Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with budget

The Budget Ethical Gourmet

whodatninja — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:28:53 -0800

Help me put together a shopping list that is 1) ethical 2) healthy and 3) under $50/week. One of my goals for the coming year is to be more ethically responsible in my food choices. I recognize that the first step is to eat more frequently at home, where I can control the sourcing for the most part. As a young person in a big city, I am on a budget- $50 a week for groceries is the most I can put out.

I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I do want to reduce my meat consumption. I eat a lot of seafood (generally wild-caught and per the Monterey Bay Aquarium recommendations). I eat a lot of fresh produce, which I get from a variety of places. I lean toward local and organic produce, but local is more important to me than organic. I eat dairy in the form of yogurt and cheese, not so much on milk. I drink water, coffee, beer and wine. I also get bored easily and like to try new things, so rice and beans 5 times a week is not an option.

At my disposal are farmers markets, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Costco and standard grocery stores. I don't want to go to more than 2 stores a week for food (but I am willing to stock up, at say, Whole Foods for meat for the month, and go to 2 different sources on a different week). I like to cook and am very willing to try out new foods, recipes, cooking techniques, etc.

Where do I start? I am looking for help in menu planning, and acquiring the foods on a sensible, ethical and affordable way.

The MTA took my baby away

orville sash — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:15:39 -0800

Why does the New York City's Metro Transit Authority keep losing money? After seeing fares rise significantly in my tenure as a New Yorker, I have read over and over again that the MTA is going to have to put service and lines on the chopping block in order to overcome budget shortfalls, but I have yet to see an article that thoroughly explores what is causing these budget shortfalls. Can anyone tell me why this continues to happen, especially in light of the fact that they had a budget surplus in the winter of 2005-2006?

Warmth and nature as far from NYC as possible. Oh, and a tight budget.

anthropoid — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:42:50 -0800

Warmth and nature as far from NYC as possible. Oh, and a tight budget. My friend and I are looking to go somewhere warm and nature-y during the week between Christmas and New Year's. Our ideal get-away is the Grand Canyon, but it will cost too much money. We have access to a car and we're willing to drive. Trying to keep the cost to a few hundred dollars each. NYC is our starting point.

We would prefer some kind of lodging over tent camping, though with our budget, we have to be flexible.

Looking for an adventure. Any ideas?

Financial crisis in the family, what can we do?

jrdnbaade — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:06:46 -0800

My mom was diagnosed earlier this year with diabetes, and thats where things started getting really bad. The insurance we have won't cover anything she's needed for it. She's doing tremendously better now, but it's been replaced by a deep depression because the extra costs are just too much.

She resorted to using credit cards to pay for her medication and supplies, and now that those are maxed we're even worse off because of those bills. She's been trying so hard to find some help but theres been nothing out there.

We applied for food stamps, but got turned down. She's looked for different insurance companies, but none will cover her because of the diabetes. She's been denied for loans to try and consolidate her debt. Even the debt consolidation companies she called won't help because theres no money to pay their fees. We can't even get a first mortgage because we don't have the money to pay for the application.

It's really hard seeing her so upset, and blaming herself for everything. I've gotten her to agree with my helping her budget to try and keep some safety nets, but that doesn't really help us until we get out of this hole.

She's a pretty timid person and I don't know if she's not being aggressive enough with the people she's been in contact with for help or what. She's been trying to find a new job too on top of all that because her boss has been treating her pretty badly and has recently cut her hours. It's been pretty rough in Michigan though as far as jobs come.

I thought I'd come here to seek out any suggestions to try to get us out of this mess. Any information on insurance companies that won't deny us for preexisting illnesses, any advice on getting ourselves out of this debt, even some budgeting tips for when we're in the clear would be greatly appreciated.

How much should I offer to pay a location for my student film shoot?

saileyn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:11:09 -0800

How much should I offer to pay a location for my student film shoot? Next February I'll be shooting a short film as my major project for my masters degree at university. While I'd really like to have a decent amount of money to put into the production, it's not realistic for me at this point. I have saved around $1,000 for the project so far.

As such, I have volunteer actors and crew and all the film equipment and insurance is provided by my university. Everyone is providing their own transport and I'll be providing them with meals. I'm borrowing costumes and props from everyone I've ever spoken to :)

I found a location that would be perfect, but it is rented out to holidaymakers for $1800, per 3 days, the duration of my shoot. At that price, the location was definitely out of my league, but I didn't think it would hurt to ask while I kept looking. I figured that it might be a bit forward asking to use the location for free, so I decided to contact the property manager to see if they would let me use the property for my film for a token fee.

I explained that it was a student film, that it was not a commercial project, is not likely to make any revenue and explained my budgetary constraints. In return, I offered them a credit, copy of the film on dvd, high quality stills if they would like them for their advertising, and a link to their website, if I place the film online or build it a website.

The property manager has contacted the owner who seems agreeable to everything so far and mentioned that we'd be liable for breakages, damages etc. But they have now thrown the ball back into my court and asked me to propose an amount to them as my "token fee". The property manager will then see if the owner is agreeable with it.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be offering? Is there a standard formula, like locations are typically $x of a film's budget?

Or if anyone could point me in the direction of some useful websites about film budgeting, so I can calculate it (and the rest of my expenses) out on my own, I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks for your help!

Bait-and-Switch or ineptitude?... WTF Travelocity!?

blueberry — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:27:45 -0800

Buying a ticket to Bangkok—is there a dependable online ticket-searching service that is all about getting the truly cheapest fare? Skinflint-In-Coach.com? Argh!, I spent over an hour today working on the Travelocity site, trying to find a low-priced ticket from Portland to Bangkok. After noodling around with my Portland/Bangkok departure dates I finally found a reasonably priced ticket that I could afford. However when I clicked to order it Travelocity said Sorry, that ticket's not available, please go pick another one—all of the other tickets being at least $500 more. (And annoyingly, when I went back to look at the other tickets, that cheaper un-buyable ticket was still listed as being available)

So, I tried Kayak.com and found that while it searches across four different ticket sites, each site finds fares that differ from each other by thousands of dollars. That is, each site is saying "This is the absolute cheapest flight out there" but actually the ticket prices vary from $1900 to $4000. To my mind, there should be only one "cheapest flight"—you know, hence the "-est" suffix.

So tell me hive mind, is there one ticket-finding site that
A: doesn't advertise tickets that it doesn't have (Travelocity), and
B: searches all flights all through one interface—so you don't have to dig through several different sites and windows wasting time with their laughable ideas of what they call "the cheapest flight"?

[For reference, I'm looking to leave PDX on Dec 9th, and leave BKK on any of the days between Dec 31 and Jan 3]

thanksgiving minus turkey plus nyc

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:01:40 -0800

Will be in NYC for Thanksgiving: Will things be open? Anything cool going on? My mother and I are not too into the rituals of Thanksgiving. This year we're ditching the family dinners and, instead, meeting in New York City to take advantage of the city, our vacation time, and seeing each other (it's been about 6 months since we last hung out). We'll be there from Wednesday-Saturday.

We have specific thing on our agenda (eating at Momofuku, shopping at Desigual, going to MoMA for free on Friday, experiencing culture shock at Brighton Beach, going to bars with photobooths), but I'm wondering if most places will be open on Thanksgiving Day and/or if there is anything particularly fun happening then.

I'm pretty sure that neither of us is interested in watching the Thanksgiving parade (again, not too into Thanksgiving as a holiday), and this is her first time to NYC. We like art, walking around, food and wine, theatre, and various other funky things (Mom is hipper than I am...). But, neither of us wants to spend too much money, especially since we know that a fun time can be had in NYC without breaking the bank.

I'm so bored with the USA

hamandcheese — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:15 -0800

Where should my wife and I go traveling in January and February on less than $10,000 CDN? Hi all,

Well, as a follow-up to my previous life-choices question, it looks like my wife and I will be able to do some backpacking in the New Year. And we're wondering where to go.

She has recently been laid off from her job (with a decent payout package) and I will be leaving mine as well. She has a good job offer in another small Canadian city, and if she takes it we will be moving there in February or March. This was not part of our long-term plan, but we're okay taking the plunge. The thing is, if we decide to do this (and if the final offer is good enough), we will be foregoing our actual plan of buggering off to teach English in Thailand for a while longer, so we want to reward ourselves with some overseas travel in January and February.

We will probably have about $8,000 CDN or so, and I'd like to be able to stretch this to cover our expenses for 6-8 weeks if possible. Our flights will have to come out of this amount as well and we'll be flying out of Canada. We've both been to Europe multiple times so would prefer somewhere a little more exotic. I'd like to go to the Old World, but we are really open to travelling pretty much anywhere. Where should we go? What should we see?

We are both experienced budget travelers, fully comfortable in hostels, budget hotels etc. It would be nice to get our own room once in a while of course. We're into things like history, archaeology, nature, museums, and tasty food.

Also, good resources for budget travel deals or websites would be welcome as well.

Where would you go? Thanks!

Here's all my passwords dude

sarelicar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:52:12 -0800

Rudder or Mint? Is there a big difference between these two services? I'm an obsessive bank account checker and pay everything online. I like the idea of having one-stop-bill paying and budget fun.

Is my spending info sold to third parties/credit card companies/etc?

Is allowing a website to access my financials an obvious no?

Your personal experiences welcomed.

travel fixed date-flexible destination

tangonerd — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:09:25 -0800

Any tips for travel deals where your dates are fixed but you are open about possible destinations? I have some days off work and would like to go somewhere. Rather than hunt by date for everyplace I might like to go, are there any sites that suggest deals based on your available dates?

Is having "it" together an unrealistic goal?

dumbledore69 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:44:47 -0800

As a 30-year old who is a part-time grad student and a full-time office worker, are my goals to get control over my life (weight loss, finances, home, work, etc) really unrealistic? Is there a way to just be NORMAL and balanced, or is it really just normal not to really have things together, even as an adult? I am a 30-year old woman, and while working through a number of issues (depression, anxiety, ADHD) I have come to realize that I am deeply unhappy with how I manage my life. I thought medication, which does help, was going to be a magic bullet somehow, but of course that was kind of a stupid assumption for me and I still have a lot of the same issues.

So...the things I am most unhappy about are:

1) My weight. I need to lose at least 80 lbs, but probably more like 100. My general physical health (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc) are fine, but I think I've got a genetic disposition towards diabetes and cancer, so I feel like my healthy days are numbered if I don't get things under control. Plus I'm endlessly depressed that I have to wear plus-sized clothing and get these awesome doses of extra low self esteem (to supplement my generally low self-esteem) every time I remember how fat I am because of pictures of me that suck or clothes that don't fit or things I can't do because of my weight. I know that I *can* lose weight, and I have (but regained most of it). Sometimes I get really into my weight, and when it's my top priority, I lose it. But then when I try to focus on something else important, I gain it back because I lose focus of whatever isn't my current pet project.

2) My house. Unless my obsession du jour is cleaning/organizing, I am a slob. When my house is clean, it's very very clean. And it makes me so happy to have it clean. I can't accept that I am a slob, because I feel so stressed when my house is messy, and I can't find things or have people over. I love being home when my house is clean, and I generally enjoy cleaning tasks, believe it or not.

3) My finances. I have also made good progress in paying off some of my credit card debt ... it was $17k, and now it's down to $11k. But I still feel like there are times when I'm really good about money and think before I purchase something and don't spend more than I have budgeted, and there are times when I am focused on other things and go crazy and spend what I want to (or feel that I need to) without regard for the big picture or the balance in my checking account. Some months I pay a large chunk of debt off, and some months I amass hundreds of dollars in overdraft fees because I was focused on something else (like losing weight ... in a weight-loss fueled time period, I'll spend a lot more on groceries and fitness gadgets and workout clothes and justify the spending because "I deserve whatever will help me lose this weight!"). I badly just want to pay off all this debt and be able to stick to my budget.

4) Work ... I get distracted at work, I am sure often because of my ADHD and some perfectionistic tendencies towards my larger projects (and resulting anxiety), but I also tend to get distracted by my current obsession (weight, organizing, cleaning, etc). I just want to be able to focus on WORK at work, all the time, or at least most of the time. And then when I leave work, I'd like to not think about it much anymore (within reason, at least). When I get into SUPER AWESOME WORKER ME mode, I tend to obsess, bringing work home, and just thinking about it all the time. And I might let other things slip because I'm so focused on making things as comfortable and easy as possible for me to do the best work I can.

5) Mood. Not sure if this belongs in this list, because I don't have a history of obsessing about this. But because of all the stress and frustration and all, I know I need to make taking care of my emotional health and mood a higher priority. My plans have been to set aside Sundays to do fun/relaxing things instead of errands / homework / chores, unless I absolutely have to. And making more time to just READ. And I know exercise and supplements will help, too, just like they will with weight.

In talking to both friends and a therapist, a common thread is that they think my expectations for myself are unrealistic and that I need to pick and choose priorities. My argument is that all of my expectations are vital and that I cannot drop any of them.

Also, it's not like I've never tried to focus on one or two goals at a time. I mean, I'm always trying to fix the things I am unhappy about, as I've mentioned above. At any given time, I feel obsessively focused on fixing one area of my life. And I do GREAT at it.

Like, last winter I was all about weight loss. I lost 40 lbs and 2 sizes in about 2-3 months by doing an hour of hard cardio a day, plus yoga twice a week, plus eating very regimented, pre-portioned Weight Watchers-pointed meals. I was a superstar, right until I simultaneously burned out on weight loss and panicked the hell out about something else I dropped the ball on, my finances.

I quickly got all psyched about fixing my budget, so I worked to correct the damage to my bank account caused during the weight loss bit (having spent a lot on assorted special diet foods and supplements, lots of workout clothes, etc), amassed and paid up any neglected bills, automated a lot of my bills, eliminating some expenses, and just doing a really good job there, and learning about finances a bit. It was great until it came time to maintain that. Then it was boring and I was off to the next thing.

It frustrates me so much, and the more I learn about ADHD the more it seems to make sense that I do this. I love the excitement of swooping in and making great plans and implementing them and getting stimulated over sparkling challenges and quick rewards.

But I can't live like this anymore. I just want to work on making some moderate changes to all of these parts of my life. Everyone keeps telling me to PICK something to focus on, and I'm scared of that. I think it's just going to land me right back where I always am ... obsessed with something until it's no fun anymore.

Can't I just be a NORMAL chick who is at a reasonable weight (I don't need to be really skinny, I just want to be in normal US Misses sizes!), who does work consistently, who keeps a reasonably neat house, and who can spend money and save money like a grown up? And who isn't a total basketcase all the time?

I just feel like what I want for myself isn't unrealistic, and that I just need to find a way to build moderate habits in all areas at once, building on them until I get close to my goals. But at the same time, it almost seems like having your shit together is an unreasonable expectation to everyone else.

So what do I do? Do I really have to drop some of my expectations? Or is there a way I can get closer to where I want to be?

People in Europa / Ciao ciao bella, Monaco

mippy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:53:03 -0800

April. Europe. Our first proper holiday, and I haven't left the country in eight years. Where to go? On the shortlist are Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, and, um, somewhere Scandinavian or Italian.

As the pound is worth little these days, and I have to pay £80 to renew my passport, we need to know cities and places to stay that aren't hugely expensive (hostels are fine as long as they're safe), and food too. We like museums, art and graveyards, interesting urban architecture and culture, shopping (ie. things that we can't get in the UK - we like crafts and boardgaming, and I like thriftshopping), pubs rather than clubs, nice cafes, things to see and do and photograph. Neither of us can drive, but I'm a beginner cyclist so we can get around that way.

Menu planning and grocery shopping

mudpuppie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:47:57 -0800

I need help buying groceries. I'm going to try really, really hard, oh yes I am, to stick to a grocery budget this month. Pretty much all of my end-of-month poverty is due to the fact that I'm stupid when it comes to buying groceries. Instead of shopping post-payday at the beginning of the month for staples and such, and developing a meal plan from that, I tend to end up at the store almost every day in order to buy foods that satisfy what I start craving while I'm sitting at my desk at 3:30. This needs to stop -- it costs me too much money, and it means that I start cooking at 5:30 or 6:00 and I don't eat until after 8:00.

What works for you? How/when do you buy groceries? How/when do you plan your meals? What foods or staples do you keep around all the time so that preparing a meal at the end of the day doesn't require a grocery list of more than one or two things? What meals are on your no-grocery-shopping menu?

Just for informational purposes, I eat very little meat (and no seafood), and almost no processed foods. Pre-packaged "convenience foods" aren't something that would help me. Some frozen stuff is okay, though. I also really enjoy cooking, so ease of preparation isn't really as important as not going to the store every day.

Am I being gullible for considering cat insurance?

Tarumba — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:25:06 -0800

Am I being gullible for considering cat insurance? My cat-girl is about to be 6 months old. We pretty much found her on the streets when a baby. She had a funky eye, flatworms, a crazy flea infestation and was insanely underfed. we took care of her and now we want to take her to the vet so she gets spayed. They will spay her as long as she has all her vaccines and other thingies in order (she has none of these), and at the local pet supermarket they advised me to get her cat insurance. The prices are as follows:

First payment: 69.99
monthly payment: 21.00

This insurance covers vaccines, spaying and other basics for no extra cost, plus free vet visits with/without calling in advance, and a 10% discount on anything else.

I thought it was a good deal, but then, how big is the probability that my cat will need to go to the vet in at least 7 years?

Prices without insurance: The spaying alone is about 400.00 dollars, and the vaccines are about 50.00.

Should I keep my leather handbag or return it?

moiraine — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:14:23 -0800

I bought a beautiful leather handbag... impulsively. Should I return it? I was out shopping for a leather handbag, when I came across the most amazing handbag. But out of my budget -- I was planning to spend half of that price. I bought it anyway (because it's beautiful!)... and now I have second thoughts. For comparison, the second-most expensive thing in my wardrobe, my winter coat, is about 80% of the price I paid for the handbag.

I would be fine with keeping this handbag, *IF* I knew that my purchase would be worthwhile and extremely durable. Meaning, I plan to use this handbag almost every day, and for everything from shopping, to work, to dinner with friends. My previous all-around handbag is one-year old and is quite worn out, mainly because it's not leather. If I'm paying a premium for this handbag, I want it to last.

My question is: Is this handbag worth it? Would leather handbags with a good finish last about two-three years of intensive use? Or should I go for cheaper but disposable handbags?

---
If this information is of use to anyone, I am the kind of person that would spend a premium on good quality items, but not on disposable fashion items. For example, I would be willing to spend a lot for a pair of Chacos, but not on pretty ballet flats that get worn down after 9 months of intensive use)

After all bills are paid when is it ok to finace "toys"?

kgreerRN — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:08:29 -0800

When is it ok to finance "toys"? We have a budget, all bills are paid, we are saving a set amount every month, the only debt we have is our cars and house. No credit cards. Each month we have about $900 left over. Between the both of us, we have a wish list including: a four wheeler, a vacation and cosmetic home improvements. Facts and opinions welcome. Should we save til we can pay cash? Or is it "ok" to finance, some or all of our wish list? If you really want a monthly break down here it is:
bills: 2100
income: 4700
save: 100
allowance: 1600 (gas, entertainment, groceries etc)
left over: 900
--------
18,000 total left on vehicle loans

Have you used the Canrailpass?

skwt — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:36:46 -0800

Have you used the Canrailpass? Or traveled across Canada in a similar way, by train or bus? I'm thinking about doing a last-minute 3 or 4-week Canrailpass trip around Canada. Anyone have any pointers/stories?

In particular:

1. I'd like to travel through the northern provinces if possible. Does the Canrailpass cover that? I'm finding it hard to find coverage. 'Anywhere VIA Rail goes', it says, but I don't know where that is.

2. I'd like to zig-zag all around, and it's not like I know which towns to stop in, other than a few of the major cities. How do I decide where to book my destinations, such as my first one out of Toronto? Has anyone done this? Can anyone offer an example itinerary? Even a few stops would be useful. Basically I want to cover as much of the country as possible in let's say 30 days. How do I even begin to plan this.

3. I guess I'll be staying in hostels mostly, when I'm not sleeping on the train. By the way, if you've used the Canrailpass, is it practical to sleep in 'Comfort class' (the lowest/worst class)?

4. Doing this all last-minute, will I have problems with everything being booked?

And whatever else you think I should know...

Thanks very much.

Desk Chair on a budget

priested — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:31:33 -0800

Best modern/ contemporary office furniture maker on a budget? I'm specifically interested in the hive's thoughts on best desk chairs for someone that would like something of contemporary/ modern fashion, European or American made. Budget is for under $200... am I wasting my time?

If you know of a good place to go to purchase, please also let me know. I'm in Southwest VA so online might be only option.

30 days in Europe, what to see?

thewalrus — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:57:43 -0800

One month in Europe on a budget, what should we not miss? Landing in Frankfurt tomorrow! My wife and I will be landing in Frankfurt tomorrow. We plan to see Germany first and then either go via Austria to Italy, or the other way around via Hamburg to Amsterdam, then south from the Netherlands to Belgium, France, eastward.

Aside from the obvious things that can be found in guidebooks and the various good city-guide applications I've already put on my iPhone, what should we not miss? I'm looking for suggestions from metafilter on those hidden gems and out of the way places you've personally encountered on your travels. We have exactly 30 days and will be traveling on a moderate budget, staying in hostels that have private rooms for couples or budget pensions, riding 2nd class trains (generally not TGV, ICE, AVE if we can avoid it or there's a special ticket price).

Relatively cheap restaurants in Manhattan that have good vegetarian options?

exolstice — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:18:54 -0800

Relatively cheap restaurants in Manhattan that have good vegetarian options? I'll be in Manhattan August 22-24 and I need suggestions of places to eat for someone on a budget who is a vegetarian going with another person who isn't. I'm flexible on location, but ideally in the Midtown East or East Village areas.

Small wedding in Yosemite: know of an amazing photographer with a package under $3K? Caterers too?

scazza — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:12:22 -0800

Small wedding in Yosemite: know of an amazing photographer with a package under $3K? Caterers too? I saw these photographers in CO who provide 2 shooters and let you keep the files for $2600. Anything like this in the San Francisco area or drivable distance from Yosemite?

Also, I would love to have Caridwyn & Sons cater a small lunch/picnic after the ceremony but I haven't heard back from them. I need some alternatives. Recommendations? Local, slow food, seasonal, reasonably priced, willing to help with decor, and do a small wedding? (Wedding cake not necessary.)

Thanks everyone.

Drop and give me 36 (months of consecutive on-time payments)

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:01:46 -0800

I'm looking for a financial coach, someone who can help me develop better financial habits. Does such a thing exist? I'm irresponsible with money. I forget to pay my bills, and end up paying them late so that I have late fees and the late payments go on my credit report. Or I just ignore them for a few months, until they get big enough that they're difficult to pay off. I set up budgets and then ignore them. I am cheap as hell with big stuff, and then blow my budget on stupid small things like eating lunch out every day. It's stupid and sort of embarrassing and I want to mend my ways.

I realized that what I need is someone who will look at all my regular bills, as well as my income, and help me set up payment plans and a budget, and then help me stick to it. Kind of like a personal trainer, but for money instead of fitness.

I'm not necessarily looking for a blog or a book that will help me do this. I've already read a bunch of books and blogs (Suze Orman is great) and I always come away with all sorts of good intentions, and then do nothing. I need someone who will help me develop a plan, and then hold me accountable to that plan for a few months while I get it going.

Ideally I would like to see someone locally (I'm in Seattle), in person, because it seems like that would be more effective and secure. I'd really rather not give all my financial info to a stranger on the internet.

I know about the credit counseling services, but it sounds like many of those are scams and even if they aren't, seeing one can adversely affect your credit rating (ah, irony). Internet searches result in a lot of these types of outfits. And it seems like financial planners are more for managing your investments.

Help me avoid spending like a sailor on shore leave

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:09:35 -0800

What are some tips on wisely handling an increase in income? I know - good problem to have. Recently I switched positions and am now making about 150% of my former salary. This is great news, but because of my financial history, I want to be careful about it and use this newfound income smartly.

I'm carrying credit card debt, so my highest priority is to use most of the new income to pay that off. I'm setting the goal of doing that within two years. But even at that rate I will still have a bit more disposable income than I do now. I'm worried that I'll fritter it away because I can - after several years of skimping on the basics, there's a temptation to loosen the purse strings a little and buy more things on impulse, eat out because of laziness, and that kind of thing.

I'm having a hard time deciding on budget line amounts for things like clothing (I haven't had a new winter coat in ten years, and need shoes), groceries (right now I average around $50 a week, but would really like to spend a bit more so I don't face Rice Days at the end of each pay period), and entertainment/recreation -- right now I spend about $50/week on nonessentials like eating a meal out, having a couple of beers, going to a show or a fair, or renting a couple of movies. I don't own a home, and one day might like to, but saving for that would come after debt repayment. In general I value experiences more than stuff. I really like feeling secure and look forward to an increased sense of financial preparedness.

This new income could make possible things like taking classes, participating in sports that require equipment buys, traveling a little more, etc. I'd like to take advantage of some of that purchasing power to experience things I've missed out on - but how can I do so responsibly and in good conscience? What boundaries should I set?

I'm very used to stretching a meagre budget creatively - but as a result, I know a lot less about managing money that you have enough of than money that's always a teeny bit shorter than you'd like.

I will be setting aside an employer match for retirement, doing a debt snowball, and starting a savings account with auto deposit. What else should I consider? Have any of you managed such a change? What helped you set spending boundaries? How did you determine what was reasonable?

Help us have fun without The Almighty Cable

Gonestarfishing — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:15:48 -0800

Just moved my boyfriend into a new apartment, and he will be unable to afford cable tv for quite awhile. As admitted boob toob junkies, we are quickly running out of things to do when we just feel like being around the house. Suggestions of fun and relatively budget friendly (under $30 to accomplish, preferably with a re-usability factor) activities to do at home, without the magical box. I live about 5 minutes away in my parents house, and we are getting sick of hanging out there, or having to go out (and thus spending money) when we get sick of sitting in his technology free pad. He has: no internet, no cable for at least 3-4 months (but we will be getting a free 35" tv in the coming weeks), minimal cell phone service in the apartment, minimal kitchen (2 burners, a toaster oven, and 1 old cruddy microwave that I'm afraid will give me cancer if I use it), but a very large living space/bedroom. The apartment is in the basement of a house, and has a large walk out patio area as well.

We do have my laptop, and have been subsisting largely on a dvd of 7 or 8 assembled Star Trek TNG episodes and season 1 of Flight of the Conchords. We have very few other dvds, but enjoy watching movies and would also appreciate suggestions of used dvd merchants or something of the like. When we eventually get sick of watching those, we have been known to just sit around and drink beer and talk, or just sit there in silence which is really pathetic.

We are both 23, and enjoy lots of off the wall kinds of activities but due to stress at my home and job, my usually creative brain is running on E. Please help us with some ideas of things to do on a budget with little to no technology...the crazier the better, we're up for anything and aren't afraid to act like children. To be specific, we are looking for at home/in the yard activities.

Simple laptop for my university-bound sister.

flibbertigibbet — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:42:11 -0800

Help me find my university-bound sister a nice, reliable laptop. Are they any brands you especially recommend? She wants:
-a 12 to 14-inch screen (13-ish is ideal). Netbooks are too small for her, but she doesn't want a 15-inch behemoth either.
-6 hours battery life minimum (with upgraded batteries).
-It's for school, not for gaming--it just needs to run Office suite, and have Wifi.
-She actually wants a laptop running Vista, so something with at least 2 to 3 gigs RAM, and NO MACS.
-Lighter and more drop-proof is better--my sister is a wee bit clumsy.
-Must under $1000 with upgraded battery and tax (CDN money, Ontario and Canadian taxes (about 13% tax)).

My father is trying to dragoon her into a Dell (Dell Inspiron 13), and she just wanted a good look at her options, especially as the Inspiron 13 does not exactly have a glut of reviews out yet, and the last Dell laptop we bought is a steaming load of crap. She just doesn't know where to start looking.