Some Budgeting Tips ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is part two. 

I would like to let you know that this post focuses on more budgeting tips that I have thought of for the past several months and I hope you would learn something new as you read throughout this post. I have decided to mark the following budgeting tips in bold followed by I would be sharing why I have shared those budgeting tips that isn't mark in bold. You can choose to use any of the following budgeting tips. 

 ~ Do you know the differences between your needs and your wants when it comes with budgeting? I know that it is necessary for everyone who does budgeting to know the differences between their needs and their wants. I know it is easy temptation for people to easily to think about and worry about their wants than their needs when it comes to budgeting. I know that I do that at times. Needs are things you absolutely have to have to live life such as food, water, shelter, transportation, utilities, etc. Wants always cost extra money such as eating out, shopping for unnecessary items, gym memberships, vacations, etc.

~ Did you know that there are some engaged couples around the world who has created a budget for their wedding? I know that there has been some couples who have considered to do a budget for the costs of their wedding while they were planning for their wedding, and I know that some of them may have even considered to include the cost of their honeymoon within the same budget.. I know that my husband and I have done reasonably well when we both budgeted for our wedding including our honeymoon costs, and we spent even less than half of our wedding budget. We have spent total of less than $2,500 US dollars ($3,000 Australian dollars) for our wedding.

~ Have you remembered to canceled on FREE trials from your bank card right before those trials aren't FREE and start charging money? I know that I always have enjoyed FREE trials on certain things in the past before the subscription has started for me to pay money towards; especially on Amazon Prime, Hallmark Channel, and so forth. Subscriptions are very easy to add up in overtime without those FREE trials.

I know that my husband have been paying for Hulu (not including LIVE - TV such as HBO) monthly since towards end of last year and my Photoshop and my Lightroom subscription combined monthly since towards end of last year, meanwhile I have been paying for my Spotify premium account monthly. My husband thought it was a great idea for him to download a playlist from my Spotify account for getting all of the songs that he likes and enjoy listening to while he is working.

"If you can't pay cash, you can't afford it."

I have a seperate playlist from my Spotify account for me to listen to at home and whenever I am out of the house (while I'm not being near him) to still play songs from my Spotify account. 

We honestly saved more than $3 US dollars (over $4 Australian dollars) a month for using my Spotify account, instead of us deciding to get Family Premium Spotify account. 

~ Are you fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can? I know that sometimes all it takes is being fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can especially during difficult times. I know that you can get easily discouraged when it comes to not being fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can. 

~ Have you ever thought about or considered of having an emergency funds account while you are budgeting? I know that some people may not fully thought about or considered of having an emergency funds account as much as they would like to. I know that it does comes handy for having at least one emergency funds account while budgeting especially when those funds can be accessed to during unexpected events and unforeseen circumstances. Emergency funds account can have $5,000 US dollars (close to $7,000 Australian dollars) or more. You can add a certain portion from your income into that account.

~ Have you ever tracked your process while budgeting? I know that it does comes in handy for tracking the process while budgeting, because it would help of what you have been doing great at budgeting for saving more and spending less.

~ Who should be in charge for your budget? I know that you should be in charge for your budget because it is your money, and you know what works best for your budget not someone else's budget. Some people has different reasons and purposes why they have their budgets because they are in control with their money.

By the way; Happy Birthday to my Dad, and Happy Birthday to Sister Sia Leifi, I hope they have a great birthday..

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Some Budgeting Tips ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is part one.

Have you ever heard of some tips about budgeting before? 

Well; I would like to let you know that this post focuses on some budgeting tips that I have thought of for the past several months and I hope you would learn something new as you read throughout this post. I have decided to mark the following questions focuses on budgeting tips in bold followed by I would be sharing why I have shared those budgeting tips that isn't mark in bold. You can choose to use any of the following budgeting tips. 

~ Have you considered about eating at home more often than eating Fast Foods? My husband and I have been mostly eating at home because we know it is certainly cheaper, affordable and mostly healthier which has helped us to save a lot even though we do have a maximum spending limit for eating Fast Foods and dining in Restaurants. 

~ If you have a budget; have you thought about what is your reason/s for budgeting? I know that there are multiple reasons that I could think of what would have been your reason or reasons why you have decided to have a budget. I have decided to do budgeting for myself and my husband at the beginning of our marriage, and that has been one of the major decision to make. I know that one of the reasons why I have decided to do budgeting for myself and my husband at the beginning of our marriage, and throughout our marriage thus far is WE CAN SAVE more and SPEND less.

"A budget isn't about restricting what you can spend. It gives you
permission to spend without guilt or regret."

~ Did you know every month would be different to budget for? 

I have acknowledged over the past ten months duration of my marriage with my husband, that the monthly budget is always kept changing and has been different when the new month approaches. 

I have recognized that there has been some months when my husband has spent more than other months and I also have recognized that there has been other months when my husband has spent less than some months. 

I know that it would continue happening in the same pattern in the near future, and in the future. At least I know what to expect in the near future and in the future.

                                                                                                                                                      

For an example of a expensive month to budget for; A month that can consist of paying costs for car maintenance, purchasing more toilet paper, more meats, more paper towels and more laundry detergent because you are running low. 

For an example of a cheap month to budget for; A month that can consist of deciding to use public transportation as a method of transportation instead of driving to work, you have decided to use less electricity, no spending on fast foods, you have done a lot of cooking for homemade meals (such as tuna bakes, baked potatoes, homemade pizzas, chicken and corn soups, homemade burgers, and so forth), making extra homemade meals for leftovers, and so forth. 

~ How soon can you pay off most or all of your debts? Well you can pay most or all of your debts as soon as you can. I know that some people have set a goal to pay off all of their debts prior to their marriage. It is a great goal to have. I remembered prior to my marriage to husband, he paid the remaining installments of his truck which was great feeling to know that my husband wouldn't have to continue paying off his truck during our marriage. My husband and I are doing our best to avoid having debts in the future. I know that if my husband and I do ended up having debt/s in the future, we can always do our best to pay it off as soon as we can afford to.

~ Why is it best to keep cash on you at all times? I know that sometimes it is best to have cash on you at all times and rely on it as a backup payment option when you go to places and just in case you decide to not making purchases in-stores by using your bank card. I have acknowledged at times when my husband and I go groceries shopping, sometimes he gets less than $35 US dollars (less than $50 Australian dollars) out and it certainly does come handy whenever we go to places where it accepts cash only because the stores' EFTPOS machine isn't working.

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Reach for the Stars

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a April 1981 General Conference talk and it is called, "Reach for the Stars" by Barbara B. Smith. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you will be

able to learn something new.

Sister Smith has mentioned the following; "... We’re not only confronted with it in the media, but we experience it with virtually every purchase we make. Most Saturday afternoons my husband and I make a trip to the grocery store for our weekly supplies and food storage items. ... We discussed the high cost of food for large families with limited incomes, elderly people with small pensions, and single parents often with uncertain means.

... How might Relief Society enable a woman to create an environment of optimism and adventure, while at the same time helping her stretch her dollars and resources by implementing sound economic principles in the home? Let me point out a few mini courses each Relief Society unit might hold to help women meet this challenge:

First, home and money management -

Wise home and money management instruction should help each sister learn how to bring all expenditures within the family income. It has been thoughtfully said that we should set our scale of living one degree below our means. ... The first hard rule of fixing our scale of living below our means is to budget, planning first for basic needs and then for other desired items.

"Balancing the budget is like going to heaven. Everybody wants to
do it, but nobody wants to do what you have to do to get there."
- Phil Gramm.

We should help all women enjoy the peace of mind that comes from making and following a plan for spending. 

... Women must learn to budget and to help their children learn to budget also. Women and children should know that, no matter how important or how worthwhile an item might seem to be, if they cannot afford it, it is an unwise expenditure. ..." (Ensign, July 1975)

                                                                                  Living on a budget is not a chore - It need not even be a deprivation. Budgeting should be a great learning experience. ... We can teach women to be realistic in money management and still maintain a spirit of resourcefulness and optimism.

Next, a resource management mini course might be planned. It could enable the sisters to share ways to save energy. ... Resource management includes wise stewardship of possessions and an appreciation of the value that still remains in some used goods. 

... Other mini classes on resource management might focus on ways to take better care of clothes - how best to repair, clean, and alter them for longer wear. A mini class on laundering tips could also add to a woman’s understanding of how to add life to fabric. ... If we “make do” creatively, we don’t have to do without. We can enrich the lives of our family members at very little cost. 

A third mini course might be on healthful living. Plan ways to help the sisters save money by attaining the best health of which they are capable. Relief Society should provide training to promote physical well-being as the least expensive medical treatment. The illness you avoid costs nothing. Good health habits save money. To promote good health, women need to plan nutritious meals. Most of us could have smaller portions of food and still be healthy, but all of us should eat regular, well-balanced meals each day. ... 

One basic concept of the welfare system of the Church is to prepare for a time of emergency by careful planning. Relief Society has the capability of helping sisters further this effort by making their homes models of provident living that can meet present need and possible emergencies.

I have thought about the emergency preparation necessary when Noah’s ark was made ready. Noah must have achieved the most effective welfare planning in the history of mankind when he very carefully followed the Lord’s counsel and built the ark. His wife and their sons undoubtedly worked and planned with him so that the blessings of the Lord might be theirs. ... Noah and his family must have been able to plan and provide in such a way that they could find pleasure in their efforts (selecting just the right two of each animal), adventure in their voyage (surely there were new little furry creatures almost weekly), and joy as the splendor of the very first rainbow filled the sky, and the Lord’s promise was fulfilled.

Could we be as diligent today? Can we as women be accountable and help meet the great challenge of economic stress by our wise stewardship over that with which the Lord has blessed us? ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk now or in your own time, here's the link below.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1981/04/reach-for-the-stars

Stay Tuned until next time.

Reliable Budgeting for a Married Couple

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

My husband has been able to continue working after I moved over here, - thankfully. He works some long days (over ten hours), and he works some short days (less than ten hours). I don't ever know exactly what time is he expected to finish work on most days, and I would just estimate roughly what time would he be home by at times. Sometimes those roughly estimated times has been wrong, because my husband works either longer than expected or shorter than expected. 

This post isn't about my husband's employment. This post focuses on the reliable budget that my husband and I have together as a married couple, and I hope someone will gain new understanding of budgeting as a married couple. My husband has given me permission to keep one of his bank cards with me at all times because he trusts me, and he knows that I would be able to spend wisely by making purchases online and in stores. I must admit that bank card definitely comes in handy, because I wouldn't have to worry about paying international fees - thankfully.

"A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering
where it went." - Dave Ramsey.

I know that if I used my Australian bank card, I would have to pay the international fees each time I make a purchase while I am living over here. He has his other bank card with him at all times, and he uses it often. 

Throughout the first three months into the marriage; I strongly believe that my husband and I were spending way too much money on groceries, it was cost over $350 US dollars a month. 

Can you imagine for the cost of groceries was most than $490 Australian dollars a month? I knew it costed so much because we didn't considered of having a reliable budget at the time and I always wanted to have frozen meals to be heated up in the microwave and eat it for lunch.

You may ask who does the reliable budget between myself and my husband. Well I currently do the reliable budget between my husband and myself which has been great. We often review our reliable budget often, we both always do our best to agree a lot with the maximum spending limits monthly and I have been doing my best to encourage my husband to SAVE for whatever amount that we don't spend a month. 

We have budgeted of maximum spending cost for electricity monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost for water monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost for groceries monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost of getting fuel/gas monthly, and so forth. 

We couldn't have budgeted for our rent where we currently live at, the costs of our health insurances, the costs of having WiFi, and my current mobile plan monthly because those have set prices. I know that it would've been nice if the monthly cost of rent, the monthly cost of our health insurances, and the monthly cost of my current mobile plan was about either 20% or 30% cheaper than it currently is per month and I know that my husband would agree with me. 

Having a reliable budget for a married couple definitely comes in handy, it definitely teaches the couple to spend wisely, they would be able to spoil themselves on dates, they would be able to spoil themselves on vacations, SAVE as much as they can, having full control with their money, they would know what money comes in and out, and so forth.

Stay tuned until next time.

Reliable Budget for an Individual In the Past

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

I have some simple and easy following questions that you can ask yourself and answering those questions either now or in your own time. What is true your definition and understanding of having a reliable budget in the past?
If you have created a reliable budget in the past, what has motivated you for creating a reliable budget? Did you received some help by anyone while you were creating a reliable budget in the past?

What were some of the blessings that you have received from having a reliable budget in the past?
What were some of the things that has helped you for sticking to your reliable budget in the past?

If you haven't created a reliable budget in the past, what was your reason/s for not having a reliable budget?
Do you think that you will eventually create a reliable budget either in the near future or in the future?

Have you thought about some of the blessings that comes from having a reliable budget in the near future or in the future? Have you thought about seeking some help by someone when you would decide to create a reliable budget?

"One of the great laws of earth is that your expenses need to be less than your income. - Jeffrey R.Holland."

I know that some people are doing a great job for creating a reliable budget and sticking to it. I know some people might have thought about creating a reliable budget and sticking to it is a massive hustle in their lives. I know that some people may forget and not even thinking about having a reliable budget in their lives. I know that some people just doesn't know who to talk to for seeking assistance, and requesting some help for them to be able create a reliable budget one day successfully.

I know that some people just doesn't care about some of blessings or all of the blessings that they are missing out on from not having a reliable budget. I know that I am truly grateful for having a reliable budget in the past, because it has helped me in many ways and it has taught me so much.

Some of you may be wondering about what were some of the things that has helped me and has taught me from having a reliable budget. in the past. I would be happy to share several of major things that has helped me and has taught me.

For having a reliable budget in the past; it has taught me multiple effective ways of how to save as much as I can successfully, it has helped to create a reliable emergency/unexpected funds account successfully - it was separated from my savings account, it has helped me to purchase groceries, it has helped me for setting a maximum spending limit that went towards car maintenance regularly, it has helped me to save a portion from the earnings that I was receiving, it has helped me to pay all of the necessary bills either on time or early, it has helped me to afford of spoiling myself such as spending on vacations to go overseas, and so forth.

Stay Tuned until next time.