Comments on: Family Finances: Our Modus Operandi

By: sam

sam — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:35:53 +0000

hi i have a question for u i am new to budgeting and couponing i want to how much u send on grocerys each month and if that includes all other household and personal items also

By: Zero-Based Budgets for the Home : A Primer

Zero-Based Budgets for the Home : A Primer — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:16:59 +0000

[...] writing down on paper what they wish they could spend money on. I like how Amber once coined it in the comments section – “prediction-based [...]

By: Zero-Based Budgets For The Home: A Primer | Simple Mom

Zero-Based Budgets For The Home: A Primer | Simple Mom — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:14:44 +0000

[...] writing down on paper what they wish they could spend money on. I like how Amber once coined it in the comments section – “prediction-based [...]

By: Fontaine

Fontaine — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:29:44 +0000

Hi, I know this was posted in June, but I just found your blog. I spent hours the other day reading all of your money management posts and I have a couple questions, if you don’t mind.
Ok, you say that your paycheck gets deposited, then part of it is swished away to the various sinking funds and part of it goes to pay your bills automatically.Can I assume that the cash you withdraw for the month to put in your envelopes comes from the main checking account? The part that I’m confused about is how you use your sinking funds. When you want to buy something, say a birthday gift, do you use money from an envelope (groceries for example)? Then when you get home you transfer the money from the “gift” sinking fund to checking, then withdraw that cash to replace the money in the groceries envelope? Or do you use a debit card to take that money out of the main checking account (which has to have some money floating around in it in order for this to work) and then transfer that money from the sinking fund to the main checking account? Or are you pre-emptive and if you know you need a birthday present that month, do you add another envelope to the pile with the money for that gift from the cash you withdrew at the start of the month?

I’m sorry, I’m probably overthinking this, but I need to explain it to my husband who is deployed right now so I only have a 15 minute phone call to do it in. Thanks so much for your help. Your blog is great, I look forward to reading more of your posts

Fontaine´s last blog post…150% increase!!

By: Cool Off Your House Fever With a Long-Term Financial Plan | Simple Mom

Cool Off Your House Fever With a Long-Term Financial Plan | Simple Mom — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:02:18 +0000

[...] Finally, make a plan. Instead of just pouting that you don’t own a home, get out a pencil and paper, and figure [...]

By: Manage the Family Finances by Cutting Expenses AND Increasing Income | Simple Mom

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:00:53 +0000

[...] hear you, Melissa. With the crazy economy, it’s pretty hard to budget, even if you budget one month at a time, like we do. And if you stay at home full-time, a main part of your job as home manager is [...]

By: Back To Basics: 79+ Brilliant Budgeting Resources You’ll Love | My Super-Charged Life

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:18:28 +0000

[...] 25. Family Finances- Our Modus Operandi [...]

By: It’s a Motherlode of Prizes: Seven Gifts, ONE Fortuitous Winner | simple mom

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:41:27 +0000

[...] charge of the family finances. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of zero-based budgets and an envelope system, and Pear Budget allows our family to do both as simply as possible. This prize is a [...]

By: care-in

care-in — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:13:42 +0000

I am really enjoying your posts about finances. We are going from a limited two income household to an even more limited one income. It's scary but I am taking a break from working to stay home and we are open to giving it a try. I am the one that manages the finances but I am also the spender. We use a very simple envelope system for groceries, entertainment, and car repair money. The hardest part for me, at least when we had two incomes, was once bills were paid and money was in the envelopes not spending the little bit that was leftover. Our budget is becoming even tighter so it will be a learning experience I'm sure. care-ins last blog post..Monkeying Around

By: The Friday gathering - Misc updates edition

The Friday gathering - Misc updates edition — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:05:51 +0000

[...] Family Finances: Our Modus Operandi from Simple Mom [...]