WAKE UP CALL!

We are currently in Dallas, enjoying the weather (it's not nearly as hot as it is in SA) Steve is working, and liking it so far. Today, while sitting here at my moms house, looking at things that I can do to help her with.While procrastinating I found one of her REAL SIMPLE magazines that she loves and started to flip the pages. (I usually find ideas on organizing from those magazines, and I think I will help clean her living room today) Anyway, I found a little article about managing your money. I don't do well with money! So, I continued to read this article. The example given in the article is about a stay at home mom, who buys things for the house and kids a little too often. While everything she's buying are things that she does need, she keeps going to the store a too much, too often. She clearly doesn't have a set budget and she overspends the money because she can't visualize where all the money really goes. Sound familiar?! well if not to you, it did to me! I do the exact same thing! I get things for the kids... A LOT! and I don't really spend much at a time, just a few bucks, but it adds up once you go back 2 or 3 times a week! REAL SIMPLE suggested setting a budget, and putting your info on a website called MINT.com. This website is GREAT! it's services are FREE and they help get you on a budget and track all your spending! they email you if you go over budget, and remind you when the next time you need to make your credit card payment! It's totally secure, and they work with most major banks in the US. After, I uploaded my info (it's super easy) they showed me where my money was going this month, and where it went last month! I was shocked to see how much money I had spent just going to CVS for miscellaneous things! TOTAL WAKE UP CALL! This is what I needed! I'm going to take the time while in Dallas to really put our family on a strict budget! BIG TIME! I also realized why I spent so much money going to CVS and what not. I need to take inventory of things I need and make sure to go to the store ONCE to buy the necessary things. Making too many small trips for things I forget to get, result in more money for gas, buying extra little things that end up being huge waste of money! If you are already good with money, you should still do this! it can really help you with suggestions on how to save money for a vacation or just to keep you in the know! Not to mention, the reminders to pay bills, lets you see your debt and how to tackle it i.e student loans etc. GREAT, GREAT site!