I don’t want to use an app or an online budget sheet. I need someone to look at my money in and out and my debt and tell me exactly what to do, how much to save, and how much I can spend.
You need to be aware of all this and learn it yourself
Yes, you don’t want some scam artist doing whatever they want. They can help take action on what you want to do but you gotta have that base first.
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
I need a budget, and I also have a couple of saving goals. I need help on how much to save and spend and how to budget.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
Get an excel spreadsheet and see everything on paper. If something doesn’t work out post it here and get some comments. In excel put all expenses so you can monitor. Hopefully you spend everything on a credit or debit card so you can find out what you spend on gas or food.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
I do spend everything on debit or credit card. Never cash. My problem is this. Say I have 2600 in bills per month. $650 wife’s car, $250 my car, $300 car insurance, $150 student loan, $100 internet, $200 cell phones, $350 groceries, $50 TV service, $400 camper payment, $200 fuel, $125 electricity and water. Then I have $2500 in CC debt. Income is 6000 bring home. Need to save for a house with no savings currently, need emergency fund, need to save $500yr for car maintenance, need to save $5000 per year for vacations, then maybe $100/month for clothes, and then probably $80/week to eat out just to enjoy life a little. How do I make all that work. Like how much goes to each account, etc. that’s where I’m lost.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
I think your first problem is $900 in car payments. Maybe trade both those in and get a civic or Corolla lease. That will also save you issues with car maintenance. This is something that needs to be opened. What cars do you have? What is the interest rate? How much do you still owe? Payments almost up. Getting rid of your wife’s car for a $300 lease will save you $4200 a year? Second issue is cellphone. I have mint mobile. I used to be on a 5gb plan. My wife is still on 5gb. Both of us used to pay $15 a month so $30 both of us. I recently decided to splurge one year and get 15gb data for $20 a month. Get mint mobile. Pay off your phones and pay $30 a month. Thats another $170 a month or $2040 a year. $6200 saved with car and cellphone. Does this help?
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
I get what you are saying. Her car is a new Toyota 2.9% owe 28 worth 38, my car I owe 5k on. The cell phones we just got so it would cost probably 2k to get out of them on a cheaper plan. The internet in my area is the only option in a rural area. The camper is actually what we live in so no getting rid of that until we build. I feel like I’m in quite the predicament.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
Yes. A lot of things to think about but even a small change with cellphones to mint will give you some breathing room. See if you can trade in your wife’s car for a lease. That $650 payment is a lot. I think that’s what keeping you underwater. If she wants new find the cheapest lease you can find, should be about $300. Bite the bullet let her drive that for 3 years and when you’re in a better place she can get something else. Big issue is if she is onboard. Your car payments are twice as much as your living situation. Just trying to help. Hope this is putting things in perspective.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
Do you think it’s a problem even though my bills are only 50% of my total income? I mean I should essentially have 900 per week in excess money that I need to put to work.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
I don’t think that matters because you need to save for a house, emergency fund. Investments would be fun. Do you want to live paycheck to paycheck? Fat is fat and you need to cut the excess fat. Percentage wise it doesn’t make sense. You’re paying $900 on car payments?! That’s a lot. If I made 10k a month I wouldn’t do that. Read millionaire next door or Dave Ramsey total money makeover.
Adrian said:
Rule number one of fight club. We don’t pay to make a budget.
As far as retirement goes I have a pension through Gov. I’m 34 and I have a 401k with 50k contributing 10% to 401k per year.
CFP in your area