Please look at my budget.

**DaveInPgh** · 09-23-2016, 08:13 AM

Are you able to work 5 days a week? Increase the amount of hours each day?

If you work 2 hours a day 5 days a week, you could have that Lowes balance gone in 2-3 months.

Also, do you clip coupons? I would look over what you are buying in that category and see what are wants instead of needs.

**ModestMama** · 09-23-2016, 08:21 AM

Yes i work 5 days a week. I can probally do 4 haours a day if i needed and also work weekends if I need to do that as well.
Yes, I really need to sit down and really go over my grocery spending. I had it set to $250 but always went over on buying meats. I don't do coupons because #1 I don't buy anything that usually has a coupon and #2 I shop at aldi's.

I do have to buy my meats at other places to get the best deal. My list usually does not include cereals and sweets. I do have to cook enough for an extra meal because my husband takes a lunch to work so I put a plate up for him to take.
Also, I do try to stick to a 2 week meal plan. But I am sure I can tackle this more better.

**DaveInPgh** · 09-23-2016, 08:29 AM

My apology, I misread your post as to how many days a week you were currently working. So yes, trying to work extra hours during the week is a great idea. I wouldn't advocate for 7 days a week unless you feel the situation is desperate or unless you can work those hours without missing quality time with your family.

**disneysteve** · 09-23-2016, 08:51 AM

Welcome.

You make a minimum of $36,920/year or $3,077/month.
You listed expenses of $1,582/month.
That's a surplus of $1,495/month at least.
That would allow you to pay off the car and Lowe's in 8 months. And that's without doing anything to increase income.

Unless there's something missing from the story, this really doesn't seem like a problem.

Do you have any savings? Are you saving for retirement?

**DaveInPgh** · 09-23-2016, 08:57 AM

Steve, she listed her budget as bi-weekly as well.

**DaveInPgh** · 09-23-2016, 09:01 AM

ModestMama, forgot to add good job for shopping at Aldi. The bulk of my groceries are purchased there and even with coupons it is difficult to beat their prices

**ModestMama** · 09-23-2016, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by DaveInPgh View Post

ModestMama, forgot to add good job for shopping at Aldi. The bulk of my groceries are purchased there and even with coupons it is difficult to beat their prices

Yes it is! We love shopping there and are so thankful they are 2 locations very close to us.

**ModestMama** · 09-23-2016, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

Welcome.

You make a minimum of $36,920/year or $3,077/month.
You listed expenses of $1,582/month.
That's a surplus of $1,495/month at least.
That would allow you to pay off the car and Lowe's in 8 months. And that's without doing anything to increase income.

Unless there's something missing from the story, this really doesn't seem like a problem.

Do you have any savings? Are you saving for retirement?

The budget I listed is our expenses every 2 weeks. Also, the Child Support will end June 2017.

**snafu** · 09-23-2016, 09:47 AM

Welcome to SA. We're all from different backgrounds with different experiences but we genuinely want to help. I would find it helpful to know age of adults and children as well as interest rates on vehicle, Lowes and mortgage. It important to create an emergency fund and look long term at retirement.

How do you manage irregular expenses like house & content and life insurance, auto maintenance, clothes, holiday extras [Thanksgiving/Christmas, birthday] celebrations? Is you income tax deduction accurate or do you get a rebate most years? Are deductibles on various insurance appropriate?

**Outdoorsygal** · 09-23-2016, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by ModestMama View Post

We are just starting out (dave ramsey). This is what our budget HAS been like. ( i know it needs some attention, that's where you come in) Help me to get a new perspective or what I could do different.

We are a family of 4. His income is $1200.00 bi weeky. My income varies on how much i need to work. I work at home. The LEAST i can make is $220.00 bi weekly (not inlcuding tithes being taken out)

Mortgage: $307.83 (50k balance)
GMI : $152 (car payment 10.2K balance) really upside down values at 4k
State auto $71
Utilities: $127
Internet $ 20
Cell $ 44 (no home phone service)
Child Supp $130
Abeka $43.33 (we homeschool) public school is not an option in the area we live
Lowes CC $40 (balance is $1324)
Groceries $350 this also includes cleaning or personal hygiene items as well.
Gasoline $90
Haircuts $7
Savings $20

I make $11 hr. I usually work 2 hours a day making $110 week/$220 bi-weekly. How much do you think I would need to work to be able to help bring down some debt as fast as we can?

Hello, very nice to meet you. I'll jump in here..

You cannot tithe, it is impossible. I am sorry but you are throwing $180 away. The bible tells us to store up our stuff/money for a rainy day. Proverbs 6:6-8 so that $180 (or most of it) can now be re-directed which is what you want.

You are not an Israelite or Levite nor do we, as Christians, live per the Old Testament. The whole theme of scripture is to live in the New Testament, aka the New Covenant. Governed by the greatest commandment of all, Love. All other laws/commandments hinge upon it. The old testament, aka the old covenant, has passed away. Jesus fulfilled the law with his sacrifice. Read the book of Hebrews detailing how the OT fails, and never could saved anyone even when adhered to. You've been duped somehow, I am very sorry. At least now have an extra $180 month!!

You are trying to refer to the Old Testament law set up for FARMERS to give a percentage of their crop.

With that, you can cheerfully give adhering to 2 Cor 9:7 to anyone in your (New I assume ) church who appears needy. Maybe even give maybe $5 or $10 a month for example to help keep the lights on if they have a church building

I'd consider asking for any money back your church as stolen from you via that lie. If that is the situation. Add it all up. They need to close their doors, that's just awful but such is life eh. Btw, Pastors do not get paid. Per scripture, the church is ran per Apostle Paul's teaching and with a plurality of Elders (men)The entire church is volunteer. Missionaries such as Apostle Paul can be paid but even then, it is so highly discouraged. Paul discourages it and it wasn't even payment but a reimbursement of sorts. it only covered basic needs while on the mission field. He was commanded at times to accept free housing (hospitality) as he'd not be able to establish a good tent making business off the bat in a new area. Paul supported himself the majority of time and even supported the men alongside him. ALL MEN work for a living in the bible unless possessed by demons or some dehabilitating mental or physical handicap prevents it.

"Get your living" by the Gospel means just that, it is not a reference to money. It only means your sole purpose for living is the Gospel if you are a man who chose to adhere to his calling as one of the Elders running a church. Special Honor should be bestowed upon those men gifted to teach and preach. Honor is not money or otherwise you'd be paying all of the Elders in the church and also the Widows. Because they are also listed in that scripture verse as deserving honor. Remember, no one is called to freeload. In fact it is the EXACT Opposite per 1Timothy 5:8 in which they have a strong word for those lazy bums. Now imagine a thief lazy bum swindler. Can't get much worse.
You're on the right path, good luck to you

**disneysteve** · 09-23-2016, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by DaveInPgh View Post

Steve, she listed her budget as bi-weekly as well.

Originally posted by ModestMama View Post

The budget I listed is our expenses every 2 weeks.

I totally missed that. I never see anyone list their budget that way. Sorry about that. Is it actually bi-weekly, though, or is it twice a month? Either way, your expenses exceed your income so clearly that's where the problem is. It doesn't look like there's much fat in the budget so earning more really needs to be the goal for both of you.

How are you making ends meet now given that expenses exceed income?

**Jluke** · 09-23-2016, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by Outdoorsygal View Post

You cannot tithe, it is impossible. I am sorry but you are throwing $180 away.

+1. but I think you're giving away $360/month based on how you presented your budget... Please eliminate or reduce it to say $5/week.

then one day you can get back to it.

**disneysteve** · 09-23-2016, 10:58 AM

I have never found a single person willing to accept the fact that they are drowning because they are giving away a huge chunk of their income so I don't even bother trying anymore. That's why I didn't mention the tithe which is the real problem here.

**Outdoorsygal** · 09-23-2016, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I have never found a single person willing to accept the fact that they are drowning because they are giving away a huge chunk of their income so I don't even bother trying anymore. That's why I didn't mention the tithe which is the real problem here.

That's interesting. I've only encountered it here on the forum that I recall but people tend to not talk openly of their finances. At least not in this area. I've never lived anywhere else

Please look at my budget.