My savings challenge

[james.hendrickson]

OP, what are your thoughts on focusing your debt paydown efforts? You might actually make more progress that way.

At one point I was able to dump like $40,000 in student loans/credit card debt by getting motivated and highly focused.

Btw, good move in coming here to the forums. It is important to have friends/community who will support you in building healthy financial habits.

[disneysteve]

Chipping away at multiple debts is a good plan so long as it doesn't frustrate you since it will take longer for one to go away.

That's the point behind the snowball method. It gives you a little mental boost when a loan gets paid off. But not everyone needs that psychological "trick".

OP, if focusing on the total owed and watching that go down steadily is what motivates and encourages you, there's certainly nothing wrong with that at all.

[Jluke]

If you aren't already I'd suggest you also start tracking your net worth. Keep it simple and just do your retirement savings plus other savings plus home value minus mortgage and debts.

Chipping away at multiple debts is a good plan so long as it doesn't frustrate you since it will take longer for one to go away.

Saving something always helps.

[disneysteve]

I think it's important to stop comparing yourself to others. There is some value in doing so but it's very hard to compare apples to apples since there are so many variables (age, income, geographic location, marital status, family size, etc.). For now, focus on your own situation and making it better.

There is more than one way to attack debt. That doesn't mean one way is right or wrong. They're just different. Mathematically, there is a "best" way that will save you the most interest and get you debt-free the fastest, but other methods work just fine too. If what you are doing works for you, go for it. The best method is the one that you are comfortable with and will stick with until the end. Monitor your progress and celebrate your victories. When one debt gets paid off, do a little something special to treat yourself. And feel free to post your wins here if you'd like some extra support.

[Smallsteps]

Well I have created a spread sheet of all debt and as long as I see a decrease in the TOTAL every week of about 200 to 300, I am satisfied. I have a couple of accounts that have a few months worth of living expenses but not as comfortable as some.

I somehow can not get around to the "snowball" or what ever name methods of debt payoff.
I am sending extra money on payments to ALL accounts.... car/ mortgage/ cc with a bit more towards the higher % accounts. I can SEE the arguments to support the many popular methods but I like my way.
I am trying to focus on saving more in retirement and liquid/ emergency accounts but is has been kind of slow going lately. I feel like too many options vying for my every dollar.
At every angle I get bombarded with messages of "debt" is bad and time is running out on some astronomical retirement $$ amount needed. all while trying to live eat/ have a roof over my head it is unrelenting sometimes and I can see why some people just take the idea of "screw it".
I am currently working with some ladies whom are not (in my opinion) in the financial shape for their age group. no savings/ no homeownership very small if any retirement savings even though they will reach that age in a very short time. Call it late start or poor choices previously but it is sad.
Do I feel good about my financial plan in comparison of course but on the same hand I am sure (as I see on this site) many that make me look like I am holding 2 nickels. i guess it is simply a matter of perspective.

[disneysteve]

my #1 savings is just for me alone aside from all other accounts.

In that case, I think that's a neat idea. In fact, if there is someone who is struggling to save anything at all, I think it isn't a bad idea to suggest that as the first step - set aside one hour's worth of pay every paycheck. For someone currently saving zero, putting aside 2.5% would be a good starting point.

At my current employment OT is mandatory and very easy to get yet with so many even putting in ridiculous hours is NOT changing their situation one bit.
I realize it may be a case of Minding my own business but it is very frustrating to observe.

Absolutely. I think you'll find many likeminded people here. We all have people in our lives whether at work or family or friends who are their own worst enemies. It's very easy for us to see what they're doing wrong and how easily they could change their behavior and improve their situation, but there's nothing we can do about it.

My wife used to be a manager of a retail store. Nearly everyone she worked with was consistently broke, living paycheck to paycheck to the point that on payday, they would rush out at lunchtime to cash their checks so that they could afford to eat lunch that day. Of course, they also all went out to eat every day as well as buying sodas and snacks from the break room vending machines daily. My wife, on the other hand, packed her lunch, drinks, and snacks from home, spending a fraction of what they did. She had direct deposit and most weeks didn't even know it was payday until she saw the mad rush of people heading to the bank.

[Smallsteps]

my #1 savings is just for me alone aside from all other accounts. I am doing most all other options examples retirement / prepaying any loans such as car/home.
The other item although budget billing is available in some places
I am speaking in terms of setting your own payment options I have never ran into a place that did not take pre payments. and I set my amounts and change accordingly I have made some strong observations on some whom are having a much harder time living PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK .
At my current employment OT is mandatory and very easy to get yet with so many even putting in ridiculous hours is NOT changing their situation one bit.
I realize it may be a case of Minding my own business but it is very frustrating to observe.

[disneysteve]

example utilities can jump in bad weather

Many utility companies offer a budget billing option. They average out your bills from the past year and come up with a flat monthly rate for you to pay. We've done this for years. It does mean we overpay in some months but it also keeps us from having huge electric bills in the peak summer heat or big gas bills during the coldest part of the winter.

[disneysteve]

#1 I set aside what amounts to a complete hour worth of work to be transferred into savings each payday.

Welcome to the site.

If you work a standard 40-hour work week, that means you are only saving 2.5% of income.

Do you mean to do this in addition to your retirement account and other savings, because 2.5% isn't nearly enough to be saving. Overall, you should be aiming for about a 20% savings rate.

[Smallsteps]

New to forum but interested in sharing advice/ tips etc with others whom are interested in savings and other financial issues.

I have started a specific savings account about 6 months ago. I have been working on my finances on all fronts and was getting annoyed at the suggestions available through articles/ books sites saying everything must be done this way or that way. I feel if you can measure your own progress that is what is important.
#1 I set aside what amounts to a complete hour worth of work to be transferred into savings each payday. this is a easy step for most that not only pays yourself first. but gives you the idea that at least one hour a week is just for you.
#2 with so many people saving up a amount to pay something off I ask why not make auto payments weekly( or what ever you pay periods are) to debts as well? saves on interest by lowering your balances more frequently.
while I do have a nice but small amount building in my pay myself first account but I SAVE more by saving interest payments on just about everything else.
#3 this weekly payments also help with regular bills example utilities can jump in bad weather and putting a kink in a budget but by sending a small amount each pay period when the bill does arrive it is either paid already or a very small easily manageable amount.