Pieces of Us: Budgets, goals and the New Year

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January 08, 2010

Budgets, goals and the New Year

Working on the budget has been a huge focus of ours lately. We have really been focused on directing our money to the best places for it to be used. Paying off debt first being a primary goal. The end-goal being debt free.

I never thought I was the type of person that would enjoy using the 'envelope' system. I do follow a lot of advice from finance guru Dave Ramsey. He has very practical methods, many of them just plain common sense related. I do not do his plan to the letter but for the most part..he makes sense. So a few months ago I decided to buck up and try the envelopes. Amazingly I discovered I LOVED it. It gave me more freedom and at the end of the month I had more money left because I was watching it going until it was going...going...almost gone. Seeing the cash float through my fingers was a big wake up call. Money was truly being wasted in this household. Not any more.

I thought I'd share my envelope system that I finally have organized to my liking. Bill money and gas money are the only things I leave in the checking account each month. All the rest I seperate into my envelopes. I used this tutorial to make my envelopes of of scrapbook paper....because I love pretty. *wink* I had to upsize them a bit because the ones on the tutorial were a little small.

For the first time ever I have a large checkbook sized wallet. It fits in all my bags though. I retired my most favorite wallet because it was a simple fold style one with no room for my envelopes.

Opened up you can see the colorful envelopes I made.

I printed up some fun category tags and punched them out.

They all fit in so nicely. YAY!

And the money tucks in well too.

Posted by Jess & Lisa on January 08, 2010 at 12:09 AM in Budgeting, Penny Pinchers and Time Savers | Permalink

Comments

Love them, I need to replace mine, so I will copy this! THANKS!!!!

Posted by: Melanie | January 08, 2010 at 09:19 AM

Those envelopes are awesome! Good luck with your budget this year.

Posted by: Christina | January 08, 2010 at 09:43 AM

I know this is 2 years later, but do you remember where you got your wallet? I love it!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Beth Koopsen | March 28, 2012 at 08:39 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.

Who We Are

Lisa- The Blogger

This is me. I like to think I am complex and multi-faceted but I think much of the time I am a silly, zany, free-spirited person who really enjoys life. I like to make people happy, I like to be happy. I am a sanguine through and through. I love crafting, Pinterest, gathering ideas, computer stuff, watching movies, sleepovers and hugging on my offspring. I don't like internet haters who assume to 'know' me just by what they read here. There is a reason this is called 'Pieces' Of Us. It's just a small peek in the window. You may think you know, but you have no idea.
Mike- The Sportsman

Mike is more than just a sportsman but he does like to shoot a deer now and then. In his other spare moments which are few and far between he is taking college courses to finish his degree or tending to his pack as Cubmaster. He loves to spend time with the kids and they think he is pretty great even if he is a goofball who loves to embarrass them.
Madeline- The Free Spirited Bohemian One

This kid could be happy with just some books, a drawing pad and a pencil. She has an aptitude for art and has really excelled at drawing over the past year. She is patient and kind but has a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Maddy is dependable, if you want something done, she's your girl and she does it with a cheerful spirit.
Gabriella- The Creative Ray of Light

Gabby has sparkle, she has pizzazz, she has talent. She is the kid you never have to tell to practice the piano instead you tell her to take a break. She loves to chat with her friends on the computer (what teen doesn't?) and write stories with her twin sister. She's a practical joker and has a terrific sense of humor. Did I mention she is also a talented actress as well?
AJ- The Deep Thinker

This boy is going places! AJ is always thinking. He is a true philosopher pondering the whys of everything but he is also an inventor/engineer also determining the hows. He spends hours building and taking things apart. We worry that he will one day blow up the house but for now he is pretty darn useful at optimizing our computers and rewiring things that break around here.
Genevieve Audrey- The Spunky One

Spunky doesn't even begin to describe it. She is a social butterfly and she loves to sit and chat as long as her victim will listen. Ginny is a tiny little thing but her spirit is huge and she's smart to boot. She is proving to be an excellent big sister and is teaching Jilly the ropes.
Caleb Allen- The Littlest Man

He doesn't like it when you run your fingers through his hair so we do it all the more. Caleb is just so cute and snuggly. He is always full of enthusiasm whether it be positive or negative. He either really loves something or he doesn't like it at all. We love him regardless.
Jillian Clementine- The Boss

She may be small but she makes up for it big time. Jillian likes to let people know who is in charge and we often have to take her down a peg... or five. She says funny things so often that she has her own blog Jillyish. She loves to use huge words like intrusive and incredible or any other adjective that shouldn't come out of a three year old. She will also tell you that she is too shy to say Hi but don't believe it because she is pure drama.
Jess..ica- She hiccups

She may not be blood but we claim her as one of us. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without her around. She makes us laugh and she can sing like a hamster. Everyone needs a friend with a hamster voice. Now she'll probably ask me to take this down but I'm not gonna. Because we love her.