lawn to start our patio. We also had Moe's ($15) because we were took exhausted to cook. Sunday we got Panera bagels ($3) and finished excavating most of the lawn. Also had our last big Costco run before our trip ($140) and had the gravel and sand delivered for the next phase of the patio ($200). We can cash flow all of it.

2) No financial progress toward goals this week, but we made tremendous progress on the patio. We are on pace to have all the prep work done before we leave for Italy, and then we will just be laying pavers when we get back. We wanted to wait until July for the pavers anyway because Discover is doing 5% cash back at home improvement stores during the third quarter, and there is a style of paver at Lowe's we plan to buy. Pics below of our excavated lawn. I'm exhausted.

3) I triple majored in art history, English, and political science. Then I went to law school. I'm currently working on a master's in tax law. All three of my undergradate majors were useful for my career in the sense that they helped me learn how to think critically, write across multiple disciplines, etc. They have each been directly applicable in unexpected ways over the years. For example, a partner who used to work for my firm began directing all of his work toward me while he was with us after learning I majored in art history. He did a lot of international work and thought I would be more culturally sensitive than the other associates because of my degree and my interest in traveling.

My undergraduate was liberal arts, which was always the intention. My professional school was intended to be direct training for my job. My current degree is to help fill in some knowledge gaps and also make me more marketable to clients. Of all three, I think the liberal arts degrees were actually the most important because they helped me learn to think and problem solve in ways that training programs really don't.

labro · June 2016

1. How MM was your week? Pretty good. We've started pre-making our lunches on Saturdays and that saved us a ton of money from not eating out. We went to a Braves game Friday night but we have an entertainment budget so it was cash-flowed, plus our tickets were paid for by someone else! The only rough part was spending $220 on landscape stone but it was still less than we had anticipated the cost to be plus it really adds to our home's street value so I figure it all evens out somewhere.

2. Any progress toward goals? Nothing really last week. This week is my regular semi-monthly car payment. After the July 1 payment I'll owe about $8,000 on my car that we purchased in November and that feels really really great.

3. GTKY: What was your major in college and is it useful in your career? I double majored in political science and journalism. Both were pretty writing heavy/communications heavy majors so yeah...I'd say it has helped with being a contract negotiator.

julieanne912 · June 2016

1) Not too bad actually, considering we're gearing up for our camping/music festival vacation. Friday we went out to eat to Chili's, that was $57. Saturday I went grocery shopping, mainly for the trip, and spent $125. Some of that was on snacks/supplies that we'll leave in the camper for the entire summer, we've got 2 more trips planned after this one. My mom arrived late Saturday night, to pet sit, but Sunday we went shopping for some summer clothes. I spent $75ish at JCPenney, but used a gift card, and spent $45 at H&M, but I'll be using $33 of my credit from selling clothes on ThredUp to reimburse myself for that.

2) I don't have any set goals right now, other than to just keep contributing to my savings when I can. I moved $50 to savings.

3) I didn't actually graduate, and had lots of different majors. Started as business, moved to construction management, then to interior design. Interior design was what I stuck with for the longest but I had made the decision to switch to an expensive private school from a public state school, and that was a mistake. I ran out of money and realized I wouldn't be able to pay back my student loans with the jobs that were offered fresh out of school, so I stopped going. I'm in title/escrow now with an extensive real estate background, so I guess all the things I majored in have been helpful here and there, but the majority of my knowledge comes from experience, not books/classes.

hoffse · June 2016

Whoops, forgot to attach a photo. H tilled on Saturday, then just went at it with a pick yesterday, and I shoveled. I'm ready to face plant into my desk.

labro · June 2016

@hoffse Ugh, I feel your pain. The heat index was ridiculous this weekend in Atlanta so I imagine it was even worse for you!! But we finished the really hard part of our retaining wall project. Pretty sure H and I consumed about 4 gallons of water each over the course of Saturday and Sunday.

csuave · June 2016

1. How MM was your week? We had a spendy weekend. We bought party food and did a toilet paper stock up so the grocery bill was about $100. $90 on a rug from Target (it was on sale). $200 donation to Humane Society and I estimate about $12 in gas for the "free" movie we mystery shopped.

We will be eating leftovers most of the week though so we won't be spending more than a few bucks in the next several days.

2. Any progress toward goals? Not this week. We did get an AirBnB reservation though that made us a little over $200 so that was a nice way to offset a spendy weekend.

3. GTKY: What was your major in college and is it useful in your career?
Economics. Yes, it has been super useful. Developed critical thinking and skills that apply to my job, helps with negotiation and looks great on a resume to help with career progression.

csuave · June 2016

I just want to add that $100 is a high grocery bill for us but given that we threw a party I'm pretty proud of only spending $100.

For $10 at Aldi I bought 3 fruits and 2 veggies to make a fruit salad and a simple veggie tray (just carrots and celery with ranch salad dressing as the dip). Sure it is a little more work to cut up the stuff yourself but given the cost of fruit and veggie trays it makes a huge MM difference.

I'll also add that we only had 10 people over. If we had more I would probably buy more veggies to have a more complete veggie tray.

Xstatic3333 · June 2016

1. How MM was your week?

It was good. I went a little over on groceries ($80) and we stayed in-budget on our trip to NH for H's college reunion. I budgeted $75 for non-included food and drinks for H, and it was just right. This week coming will be much worse, but I'll confess all that later.

2. Any progress towards goals?

Not last week; neither of us got paid. We'll be adding to our e-fund and my Roth with my paycheck tomorrow.

3. College Major

My undergraduate major prepared me to be a social studies teacher, and my graduate degree was in environmental science with a specialization in wetlands and water quality. My current job is extremely related to my masters, but also incorporates my undergrad since I visit schools and design educational programs for children and adults. The basic knowledge of pedagogy, learning styles, the importance of state standards, etc. that I got with my BS comes in very handy.

Mustard76 · June 2016

1. Our week was OK. A life-long family friend's husband unexpectedly passed away at 39 years old and an officer on my husband's team at work also passed away over the weekend, so we wrote two bereavement checks that were unplanned. Everything else was relatively inexpensive, though. We are out on Saturday for $29 and spent $28 on staples for the week.

2. Neither of us had a paycheck last week, so no.

3. My degree is in Communications, which is commonly referred to as "the fake degree," but the professional selling curriculum that came along with it actually has helped me in financial sales. Organizational leadership has also been a benefit to me. I don't need my degree to do my job, but I think it has certainly helped.

labro · June 2016

I guess I have a goal update - I checked our retirement investments yesterday and between the two of us, we've just surpassed the $100k mark!! I've been saving a bottle of wine we bought on our recent Asheville vacation so I guess we'll be drinking that this weekend to celebrate the milestone!

short+sassy · June 2016

Mustard76 said:

1. Our week was OK. A life-long family friend's husband unexpectedly passed away at 39 years old and an officer on my husband's team at work also passed away over the weekend, so we wrote two bereavement checks that were unplanned. Everything else was relatively inexpensive, though. We are out on Saturday for $29 and spent $28 on staples for the week.

2. Neither of us had a paycheck last week, so no.

3. My degree is in Communications, which is commonly referred to as "the fake degree," but the professional selling curriculum that came along with it actually has helped me in financial sales. Organizational leadership has also been a benefit to me. I don't need my degree to do my job, but I think it has certainly helped.

Hey now! My BIL has a Communications degree and he's been a news show producer for about 15 years (two different companies). It's real, lol!

Weekend: Great MM weekend! The only money I spent was on mystery shops, which I'll be fully reimbursed on plus earn fees.

Progress: I bulked up my e-fund from its paltry $200 back up to where I like it at $1,000. SOMEONE (ahem, my H) spent the money on work for one of our rentals and neglected to inform me. I also paid my HELOC down by $700.

Major: I majored in Business Administration and minored in Sociology. Just having a Bachelor's, regardless of my major, has been the most helpful for me, job-wise. Most jobs I've had either required it or it was strongly preferred.

I think a business major is kind of a "jack of all trades" type of degree. I learned a little and the basic concepts for a lot of things. It helps give me perspective and understanding for, not only the ways businesses work and why they do the things they do, but also on subjects like country/world economy and even my own personal finances.

blondie42107 · June 2016

1. How MM was your week?

The weekend was busy with two birthday parties and co-hosting a baby shower for a dear friend. I bought the birthday gifts a head of time but I didn't buy the baby shower gift until Friday night. So Babies R Us gift - $100. Saturday: $75 on baby shower food (fruit, drinks). H took the kids to the first birthday party and we all went to the second birthday party. Sunday: we went for a walk on the river walk and grabbed coffee for H and I ($8), then went to the grocery store ($140). All the other baby shower costs were paid a head of time and cash flowed.

2. Any progress toward goals?

$1000 to savings and a cabin rental booked for next month! It's only a three day trip but we're excited. First vacation/get-away since I started my new job at the beginning of the year. We're trying to get some other trips planned as well.

3. GTKY: What was your major in college and is it useful in your career?

I have a degree in social work. It's a specialized degree so yes, it's very useful in my career.

Weekly accountability.

Re: Weekly accountability.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards