Two people -- both in 40ish-- are talking about the possibility of moving in together. We are in a loving and serious long-term relationship. There has been an initial talk about how we might handle finances and we came to conclusion that there are many ways we could handle them. I read a few posts about how couples handle finances, but am looking for some more viewpoints/options for us to consider and discuss. Details inside.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 6, 2013 -
11 answers
What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff?
[more inside]
posted by ch3cooh
on Jan 6, 2013 -
21 answers
Job hunting and money hacks for less-than-shoestring budget while returning to school? Help me not become a fatality of class warfare. Very complicated and snowflakey stuff inside.
[more inside]
posted by Ephelump Jockey
on Jan 1, 2013 -
20 answers
My husband and I have a bunch of money leftover at the end of each month after bills have come out, but we don't know where it is.
[more inside]
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith
on Dec 3, 2012 -
57 answers
Newly married, and trying to figure out emergency savings vs. retirement vs. paying off debt vs. saving for a family. Please help me prioritize.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 7, 2012 -
22 answers
Novice/don't know what the hell I'm doing Filter: Moving away from home for the first time and need to create a budget! Any tips/help?
[more inside]
posted by horizonseeker
on Jun 20, 2012 -
10 answers
Hey Mefites! Please help me become more financially responsible. I don't think I live particularly extravagantly but I don't even know how to start budgeting. I live pretty much paycheck to paycheck. I feel really bad about this, and could do with some ideas about how to build up a money-tracking and budgeting plan from scratch.
[more inside]
posted by Ziggy500
on Feb 29, 2012 -
26 answers
I've asked here about HOW to budget for a family, but darn it, I can't bring myself to do it! I need help. (Perhaps psychological help.)
[more inside]
posted by snsranch
on Nov 10, 2011 -
17 answers
I'm spending nearly $400/month on automotive-related expenses for a car I don't enjoy driving. That's about 25% of my monthly income, and when it really comes down to it, I think I'd rather be saving that money for something better, like travel. Or education. Or Scotch. Lots and lots of Scotch.
[more inside]
posted by bhayes82
on Nov 7, 2011 -
34 answers
If you use budgeting software, do you have a good system for tracking and categorizing your cash spending?
[more inside]
posted by andrewcilento
on Jul 17, 2011 -
16 answers
Help me find a simple budgeting software that knows how to handle bi-weekly income and spending.
[more inside]
posted by Dojie
on Jul 14, 2011 -
9 answers
How can I get more organized about money and more on top of my budget when my brain freezes up at the sight of bills and bank statements?
[more inside]
posted by sucky_poppet
on Jun 10, 2011 -
17 answers
I'm a newbie to YNAB software and need some input from fellow users: What is the best way to learn how to use this software? There are so many forums, tutorials, videos, and the manual (which is a nightmare to use) that I am lost! Help! I just want a step-by-step guide that goes in some kind of sequential order and shows me how to use
all aspects of the program.
[more inside]
posted by luciddream928
on Apr 3, 2011 -
5 answers
special snowflake finance filter: Got my first real job. Now that I'm making money, what do I do with it?
[more inside]
posted by sprezzy
on Jan 17, 2011 -
19 answers
Special snowflake budget filter: I tracked my spending in 2010, how can I improve my budget for 2011?
[more inside]
posted by gillianr
on Jan 4, 2011 -
14 answers
Looking for free budgeting software. There are certain things I must have. Patience for doing my own research on this is obviously not one of them.
[more inside]
posted by asockpuppet
on Dec 6, 2010 -
6 answers
I realized shortly after asking
this question that I should have made it more directly about how to budget with an irregular, unpredictable (freelance) income.
[more inside]
posted by The Dutchman
on Nov 19, 2010 -
5 answers
I like Mint.com and I want to use it. My wife, she disagrees. This has caused some consternation. Maybe you can help.
[more inside]
posted by kbanas
on Nov 10, 2010 -
45 answers
I'd love to get a handle on my money the same way I'm getting a handle on my eating. I've been using
Fatsecret and its corresponding
Android app for several weeks now to lose weight...and it's working! I think the reasons it works for me are A) it forces me to eat consciously; I know I will be entering the calories, so instead of scarfing eight cookies, I'm counting so I can enter the right amount in Fatsecret later, B) It's simple (takes only a moment to choose a food, dropdown menu for portion, barcode scanner/can enter food anywhere with app; I don't have to think about when, what, how often to eat), C) It's almost like a game (Hey, only 74% of allotted calories today! Woo!) I want something like that for money.
[more inside]
posted by The Dutchman
on Nov 9, 2010 -
9 answers
I'm self-employed, and looking for a formula for dividing up my income. I am currently in the UK, and just about to file my first tax return since I've been here. Once I know what tax will actually cost me in this country, I would really like to have a sense of where the rest of my money should go.
[more inside]
posted by wingless_angel
on Oct 18, 2010 -
2 answers
My boyfriend and I have been living together officially for about 4 months, and our relationship is only about 8 months old altogether. It's worked out fine for the most part, but now we're moving to a new place and I'm about to reach the end of my rapidly-fraying financial patience rope. (advance apologies for length)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 18, 2010 -
25 answers
Looking for software or an app that will allow me to track expenses via SMS, but that will also allow me to track how much money is left in my account.
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on Aug 23, 2010 -
3 answers
My girlfriend and I are shipping all non fixtures from our 1 bedroom apartment across the country. We will not have a new address until after we move. What is the best way to ship everything?
[more inside]
posted by 1awesomeguy
on Aug 11, 2010 -
8 answers
I'm considering taking an international vacation next summer. I've never been outside of North America and I have very little disposable income. Besides saving and obtaining a passport, what can I do in the next year to prepare? Is there anything I can do now or soon that will make my trip less expensive? What are some great budget travel locations?
[more inside]
posted by emilyd22222
on Jul 18, 2010 -
17 answers
Please help me find financial management software that both (1) keeps data in sync when used on multiple devices and, (2) works offline.
[more inside]
posted by Vorteks
on Apr 22, 2010 -
10 answers
Rudder or Mint? Is there a big difference between these two services? I'm an obsessive bank account checker and pay everything online.
[more inside]
posted by sarelicar
on Nov 16, 2009 -
15 answers
I'm looking for a financial coach, someone who can help me develop better financial habits. Does such a thing exist?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 12, 2009 -
12 answers
Seeking techniques for aiding/supporting/educating a financially irresponsible spouse who talks the talk but won't walk the walk.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 3, 2009 -
27 answers
I was born in the US, lived in Canada for ten years, and moved back to the States last year. While I was in Canada, I built up a solid credit rating- I had two credit cards, an unsecured line of credit with low interest (7%) and overdraft protection on my checking account up to $3,500. At one point when I was underemployed I built up some credit card debt, but I payed it off. Last year, when I moved back to the US for grad school, I got into a bad pattern of leaning on my credit cards and low-interest line of credit to pay for moving and start up expenses. This June, the world financial collapse coincided with one of my own- I was employed super part time, was making around $750 a month and was struggling to pay rent and buy $20 worth of groceries a week. I just couldn't pay my debt, and I paid very minimally, then not at all. I know I probably should have called the bank and tried to work something out, but what can I say- I panicked and froze. Currently, my total debt load is $14,000 on the line of credit, $3,700 on the overdraft and $1,400 on my Visa.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 13, 2009 -
6 answers
Total financial ruin filter: I am terrible at managing my very small amount of money. How did you learn to manage your money better than me?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jul 8, 2008 -
38 answers
Given that I have no bills to pay, what percentage of my wages should I save and how much should I take as spending money?
[more inside]
posted by DMan
on Apr 6, 2008 -
19 answers
Recommendations for a financial advisor/accountant for a young couple in NYC?
[more inside]
posted by scazza
on Jan 30, 2008 -
2 answers
Look, I truly do get the “know your income, know your expenses” bit about budgeting. And I’m pretty frugal in my habits. My problem is this, as the financial head of this family, I have to decide what we will spend our inadequate resources on. So in general, how to prioritise discretionary spending in a fair and efficient manner?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2008 -
25 answers
