budgeting software
So I’m not happy with my current budgeting program. It’s a spreadsheet I downloaded online because it was free and (I thought) easy. But I wish it would itemize my purchases so I could keep track of every one and I wish it it was a little more visually friendly.
What budgeting softwares do you use? Would Quicken be worth purchasing?
I’ve heard there’s one with envelopes that is Mac-based. Sadly I have a PC… does anyone know of a visually friendly system that would be helpful?
Filed under the everyday | Comments (6)an out-of-town friend
My college roommate came into town this weekend, surprising me. She stayed both Friday and Saturday nights, and we spent our time relaxing, watching television and going out to eat. I haven’t seen her since December, and before that, last July. Since our meetings are so seldom, I tend to be less thrifty when she comes.
What do I mean by less thrifty? Here’s a rough breakdown of the weekend costs:
Friday night Chinese food: $7.
Saturday Greek lunch: $13.
DVD 4 of The Office, from Blockbuster: $4.
Turtle ice cream cone: $3.50
Chipotle dinner: $8.50
Sunglasses and radio from Target: $25.
A Sunday newspaper for my parents: $2.
Total cost: $63.
I can’t remember the last time I spent so much on mainly food and entertainment in a weekend. Sigh. As I said though, she only comes once or twice a year, so I suppose it’s OK. If I’d known she was coming, I could’ve planned better and probably saved some money by cooking in or having coupons ready. Nonetheless, we had fun, and the surprise was priceless.
Filed under food, the everyday | Comments (5)Biblical finance 3: Give freely
Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
It’s hard to remember my first official financial advice. But I do remember my parents telling me to give freely, and God would take care of your needs. I’ve seen them put this into practice, and I’m trying to do the same.
For me, the application of this principle means the following: if someone has a need that I have the ability to meet, without it jeopardizing my ability to pay my own bills, I will.
Filed under Biblical finance | Comment (0)on getting
I fear I have a tendency to get over-philosophical on this blog. My personality comes through even when I write anonymously. But for me at least, financial issues are often necessarily philosophical. So much of what I think and learn about money ties to things I think and learn about life.
Example: Sunday night, a group of acquaintances threw me a surprise graduation party. We were planning to get together, as a matter of routine, and I had no idea they were planning a cake and kind words and thick envelopes. The gesture itself was amazing, because, honestly, it’s just not the kind of thing that happens to me. When I’d finished school a few weeks ago, my parents took me out to dinner and some friends congratulated me, but since I hadn’t walked at commencement and I hadn’t had a party, the whole thing went by quietly. And that was fine with me, really. I was so concerned about finding a job and moving on that I wasn’t much up for celebrations.
Now, though, a few weeks into my new position and realizing I no longer drive to the city, no longer sit in a classroom, no longer have projects to chew on, now I admit I feel much more like there’s a reason to… well… eat cake.
Sunday night, these friends made that happen. They served me first, let me get food from the fabulous buffet first, asked me all about the nows of my life. Then they told me it was time for gifts and I opened card after card. It was overwhelming. I didn’t cry or make a speech. I just felt so thankful.
People who I don’t even know all that well (ashamedly) gave me gift cards. These people are not wealthy. They don’t have money to blow. They, out of the generosity of their hearts, wanted to give to me.
So here comes the philosophizing: I know I’ve talked about giving here–about why it’s so valuable and worthwhile. I was speaking then as a giver, and that’s important. But now, as a receiver, I feel the weight of another aspect. I realize how much you can encourage and bless someone else with a $5 Starbucks card or a $20 bill or a few words written in an envelope.
I wish, with all my heart, to do that for other people.
Filed under gifting | Comments (2)from the slush pile today
“I saw your ad for an article writer. Honestly, before I finished reading it, I knew I was the one you were looking for.”
“I have powerful research skills
I am always able to meet deadlines
I am Internet literate
I can cut stories without loosing the original sense of the matter in question
I am very able to spot errors in writings and correct them.” (couldn’t spot loosing though, huh?)
” if you would me to fax them or send them through the mail, please let me know.” (in an e-mail loaded with attachments that was sent FOUR times in a row. You would think one of the times would have had this corrected.)
“I am experienced writer and journalist…I would be willing to negotiate on my regular $50 per hour fee and write on a “per add” basis if you prefer.” (I don’t know what bothers me most: that she charges $50/hr or that the sentences preceding and following that pay request have errors.)
Filed under 9-5 | Comments (6)Biblical finance 2: Laziness –> Poverty
By far the most recurring principle in Proverbs, that laziness leads to poverty seems an obvious point. I get it, mentally at least. I don’t expect, in my head, to become financially secure by sitting at home, watching TV and sleeping the days away.
However.
I do know that I could be very, very content to read books, watch movies and go shopping, most days. I know that usually when my alarm goes off in the morning, I want to stay under the covers. I know that going to work, while something I will keep doing, is not always fun or exciting, and I know that part of me wishes for all of life to be purely rewarding and entertaining.
These are not shocking revelations, I suspect. We all have a little bit of laziness (I hope it’s not just me, at least!). So this Biblical principle about money, though easy to understand, can be difficult to really put into practice. Maybe that’s why it’s so often repeated.
Proverbs 10:4 A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 12:27 Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 14:23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
More? 19:15, 20:13, 21:17, 21:25, 24:33-34,
Filed under Biblical finance | Comment (0)
