this friday marks the first payday of the second period of my 2002 fiscal year. the recent realization that i have a serious rear to get into gear if i want a new car anytime before i die (not to mention getting out of credit card debt). therefore, i spent a goodly amount of time working out the soon to be famous “palindrome budget”.
things are going to be tight, so i took a couple steps to help myself stay on track. i told tyler that i’m cancelling my calling card, so i won’t be paying for his phone calls to me any more. i also phoned hydro and finally got on the equal payment plan, so instead of insanely cheap bills in the summer and outrageously excessive winter bills, it’s now an even $39 each month. i even budgeted for laundry loonies! i’ve also bumped up my debt payments and allocated myself a very stingy entertainment allowance. that means no more treating everyone for lunch, or even lunches out, for that matter.
also, i’m going to try to deal only in cash money with a set amount each week for gas, food and fun. if i can’t live within that limit, then i go without. if that means taking the bus because i can’t afford gas until payday, then so be it. if it means eating whatever icky canned goods are in the back of the cupboard because i can’t afford to go buy something more appetizing, then it sucks to be me.
i know it sounds really bleak and unfun, but if i can stick to this for the next year, i will be in seriously good financial shape (my will-power will be in fighting trim, too) and i’ll be several thousands of dollars less in debt and closer to my dream of having a new car once again. i’m still saving my dimes and toonies for that digital camera, though. that will be my treat once i reach the $500 mark in coins. luckily, one of the side-benefits of dealing entirely in cash (instead of debiting everything) will be more loose change and that means more coins to put away for the new toy.
unfortunately, all this also means no big trip this year. ugh. that will be two years without taking a plane somewhere. maybe i’ll win the lottery again and that time i promise i’ll use it to go somewhere fun (and keep all of it for me — sorry, mom)! oh, wait. i didn’t budget for lottery tickets…
*sigh* No Hessie in the spring. :(
But we’re doing the same trying to stop spending stuff ourself, so I totally understand. I looked at fares out to Vancouver (hey, I’m NOT gonna use my birthday loot for bills ;)), but they’re out of my range. But… how much would a ticket for you to come be? If I can’t go there, maybe I can bring you here? (I’m guessing w/ the exchange rate, I might have a better chance).
Oh… and don’t blow off all used cars! Not old clunkers (although that ’88 Nova served us well for 3 years ;)), but a year or three old. Is the new car smell and seeing the odometer at 00000 worth a few thousand dollars? ;)
-I was hoping to meet you at BlogCon 2002 this August.
-Lease a car (new or used), you get to make montly payments and trade it in in 3 years.
-Someone eats that canned food?
– new cars vs old. i suppose my concern is that i’ll end up with someone’s lemon and i won’t have the dealership/new car warranty to fall back on. i’ve also never owned a used car, so i have no experience in buying one. that being said, i am looking into lease return vehicles.
– blogcon? wow. i can’t say as i ever even considered going. you can always fly home via vancouver and i’ll be glad to take you out for a drink, guru.
– leasing vs buying… it’s funny, i’ll rent my apartment, but i won’t rent my car. i like knowing that my vehicle is *mine*, that no one can take it away from me (once it’s paid off, of course).
Buy the 2nd hand car from a dealership (they get tons of lease returns/trade-ins – esp. right now [I assmue it’s the same in Canada] w/ the new car loan interest rates being so low) – they’ll warranty it. :)
by the way, i do have the last week of march off. that was if you were serious about bringing me to worcester.
Well, I’m serious that I will if it costs less than 250 US$. Don’t know the chances of that – but feel free to search around. :)
Uh…but you know March is still potentially middle of winter here, right?