My Goal is to have in between $3000 and $4000 in the bank on 7/1/08 so I want to ask

[anonymous_saver]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Sorry to say, but if you are coming here looking for people to agree with you that it is okay to be going shopping, buying DVDs and otherwise spending money on WANTS when you aren't adequately taking care of your NEEDS, you've come to the wrong place. If you place a higher priority on entertainment than on paying your bills, that is entirely up to you. Your life - your choice. Just understand that it isn't how most of us choose to live. We take care of the NEEDS first and the WANTS second.

Besides, you're missing the point. Nobody is saying you can't have entertainment in your life. TV is free or very cheap with limited basic cable. You don't have to spend $200/month for it. Internet access is free at public libraries. Many libraries also rent DVDs for free or $1 or so. Many stores also have the Red Box machines that rent DVDs for $1. Many museums have certain days of the week when admission is free. Most cities and towns have all sorts of free entertainment, concerts, educational programs, etc. that you can take advantage of. There are plenty of ways to be entertained without spending a ton of money.

I just wanted to note that this is a good post.

None of us has said there is anything wrong with having entertainment/fun in your life. I know I have lots of fun in my life. I just know that it is more important to pay your utilities/bills before you have fun. It is much more important to have lights in your home, than if you buy a new DVD. Secondly, you won't be able to play that DVD, if you didn't have electricity!

I also did want to say that I'm glad that you have made those plans of paying off your current debt.

We are really not trying to be judgemental here, we are only trying to give you helpful advice. If your not willing to make changes in your life, we are probably not going to be able to help you.

What kind of advice do you think would be helpful for you (from us)? Do you think listing your take home pay/bills/expenses would be helpful to you?

[anonymous_saver]

Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Check out the picture on the right hand side of this Wikipedia article. I thought it may be interesting to some that are reading this conversation. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the entire theory, but it does bring up some good points.

[myrdale]

AccountAnalyzer welcome to the boards, I am really glad to see these post have helped you.

Basically I got a repeat of what everone else has said, and then something original.

First, before all else you need to be in the position where you are able to pay all your bills in full every month. You said the gas was paid, and electric soon. Do all you can to keep these paid off from here on out.

Second, you do not have to spend money to have FUN. Or atleast not alot of it. You mentioned in one spot about shopping for DVD's. Let me suggest you only buy used. Any video game or movie store has a used section usually for half the price or less than that of new.

Third, if you don't want to cancel the cable, fine, but look at the package you are paying for. Figure out how much of it you actually watch. What can you do with out? Try to cut back from the platinum package to atleast the gold if not the silver package. Cut out the HBO or ShowTime.

Also, have you considered a second job? Maybe just on the weekends, or three nights out of the week. Delivering pizza, waitor, anything to earn you some additional income?

Lastly please consider this. For the past 3 years I have been with out cable television. NO I do not suggest that for everyone. Additionaly I have had the same television since I was 10. I would watch DVD or play games on it. but no cable television. The color is gone but it worked great. I have put myself in a position where this past week I was able to splurge and buy a new 42" LCD TV.

My point is this, I put that particualr bit of FUN aside for a VERY long time, but it has finally REALLY paid off. I wish you the best of luck! Let us know if you hit your goal.

[myrdale]

Oh one additional thing AccountAnalyzer. It has been mentioned several times in this thread, if you want to get the most help from the people here, please post your income and as many expenses as you can. I know that may sound a little personal, but if you search though the boards, you will most likely find all that information for every person who has posted in this thread.

Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed either. With out knowning another thing about you, I rest assured that your already better off than at least 90% of the worlds population, if not more.

[CreditExpert]

start by paying off your outstanding amounts, then sit down and draw up a budget, inluding the saving to ur EF as an expense. This way you will live within your means and you will
a) have a EF
b) not have any arrear accounts

[AccountAnalyzer]

Originally Posted by CreditExpert

start by paying off your outstanding amounts, then sit down and draw up a budget, inluding the saving to ur EF as an expense. This way you will live within your means and you will
a) have a EF
b) not have any arrear accounts

I'm close to clearing up my outstanding amounts, right now

Emergency funds are now $200 lower than my outstanding bill balance

By June my EF should be $200 higher or more and I plan to always make it stay higher

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by AccountAnalyzer

I'm close to clearing up my outstanding amounts, right now

Emergency funds are now $200 lower than my outstanding bill balance

By June my EF should be $200 higher or more and I plan to always make it stay higher

I am highly disappointed in the posters here thus far. Before talking about solving any problem ($200 cable bill) we should see what the whole budget is.

Please list all expenses for each month:
rent/mortgage
cars?
insurance?
utilities?
groceries?
gas?
clothes?
dates?
retirement accounts?
student loans?
other debts?
cc payments?
other expenses?

Then list your take home pay. List if you get paid each week, bi weekly, bi monthly or something else.

Then compare total monthly expenses to total monthly income.

The need for a Emergency fund is not immediate. I lived for close to 5 years without cash in the bank while I solved other problems (paid off student loans, got a house).

The immediate need is to understand the whole financial picture (it is third page of posts, so I think that is a reasonable request).

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by AccountAnalyzer

$160 but with the Sports package it was $205 the last 3 months

If you have direct TV with one receiver it costs $40. Add sports package for $12.99/month (20 more channels). Add NFL ticket for 4 months of $40. Add a DVR for $5. Add another receiver for $5.


You could probably lower the $160 cable bill by
a) removing movie channels (use pay per view or netflix)
b) removing receivers (do you need a DVR in each room?)
c) changing to direct TV (satellite is cheaper, IMO).

We have 3 receivers with NFL ticket, 1 DVR and our bill is around $85/month, $125 during football season. Some months we do pay per view movies and that adds another $15 or so.

[AccountAnalyzer]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

If you have direct TV with one receiver it costs $40. Add sports package for $12.99/month (20 more channels). Add NFL ticket for 4 months of $40. Add a DVR for $5. Add another receiver for $5.


You could probably lower the $160 cable bill by
a) removing movie channels (use pay per view or netflix)
b) removing receivers (do you need a DVR in each room?)
c) changing to direct TV (satellite is cheaper, IMO).

We have 3 receivers with NFL ticket, 1 DVR and our bill is around $85/month, $125 during football season. Some months we do pay per view movies and that adds another $15 or so.

I paid the cable bill off so my bill each month will be $61.00

[jIM_Ohio]

That $200 had a late payment or two built in, huh?

You still should be budgeting better and stop worrying about paying bills paycheck to paycheck. I would post the budget you use to control spending.