I am not feeling very enthused, inspired or original today. I am struggling to understand how, as the one who is supposed to be caring and supporting me in particular at the moment, Husband does not realise how tight the finances are and how nothing is getting done ~ and I can't get me going without a struggle, let alone give him the directions, the incentives and keep repeating the same things over and over. It's not like it changes ~ house is a mess, disorganised, cluttered and funds are low, minimal and sparse.
Tonight I started only with the finances, letting him know he must be aware of the amounts we have one hand and the money required to be paid out over this month. Most of this came about because he asked me how much petrol we could put into the car. All I wanted to say was 'nothing' because we have other pressing expenses. There are so many 'things' to pay. Yes, eBay or a sale will provide a few dollars but its not enough.
Yes, I am tired ~ probably need a few days out by myself somewhere. It might only mean for a few days I can pretend there is nothing wrong to alleviate the negative in my head and come back refreshed ~ but its so not possible. I'd really like to have the chance to do one of those retreats to refresh and revitalise myself so I can return with positivity and direction. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome people *smiles*
A very wise woman mentioned a quiz to show how well we understand our personal financial situation. I scored 12 ~ husband scored a lot higher. This quiz came from 'The Simple Dollar', one bloke who does know where his money goes and how to spend AND save in a way which doesn't put stress on the family budget. I've jigged it a little to be more Australian.
Do you know where your money goes?
Are you really aware of every red cent you're spending, or does a lot of it slip right through your fingers, leaving you wondering at the end of the month how you're going to make ends meet? Knowing where every dollar goes is one of the key principles of living cheap. Take this quick quiz to find out how your dollars stack up.
1. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECEIPT AFTER LEAVING THE SUPERMARKET, YOU:
A. Feel shocked at the total and express disbelief that you could have spent that much.
B. Feel alarmed at the rising grocery prices, but feel that you made sensible purchases.
C. Smile happily at your tiny total, knowing that you got the food you needed for the week at a minimal cost.
2. WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO PAY BILLS, YOU:
A. Hope that there will be money in your account to cover the checks.
B. Get through the task as quickly as possible, but don't worry about having enough money to pay the bills.
C. Look for ways to trim a few dollars off every bill you pay.
3. WHEN AN UNEXPECTED BILL COMES IN THE MAIL, YOU:
A. PANIC!
B. Calmly take a little out of savings, a little out of the cheque account and pay the bill - then use the credit card to cover regular expenses for the next week.
C. Fire off that payment without thinking twice thanks to cheap living and an emergency fund.
4. IT'S SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND TIME TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING. YOU:
A. Jump in the car and head straight to the supermarket.
B. Make a shopping list.
C. Use the supermarket specials catalogue to plan your meals for the week and make a list from that meal plan.
5. HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW (WITHOUT PEEKING!)?
A. I have no idea.
B. I know within a few hundred dollars.
C. I know within a few dollars.
6. HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SPEND ON ENTERTAINMENT AND HOBBIES LAST MONTH?
A. I don't know - a lot?
B. I know pretty close to the amount, but it's more than is probably healthy.
C. Ten bucks or so.
7. A FRIEND CALLS UP AND WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FUN. YOU :
A. Go out with your buddy and drop at least $100 - or whatever the evening requires to "have fun".
B. Go out with your buddy, but just spend $20 or so.
C. Suggest twenty or so different things to do - none of which cost much, or anything at all.
8. YOUR KIDS ARE BORED. YOU :
A. Load 'em up and take them to the mall.
B. Load 'em up and take them to the park and then out for icecream.
C. Pull out board games, play catch in the yard, and spend the afternoon together at home.
9. WHEN YOU OPEN UP YOUR MOBILE PHONE BILL, YOU:
A. Grumble loadly about overage charges, extra text message fees, and out-of-plan calls, but pay the bill anyway.
B. See a few small additional costs, but pay the bill without sweating it.
C. Rarely see an extra cost, but if you do, call up the phone company and make sure it doesn't happen again.
10. YOU SEE A NEW TOY/GADGET/CLOTHING ITEM YOU REALLY WANT.YOU :
A. Whip out the plastic and buy it immediately.
B. Don't buy it right then, but go home and plan how you can afford it, then buy it next week.
C. Go home and see if it fits in your budget. If it doesn't, put it off until a later date when you really can afford it - if you still want it then, that is.
SCORING
For every A answer, give yourself 3 points.
For every B answer, give yourself 2 points.
For every C answer, give yourself 1 point.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES?
25 TO 30 POINTS: Your money flutters through your fingers and blows away in the wind. Time to buck down and learn how to live cheap.
18 TO 25 POINTS: You know some of the tactics for living a financially sensible lifestyle, but too much of your cash still slips through the cracks. Time for a tactics refresher.
10 TO 17 POINTS: You're a thrift machine who knows how to save money - and knows the usefulness of discovering new ways to save a penny.
1. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECEIPT AFTER LEAVING THE SUPERMARKET, YOU:
A. Feel shocked at the total and express disbelief that you could have spent that much.
B. Feel alarmed at the rising grocery prices, but feel that you made sensible purchases.
C. Smile happily at your tiny total, knowing that you got the food you needed for the week at a minimal cost.
2. WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO PAY BILLS, YOU:
A. Hope that there will be money in your account to cover the checks.
B. Get through the task as quickly as possible, but don't worry about having enough money to pay the bills.
C. Look for ways to trim a few dollars off every bill you pay.
3. WHEN AN UNEXPECTED BILL COMES IN THE MAIL, YOU:
A. PANIC!
B. Calmly take a little out of savings, a little out of the cheque account and pay the bill - then use the credit card to cover regular expenses for the next week.
C. Fire off that payment without thinking twice thanks to cheap living and an emergency fund.
4. IT'S SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND TIME TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING. YOU:
A. Jump in the car and head straight to the supermarket.
B. Make a shopping list.
C. Use the supermarket specials catalogue to plan your meals for the week and make a list from that meal plan.
5. HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW (WITHOUT PEEKING!)?
A. I have no idea.
B. I know within a few hundred dollars.
C. I know within a few dollars.
6. HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SPEND ON ENTERTAINMENT AND HOBBIES LAST MONTH?
A. I don't know - a lot?
B. I know pretty close to the amount, but it's more than is probably healthy.
C. Ten bucks or so.
7. A FRIEND CALLS UP AND WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FUN. YOU :
A. Go out with your buddy and drop at least $100 - or whatever the evening requires to "have fun".
B. Go out with your buddy, but just spend $20 or so.
C. Suggest twenty or so different things to do - none of which cost much, or anything at all.
8. YOUR KIDS ARE BORED. YOU :
A. Load 'em up and take them to the mall.
B. Load 'em up and take them to the park and then out for icecream.
C. Pull out board games, play catch in the yard, and spend the afternoon together at home.
9. WHEN YOU OPEN UP YOUR MOBILE PHONE BILL, YOU:
A. Grumble loadly about overage charges, extra text message fees, and out-of-plan calls, but pay the bill anyway.
B. See a few small additional costs, but pay the bill without sweating it.
C. Rarely see an extra cost, but if you do, call up the phone company and make sure it doesn't happen again.
10. YOU SEE A NEW TOY/GADGET/CLOTHING ITEM YOU REALLY WANT.YOU :
A. Whip out the plastic and buy it immediately.
B. Don't buy it right then, but go home and plan how you can afford it, then buy it next week.
C. Go home and see if it fits in your budget. If it doesn't, put it off until a later date when you really can afford it - if you still want it then, that is.
SCORING
For every A answer, give yourself 3 points.
For every B answer, give yourself 2 points.
For every C answer, give yourself 1 point.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES?
25 TO 30 POINTS: Your money flutters through your fingers and blows away in the wind. Time to buck down and learn how to live cheap.
18 TO 25 POINTS: You know some of the tactics for living a financially sensible lifestyle, but too much of your cash still slips through the cracks. Time for a tactics refresher.
10 TO 17 POINTS: You're a thrift machine who knows how to save money - and knows the usefulness of discovering new ways to save a penny.
Take the test for yourself and see how you fare ~ be honest and not answer as you know you should be answering but what you really do. It's quite interesting to see how different males and females answer the same questions...
Night my friends ~ here's to sunny skies tomorrow :D
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