Not broke but have changed spending habits.
Posted By: Multi-MTSO MT on 2009-03-31
In Reply to: Poll: How broke are you? - XanaX
I did reel in some spending a bit and changed a few things in the budget.
Have no intention of going broke.
Don't smoke either. LOL Couldn't afford to with the new taxes on those things!
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Well, I have not changed my spending habits.
I changed my spending habits based on my own personal situation, not the fact that my neighbor has lost his job and now can't spend like that anymore.
One of our problems is that the people with all the money do not spend in proportion to their income as us poorer folks do. They save it and save it and grow more money from it and their money is not being put back into the economy.
I for one have no problem with a millionaire spending $500 for a pair of shoes or whatever else they want to spend their money on.
What bad habits do you have?
I often lock my purse in my car when I get out. Not in a shopping center or the grocery store or anwhere like that. But if I'm going to the library or visiting a friend, I'll leave my purse in the car rather than bring it in with me.
I generally put my seat belt on while I'm pulling out of the driveway, and I take it off as I'm pulling into a parking space. At home, I usually take it off several houses away from my own. I do not let my kids get away with that, however. They have to have their belts fastened before I move the car.
...Need better habits mysefl! NM
s
Eating habits
Out of curiousity, what are your eating habits? I usually eat every 2 hours or so during the day. I have a protein shake at 7:30 and then ham and eggs at 9:30. It's possible you had sugar with your breakfast in coffee or tea and it's worn off or the food you ate gave you a boost but has worn off. Try having a snack at that time and see if it helps.
Yes!! I will not change my eating habits
either. I'm not where I want to be, but I"m getting there. I walk 5 to 7 days a week. Too cold right now (I'm in MN), but I love to walk outside by myself in the evening. So relaxing. Anyway....I started to see some very small weight loss when I started walking daily..maybe 1/2 pound a week. When I hit the 30-day mark it was like POW! My metabolism must've kicked in because I started losing 2 to 3 pounds. Everyone's is different though...
PS--if you're jogging you'll see more results than me, as I really just walk (not even too fast:)
Agree with must change eating habits sm
If you are an emotional eater, or a grazer, it will be more difficult for you. I had the surgery, lost 100 pounds, regained 80 of it. I am a grazer who works at home, which makes it more difficult. I also lost a couple of family members to cancer, and I am an emotional eater. I know a lot of people who have had excellent, long-terms results, but also many who have not lost as much as they had hoped, or gained a lot of it back. I would still do it again, because I would probably be a lot bigger if I hadn't, and the fact that eating too much, too fast, or too much sugar makes me sick has at least helped me to not be as big as I would've been without the surgery.
Unless you can change your eating habits, the weight will not stay off.
I have regained almost all of the 100 pounds I lost. I know many others who have also. Grazing is the #1 reason for regain. You can eat more by grazing than most people can who "pig out."
Unfortunately, if you don't change your eating habits, you will just maintain your current weight
To see real results, you are going to need to change your diet. You need protein, fiber, and good carbohydrates for energy. What you need to stay away from are the saturated fats, trans fats, and high-calorie/high-fat foods. Always be sure to eat a full breakfast since that will boost your metabolism and keep you from overeating the rest of the day. Also be sure to stop eating at least 2-3 hours before bedtime. Once you have been exercising for a while, your body will get used to it, and you will need to pick up the pace and start doing more than just treadmill workouts and giving your body more challenges. Hope this helps.
We have been spending less than 100
And we are starving. DH took over going to the grocery store from me (He thought I spent too much when I would spend about 150 a week.) It has been months since we do not have a bare cupboard. I am not complaining. I understand we are broke and he needs to pay the creditors. But the one person who has pretty much stopped eating is me. I am home all day and there is never bread to make a sandwich and I often pass up supper because I am tired of eating junky stuff like mac and cheese or spaghetti with meat sauce. He and our 11 year old son, on the other hand eat thirds of whatever meal it is. I get kind of annoyed. Our littlest boy and middle girl eat very little. All 3 take their lunch to school. I say to DH either stop eating so much (for him and the older boy) or buy more. He flips his eyes at me. We even stopped getting microwave popcorn which used to fill them up. So, now I am hoping to work extra to go to the grocery store myself and put an extra 100 a week in myself, but I keep running out of work.
You see, this all started when we started running out of work in transcription about a year ago this fall, and my DH took over the bills. Apparently food was the first to be cut. And, BTW I don't ever go anywhere because there is no gas in my car, and it has 2 flat tires. We live by the school and I borrow DH's car to take the kids but it is always on empty. We seem to make it every time. Oh, well. No need to complain. Just cutting back. The family is lucky I work at home, don't use gas, barely eat. But I do have to pay 10 bucks a month for nerve pills, because it is hard doing without. Like I said, when work picks up transcribing first place I am going after I get gas for the car is to the food store. Eventually I can repair my flat tires.
For those of you spending $1000+
What sorts of things are you buying? I don't think I spend nearly that amount, but my children and family still receive what they want, even my teenager. I can't imagine spending so much money at one time on gifts, so I'm curious what it is that's costing y'all so much. :)
Let him - for the money you/he is spending in gas sm
you can probably get one of those weekly hotels and at least break even. he needs to tell them up front what he is doing and get a good discount, most will give them if long-term situations. he will get a lot more rest and be a much happier person and easier to live with in the long run. driving wears me out more than anything and i feel for him with that commute! maybe he could even get his job to split the cost with him.
Lunch spending
My husband usually brings leftovers for lunch. I give my daughter $20 for lunch at school (to put in her lunch account), and that usually lasts a week. My other daughter is home by lunchtime and she eats what we have here at home. We spend about $100 a week on groceries. On the weekends we usually go out at least once, maybe twice for lunch and spend anywhere from $15-$25 depending on where we go. My oldest is a vegetarian so we actually save money because if we get takeout, she usually doesn't find anything that she wants to eat. When I was working outside the home I spent way to much on lunch every day, usually about $50 a week.
How is it your money she is spending?
President Obama and his wife have their own incomes from royalties, etc., from his book deals, investments of their previous earnings, and also he receives a paycheck for being President just as you do for being an MT.
I don't think that eTransPlus thinks they can tell me what to buy with my paycheck because they send it to me. Once I accepted a job and do my job, it is none of their business what my check is spent on.
Yeah, my bro. said what you said - not spending a lot of time in sm
condo except to sleep, etc. Both places have nice kitchens, though. I don't know. I usually spend the most time in the condo. We will be there 8 days. Thanks for your input..Still torn though! haha
If you can't reconcile your views on $, spending sm
and happiness (i.e, that both of you deserve to be heard and to be happy), you are rapidly heading for divorce court. Go read some Suze Orman financial advice for women, for a start, and then get some counseling. He is obviously irresponsible with money and you are not. How old are you two, out of curiosity?
How I am spending my money, ah, vacation
I am getting the FULL retirement because reached the 66 year mark. I had to wait an extra year, used to be 65 but with my year of birth had to wait until 66. No slowing down on the MTing, plan to work the same 4 days as doing now. I sure am planning on doing something special, well first 2 checks and then some because of the cost, escorted travel club, planning on paying towards 3 different vacations, one of them being the Rockies and Canada for 9 days. Excited broad here.
How much time do you plan on spending in condo?
If it is just a place to sleep and shower while you do the tourist thing, I would go with the cheaper place. But if your plan is to spend time with family talking, hanging out, I would go to condo and relax on beach. The men can go golf while you relax on beach even. If there is a kitchen in the condo and not in the other place, you will save money on food, and it is always fun to hang in a kitchen, cook together, have a few drinks and a few laughs.
Didn't plan it, but seems I am spending mine with a SM
terrible head cold. UGH! 
I feel your pain too, but not spending my money is not going to help you - nm
x
Spending time with parents, absolutely
Mother and daddy divorced but my brother and I spent summer vacations, Christmas, visited daddy, traveled with him and his wife. Tried keeping my children and now my grandchildren close with my mother and daddy (their grandparents and great-grandparents). My son spent summers with both grandparents when he was young but as he aged, they did not seem to be that important in his life. I always, always visited my parents, my grandmother (only one I ever knew out of the 4, others deceased), my aunts, and on and on. I was never asked to stay close, that was just me and I loved it.
When I broke my toe
it was because I kicked a door jam. There was much screaming involved. I couldn't put on a shoe. I couldn't lift my toes or put weight on the toes.
It sort of sounds like you may have broken a blood vessel, but I wonder why? I'd see the doctor about it.
Cutting back on Christmas spending this year
I thought it might be a good idea to post ideas for gifts that are inexpensive. I have made a few Christmas gifts in years past, but, since I've already given these particular gifts and my family members already "have one", I need new ideas!
I will start with the ideas of gifts I have given in the past:
I made family wreaths for each of my kids (grown). What I did was, buy a nice size wreath at the craft store, purchase inexpensive small frames at the dollar store (or wherever I could find them), made copies of baby pictures of my kids when they were little, family picture, pics of the grandbabies, etc. and framed each one - wired each framed photo onto the wreath, put in some berry sprays or whatever, and a 20 count string of white lights and some ribbon. Then I sprayed them with spray glue and sprinkled with the white snow stuff. Also, I put a few blank frames with Christmas card fronts so that they could add pics from the inlaws (who I did not have pics as children) and new baby pics as appropriate.
They were darling! My daughter in law actually cried when I gave them their wreath!
I also made a similar thing for my mom - I made her a Grandchildren tree - because she has too many grandchildren to get all their pics on a wreath. I just purchased a small, prelit tree from Wal - Mart, and basically, did the same thing - framed pics of all the grandchildren and children, glued ribbon to the back of the frames - hung them like ornaments, added some ribbon and some berry sprays. It was beautiful and she has used it every year since, because it is small and she can put it together herself - without much work.
I will post more ideas in a little bit, but, I need other ideas from all of you - because, how many memory or family wreaths can you give . . .
When my husband broke his toe sm
His was red and swollen and black and blue across the top. His was due to trauma, but you could have a stress fracture. It would be a very good idea to have it x-rayed, just to be on the safe side.
I heard that they already broke up! nm
nm
My sister broke hers
when she was little when we were all in a car accident. It took a couple of hours before she started complaining about her arm feeling heavy. Mom was going to the ER to get her ankle x-rayed, which turned out not to be broken, and took my sister along for an x-ray just in case. Yup, it was broken. So yours could be too. All they will probably do is put you in a sling.
It broke up both our marriages.
Our two kids, their two kids, parents, other family. She lives in Texas now, on her third or fourth marriage. My ex never did remarry (he is also bi - as I said in another post today). Her ex is on his 3rd marriage.
Thanks for your kind thoughts. But as for me, I met a wonderful man whom I have been married to for 9 tremendous years and am very happy now. It just was such a betrayal that it still bothers me from time to time.
Oh, and no, she never did say she was sorry. It's like I never really knew who she was...
Re-gifting keeps me from going broke
I would throw away any food that I had reservations about, but I look at it as a challenge sometimes to find those horrible gifts a good home :)
To me there really isn't anything else for one to do but thank them for the gift then do with it what you will.
Look at it this way - if it makes you happy making a friend/relative happy by giving them the gift, then it has given you something.to be thankful for, albeit in a roundabout way.
Poll: How broke are you?
Last payday, I would have needed $200 to pay all my bills and then be broke. Payday is three days away. Here's my tally: Cash on hand: 48 cents. Checking: $3.58. Savings: 4 cents. Woohoo. Hatin' it.
Sure am glad this forced me to stop the cigarettes -- 18 days smoke free now.
Just a thought--if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Why would anyone want to have a part of their body removed just on a CHANCE they may someday get some disease. This is just beyond my comprehension. That's like saying, well, I may as well kill myself now 'cause I'm gonna die some day anyway. ???
Make a list of budget/spending priorities for your self employment income
Dave Ramsey's book has a irregular income planning sheet. Basically you list your expenses with the cash flow sheet. With any steady income you allocate it. For irregular income, make a list from the cash flow sheet of what needs to be paid first. Keep a culmulative total.
Miss Lily broke my toe.
So my lovely dog Miss Lily, who can't be more than 6 inches from me at all times, stepped on the back of my pajamas when we were walking down the stairs and I fell down a few of them. I broke my toe, just a hairline fracture, and it HURTS! That'll teach me to wear pajamas that are remotely baggy lol.
*This concludes my pity party* 
The straw that broke my back was
when my 90-year-old father was killed in an accident. I was only relative left, no siblings, no other living kids - well my son said I had got it ALL, thinking he should have more than the $60,000.00 my father had given him and his children for their school/college. How greedy can a person be? I should have had EVERYTHING but not the case. When my grandparents died, I think I got some dishes, maybe and oh, yeh and a watch from my grandmother. Rememberence type things which I am thankful for. My DIL's family just took completely over. I have a great life, though and I figure things will be like they are supposed to be. No sweat off my brow.
Like you, I have fibro and broke out with shingles for the first
time this past month. OMG, could not tell which was the worse. Do you use anything like fish oil or glucosamine? My hubby gave me the fish oil and it helped me a lot with the stiffness in the joints. My fibro started in my late 50s.
I broke down and got a pair of dedicated....
single-vision computer glasses. HUGE difference. They definitely aren't pretty because I wanted to keep the cost as low as I could, but my headaches are all but gone now thanks to them.
My other pair of glasses are bifocals, which I can use for work in a pinch like if I lost my computer glasses, but what happens is I wind up tilting my head too much to use the teeny bifocal part to see the monitor, which in turn causes headaches from muscle strain.
To save a TON off glasses, take your prescription and get them at a wholesale place like Sam's Club.
Good luck! 
That is cold. My furnace is broke...sm
Getting it repaired tomorrow. YAY! Freezing sucks! It has been in the 30s at night here in South MS and that is too cold for no heat. I do have the little electric space heaters though so that helps. Heat tomorrow finally!
i read that the mob broke the doors down
if they got it on camera, i think whoever knocked this person down should be held accountable.
Not broke here but in years past
could probably not really rub 2 nickels together. I am sorry so many others have lost their jobs, etc. I have been able to, so far, keep my job and my hubby has a union job and he is still there although at his job they have laid off some. I have money saved so if his job had been threatened, feel like have enough to get us through several months or even years if need be but I would hate to come to that. I have not changed any spending habits, in fact need to rein in my overspending. I heard cigarettes were extremely expensive now- a carton for over $50.00?
Not completely broke, but close
We live paycheck to paycheck for the most part. My paycuts really did our savings in. The bills are still all the same things and they get paid.
Hope for savings in the future is not too great. We rent and probably won't be able to buy a house till the kids are all off at college. Same for the cars. They are old and they run. I am grateful for that, as I have no car payments and they are too old for full coverage insurance.
We support 5 people on about $2500 a month for 8 months out of the year and about $3000 for the other months.
Cleaning lady broke something again!
This time it's really not replaceable. It was a tiny glass vase of tuilps that my MIL brought back from Italy. Each tulip was separate and just adorable.
I MIGHT be able to find something like it online, but I haven't looked yet. She/they have broken stuff before and while the stuff as been important to me it was not expensive.
I had this, and a few other things in my bedroom entertainment cabinet - to PROTECT it from HER. Today she decides to clean in there.
I think this is it. She cleans well and is affordable, but at this rate everything important to me will be broken in a couple of years.
Spending a romantic weekend in Atlanta with hubby. Leaving at noon. Can't wait! nm
,
I almost went blind from it as I broke out on half of my face and they
were invading my cornea but never penetrated through. I had them actually while on the delivery table with my son!! It was frightening to say the least, I looked like a monster for about 1 week, started healing after week 2 and then had terrible pain weeks 2 and 3. I was popping 800 Motrin without even looking at the clock, the only time in my life I was a pill popper!! Anyhow still can't tweeze my eyebrow on that area without strange neuralgia, when I get tired or stressed I feel the tingling, feels like my eyelid is drooping but no residual effects other than that. If it ever happens again (this was 16 years ago so knock on wood) I will just go somewhere with a bottle and drink myself to sleep for 3 weeks.
tried duct tape, no go, broke immediately, thanks though, NM
z
I finally broke down and bought a box of cards
Sunday night. I haven't gotten them addressed yet, but I'm hoping to this week. We always did the same thing -- different colored inks, holiday stamps, etc. I just don't feel like putting the time into it this year. One year, I even bought cards from a scrapbook party to make my own. They went over really well. My grandma, 80 years old, told me not to send her a card because of the price of stamps. I'm planning to hand-deliver hers on Christmas day as well as others that I will be seeing or live close enough to to deliver personally.
I only have a few out-of-towners that I need to mail to and I'm hoping to get those done by Friday.
Why not try addressing 2 or 3 per evening? Get DH to help. I always feel guilty when I receive cards and don't mail them.
i broke a mercury thermometer - what a pain i
it broke on the counter right next to the fridge, so some little balls of mercury went down the crack between the fridge and counter.
not broke, just always struggling to keep head afloat.
Basically paycheck to paycheck with us, also. We are trying to manage our money better unfortunately we do well for a while and then fall off. It's getting harder and harder though; my goal is to have my credit cards paid in full (3 of them) by end of April as I am tired of paying all that interest. I agree with the gal who wants to get rid of banks. That's exactly how they make their money off of you. The middle class IS disappearing . . .
I broke my keyboard tray off when I was startled and jumped. Terrible startle reflex. NM
x
Even if you have not changed anything - sm
you can still develop an allergy. I was told years ago that your body chemistry changes every 7 years or so; don't know if it is true, but it seems that way in my experience. I have developed shampoo allergies in the past totally out of the blue, as well as skin sensitivity. Do patch testing on her arm, place a dab of everything she uses on her inner arm, leave on for 24-48 hours (no showers) covering with a band-aid and then check to see if there is a reaction. That is how I found out it was the shampoo I had been using for years; stopped using the shampoo and my rash went away instantly. But regardless call the dermatologist, make an appointment, I cannot believe you have not called them because you think it will take too long to explain to them the problem; tell them skin rash, period. It may just be a reaction to the drug she is on as well, so once she is off it still may take weeks to clear up and she may need somethings to counteract the reaction. My daughter a few years ago had a reaction to Omnicef, they had to put her on 2 other drugs to get the rash to go away, then taper her off them once the rash disappearred, took about 2-3 weeks for the whole process. Call doctor today, get her in ASAP!
5.4, I think. But might have changed since this was
x
I can't get into it anymore...has it changed?..
I just get "picture of the day" and not the live cam I used to see. ???
This was some years ago and probably has changed
but I was the custodial parent. My ex-husband stayed behind in child support, never caught up and owed me over 3 thousand when my child reached 18. He wanted me to "drop" off my child at another place, did not want to perhaps run into a new guy at my home and the judge said my child not a puppy dog, if he wanted to see he would have to pick her up there. Whatever the courts say, not what you or the next one says, is what goes. Getting the police involved is fruitless- they will tell you need an attorney, go thru the courts, etc. Calling them is taking up their valuable time and they are not at liberty to state who a child should go with. What kind of court order is there and if not, there certainly should be something before you start playing these games. I do not think nonpayment of child support now days plays any part in whether a child is allowed to visit with noncustodial parent. Basically when a court says so, you have to abide by their orders.
Things may have changed
when he was like 2. I will never do that again. They put a bunch of needles filled with different types of serum up both of his arms and all over his back. Then they had to be watched to see which one he reacted to the most. The allergist claimed he was allergic to every food out there and every tree and mold. So, I just laid off the milk and kept him inside on high pollen days. He would have been bubble boy. Thankfully, he's fine now other than an occasional sinus drainage problem, which I think the pollen or something or other must be high right now.
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