By far, one of my biggest issues to address is my financial situation. I should say our financial situation. We’ve both been unemployed for months. We have no idea when I will be able to work and living on one unemployment check is not easy. So not easy that we are not doing it. We are draining our reserves.
I desperately need to acknowledge the difference between necessity and luxury. I’m bad at that. For years I pretty much bought what I wanted, within reason of course. But if I wanted a book, I bought it. If I wanted a dvd, I bought it. If I wanted a trip to the spa, I went.
I very much want a trip to the spa right now. But I am not going. I cannot say I am as careful with books. DAMN YOU KINDLE FOR THE iPHONE! (and bless you. Books on demand wherever I am? This is the future I always dreamt of)
That is not my only problem, however. In addition to watching unnecessary spending, I need to find a way to be smarter about the money we do need to spend. Primarily, I figure, on food. With that in mind…
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a book about budgeting, for someone who is terrible with money? Something simple?
Not a book really, but having been unemployed more than once in a tough economy…
Cut everything unnecessary – even the smart phone, cable/satellite. I kept my net connection because he helped me network :/, but it was always hard to justify.
But one thing I did was sell stuff on ebay to make money to pay off debts. Anything you can do to keep as much monthly income as possible is worthwhile I think. Its like a part time job if you keep up with it, with no reportable income really.