Wow. It’s hard to believe that the year is almost over already!
As we prepare for 2009, many of us are making new resolutions. I haven’t yet made any personal resolutions for the New Year, but for the Savings Race, I thought it would be fun (since we’re only going to be involved for about half the year) to do a “new month’s resolution” at the beginning of every month from now, until the end of the race. Then at the end of each month, I’ll update everyone in a blog, to let you know if I cheated or succeeded. I’m also going to try to convince Jayme, Kim & the Bledsoes to pick a new resolution for each month, but since I like them, I won’t force them to do it. :)
*So I’ll start with my January Savings Race resolution: This is going to be a recycled one of sorts, as a month or two ago, while Jayme and Kim started their “weight-loss” race, I said that I would stop going to Starbucks for the Pumpkin Spice Lattés that I love. I cut back a lot that month, having only ONE “PSL,” but I still went there for other delights. For the month of January, I have decided to dedicate myself to NOT going to Starbucks AT ALL.*
We’ll see how it goes… please, don’t wish me luck, wish me SAVINGS! :)
A SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Holidays
In this Yule season, the days have reached their shortest and are heading back to longer sunlight. In other words, the darkness has passed. Metaphorically, I can really buy into that this year. We reexamined the way we celebrate as a family: what gifts we give, what we recieve, what is important. And this year feels like a pretty bright beginning, even with some challenges.
We spent less than we ever have on a Christmas morning, but somehow this year was every bit as good as previous years, if not better. I've got the obligatory new socks and underwear, Jess made me a box of "why-I-Love-Yous", the niece and nephew had bright smiles, and we enjoyed each other's company. And even if it is cliche to say so, family and friends is what it's all about.
Of course, it's not all sunshine and lollipops, as we've had a couple of home repair issues crop up. This week, we have to have some wiring done upstairs, as the light fixture in Jess' closet, and in the hallway, have gone the way of the dodo. It turns out the circuit is old knob and tube, so it's a bit tricky for me to replace. Fortunately, a co-worker of mine does home improvement on the side, so the price tag will be less than it could have been.
Now we're heading into New Year's Eve, and the promise of a new number on the calendar. What will the next year bring us? Well, if the Race so far is an example, it'll bring some more saving and debt reduction. And if luck and perseverance hold out, perhaps there will be an addition to the family in our future.
Dave
We spent less than we ever have on a Christmas morning, but somehow this year was every bit as good as previous years, if not better. I've got the obligatory new socks and underwear, Jess made me a box of "why-I-Love-Yous", the niece and nephew had bright smiles, and we enjoyed each other's company. And even if it is cliche to say so, family and friends is what it's all about.
Of course, it's not all sunshine and lollipops, as we've had a couple of home repair issues crop up. This week, we have to have some wiring done upstairs, as the light fixture in Jess' closet, and in the hallway, have gone the way of the dodo. It turns out the circuit is old knob and tube, so it's a bit tricky for me to replace. Fortunately, a co-worker of mine does home improvement on the side, so the price tag will be less than it could have been.
Now we're heading into New Year's Eve, and the promise of a new number on the calendar. What will the next year bring us? Well, if the Race so far is an example, it'll bring some more saving and debt reduction. And if luck and perseverance hold out, perhaps there will be an addition to the family in our future.
Dave
Saturday, December 27, 2008
What will the New Year bring?
Well, now that we are winding down from the Holidays and getting ready for the new year, it is time to say goodbye to old habits and hello to new habits.
The Bledsoe family is doing such a great job at putting more money toward their credit card debit and now are putting money into a savings plan. They have learned some great information and hints from the classes that they have taken and they are very excited about their plan.
As coaches, we are gearing up for the new year with our own challenges. The weight loss race will be in full swing as of January 1st and I am personally doing my own budget for savings and paying off some personal debt.
The Bledsoe family is doing such a great job at putting more money toward their credit card debit and now are putting money into a savings plan. They have learned some great information and hints from the classes that they have taken and they are very excited about their plan.
As coaches, we are gearing up for the new year with our own challenges. The weight loss race will be in full swing as of January 1st and I am personally doing my own budget for savings and paying off some personal debt.
A New Kind of Present....
My sis-in-law, Cathy, told us that what she wanted for Christmas was a deposit receipt from our savings account. So, as gifts we gave my parents, my brother, and my sis-in-law receipts showing them the amount we deposited into our Balance Builder for them. Because of this, and our wise spending for everyone else, I am happy to report that we tripled what we normally put in the Balance Builder this month, and nothing went on our credit cards for Christmas.I <3 my Family.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Pick Up a Habit
When we think of habits, we may start to imagine someone who smokes, or incessantly bites their nails. Generally, we put a negative connotation on the word “habit;” but, by definition, it is simply a behavior pattern that has become nearly or completely involuntary (i.e.: second nature).
Some sources say that it takes 28 – 30 days to form a habit, but depending on how frequently during that time you are performing the act, other sources say it can take between 21 days and 6 weeks for the act to become truly automatic.
Our Savings Race families have been working hard to save, and have already learned new spending habits which will last a lifetime. You too can learn good spending habits, and like anything you’ll need to practice, practice, practice. In a few weeks you’ll find yourself making better spending choices and saving more money with less effort.
So next time someone asks what your worst habit is, you can wink & tell them, “saving money.”
Some sources say that it takes 28 – 30 days to form a habit, but depending on how frequently during that time you are performing the act, other sources say it can take between 21 days and 6 weeks for the act to become truly automatic.
Our Savings Race families have been working hard to save, and have already learned new spending habits which will last a lifetime. You too can learn good spending habits, and like anything you’ll need to practice, practice, practice. In a few weeks you’ll find yourself making better spending choices and saving more money with less effort.
So next time someone asks what your worst habit is, you can wink & tell them, “saving money.”
Thursday, December 11, 2008
More Info on Scams
Coach Andrea brings up a very valuable point. Not only will they send checks, they'll send emails to you constantly. I've seen countless scam emails such as this, and here's something you might not know. The vast majority of these originate in Nigeria, the product of nefarious individuals sending out the scams at internet cafes, of all places.
A site that I like to visit to stay up to date on the latest scams is www.419eater.com I'm not necessarily agreeing with everything that goes on there...but suffice to say that if you want to keep the scammers busy getting scammed themselves, this is a good website to visit. At the very least, it's a great place to get an education about those scams you receive. Bottom line: if it's too good to be true, it probably is a scam. You haven't wont the Irish lottery, there is no Saudi Millionaire with no inheritor, and there is no cancer patient looking to give you his millions. Ultimately, the scams can be pretty easy to spot, once you look at them with a skeptic's eye.
Dave
A site that I like to visit to stay up to date on the latest scams is www.419eater.com I'm not necessarily agreeing with everything that goes on there...but suffice to say that if you want to keep the scammers busy getting scammed themselves, this is a good website to visit. At the very least, it's a great place to get an education about those scams you receive. Bottom line: if it's too good to be true, it probably is a scam. You haven't wont the Irish lottery, there is no Saudi Millionaire with no inheritor, and there is no cancer patient looking to give you his millions. Ultimately, the scams can be pretty easy to spot, once you look at them with a skeptic's eye.
Dave
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
If You're Reading This, You've Won!!!
Ahhh the holidays. A time when we get together to celebrate with friends & family, eat great food, open gifts, & spend, spend, spend! This time of year can also leave you feeling like you need a money miracle; and it’s the time of year when criminals are counting on it to fill their pockets with YOUR money.
Here’s how it works:
A mysterious check arrives with a letter informing you that you’ve been “randomly” selected to do a “Secret Shopping” gig; or perhaps you’re the recent winner of an overseas lottery that you didn’t play; or even still, maybe you’ve received a grand inheritance from a relative whom you’ve never heard of, or met, in your life. If this is the case then you are the newest, unwitting participant of a SCAM!
Very clever thieves create these checks (which look 100% real!) & send them to you in hopes that you’ll deposit the check & send them a portion of the money back via Western Union. Then, when the check is returned as a fraudulent item, YOU become responsible for the funds.
As a teller, I see this happen frequently. The thieves are non-selective about who they choose as targets, but it’s especially sad to see older persons affected by this situation. I even have one member who receives these nearly once a week and they’re made out to her husband, who passed away several years ago. Disturbing - to say the least.
But you don’t have to fall victim to these scams. If you receive a check that seems too good to be true, (as the old adage goes) IT PROBABLY IS! If you’re unsure, you can call the financial institution where the check was drawn to verify funds, or take it to your financial institution, and have them look into it. DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK OR HAVE IT CASHED!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough.
The scam has been around for several years, but is still going strong because people are still falling for it. Truth is, they’re good at what they do. It’s your job to be better. Keep an eye out for this and other types of fraud this holiday season, and keep your money where it belongs – in YOUR pocket (or safely tucked away in your savings account)!
Here’s how it works:
A mysterious check arrives with a letter informing you that you’ve been “randomly” selected to do a “Secret Shopping” gig; or perhaps you’re the recent winner of an overseas lottery that you didn’t play; or even still, maybe you’ve received a grand inheritance from a relative whom you’ve never heard of, or met, in your life. If this is the case then you are the newest, unwitting participant of a SCAM!
Very clever thieves create these checks (which look 100% real!) & send them to you in hopes that you’ll deposit the check & send them a portion of the money back via Western Union. Then, when the check is returned as a fraudulent item, YOU become responsible for the funds.
As a teller, I see this happen frequently. The thieves are non-selective about who they choose as targets, but it’s especially sad to see older persons affected by this situation. I even have one member who receives these nearly once a week and they’re made out to her husband, who passed away several years ago. Disturbing - to say the least.
But you don’t have to fall victim to these scams. If you receive a check that seems too good to be true, (as the old adage goes) IT PROBABLY IS! If you’re unsure, you can call the financial institution where the check was drawn to verify funds, or take it to your financial institution, and have them look into it. DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK OR HAVE IT CASHED!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough.
The scam has been around for several years, but is still going strong because people are still falling for it. Truth is, they’re good at what they do. It’s your job to be better. Keep an eye out for this and other types of fraud this holiday season, and keep your money where it belongs – in YOUR pocket (or safely tucked away in your savings account)!
We've Been Spotted!
In the past 2 months we have gotten hilarious phone calls from friends as they have walked into the member centers and seen our large card board cut-outs. And the looks we get as we sit in the Mad River location on the bench next to the cut-out waiting for our weekly meetings are priceless. But last week we had our first "official" celebrity sighting.
We dropped by Tim Horton's for some coffee (I am proud to admit I might have weaned off expensive coffees!). I ordered my basic coffee and the employee took at a look at us then asked, "This might sound really weird, but are you two in the Savings Race at Wright Patt?"
We laughed and told her yes.
Jessica
We dropped by Tim Horton's for some coffee (I am proud to admit I might have weaned off expensive coffees!). I ordered my basic coffee and the employee took at a look at us then asked, "This might sound really weird, but are you two in the Savings Race at Wright Patt?"
We laughed and told her yes.
Jessica
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Back from Vegas!
Well, we're back. We had a great time, we met up with some friends from way out of town...one from New York, one from San Francisco. This trip has been planned for about a year, and we were very happy to get together and kick back. We did go out with a budget firmly in mind, and I'm glad to say we came out ahead. Here's a bit of what we did to keep costs down, but still have a much desired vacation.
First, we didn't gamble much. I spent $33 overall on gambling, and Jess spent $10. For my $33, I played Poker in a tournament format, and lasted about 2 hours. Unfortunately, I didn't place in the money, but I think I got my money's worth in entertainment. I don't think of a poker game as "I will win X dollars", but rather as "I will have fun, and might get my money back."
Another thing we did was to be very firm on our meals. The Luxor has a food court...so in the morning, rather than go to that tempting breakfast buffet, I went to the golden arches. $4.84 vs $16.95. Not a difficult decision at all. Lunch? Same thing for lunches. Ate cheap, with a mind on fine dining in the evening. Dinners? That's where we used our budgeted food amount for the day, and treated ourselves nicely, which I wouldn't have avoided. One of my favorite things about Las Vegas is the high volume of very good food, of any cuisine you might like.
Even in this, we went with some fluid decision making...we had planned on a very fine dining on Sunday, opting to go to Craftsteak. We discovered higher prices than we expected (over $60 a plate!), and it wasn't going to fit the day's budget. So, rather than follow through, we decided to downgrade...we had dessert only, and then went to a cheaper meal elsewhere in the MGM Grand. We saved a lot with that decision, and yet still managed to preserve the "experience" of eating there.
And for another very easy savings trick...we did a lot of the free stuff on the strip. We wandered around a few of the casinos, seeing their claims to fame...New York New York's skyline, MGM Grand's lion habitat, Venetian's Canals, and of course the Bellagio's fountain show. Grand total for all of those things? Zero dollars. ZERO.
We had plans to see two shows. We did see Cirque du Soleil's Ka, which I highly recommend. No, really, if you don't see it next time you're there, don't talk to me. You are not human. ;) An unexpected saving came up on Sunday, as we decided to opt out of seeing our second show, due to several factors, including Jess's back killing her (still dealing with the aftermath of the accident) and my getting very sleepy. We hadn't bought tickets for it yet, so, with good friends along, we just headed back to our room to hang out and jabber away into the wee hours.
Our coaches have really helped me learn how to stick to a budget, and can't wait to see what other great things we'll learn during this race. Now that we've had a relaxing time, we're ready to charge into the holidays and use this budget stick-to-itiveness to get out on the other side of them in good shape!
Dave
First, we didn't gamble much. I spent $33 overall on gambling, and Jess spent $10. For my $33, I played Poker in a tournament format, and lasted about 2 hours. Unfortunately, I didn't place in the money, but I think I got my money's worth in entertainment. I don't think of a poker game as "I will win X dollars", but rather as "I will have fun, and might get my money back."
Another thing we did was to be very firm on our meals. The Luxor has a food court...so in the morning, rather than go to that tempting breakfast buffet, I went to the golden arches. $4.84 vs $16.95. Not a difficult decision at all. Lunch? Same thing for lunches. Ate cheap, with a mind on fine dining in the evening. Dinners? That's where we used our budgeted food amount for the day, and treated ourselves nicely, which I wouldn't have avoided. One of my favorite things about Las Vegas is the high volume of very good food, of any cuisine you might like.
Even in this, we went with some fluid decision making...we had planned on a very fine dining on Sunday, opting to go to Craftsteak. We discovered higher prices than we expected (over $60 a plate!), and it wasn't going to fit the day's budget. So, rather than follow through, we decided to downgrade...we had dessert only, and then went to a cheaper meal elsewhere in the MGM Grand. We saved a lot with that decision, and yet still managed to preserve the "experience" of eating there.
And for another very easy savings trick...we did a lot of the free stuff on the strip. We wandered around a few of the casinos, seeing their claims to fame...New York New York's skyline, MGM Grand's lion habitat, Venetian's Canals, and of course the Bellagio's fountain show. Grand total for all of those things? Zero dollars. ZERO.
We had plans to see two shows. We did see Cirque du Soleil's Ka, which I highly recommend. No, really, if you don't see it next time you're there, don't talk to me. You are not human. ;) An unexpected saving came up on Sunday, as we decided to opt out of seeing our second show, due to several factors, including Jess's back killing her (still dealing with the aftermath of the accident) and my getting very sleepy. We hadn't bought tickets for it yet, so, with good friends along, we just headed back to our room to hang out and jabber away into the wee hours.
Our coaches have really helped me learn how to stick to a budget, and can't wait to see what other great things we'll learn during this race. Now that we've had a relaxing time, we're ready to charge into the holidays and use this budget stick-to-itiveness to get out on the other side of them in good shape!
Dave
It's a Virus!
Well, sometimes a virus can be helpful. And I'm glad to say, we've been spreading a bug around amongst our friends and acquantainces. That bug is savings. And it's spreading.
It's a little bit awesome to hear stories from some of our friends of late telling us how they've changed their savings habits and budgeting methods. Not only are people watching us, but they're using us to fuel their own races. Granted, some of our friends are tired of hearing about our tips and tricks...but they mostly indulge us, and we have noticed they are putting money into their savings accounts when they didn't before.
This excites me. A lot. Not only are our good friends watching from the sidelines, they're participating. They're making the changes in their own budgets, and I've toyed with the idea of making a sort of unofficial race-along, with a silly prize for the winner. It's awesome to hear "I can too" instead of the same thing I used to say..."I would but..."
On an only mildly related note, we're back from Vegas, had a great time, and owned our budget. We came in well under the mark, and I'll be posting soon about the trip. They tell me that 4 page blog entries are bad, so there will likely be several. ;)
Dave
It's a little bit awesome to hear stories from some of our friends of late telling us how they've changed their savings habits and budgeting methods. Not only are people watching us, but they're using us to fuel their own races. Granted, some of our friends are tired of hearing about our tips and tricks...but they mostly indulge us, and we have noticed they are putting money into their savings accounts when they didn't before.
This excites me. A lot. Not only are our good friends watching from the sidelines, they're participating. They're making the changes in their own budgets, and I've toyed with the idea of making a sort of unofficial race-along, with a silly prize for the winner. It's awesome to hear "I can too" instead of the same thing I used to say..."I would but..."
On an only mildly related note, we're back from Vegas, had a great time, and owned our budget. We came in well under the mark, and I'll be posting soon about the trip. They tell me that 4 page blog entries are bad, so there will likely be several. ;)
Dave
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
