Current Events > March i am going to start saving .

(+) Yeah! (+)

I been watching this YouTube show called Financial audit. With this guy who helps people in debt. And it really got to much how much I waste on eating out. Not as much now a since I been on a diet. But I am going to buy something for the house and some pants. And see how much I can save next mouth.

Nice. Im hoping to start turning my finances around in March too.

Well shit. Was hoping that between my bonus and tax returns I'd be able to pay off a credit card and jump start my emergency fund again but the bonus wasn't as high as I thought it would be *and* it got taxed at the higher supplemental income rate lol

Still gonna try and get my shit sorted out though.

PAY YOUR DEBTS

pls

BignutzisBack posted...

PAY YOUR DEBTS

pls

shut up dave ramsey

Always always always pay your credit cards off all the way.

The interest on those things can be like 20%, which will absolutely accrue faster than any investment you could possibly make.

Even before having an emergency savings you need to get out from under credit card debt. It will absolutely ruin you.

I just have two credit cards, one's at 0% til July and I'll have it paid off by then cause it's only like 4k.

The other is at 0.99% til next January and I'll most likely balance transfer it or refi into a personal loan if rates go down cause it's like 26k >_>

Yay medical bills

Yeah eating out and not budgeting are the two biggest things that keep people living paycheck to paycheck

good job. eating out is such a drain on finances, especially nowadays. are you planning to do more cooking at home?

Giant_Aspirin posted...

good job. eating out is such a drain on finances, especially nowadays. are you planning to do more cooking at home?

I went to Costco and got a pack a wings, Some rice, and Pasta. I will be living off that for next month. Unless I go get Chinese. I need some General Chicken. But maybe once a week.

Just checked last month's credit card statement and we spent $600 on fast food. Jesus.

So easy to just go grab a quick meal at McDonald's after a 10 hour workday especially with a six month old at home.

Definitely gonna cut back on that this month

littlebro07 posted...

Just checked last month's credit card statement and we spent $600 on fast food. Jesus.

holy shit. i'm a single dude, but my grocery bill for the entire month is like $300. that's three meals a day with snacks and dessert.

littlebro07 posted...

So easy to just go grab a quick meal at McDonald's after a 10 hour workday especially with a six month old at home.

meal prep. most recipes i cook serve 4-6, and i cook like 2x a week. that way, most of my dinners are just a matter of plating and re-heating.

littlebro07 posted...

shut up dave ramsey

I hate Ramsey he is the worst

Participating in Missing Meals March I see

I use Google sheets as my budgeting tool

Giant_Aspirin posted...

holy shit. i'm a single dude, but my grocery bill for the entire month is like $300. that's three meals a day with snacks and dessert.

In this economy that's quite tough to believe. Unless you're like "red beans and rice is fine 3 times a day" kind of person.

Giant_Aspirin posted...

grocery bill for the entire month is like $300

that seems around what i spend.

but that is for 3 meals a day with favorite drinks (non-alcoholic).

i have to figure out options to get the big shopping done without a car. may have to do multiple trips to costco each week to make it possible (since i can only carry back so much) with a mile to walk back to the house (because they changed the bus to not go down the street i live on).

spoilers: the cars transmission is having issues (the most expensive problem of a car).

most of my food budget is food stamps and i don't have a car so frequently i'll get grocery delivery since it's free with walmart plus which i bought in like nov/dec for half off

bluezero posted...

In this economy that's quite tough to believe. Unless you're like "red beans and rice is fine 3 times a day" kind of person.

Sounds about right to me based on how I shop as well. Personally, most basic food staples haven't really increased in price that much, it's the processed and packaged stuff that has increased.

I don't know how people can feel so comfortable eating out so much. When I'm pushed to eat out, the expense honestly keeps me from even enjoying the food. So much good stuff you could get from the grocery store with that money.

But this is an actual issue because it does keep me from enjoying what should be happy occasions

emblem-man posted...

Sounds about right to me based on how I shop as well. Personally, most basic food staples haven't really increased in price that much, it's the processed and packaged stuff that has increased.

Same. Wal-Mart seems to be the overall best. I've shopped around a solid amount. You can get chicken breast at $2.67/lb. Packs have 5-6 for $10-$13. Perfect for an air fryer. It has the cheapest cheese overall that I've seen too. Go hard in the produce aisle. Bananas and strawberries are dirt cheap.

Love Financial Audit on YouTube btw. One of the only channels I check out consistently, it's too funny

I wanted to go get some take out. Like on the very first day of march. It was raining I was feeling down. And I new fries could make be better. But I pushed through. And when I got home I tried to make some chicken and I burnt it. I was about to doordash since I was not going to go back out. But I ended up making a personal pizza. That caused some other issues. But not a money one.

cjsdowg posted...

I wanted to go get some take out. Like on the very first day of march. It was raining I was feeling down. And I new fries could make be better. But I pushed through. And when I got home I tried to make some chicken and I burnt it. I was about to doordash since I was not going to go back out. But I ended up making a personal pizza. That caused some other issues. But not a money one.

Maybe keep a pack of fries in the freezer that you can whip up in those cases.

XxZiomaxX posted...

Same. Wal-Mart seems to be the overall best. I've shopped around a solid amount. You can get chicken breast at $2.67/lb. Packs have 5-6 for $10-$13. Perfect for an air fryer. It has the cheapest cheese overall that I've seen too. Go hard in the produce aisle. Bananas and strawberries are dirt cheap. Peanut butter and walnuts are great. Loaf of bread is like $4. Comes out to $450/month for two people, high cost of living area as well so probably higher than average prices.

We still do pick up food (never delivery or any apps... That's throwing money away fr), but under $150/month

Love Financial Audit on YouTube btw. One of the only channels I check out consistently, it's too funny

Honestly, it wasn't until I met my wife that I realize how much those non staple things cost. I'm a very boring eater so I didn't deviate much, but seeing the things I buy for her, it's just those weird one off things that increase my grocery store runs.

emblem-man posted...

Maybe keep a pack of fries in the freezer that you can whip up in those cases.

something happened to the price on those. used to be reasonable (2.50-3.00$ a bag).
now it's 5$.

kingdrake2 posted...

something happened to the price on those. used to be reasonable (2.50-3.00$ a bag).
now it's 5$.

I need to get two of potatoes eat one and plant the other one.

kingdrake2 posted...

something happened to the price on those. used to be reasonable (2.50-3.00$ a bag).
now it's 5$.

The Oreida Fast Food Frozen Fries? Theyre $4.47 at my local Walmart for a 26oz bag which is about the price of a large fry at McDonalds, and you could make like 5 large fries from that one frozen bag

Toss em in an air fryer and throw some salt on there and theyre delicious

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/169f4178.jpg
These wedges are the shit

Are the brand name ones worth getting?

Store brands for lyfe

BignutzisBack posted...

Store brands for lyfe

i cant do store brand mac and cheese lol, it's just not the same compared to kraft

also every time i forget it gets nasty i get the lunchmeat honey turkey from great value and idk if it goes bad fast or what but it tastes nasty

other than that hell yeah great value

BignutzisBack posted...

Store brands for lyfe

I like store brand spices a lot better then normal. I have to use more to get the same flavor but even with that it is nothing but savings.

Aldi > Great Value > everything else tbh

tastes better and cheaper