I don't know really. I can't cut cable then I will have absolutely nothing to do at my apartment by myself. I know things are tight, but I was hoping for other ways to save, i.e. maybe food ideas. I have already changed my tax with holding today, which was recommended. I do plan on changing the hair and nails habit. I guess I just always find a way to make things work. Last summer I found a way to pay rent on a $1,000/month apartment, pay the bills and have the XH spend as if he was still helping to pay. Luckily my work had a bunch of overtime, though I did have to put things on the credit card and dig into our savings. I am hoping to drop one credit card by at least $800 next month.
What about cutting cable and watching tv online? Or going down to the most basic package. Before my H, I watched tv this way. Redbox sends out free movie codes.
Food ideas? Hmmm....do you have a community garden? Or Googling $5 budget meals or something. Do you use coupons? That is all I've got.
I have the economy package for tv and phone and the next one up for internet. I sometimes work from home so this is essential. I do look at coupons, and plan on going to PriceRite, Super Walmart, and Job Lot for groceries.
I would really suggest seeing if you can cut cable and phone. I know the bundle is "cheaper" but in our case, we would pay at least 20 bucks more a month for TV and internet than we would for just internet. You have a cell phone, so there's no need for a phone. If you can get money back there, it's easy.
I also echo the others, until you have a concrete plan for how you'll handle the car payment and the increased car insurance costs, I think paying for repairs is a better bet. You'll wind up with a very expensive loan due to your debt to income ratio. Your plan to pay the CC and wait on the car until next year seems really, really sound.
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 7:45:50 GMT -5
I just scheduled my car to get fixed next weekend for the ball joints and new front tires. It is a 2 year inspection sticker so I have until then to save up. It will cost me about $48 to cancel the phone and tv, I looked at my bill and for just tv and internet is $75.
Post by sweetiesparkles on Apr 19, 2014 8:09:49 GMT -5
Your rent is way too much for your income. Either find another fulltime job, get a 2nd job, or find a roommate. I am very concerned you do not have any emergency savings.
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 8:15:28 GMT -5
I have right now $500 in savings, with an automatic $25 transfer. I live in a college town, landlords can charge whatever they want because the parents will pay. If I try to move to the island where my job is, the rents only increase. I have to be able to work overtime with my current job as it was in the interview when I got hired. So if I get a second job, I will need to call out for overtime.
Is it too late to return the furniture for a full refund and shop on CL instead? Seriously - I've been stalking CL here for some furniture items I need that I could buy in cash new if I wanted but it's just so much cheaper used.
Otherwise, I know it's frustrating to put expensive repairs into a car but $1k is still much cheaper than a new or gently used one. For the record, we spent $4k on a new transmission for our (then) 11-year-old truck last year because it was so much less that the $30k for a new one.
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 8:42:33 GMT -5
The furniture was purchased in December of 2012, so that is not an option. And I refuse to buy a bed on CL...just eww. I am holding off on buying a dining room set and desk for that reason.
So for right now, I am repairing the car, cutting my cable down to just internet (so around $40 instead of $100.) I will try to come in a little early and leave a little later to add some over time. I am scheduled for exactly 40 hour a week even after taking out my 30 minute lunch.
True. I can afford the cancellation fee at this time to cancel, but I am a football fan. How can I watch my games?
This thread sounds like someone else I know...
I am a new member, this is not an AE, I came over from TN. I do live two doors down from a bar, so I guess that is technically an option. Or go hang out at my dad's house and maybe do my laundry for free there.
The furniture was purchased in December of 2012, so that is not an option. And I refuse to buy a bed on CL...just eww. I am holding off on buying a dining room set and desk for that reason.
So for right now, I am repairing the car, cutting my cable down to just internet (so around $40 instead of $100.) I will try to come in a little early and leave a little later to add some over time. I am scheduled for exactly 40 hour a week even after taking out my 30 minute lunch.
OK, for some reason I thought your furniture might have been a part of the recent expenditures, but from Dec. 2012 obviously that's not an option. I think it's the right choice to cut down to just internet; we watch all of our TV on Netflix and Hulu (not even Hulu Plus) these days. That extra $60/month will certainly help with your debt. I saw you're also going to repair the car instead of replace, which should help. If you save your overtime, that will help you with a down payment on the new-to-you car in 2 years. Good luck!
Post by sillygoosegirl on Apr 19, 2014 12:57:40 GMT -5
Call the utility companies and get high/low/average bill amounts for your unit over the past year so you can plan. In the future, you should always do this before signing a lease or buying a house.
Post by whereintheworld on Apr 19, 2014 13:03:15 GMT -5
lol at buying a bed from CL being 'ew'. I literally just bought a new bed frame this morning and my H is putting it together now. Pottery Barn for $650!
True. I can afford the cancellation fee at this time to cancel, but I am a football fan. How can I watch my games?
I went to a bar and had soda. Or, let's be honest, guys bought me beer. I'd be all, thanks, but I'm watching my game so I can't talk to you or anything. I only paid for the one soda.
My divorce is final at the end of July, so I will be completely single by the time regular season starts
If I were in your position (which I have been) I'd cut cable, shop around to see if you can lower insurance at all, then find a roommate or work a 2nd job.
I also would just repair the car and hold off on a new one for another year.
True. I can afford the cancellation fee at this time to cancel, but I am a football fan. How can I watch my games?
Consider getting a digital antenna. Ours is sold on amazon for about $60, and we get most of the channels that one would get with the cheapest cable package, all for that one fee. And bonus, the network channels (NBC, ABC, etc) come in HD! Our football games here look amazing!
Best of luck! You have gotten a bunch of good advice from the smart people on this board.
One thing I would suggest is a change in wording. While it looks (on page 2) like you are open to cutting cable, you did write earlier, "I can't cut cable then I will have absolutely nothing to do at my apartment by myself."
I would suggest re-wording that to: "I CHOOSE not to cut cable." No one forces you to have cable...so you CAN cut it, you choose not to.
I read so much more (lots from the library) now that I am cable-free. And I waste so, so, so much less time on nonsense reality junk TV (though I do still find a way to watch 1 trashy show, The Bachelor).
Most spending (outside of boring life necessities like food, water, shelter) is made up of choices. Realizing you have a choice instantly makes you more powerful.
Again, good luck! Once you have freed up debt, I would also suggest moving to a different phone provider. You pay $50 monthly, which is not terrible, but there are plans ranging from $12 - $37 monthly that are pretty excellent from providers like Republic Wireless and Virgin Mobile. (I use Virgin M.)
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 16:42:54 GMT -5
I currently use Straight Talk which is $50 for unlimited everything. I went shopping at PriceRite today and while I did slightly over spend today, some of things I don't need to buy all the time.
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 18:34:34 GMT -5
Clarify income: My annual gross pay is $31,200, which means my month gross pay is $2,600, my health/dental/life insurance deductions is $93.94. I am working on adjusting my federal tax withholding as that is a large chunk of my paycheck. I had it at Single 0, and just changed it to 1. I did the IRS Withholding Calendar and it mentioned 5 allowances. I was not sure about going this high just yet, but I will see how 1 does and may change in a month or so. I currently have over $2,100 withheld for federal taxes.
Clarify income: My annual gross pay is $31,200, which means my month gross pay is $2,600, my health/dental/life insurance deductions is $93.94. I am working on adjusting my federal tax withholding as that is a large chunk of my paycheck. I had it at Single 0, and just changed it to 1. I did the IRS Withholding Calendar and it mentioned 5 allowances. I was not sure about going this high just yet, but I will see how 1 does and may change in a month or so. I currently have over $2,100 withheld for federal taxes.
Did you get a big tax refund this year? If so, changing your withholdings is a good idea (and put the refund toward savings/debt). I don't understand why you would have 5 allowances when it doesn't seem like you have any dependents?
Your health insurance is really cheap; is it a high-deductible plan? If so, I would definitely prioritize increasing your savings balance; it would suck to get out of debt just to go back into debt for an ER visit.
Post by ri49ers4life on Apr 19, 2014 19:54:23 GMT -5
I got about $1,500 back from federal, I was confused by the 5 allowance too. If I stayed at 0 I have an estimated $1800 refund coming.
I have a $500 deductible for in network and $1,000 deductible out of network. My co-pays are a little higher than I like ($45 for a specialist/$30 for primary). So right now I have enough in savings to cover my in network deductible.