No Spend February - Follow Up

At the end of January, BF and I challenged ourselves to make February a no spend month.  BF really stuck to the plan when it came to buying stuff. (I just hope he has forgotten about half of the things he said he would get this month though!) Our biggest accomplishment was not dining out as often. In January we spent $170 going out to eat, and in February we got it down to $100. We also did good on groceries by staying really close to the budgeted amount for the month.

Although we didn't save up $500 like I was hoping, I still think the month was a success. The experiment was good for our budget and we learned that we really didn't need some of the things that would have normally turned into impulse purchases.

Success  :)

Dining Out = $100

Groceries = $500

Unexpected :|

Toll Tag = $80
Vet = $216

Fail  :(

E-Cigarette = $60

Post Office = $16

Cupcakes = $8

BF Miscellaneous = $129

Poor Frank hurt herself and had to go to the vet. The $216 was very unexpected, but we love the furry monster and she is worth it. I think she is on more medicine right now than an old lady - hence her new nickname from BF, "Grandma Puppy". 

Financial Planning and Overcoming Debt

In 2008 the company BF had been employed with for eight years went bankrupt. We were in our mid-twenties and didn't have a real financial plan in place. We quickly learned that decisions had to be made - and in our case it was taking a leap of faith and moving across the world for a chance at better employment in a country with a better economy. BF's new employer paid for our flights and two weeks in a hotel - that was all. We had to figure out how to get any personal belongings shipped over and what to do with everything we left behind - including our house. And I would have to find a job once we got there.

Through the transition we racked up $10,000 in credit card debt. This was in addition to the student loans and car loan we already had. We stayed overseas for two years working, traveling - living an adventure.  When we finally wanted to return to the US, it was a challenge to find new jobs as the economy had not recovered. After applying for what felt like a thousand jobs we both eventually found something, and in our luck with the same company we were already employed with. What we learned though from the complete experience has set us up for success in the future.

We moved home knowing we never wanted to completely rely on a job as the deciding factor in our life. That meant we had to pay off our debt and start saving for our future. By this time we were still carrying the $10,000 in credit card debt, $75,000 in student loans, and $45,000 in vehicle loans and only had about $100 in savings.

We came up with an aggressive plan that created security while reducing debt. I used a variety of methods from Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey, MSN Money, and lots of financial blogs. The best tip for us was the snowball approach from Ramsey. It just means that as you pay off one debt, you roll the amount you were paying into your next debt's payment.

By living below our means, putting raises and unexpected income towards the plan, extreme budgeting, and saying no (a lot) we have eliminated $65,000 from our debt in two years. We still have $65,000 to go, but we are working hard to pay it off before the end of 2014.

B+C=F Financial Plan
1. Make a budget - COMPLETE
2. Enroll in company matched 401K - COMPLETE
3. Pay off credit card debt - COMPLETE
4. Save 3 months expenses in an emergency fund - COMPLETE
5. Pay off 2 of 3 vehicle loans - COMPLETE
6. Pay off student loans - IN PROGRESS
7. Pay off remaining vehicle loan
8. Save 3 more months in the emergency fund
9. Open and max out Roth IRA's for each of us
10. Save 6 more months in the emergency fund

*This post is not to be considered financial advice.

No Spend February

February is going to be a No Spend Month at our house.  I picked February since it is a short month, all of the post-holiday spending should be done, and there are no family birthdays to buy presents for.  We have never tried a No Spend Month before, at least nothing official.  The last few months we were in Singapore were no spend simply because we were trying to get ready to move back to the US.

I don't consider myself a big spender, but somehow all over our excess money is missing at the end of the month, and I can't blame it all on BF.  Things just show up in the shopping cart, I swear! So for the month of February I am going to try to only buy what is on the shopping list and nothing more. No new candles, no new sweaters, no organizing supplies or fancy kitchen tools - just groceries and regular household items.  This also means no grabbing a snack at work or buying a soda to go with my packed lunch.  I can't rule out all dining out since BF has a crazy class schedule this semester and he will have to stop at Subway or Chick-fil-A on his way to the campus, but I can commit that I will not be stopping for dinner on the way home on those nights.  My panini press and I are going to become even better friends.

Have you ever completed a No Spend Month?  If you have never tried, then I invite you to test it out with me!

B+F=C Budget
February 2013
Date	Transaction	Debits	Credits	Balance
1-Feb	Balance			$0.00

Dinner Menu

I absolutely love having our dinner menu posted on the refrigerator.  We never fight about what is for dinner or get tired of something because we make it too often. I swear it is one of the many keys to our happy home.

After moving things around about a hundred times, I was able to finalize a dinner menu that will work with our current schedule through May. Monday nights I am on my own, but I should be able to cook almost every other night of the week. Here is what we will be having for dinner in the coming months:

Dinner 2013

Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
M. New Year’s Eve T. New Year’s Day W. Leftovers T. Beef Tacos F. Pizza S. Baked Chicken & Chorizo S. Leftovers	M. Steak T. Braised Chicken & Gnocchi W. Leftovers T. F. S. Family Dinner S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. BBQ Chicken W. Sandwich T. Chicken Satay w/ Couscous F. S. Plans S. Plans	M. CF T. Pizza W. Sandwich T. Meatloaf F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe

Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
M. CF T. Cheeseburgers W. Sandwich T. Stuffed Poblano Peppers w/ Couscous F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Steak W. Sandwich T. Lasagna F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. BBQ Chicken W. Sandwich T. Chicken Pot Pie F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Pizza W. Sandwich T. Chicken Fried Steak F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe

Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 12
M. CF T. Cheeseburgers W. Sandwich T. Beef Fajitas F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Steak W. Sandwich T. Chicken Alfredo F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. BBQ Chicken W. Sandwich T. Chicken Cordon Blue F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Pizza W. Sandwich T. Cottage Pie F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe

Week 13	Week 14	Week 15	Week 16
M. CF T. Cheeseburgers W. Sandwich T. Green Chicken Enchiladas F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Steak W. Sandwich T. Spaghetti F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. BBQ Chicken W. Sandwich T. Chicken Dumplings F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Pizza W. Sandwich T. Braised Beef Ribs F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe

Week 17	Week 18	Week 19	Week 20
M. CF T. Cheeseburgers W. Sandwich T. Chicken Tortilla Soup F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Steak W. Sandwich T. Chicken Parmesan F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. BBQ Chicken W. Sandwich T. Macaroni & Cheese F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe	M. CF T. Pizza W. Sandwich T. Tomato Soup F. Leftovers S. S. Cookbook Recipe

Family Tree

At some point we have all ventured down the genealogy path trying to put together a family tree.  I think I attempted once when I was about 15 and once again a few years back.  I am hoping that I can fill in a few more blanks throughout the year, hopefully through heartfelt talks with family learning things that I never knew before.

My grandmother must have had some amazing stories, although she never talked to us about her life.  When she passed away a few years ago I realized that all of those memories were lost with her.  I never knew my grandfather as he died shortly after my first Christmas.  We were slightly estranged from the other side of my family so I hardly know anything about them.

It's hard to get any of my family to talk about their history.  The last time I saw my uncle before he died just over a year ago he shared a few stories from his younger years. One being how when he was a teenager he had a crush on my mom and that he threw a party just to get her to come, but my dad made a move first that evening.  I'm not sure if my dad ever even realized he stole her!

On occasions my sister and I start chatting about our childhood and it is crazy how differently we remember things.  I think that she was a bully, she thinks that I was manipulative, and we both think the other was the favorite.

I still have a lot of blanks and I am not sure if all of the information is accurate, but I'll get there someday.

What's for dinner?

It is time for me to make a new dinner menu.  The last one covered 6 months, but I think this time it is going to be more difficult since my work arrangments have changed and BF's class schedule is hectic.  I usually pick one heavy dinner for the week that will result in leftovers and then add in some quick basics. The weekends are left open so that we can use up any extra ingrediants or if we want to go out.  Here is an example of what the last month looked like:

Week 21	Week 22	Week 23	Week 24
M. Stuffed Peppers  w/ Couscous T. Grilled Chicken w/ Veggie W. Steak w/ Veggie T. Leftovers F. Sandwiches S. S.	M. Chicken Pot Pie T. Grilled Chicken w/ Veggie W. Cheese Burger & Beans T. Leftovers F. Sandwiches S. S.	M. Spaghetti T. Grilled Chicken w/ Veggie W. Steak w/ Veggie T. Leftovers F. Sandwiches S. S.	M. Sheppard’s Pie T. Grilled Chicken w/ Veggie W. Cheese Burger & Beans T. Leftovers F. Sandwiches S. S.

I am not even sure how to start the new menu this time.  I guess I've got a lot of work to do!  Until then, I will be cooking whatever I can think up on the way home.

Happy 2013!

2013 is going to be a great year - why, you ask?  Because I want it to be, and BF and I are going to make it great!  We have a lot of plans for the year, including BF finishing his degree, paying off a student loan, taking our fat puppy for Saturday morning walks at the park, and trying new recipes from our cookbooks.

I decided not to make any formal resolutions for 2013.  I always had the best intentions in the past, but was never successful.  So, this year there is no pressure.  It is going to be a great year with no disappointment come the end of December.

I know it is probably said about every year, but it really did feel like 2012 flew by.  We were so busy most of the year with BF and me taking classes, travelling for holidays and birthdays, and projects around the house.  I think we made the most of the year all together.

Oh and speaking of that fat puppy, here she is.  I love the Blinky monster!