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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: eliandjax1 on April 20, 2014, 03:29:48 PM

Title: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: eliandjax1 on April 20, 2014, 03:29:48 PM
Family of four. One income.

Net income - 3200 $

Lot rent rv(all utilities incl) - 350.00
Rec land(18000)- 250 (2x payment)
Student loan(24000)- 200
Two cells - 75.00
Auto ins - 187.00
Car payment(5400)- 436.27
Cc (3600 $) - 158.00

Total after fixed - 1544 $

Food/cleaning/misc store - $500
Cigs/beer - 120 $
Car fuel/maintence - 200 $
Propane - 30 $

Total after variable - 694.00

Cost of in laws - 250 $(food, rent, etc)

Total savings 444.00 (does not include weekly bonus or fun money company sends)
Also pocket about 10k every july from fireworks company I own

Let the facepunching begin!
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: aetherie on April 20, 2014, 03:54:26 PM
Quit smoking. Assuming that accounts for half of your "cigs/beer" budget, you'll save $720 per year *and* get some serious health benefits for you and your family. (You could also cut back on the beer, but take it one step at a time.)
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: Ohio Teacher on April 20, 2014, 04:19:22 PM
Use some savings to buy 2 Moto G phones from Republic Wireless.  Make sure to use a referral link from the forum to save $20.  Then, your 2 cell phones will cost you a total of $20/mo for unlimited talk/text and Wifi-only data.  Or $35/mo if you NEED one of them to have cell data. 

The phones will pay for themselves in about 6-12 months, depending on which plans you go with.

Quit smoking. 

What's with the in-laws thing?  Are they freeloading?
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: 1967mama on April 20, 2014, 04:25:00 PM
Car payment?

Sell the car and buy a cheap used car.  Voila -- no car payments.

Edited for ridiculous typo! haha
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: Gin1984 on April 20, 2014, 04:26:45 PM
I am with everyone else: Cigs/beer - 120, need to go.
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: NinetyFour on April 20, 2014, 04:30:49 PM
Car payment?

Sell the car and buy a cheap used car.  Viola -- no car payments.

Yeah, but how much does a viola cost these days?!?!    ;-)
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: eliandjax1 on April 20, 2014, 04:32:21 PM
Working on cutting back on smoking and drinking. 3 months ago I was spending over 600 $ a month on these vices.

The cells I have are grandfathered att plans with unlimited data which I am hesitent to get rid of since we use our phones as primary source of internet. Is republc unlimted hi speed internet?

In laws is a long story... short version we moved to tx with grandkids... they followed... fil now works for me as he was unable to secure any other employmemt. I basically cover anything they cannot afford to pay so they can survive. They spend A lot of money I vehemently oppose but for the sake of happy home life I bite my tounge (especially at the120 $ satitlite bill!!! Ugh)
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: eliandjax1 on April 20, 2014, 04:49:48 PM
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/multiple-car-questions/

Please see this link for info/advice on vehicle situtation.
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: Able was I ERE on April 20, 2014, 06:29:01 PM
Car payment?

Sell the car and buy a cheap used car.  Viola -- no car payments.

Yeah, but how much does a viola cost these days?!?!    ;-)

Coincidentally, about as much as a car.  Many classical musicians lovingly call their instruments a "second car".
Title: Re: case study: where can I cut.
Post by: sheepgetlambs on April 20, 2014, 07:34:11 PM
Look into sharing internet with someone else in the RV park. H2O wireless uses AT&T towers. Buy a sim card from H20 for $100 and have a year of 2000 talk minutes (I signed up when it was only 1000 minutes and I can't possibly use them all) plus data (not unlimited, but still pretty good for less than $10/month.