Need help saving

Hey everyone. I'm in need of some tricks and tips to save money. Ever since I was a kid I was never forced to save or told the perks of saving, so as soon as it hit my hands it was gone. My parents are a paycheck to paycheck couple even though they easily make $800+ a week together, they just get to many loans and get bogged down. I've even had to get a loan out for them because my car got repossessed due to it being on one of their loans and them not being able to make the payments. Anyways, I've gotten somewhat better at holding onto my money, but I'm still so bad my girlfriend has to pay for stuff I need and it hurts me that I'm that bad. She has told me numerous times that if I can't manage my money like an adult then she isn't sticking around and I'm not going to let that happen. She's also sick of being my money manager and telling me how to make it last...mind you she's 18 and has more money than her whole family plus me....incredibly savvy.

I currently have $113 in my savings and like $20 in my checking account.

I have bills the next few weeks but need to try and put as much as possible away.

I'm really impulsive and don't think before I buy....especially at gas stations....3 for 5 mountain dew always gets me. But I am getting better.....atleast I think I am, but I know I need to master this or I'll never have my own place, never have any snakes, and never have anyone if I can't be a bit stingier.

So please can you guys and girls help me with my spending habits and lead me down the road to a good savings account!?


Thank you all so much!

I can whole heartedly recommend that you look up and sign up for a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class. It's 9 weeks long, held once a week at a local church.

I'm in week 2, week 3 for me is this Wed. Even after the first class, I was already thinking about money differently.

It IS $95 for the class and materials, but it's the best $95 you'll spend. And you can bring family members for free, so if your folks are near you, see if you can get them to go. See if your girlfriend will go with you to support you.

My folks challenged me to sign up, and and I'm so glad they did!

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You'll learn that managing your money is 20% behavior, and 80% emotion. The class helps you with learning how to redirect the emotion.

Have a 20 year old Young Man in my class, that joined because he wants to graduate college ahead of the game and not learn the bad emotional decisions early on.

I can guarantee you if he follows this program, he will retire a millionaire, just on the savings plan alone.

Dave Ramsey also addresses relationships and money, and how money problems can split couples up.

He addresses how men, vs women manage and think about money.

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Two questions on that.
#1 do they have them all over?
#2 is it really churchy like? Because no offense to anyone or anyone's beliefs but I'm Buddhist and don't believe in god. Ive even tried to meditate to get the bad spending thoughts out of my head but it hasn't helped much either.

Thanks for the advice I'll look into it.

First of all I would definitely stop shopping at gas stations. They are far more expensive than a grocery store.

Also, if your main problem is impulse buying then only bring cash with you when you go out. And only bring what you really need to spend. If you don't have your debit card or credit card you can't use them. It's a lot harder to part with actual cash than it is electronic money.

You can also try the envelope method. When you get paid, put specific dollar amounts in envelopes labeled "rent", "gas", "utilities", "food", "entertainment", and "savings". Every month take the envelope with marked "savings" to the bank and put it into a savings account that accrues interest and DON'T touch it!!!

Thanks Cecil. I usually spend the cash faster to be honest because I know exactly how much visually is there where with my debit/credit cards it's not as simple.

I have stopped getting anything but gas at gas stations, but these days at $4.05 for regular here it's about the same as if I can bought a soda.

I like the envelope idea.

Thanks a heap for the advice.

After rereading that I get what you mean about the actual money and only bringing enough, but I worry way to much and always end up short when I check out usually. Which is why I never use cash anymore.

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Two questions on that.
#1 do they have them all over?
#2 is it really churchy like? Because no offense to anyone or anyone's beliefs but I'm Buddhist and don't believe in god. Ive even tried to meditate to get the bad spending thoughts out of my head but it hasn't helped much either.

Thanks for the advice I'll look into it.

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Dave Ramsey is a Christian and his concepts come from a place that his biblical beliefs directed him to. That being said, you can order his stuff on line and do not need to go to a church to have access. Further, regardless of where he derived his methodology, his principles are sound financially, period. Definitely worth checking out.

Here's what I do, and it works very well for me.

I figured out a tight budget; bills, food, critter care, gas etc. I have that much (plus a little extra) direct deposited into my checking account and anything above that amount goes directly into my savings account. Once it's in savings I try really hard to leave it there, and mostly I do. If I 'borrow' from savings I pay myself back.
I rarely carry cash, too easy to spend. I use my bank card, if the money is not in my checking account then I can't spend it on stuff I don't need (like that new phone I just bought. lol).
I had no credit card for years and years and years, I do have a Home Depot one now as I recently bought a house. It was all paid off but I just bought some yard tools with it (because I just bought that new phone too!) but will pay it off in full when the bill comes in.

I like the envelope idea, as long as you leave the envelopes alone it should work well. It's sort of what I do, I schedule my bills to go out and deduct that amount from my register, so it's not showing therefore, not there.

I've tried very hard to teach my son the value of spending within his means and he now has a modest savings account that he is proud of. He makes very little but covers his bills and living expenses and manages to save a bit.

It takes time to get yourself on track and diligence to stay on track, you just have to figure what works for you.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Two questions on that.
#1 do they have them all over?
#2 is it really churchy like? Because no offense to anyone or anyone's beliefs but I'm Buddhist and don't believe in god. Ive even tried to meditate to get the bad spending thoughts out of my head but it hasn't helped much either.

Thanks for the advice I'll look into it.

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Yes - they are all over - you just have to enter your zip code to find one.

It's Biblically based - but it's not preachy in any way. He does use some Bible quotes in his lessons, but not to try to convert you. One example - in the first lesson - he talks about how some Christians will say "but wealth building is bad - the Bible says money is the root of all evil". And he says "no - that's not what it says - it says - the LOVE of money is the root of all evil"

I consider myself more spiritual than religious, and I don't feel uncomfortable.

But - he does offer the course online as well, and the materials are worth getting (the workbook, the envelope system that was mentioned here already - etc).

The thing is - no matter what you decide to do - you will need fully embrace the process before you can begin to change your behavior.

http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

Here's the link to the online class - http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/online/

Thanks for the advice both of you. I'm currently really stressed out for the fact that I have so many one time bills or things that need to be done ASAP that I'm really overwhelmed. I need new tires before winter $300, my kitten is getting spayed and declawed Friday, me and my girlfriend are going halves on the bill but it's still $140 for me, my tattoo appointment to color and finish it is October 26 and I estimate it between $2-400. I could also use some new brakes for my car. All these things for the most part are a one time fee, but I also have the $130 I own my mom for car insurance and cell phone due next week, the $100 on my credit card (it's really only $25 but I always pay over the required to make my credit score a smidge better looking), plus the weekly gas and whatnot.

I only make $8/hr currently and don't get overtime because my boss is a crook, I've thought about bringing charges up on him....but since he's a millionaire his lawyer would be better than mine.

These are just hard times and my spending habits don't help me at all.

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Thanks for the advice both of you. I'm currently really stressed out for the fact that I have so many one time bills or things that need to be done ASAP that I'm really overwhelmed. I need new tires before winter $300, my kitten is getting spayed and declawed Friday, me and my girlfriend are going halves on the bill but it's still $140 for me, my tattoo appointment to color and finish it is October 26 and I estimate it between $2-400. I could also use some new brakes for my car. All these things for the most part are a one time fee, but I also have the $130 I own my mom for car insurance and cell phone due next week, the $100 on my credit card (it's really only $25 but I always pay over the required to make my credit score a smidge better looking), plus the weekly gas and whatnot.

I only make $8/hr currently and don't get overtime because my boss is a crook, I've thought about bringing charges up on him....but since he's a millionaire his lawyer would be better than mine.

These are just hard times and my spending habits don't help me at all.

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Of all those things - the tattoo appointment is not a necessary expenditure right now. I'd work on the others and maybe re-schedule the tattoo appointment for a later date.

See if you can find a spay and neuter clinic that has more affordable spay and neuter - and please don't declaw! I used to - until one of my cats feet were messed up for life. Declawing is really amputation - they amputate off a digit of their toe. She walked in pain for the rest of her life. My two cats now are not declawed, I got an affordable scratching post and keep it catnipped up and I don't have problems with them. I also clip their claws every two weeks which cuts down on their desire to scratch furniture as well.

Seriously??? Give your cat away and wait on the tattoo!!! This is the definition of ridiculous!

Assuming you are planning on getting the kitten de-clawed (agree whole-heartedly w/rabernet, don't do it!) it is a 100% indoor cat that will never, ever see the outside world. If that's the case, and you have no un-neutered males inside, you could put the spaying off for a bit. If it is going to go out then yes, it does need to be spayed sooner rather than later and de-clawing would be a definite no in any event. Getting rid of it may be drastic ;)
Also agree on the tatoo...that can wait.

Look, here is what you need to do to get out of this.

Find a new job. Your boss may very well be within his rights to not pay overtime. There are ways to get out of paying it. Not that it makes it right but it makes it legal in some cases. If you really want to pursue it, call the Labor Board.

Get a second job if you need to. I have had 4 different jobs to make ends meet. You do what you have to.

Wait on the tattoo. You do NOT need it! I have a full back piece that wraps around my sides and shoulders. I sure as hell wouldn't put that over my basic necessities.

Give the cat to someone who can care for it financially. Please do not de-claw the cat. It's just not necessary.

Call the credit card companies. They have programs for financial hardship. Most are willing to help you as long as you show them that you want to pay off your debt.

Make the minimum payments until you have enough to fix your brakes and get tires. Paying off sooner won't necessarily improve your credit score all that much.

Cut out frivolous spending. If you are an adult, then act like one. If you can't afford to go out to eat or drink then DON'T! Stay home, or better yet, get that second job.

- - - Updated - - -

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Originally Posted by Clementine_3

Getting rid of it may be drastic ;)

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He came here for advice. If he can't afford to fix his brakes and get tires for his car then the cat should be given away. At this point, the cat is a luxury that he can't seem to properly care for financially. I love my pets as much as anyone but you gotta take care of you in order to take care of pets.

I feel for you. I really do. I paid for college out of my own pocket. No help from family. I got some loans but still had to work several jobs to make ends meet. There is more respect in doing the right thing. Especially when it is a hard thing to do. Get your finances in order then get a cat, tattoo, or whatever you desire.

I knew I should have left the declaw part off. But oh we'll, I work at a vet clinic and I know how it's done. I've seen it done numerous times. I WILL not get rid of my cat. I live with my girlfriend and her family and the stipulation of having the cat is to get her spayed and declawed. No way around it. I've tried soft paws and it doesn't last long enough and in the end cost more than a declaw ever would. She won't let me clip them without flipping out either and I refuse to spend the money to bring her to my work to get them done. I've had nothing but declawed cats my whole life and they have never had any problems doing anything. My sister cat caught a crow a few days ago...yes a crow with no front claws and I only believed that because i witnessed it. Either way it's my decision and I don't want to argue. I support your opinions but I won't give away my cat and if that means getting declawed so be it. I'm not trying to be mean but that's just how it is, and yes I could go elsewhere but my clinic is the #1 within a 2 hour drive so they may be more expensive but they are more thorough.

As to the tattoo. I have been thinking of rescheduling, but I'm just sick of it being half done. But that's my problem. So I don't know what I'll do yet...but it's something that will have to be paid for eventually unless I want to leave it as is, which I don't.

I just got my certification for nursing assistant a month or so ago and I have been applying to more jobs. I had a interview Friday and I think it went pretty well. It's 11:15pm-7:15am in the ER 4 night a week or more if I want to pick up the hours. I'll be making more and have benefits which is something I need desperately, especially dental.

Either way I am pursing a better career plus I'm starting college in January part time at night for my AS in nursing. I will look into the online course and the envelope idea.


Thank you all for your help any more ideas please feel free to input.

I understand you Cecil I do. But really my cat doesn't cost nearly anything. I get discounted food because I'm an employee and my gf helps out as well. This is the most expensive thing that she will hopefully ever need so I can live with it. I didn't expect anyone to tell me play by play how I should pay each bill for me...I don't need that. I just wanted little tips to bypass the store or gas station and save a little.

I thank you very much Cecil though. None of this is out of anger I really appreciate all of your help.

Also feel free to pm me, anyone if they want to elaborate or have a more "intimate" discussion on the topic.

Thanks

My tattoo appointment has been postponed until further notice.

Just FYI when my husband and I got my cat declawed, the vet messed up and we ended up with 3 surgeries to pay for and not just one!!!! The vet (which I will not name) is a well known clinic in Tampa, FL and has always come highly recommended! So please make sure you have some emergency funds before the surgery in case they screw up or she gets an infection or she has to stay on the special litter longer or ........

There are low cost spay and neuter clinics around. Check you neighborhood, ask your vet, search the internet. And don't declaw your cat. That right there will save you a bunch of money, and me personally, I am against it. Also, with the exception of rabies, you can get your kitties vaccines at your local co-op or cenex supply, (or possibly what ever feed stores you have where you are) a whole lot cheaper than the vet.

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Well I doubt I'll find anyone that supports declawing but I'm still doing it I told you the stipulations of having it at my girlfriends house, I'm not paying all of it either because it's half hers to. I can't tell her to get rid of something thats half hers. I do all my vaccines myself as well. I trust the techs and vets here whole heartily. I even picked the ones I wanted to do the procedures. Anyways can we get off the cat now?

I didn't make this to argue over what's right and what's wrong in terms of my cat. I simply stated that it was an impending expense. I did just call off my tattoo appointment which would have cost way more than me and my girlfriends cat. With that saved money comes 4 new tires.

Any other non cat advice please be free to share. Thanks again.

Wow. Im actually rather shocked reading all this. My family was never poor growing up but we certainly were not rich either. I guess me and my brother kind of just developed our saving habits at a young age. When i was young i asked for savings bonds from my grandparents instead of bday gifts, i guess you could say i was just a saver from a young age lol. When i stop to get gas i almost never get any snacks or drinks. When i go shopping i make a mental list of the few things i need, or write down a list if its alot and rarely do i not stick to it. Idk, i guess its just my nature.

I second the envelope method Cecil suggested, i know people who do that and it works. Although if you have all that cash in front of you would you be tempted to spend it? If yes, then dont do that. I honestly, and im not saying this to be mean at all kevin, cannot believe someone would even consider putting tattoos before bills. That just sounds absurd to me, not to mention sorta selfish if your gf is having to help you out with money. I would sit down and talk things over with her seriously and develop a good saving strategy. Once you have that plan written down put it somewhere you can see it everyday. Im not trying to slam you or anything but i would be crapping myself and very worried if i ever saw my bank accounts get that low. Talk with your gf and get your priorities straightened out bro. You dont wanna lose someone you love over bad habits. Dont ever hesitate to PM if you have questions or just need to talk dude. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.

Welcome to being an adult.

I just joined the military and sacrificed time with my child so I could secure our future. You're complaining about saving money yet you're wasting it on expenses like declawing a cat. If its a "stipulation" for your girlfriends parents then maybe they should pay for it. Do they want you living there forever? Sorry, I've just been out on my own with my child since I was 18 with little financial help from my parents. It's tough, but you need to make sacrifices. I have no tattoos, I don't go out to eat. The only money I have in savings is for emergencies for my son or my reptiles. I don't go on vacation.

If your job isn't paying enough then look for a second job. Like I said, I joined the military. Oh the joys of being an adult ;)

A nifty tool I like to use is Mint.com

I never had a job or worked a day in my life until I was 19. So when I started working, I didn't really know how to manage money. Got overwhelmed trying to keep track of bills, different accounts, loans, budgets, etc. Mint.com made all of that easier to manage. You even have the option to get notifications (email or text) when you are reaching/over your budget.

When you get a chance, check out Mint.com!



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OK, here goes...

For banking and financial basics, try handsonbanking.org.

To save money, start by packing your own lunch to work and bringing your own coffee. Fast food and Starbucks will make your money disappear. If you are working lots of hours or more than one job, it's especially important to plan ahead, because otherwise you'll end up grabbing something on the go.

If you are living with your girlfriend's family, you may not be doing your own grocery shopping and cooking, but if you are, then learn some meal planning and couponing skills. The coupon websites I use regularly are TrueCouponing.com (this one has a Christian approach, but frankly I just ignore it and the site has very good guides for how to start saving when shopping) and CouponMom.com (you have to sign up and get some spam in your inbox, but the match ups are more extensive/accurate.) Don't pay for a coupon/deal match website, there are plenty of free ones.

You don't have to go all extreme couponing like the TV shows, either, just become aware of what's in season and on sale and plan accordingly. Even if you don't coupon at all, just checking the circulars and picking up 3 or 4 shampoos/deodorants/razors when they are buy one/get one free will add up quickly.

I gave up soda this year, and started carting a bottle of water around with me that I fill up at home, so I'm not buying bottled water when I'm out. If you are drinking soda, then pick it up sale at the grocery store or in bulk at a Sam's Club or Costco, then keep some in a cooler in your car.

The most important thing is to PLAN AHEAD. When you shop, make a list and stick to it. No impulse purchases and STICK TO THE LIST.

You've already made a good start by writing down some of your larger expenses and evaluating whether they are wants or needs, just start keeping track of the smaller ones, too, and you should start to feel more in control of your budget.

I wish I had started paying more attention to this kind of thing when I was younger. Sounds like your girlfriend has a good head on her shoulders and is trying to point you in the right direction. Good luck to both of you!

Orenshi I just checked out that mint.com, how cool!!! Thank you, they even have an iPhone app :D

How often do you and your GF go out to dinner? It costs a LOT more to go out than to cook for yourself. When you do go out, drink WATER - soda, beer, and mixed drinks are pure profit for restaurants. It is not worth $2.50 for a glass of soda or $5+ for a beer.

Gas is expensive - make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you're not carrying any unnecessary weight in your car and you'll use less of it.

Cigarettes are expensive - if you smoke, quit. Not only will you save money, you'll cough less, smell better, and not get lung cancer/emphysema. (Assuming $5/pack and 1 pack/day habit, quitting saves you $1825/year!)

Alcohol is expensive - if you drink a lot and/or you go out to bars, reduce the amount you drink and quit going out to bars. For the price of a beer at a bar, you can get a 6-pack to drink at home.

Basically, it amounts to figuring out what you really NEED, and what you just WANT. Cut the budget down to only the needs, see what's left, money-wise, and then assess which of the wants you can and can't afford while still saving at least a little bit of money. Even if you're only putting away $50-100/month, it'll add up quickly. (Good on you for postponing the tat until you can actually afford it, BTW.)

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Originally Posted by olstyn

How often do you and your GF go out to dinner? It costs a LOT more to go out than to cook for yourself. When you do go out, drink WATER - soda, beer, and mixed drinks are pure profit for restaurants. It is not worth $2.50 for a glass of soda or $5+ for a beer.

Gas is expensive - make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you're not carrying any unnecessary weight in your car and you'll use less of it.

Cigarettes are expensive - if you smoke, quit. Not only will you save money, you'll cough less, smell better, and not get lung cancer/emphysema. (Assuming $5/pack and 1 pack/day habit, quitting saves you $1825/year!)

Alcohol is expensive - if you drink a lot and/or you go out to bars, reduce the amount you drink and quit going out to bars. For the price of a beer at a bar, you can get a 6-pack to drink at home.

Basically, it amounts to figuring out what you really NEED, and what you just WANT. Cut the budget down to only the needs, see what's left, money-wise, and then assess which of the wants you can and can't afford while still saving at least a little bit of money. Even if you're only putting away $50-100/month, it'll add up quickly. (Good on you for postponing the tat until you can actually afford it, BTW.)

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Good points. Also idk about other states but the CHEAP cigarettes in CT are like $7 a pack. Newports are like almost $9 a pack i think lol.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Good points. Also idk about other states but the CHEAP cigarettes in CT are like $7 a pack. Newports are like almost $9 a pack i think lol.

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Fair enough - I don't smoke, so I was just throwing out some numbers to make a point. Apparently it's an even stronger point than I realized. :)

Didn't read the thread.. Just read the OP. Here's my response:

Just stop impulsively buying things. Set a budget for how much you can spend on food, and spend only that. Never eat out. Never spend money on a credit card you don't intend to pay off immediately (i.e. use credit cards only as a quick means to pay for something using money you already have, not as an actual line of credit).

It's not hard, but it is simple. After losing my job in 2009, spending too many months unemployed and looking for work, and now having worked a low pay job for a year, I've gotta say that it became easy to do the above because of the stress of spending.

A simple tool to use to put stuff away into savings, if your job has it, is direct deposit. Get your place of employment to deposit a set % of every paycheck into your savings.

It's not easy depending on how compulsively you spend, but it is simple. There are no easy solutions, and the simplest but hard solutions to hard problems are often the only ones that will work.

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Originally Posted by olstyn

Fair enough - I don't smoke, so I was just throwing out some numbers to make a point. Apparently it's an even stronger point than I realized. :)

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Oh yea i wasnt saying you were wrong. I was just adding some to help enhance it. It IS a VERY expensive habit lol. :)

Thanks everyone and yes here is new York cigarettes are very expensive. I quite over a year ago cold turkey and haven't touch them since. I do have urges everyday but I try to distract myself. A coworker asked me to get her some yesterday when I went to pickup everyone's lunch at the deli nearby (which I never buy at, I'll starve before ordering food when I'm working) and a pack of Marlboro red shorts was over $10....I can't imagine what newports are these days and that's what I smoked when I was!

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Thanks everyone and yes here is new York cigarettes are very expensive. I quite over a year ago cold turkey and haven't touch them since. I do have urges everyday but I try to distract myself. A coworker asked me to get her some yesterday when I went to pickup everyone's lunch at the deli nearby (which I never buy at, I'll starve before ordering food when I'm working) and a pack of Marlboro red shorts was over $10....I can't imagine what newports are these days and that's what I smoked when I was!

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Do you not eat at work? Thats not good. Then when youre on your way home you'll be more likely to buy gas station snacks or something lol.

I only work 20 minutes away from my job and we don't get an actual lunch break, even when I sit down for a second to have a sandwich or snack I brought he stares me down because I'm sitting and not working. Anyways being that I only live a short distance away....the drive through towns is why it's so long it's only 11 miles. My girlfriend will bring me something, but she also babysits near my work and can easily drop it off since she works almost 7 days a week there. I hardly ever by snacks from convenience stores. Just soda for the most part...or red bull, I only drink one or two a month but even that's to much since they cost a small fortune.

Just a note on your boss, If you're working more than 5 hours you are required by law to take minimum 30 minute unpaid break. Most places round it off to an hour and pull a 9 hour shift out of you of they can help it. What he's doing is illegal if you are working more than 5 hours consecutively.

I'm pretty bad about money too. I have so many "wants" as my wife puts it. Like, right now I want a pair of cinnys to breed, I want a wine cooler to convert into an incubator, I want a really good thermostat and run flexwatt for my cages, and I want Pokemon red yellow and blue and the special pikachu edition game boy color.

So, for me it's a matter of I just "want" too much. Which, is a personal thing I have to get under control. I've always known that I should save and saving gets you better things but I've never done it. It's only recently that I make the commitment to put 10 percent of each check back into savings. And I want to do that each check, for the next 20 years if possible. I imagine whatever money is saved will go to a house when that time comes, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

The basics of it really come down to self control. Yeah, a tattoo would be nice but it'd be nice to have those new tires too. Especially here where I live where it doesn't really snow in the winter, just large freezes, haha.



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I "want" wayyyy to much. That's pretty much the only word out of my mouth. So yes I need to restrain and save.

As for my boss, he's a crook. He owns this clinic and a thoroughbred horse farm with stud fees in the 20 of thousands. He's an outstanding veterinarian but a horrible person. Everyone walks on eggshells when he's in the clinic. I was promised a raise at 6 months...that was over a year ago and I asked him about it and he said at my pay grade he was already paying me to much. He even got mad when I bought a new car and said he should cut my pay because I obviously make to much.

No one gets overtime. Whatever hours that are over 40 get rolled to the next weeks pay which is nice sometimes when you have only 20 hours one week, but this also means you hit a wall with the amount your paycheck is a week when you get over 40.

There are no lunch breaks whatsoever, which everyone knows is illegal. Or breaks even. I work between 8-10 hour shifts a day 5-7 a week. Even when I'm having a quick lunch I get asked and told to help do stuff.

I love my lady coworkers but everything else sucks here.

Hence why I went and got my CNA. I applied to a couple jobs and had an interview last Friday. It is a 4 day a week job for 11:15pm-7:15am in the ER. I really hope to hear from them this week.

Other than that all I can do is suck up the bull here and hope I get hired as a CNA somewhere.

I'll post now and read the thread after.

I have a system that is very effective for helping me save a bit.

When I 'balance my checkbook' (I use an excel sheet for bills and cost of living) I round up to the nearest $5 for spending and down to the nearest $5 for deposits. It makes the math simple so I don't mind keeping track and it leaves me with 50-100 bucks in savings at the end of each paycheck.

Dep. $52 = $50
Spend $2.50 at gas station = $45
Bill for $31 = $10
Spend 7.50 at gas station = $0

Then when I hit $0 I transfer the balance of my checking account to savings and don't look at it again.

Just saved $11 of $50, or 20%

Voila

http://www.labor.ny.gov/home/

http://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection...rds/faq.shtm#4

http://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection...yer/meals.shtm

Contact someone from the NY Dept. of Labor. It is confidential. It happened at a place I worked at in NY several years ago. The employer was forced to make payments for unpaid overtime. There were guys who were written checks clearing over $20,000.

Thanks Cecil I've wanted to for so long, but I was scared, still kinda am that he would find out who told them about it.

Read the post and had this further comment to contribute:

Damn my generation for earning the title of the 'entitlement generation.' I'll leave it at that so I don't derail the thread.


Also, don't declaw that cat. Anyone who understands it WILL NOT advocate it. My sister is a vet and her practice, like many others who have integrity and morals, does not declaw. Anyone who doesn't understand it but ignores the advice of people who do encompasses a quality that will be harmful across many areas of life, including financially. Maybe that's why you're at where you're at. Learn to be wrong and take advice, even if the immediate outcome is not your preference.

Anyone who understands declawing and still chooses to follow through simply shouldn't be keeping any animal captive as a pet. It's one thing to be selfish and mistreat inanimate objects for your own enjoyment. It's another thing to strip a living thing of its defense and stress coping mechanism and keep it imprisoned for your amusement.

Harsh? Prob. Oh well. Not here to make friends, just engage in discussion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Thanks Cecil I've wanted to for so long, but I was scared, still kinda am that he would find out who told them about it.

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The Labor Board protects employees. They will keep it confidential.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Read the post and had this further comment to contribute:

Damn my generation for earning the title of the 'entitlement generation.' I'll leave it at that so I don't derail the thread.


Also, don't declaw that cat. Anyone who understands it WILL NOT advocate it. My sister is a vet and her practice, like many others who have integrity and morals, does not declaw. Anyone who doesn't understand it but ignores the advice of people who do encompasses a quality that will be harmful across many areas of life, including financially. Maybe that's why you're at where you're at. Learn to be wrong and take advice, even if the immediate outcome is not your preference.

Anyone who understands declawing and still chooses to follow through simply shouldn't be keeping any animal captive as a pet. It's one thing to be selfish and mistreat inanimate objects for your own enjoyment. It's another thing to strip a living thing of its defense and stress coping mechanism and keep it imprisoned for your amusement.

Harsh? Prob. Oh well. Not here to make friends, just engage in discussion.

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My girlfriend said she's cover the extra for declaw after I told her last night I wasn't sure we should, there not on my shoulders anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

The Labor Board protects employees. They will keep it confidential.

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Alright thanks.

I grew up in a house with a single parent. My mom. Times were tight. I mean tight. I mean, food bank tight. I mean, calling up her co-workers to borrow money to buy food between paychecks tight. I mean for school, I could only get school supplies I needed, and even then, it was not enough to cover my full school year. I had to learn to write tiny, so I could put two sentences on one line to save paper. All of my clothes were thrift store or garage sale clothes. And even then, we had to file for bankruptcy when I was about 7. We sold almost everything in the house, except for the beds, the couch and the main furniture. Our TV was old. I used old milk crates for my clothes.

So to say I have an appreciation for money is an understatement. I had to drop out of school at 16 so we could keep our rental unit (My mom was crying one day and I asked her why. She said we can either eat that month and live out of a car, or we couldn’t eat but we’d have a roof…) I pinched pennies hard. I learned early how to manage my money, how to shop at grocery stores, and the difference between a need and a want.

Even now, I will hesitate to buy something, even if I can afford it. If it’s a ‘want’, I have to give it serious thought.

I have a few suggestions for you, but I need to know what it is you are and aren’t paying for at your girlfriends place.

Are you paying for food?
You say you have a car. Do you know how much you spend a week?
Cell phone?
Eating out?
Additional costs, such as Xbox subscriptions or general subscriptions (such as WOW)?
Are you paying off any loans (line of credit, financing of furniture or house items, etc)?
Do you have a balance on your credit cards?
Do you know how much your interest rate is on those credit cards?
Are you paying a monthly fee for your bank accounts?
Do you have a savings fund?
How much would you estimate you spend on ‘additional’ stuff during the week (clothes, items, wants)?
How often do you look at your bank account?
Do you get paid bi-weekly, monthly, salary?
Do you guys often go out and ‘do things’ that cost money, such as the movies? If so, how often do you go in 1 pay period?
You say your girlfriend pays for things. What kinds of things?
Have you ever asked her for advice on how to save like she does? Or is it a topic that’s too sensitive to sit down and talk about?
If you had to use a ratio, how are you guys splitting the costs of living? 50/50? 30/70?

I don’t want to give you advice if it doesn’t apply to you. But if you could give us some details, that’d be awesome. Then I can hammer out some details and hopefully get you feeling more confident. I actually am going through some similar balancing issues. It’s hard, I’ll tell you. Especially if you’re feeling under stress about it. So lets work on getting you feeling more in control. The rest will come with practice and application.

Yeah, I would go for immediately. If you're fired or anyone is, let them know or understand yourself that the Dept. of Labor WILL represent you. It's their job. They will put him through the ringer. And, if he's any amount of intelligent, he'll know they can yank either his business license or his veterinary license.

I really URGE you to report this and get it dealt with. And hey, if you get a new job during the investigation, you'll get a windfall for all the penalties he could face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

Yeah, I would go for immediately. If you're fired or anyone is, let them know or understand yourself that the Dept. of Labor WILL represent you. It's their job. They will put him through the ringer. And, if he's any amount of intelligent, he'll know they can yank either his business license or his veterinary license.

I really URGE you to report this and get it dealt with. And hey, if you get a new job during the investigation, you'll get a windfall for all the penalties he could face.

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Agreed. I WISH I had gone to someone with my previous boss. I still have trouble letting go all of the stuff he put us through. By the end of my time working there, he had taken away our breaks and was only giving us 5-10 minutes to have lunch. And we were still 'on call' during that time. So when we were eating, we were still expected to answer the phones.

Report it. I'm serious. You will regret it if you don't. You guys are going through it. There is no one else with a better voice than someone who is suffering it.