July 2010 Weddings
benmel31
member
Dear Community,
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
money/savings poll
We've been talking about money and debt lately. This is a conversation at my house too. So...
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
3. What is your biggest regular expense?
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for?
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things?
Re: money/savings poll
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
Yes, basically just paying the bills and the necessities (i.e. food, gas, etc). Trying to stay as cheap as possible for Christmas!
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
Our bills? lol
3. What is your biggest regular expense?
Aside from the mortgage, it would be my student loans. I'm still pissed at myself for going to a very expensive school when I could have gone to a cheaper one and gotten the same education!!!!
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for?
Trying to build up our savings account so we have that for emergencies or for when we need to work on something big for the house.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things?
YES ABSOLUTELY. Sometimes i just feel like we're in this hole that we're never getting out of.
House Renovations
Married Bio
I am a gluten-free, gun-toting wife! :P
I love you, Daddy...2/24/1953 to 2/13/2011
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? We do a budget off and on. When we do one, we stick to it and save like crazy. So why we don't do it all the time, I don't know!
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? We are trying to stick to our Christmas budget for presents. Also, trying to stick to our gas budget as I drive a lot to get to school.
3. What is your biggest regular expense? Rent. Although we don't pay an outrageous amount, it just happens to be the most expensive thing. Next would be gas.
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? We want to have a set amount saved before we TTC. Then a down payment.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? This is probably what we argue about the most. DH spends a lot more than I do, so I get on him about that sometimes.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
~Hell no. I do the budget...have everything planned to a tee. Then DH loses unemployment, not enough money for the budget...nothing more to cut...so we're basically screwed and scraping by til my new job starts.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
~There's nothing left to cut. Seriously. The only extra we have right now are our cell phones, and we just entered into a new contract in September so I have no way to reduce that.
3. What is your biggest regular expense?
~Groceries. Family of 5...including a man, 2 teenagers, and a pre-teen...our groceries are crazy high, and I shop at cheap places and cook at home 6-7 days a week. We don't eat out, and I don't buy garbag-y snacks and soda.
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for?
~Groceries. hahahahahahaha
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things?
~Too be quite honest...lately I cry on almost a daily basis about our finances. It sucks. So, yes, I get a bit emotional about it.
Sorry, I am just having the time to answer my own questions.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? I have already been sticking to a budget for our groceries, which DH did not even realize. 2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? Heating bills, eating out (which we only do about 4-5 month), fun extras3. What is your biggest regular expense? Rent, food, school loans, gas4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? We want a good chunk in our savings before TTC, which I think we may start next fall. We just really started talking seriously about TTC and money this weekend.5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? YES, and I am so glad to hear I am not the only one. I get emotional, because I feel like I have been trying to do these things already and DH still wants to cut more. We are lucky that we are not struggling right now, but I feel like he wants us to live like we are to save. Then DH gets frustrated with me because I get emotional and he stays logical about them.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? Anything fun. Seriously, we've been on a whopping 3 dates since getting married, and all on gift cards! We don't go anywhere or do anything that costs money.
3. What is your biggest regular expense? Rent and two car payments and Velvet's board
DH has been really supportive of me and Velvet though, he never complains.
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? I just want to get to a point where we have a legitimate saving account. Ugh.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Yes, but I try not to. DH spends more than I do and it frustrates me. I grew up in a home that had financial issues, so it's a touchy subject for me.
1.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? Yep, DH uses his income for the bills and has set up separate accounts that deviates his bi monthly checks into the accounts. My income is frivolous spending and groceries and saving for moving.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? unneeded expenses and trying not to eat out as often
3. What is your biggest regular expense? DH car loan
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? Moving and getting a home.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? No, we are pretty well off right now. I've always been a saver and planner and same as DH. Talk to me again in september... lol
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? Fast food. We spend way too much money on food when we should be going to the store when needed, making lunches, etc., and we don't.
3. What is your biggest regular expense? Since we're staying with my parents, we don't have rent. So food is our biggest expense, and so is health insurance. But with the new healthcare plan I'm allowed to go back on my dad's healthcare for about two more years, so that will save us a lot.
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? To be comfortable. To be able to move out. To be able to say hey, let's go to dinner and a movie and spend $50 and not feel quilty.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Not really. We're really on the same page right now, so it's OK. I get a bit stressed, as does my H but not really emotional. Occasionally I get upset because it's hard living here and we bicker about it but it's not that bad.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? We have a budget written up, but since I'm only just back to work and haven't had a paycheck yet, we can't really abide by it. January we are aiming to be back on track.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? We already cut down to bare bones with DH was unemployed from Apr-Oct, and we still haven't had breathing room. We cut out restaurants, and easy, pre-made grocery food. I've totally changed my cooking habits, and hopefully we can keep it up.
3. What is your biggest regular expense? Mortgage and debt repayment. Although DH's side business is going to be profitable this winter, and he said his WHOLE earnings will go on our loan. It will be a celebration, that's for sure!
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? Saving was put on the back burner. Now we need to dig out of the hole, and start saving again. We will need a 2nd car eventually, but it's the frustrating argument of saving vs pay down debt.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Very. Especially knowing how we used to live, and how we live now. It's will be better tho, eventually.
July 10, 2010 Best. Day. Of. Life.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
The budget is I pay groceries and pay off my credit cards and student loans with my paycheck. He pays mortgage and house stuff.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
We aren't really cutting much now- but we have both changed (more so me) in the past year. No more fast food, I bring my lunch, I pay attention to what I spend! We still go out once a week or so (dinner with friends/live music at a bar/etc).
3. What is your biggest regular expense? My student loans and other debt. I took out more loans than I needed to when I was in grad school b/c I was sick of living like a college student and most of my friends had real jobs. That is my biggest regret about choosing to go to grad school in a big city!
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? We just bought a house, just bought windows, we need to buy doors, too. I need to pay down my debt and start figuring on kids, soon! However, it's easier to do now that I have my first real job ever (real meaning I am no longer a student or considered "in training") and have a decent salary as well.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Oh- we had the big money conversation last year right around now (a couple weeks before we got engaged). Actually, Dec 6th. I was completely terrified b/c I knew he hadgreat money skills and I have crappy ones! Think absent minded professor. My finances would STILL be a mess if it wasn't for automatic bill pay. We had that talk and we have the same goals. I don't get emotional anymore, but that's probably b/c we both have good jobs and I am actively trying to acheive his level of financial guruness
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? yes, we pretty much only spend money for bills, groceries and gas.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?leisure spending, there is no shopping (clothes, make-up, etc), eating out/fast food, pampering (hair, pedicure)
3. What is your biggest regular expense? my school loans, and car payments
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? we are looking into purchasing a house in 2012, I have to go back to grad school for my masters, and we are planning on TTC in 2012
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? sometimes, I am the only one working right now (2 jobs, and teaching extra courses after school sometimes), I used to be a shopaholic and I am stressed and dying to just have a day (and money) to pamper myself or get my hair colored and trimmed, and a pedicure haha
This economy is killing me!!
RIP Dr. Irving Fishman - 10/1/19-7/25/10 - thank you for holding on for me.
You made my wedding day complete.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? We made a budget when we bought our condo, in order to keep track of spending and make sure no bills were missed. We just broke the month up into the 2 paychecks (both paid biweekly on same week) and split the bills so that they were spread as even as possible.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? Yes, we go out to eat about 2-3 times a week and we'd like to cut it to 1 or none
3. What is your biggest regular expense? our mortgage takes up the most of our budget.
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? a new fridge (ours is broken with a temporary fix, it's older than I am) and for the baby (don't have any hand-me-downs from family to help)
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Sometimes. I'm the one that writes the checks, pays the bills, and keeps track of the budget. it is really hard to watch how fast the $ disappears and gives me a stomach ache just because I hate spending money.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What? Eh. Not really. We pay our bills on time and just make smart decisions. I need to go through the month and figure out exactly how much we make and how much we spend each month so I can determine if we can make larger payments toward something or put a portion of a paycheck into savings.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now? In the last 1-2 years we went through all our bills and tried to consolidate/minimize as much as possible. We've been pretty good about that but since we've moved in with his mom, I think our eating out habits have increased - especially since going out to dinner is alone time for us.
3. What is your biggest regular expense? Car payments
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for? paying off our debts and buying a house.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things? Not super emotional. I've pretty much taken over all the financial responsibilities for us. I write all the checks, keep track of our savings/checking balance, etc. DH wasn't very good about things and used to stress out about it so much that he couldn't sleep. So, I handle everything and just let him know how we stand. It helps to keep his sanity.
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
No. We are always looking for things on sale though:)
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
Making big purchases...like DH getting a new 4wheeler, me getting a new computer! LOL
3. What is your biggest regular expense?
Rent...we pay $300/month and that is our only expense right now
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for?
We are going to start building a house in 2012!! That's the only thing we are saving for...I'm guessing we will both be needing new cars in a couple of years too.
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things?
To be honest?? No. We are doing really great with money! We both have plenty in savings and we have no debt at all, no car loans, no credit cards. Nothing! Since we got married, everything is going great
We've been talking about this too!
1. Are you and DH sticking to a budget of some kind? What?
Trying not to spend on "wants" only needs. We are also tracking our spending.
2. Is there anything you are trying to cut right now?
Grocery Bill. It was massive last month and we really could do a lot better
3. What is your biggest regular expense?
Rent. blah
4. What are your priorities that you are trying to save for?
We plan to buy a house in the spring, then start baby making in possibly 2012??
5. The big one...do you get emotional when talking about these things?
More stressed. We are trying to save for a down payment but these unexpected things keep happening, like the dog has a $200 vet bill. I look at my students loans and it feels like I'm climbing a mountain. We are doing fine but I am a penny pincher and am constantly looking at ways to scrimp and save.
This is what we say too!