WDW_fan_in_TX
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2015
I've been reading the debt dumpers, destash thread on here, etc. and praying to try and figure out what some of my "attainable" goals can be. I want to put them here to make me somewhat accountable. I've never been one to make goals, much less keep goals.. But I'm 42 and have zero retirement, bills up to my nostrils and a college loan I will probably never get paid off. Plus, I eat bad and never exercise. So I'm wanting to get somewhat organized and start trying to make a future for myself. Hence why I'm trying to make goals and hopefully keep goals.
For starters, my college loan has been paid down to $19k...I've paid more than $40k into it, so about 1/3 of the way left. I know I won't be able to pay it off completely. But I want to keep making substantial headway on it. Right now I pay $300/month on it. So, it should be paid off in about the next 4-5 years.
Our biggest problem for the past few years has been eating out. We spend about $1,500 PER MONTH eating out. When we do go to the grocery store, we start eating out again and eventually throw tons of food out. I live about 30 seconds from work but would drive another minute further and get McDonalds for breakfast (usually a coffee and a biscuit or 2). Then I'd eat out for lunch and then eat out again for dinner. So I want to start eating at home more. I've set a budget of $700/month on food. That's $125/week at the grocery store plus a $50/week "allowance" to eat out. That's usually going to be either Friday or Saturday night and then Sunday lunch after church. I know it's still a large amount, but it's way down from where it has been. BTW, last week I spent $53 eating out. I at 1 breakfast (Friday) out, ate lunch at home every day except Friday (payday) and we only ate out twice. One of the times, we got it paid for by our friends. So, I've started out much better.
Next goal is to get ahead of some bills. Right now, we're paying at least a month behind on car payment, house payment, cable, cell phones, our other loan and bills and credit cards. I can't imagine the late fees I'm paying right now. That said, I want to try to get back in line (or possibly ahead) on all of my bills. Being able to eat at home and save money that way will help that cause I believe. We've been stretched so thin by eating out so much that we've fallen behind our bills.
I've been working on getting things cleaned up and organized and have been throwing stuff out or selling it. I want to continue to do that. Right now, I've got an old video camera, some old gaming systems, magazines and clothes on eBay. I don't do much Facebook (I have one for my job, but I never check it). I'm also not one to meet in person as I fear I'd be one of the types that would end up meeting with a serial killer. So I'd prefer to take little less to sell online. Trying to do that now.
I'm also wanting to start being some type of active. We walk at the parks (Disney) but that's only twice a year. So we don't exercise any other time. We joined a church over a year ago that has a weight room, basketball court and racquetball courts. I'm hoping to start playing hoops or racquetball or just getting by wife up there to walk around the upstairs track with me. We can both stand to lose a little weight and be more active.
Finally, my largest goal has to be some type of savings. Right now we put all of our change into our "Disney" jar. I also get 2 rolls of each coin when I get paid and put that change in the jar. So it's adding up quickly. I also want to start putting a little bit of money into a savings account. Whether it's $15/check or $50/check. I want it to go into that and STAY THERE! We've done that in the past, but then we pull it out when we run out of money. Hopefully, a budget will help keep us from running out of money.
Anyway, I'll try to keep things updated on a weekly basis to help keep myself accountable.
For starters, my college loan has been paid down to $19k...I've paid more than $40k into it, so about 1/3 of the way left. I know I won't be able to pay it off completely. But I want to keep making substantial headway on it. Right now I pay $300/month on it. So, it should be paid off in about the next 4-5 years.
Our biggest problem for the past few years has been eating out. We spend about $1,500 PER MONTH eating out. When we do go to the grocery store, we start eating out again and eventually throw tons of food out. I live about 30 seconds from work but would drive another minute further and get McDonalds for breakfast (usually a coffee and a biscuit or 2). Then I'd eat out for lunch and then eat out again for dinner. So I want to start eating at home more. I've set a budget of $700/month on food. That's $125/week at the grocery store plus a $50/week "allowance" to eat out. That's usually going to be either Friday or Saturday night and then Sunday lunch after church. I know it's still a large amount, but it's way down from where it has been. BTW, last week I spent $53 eating out. I at 1 breakfast (Friday) out, ate lunch at home every day except Friday (payday) and we only ate out twice. One of the times, we got it paid for by our friends. So, I've started out much better.
Next goal is to get ahead of some bills. Right now, we're paying at least a month behind on car payment, house payment, cable, cell phones, our other loan and bills and credit cards. I can't imagine the late fees I'm paying right now. That said, I want to try to get back in line (or possibly ahead) on all of my bills. Being able to eat at home and save money that way will help that cause I believe. We've been stretched so thin by eating out so much that we've fallen behind our bills.
I've been working on getting things cleaned up and organized and have been throwing stuff out or selling it. I want to continue to do that. Right now, I've got an old video camera, some old gaming systems, magazines and clothes on eBay. I don't do much Facebook (I have one for my job, but I never check it). I'm also not one to meet in person as I fear I'd be one of the types that would end up meeting with a serial killer. So I'd prefer to take little less to sell online. Trying to do that now.
I'm also wanting to start being some type of active. We walk at the parks (Disney) but that's only twice a year. So we don't exercise any other time. We joined a church over a year ago that has a weight room, basketball court and racquetball courts. I'm hoping to start playing hoops or racquetball or just getting by wife up there to walk around the upstairs track with me. We can both stand to lose a little weight and be more active.
Finally, my largest goal has to be some type of savings. Right now we put all of our change into our "Disney" jar. I also get 2 rolls of each coin when I get paid and put that change in the jar. So it's adding up quickly. I also want to start putting a little bit of money into a savings account. Whether it's $15/check or $50/check. I want it to go into that and STAY THERE! We've done that in the past, but then we pull it out when we run out of money. Hopefully, a budget will help keep us from running out of money.
Anyway, I'll try to keep things updated on a weekly basis to help keep myself accountable.
Last edited: