Prep or financial smarts.

[THEFAN]

How many of you actually pay bills ahead???


This came to me after I read some facebook posts about bills. Some friends were complaining that there electric, tv and phone were so high. Then they started posting about going out to eat and buying new things all the time.

I really think people have there priorities out of order but I am not one to comment unless asked.

So they complain there electric bill is 200.00 and then can't wait til firday to go shop. They ask me and I tell them I average 60-72. They reply with HOLLY COW HOW DO YOU DO IT!! I replied I turn off my lights and things I don't use. I also tell them no T.V. It's amazing how much stuff in or modern houses we don't use. I use a hand can opener. I boil water on a woodstove ( even though we have gas stove), We don't use a microwave, dry rack clothing, bed by 8-9 p.m. and turn the furnace down during the day time. et etc etc

Our phone, electric and internet is 110.00 a month and I still think that is a lot. but I'm frugal and cheap I guess.

I think if people really started to look at there lives as what do we need and have to have. They could save a ton and pay bills ahead. I find by paying ahead. Problems that come up are not problems or headaches.

I'm not trying to preach here. I am just throwing some thoughs out.
I find by doing and thinking this way I can always do projects or get plans done that I want to do the coming yr. This yrs is finish off greenhouse, build a small veggie stand by the road and buy my gen 3 nighit vision.

 

[Jen-pi]

I wish I could pay bills ahead. Everything is such a struggle right now. And no, I dont shop. Well, maybe at the thrift store.

 

[Wannabefree]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth It makes it difficult for me to maintain my sanity some days. My bills are higher than I can account for often because the kids, though they have been taught, leave things on time and again, wash their hands with dish soap, don't hang up clothes they simply "tried on" but toss them into the laundry instead, use 3 paper towels for a one towel job, take 25 minute showers using only hot water, use enough shampoo to bathe a pack of dogs, etc. etc. etc. and that's just the kids! At least I have one married and moved out now...5 years left on the other one, and a lifetime left with the DH, but maybe I can handle one Good thing I am good with money management or we'd have nothing. I did press for a wood heater when DH and DD didn't want it though. Picking my battles

Oh, and I do pay my bills ahead when I can. We don't have anything due till the 2nd week of January at the moment, but DH just got laid off so...gonna get tight, and momma is about to throw a fit on these wasters! I quit buying paper towels and make them use hankies now

 

[FarmerChick]

frugal is not cheap
cheap is not paying for something truly need to help your family live a good life, you are frugal wanting to save a tad more lol

I am frugal to the max.

My last elec. bill was $83. Down from $160ish in the hot NC weather.
2200 sq ft and doing fine lol



yes if only people would realize it is the "little things" that cuts monthly bills.........no one gets a "free monthly" pass without doing the little things to save. I know it and I lowered my bills.

but people are getting the hints finally.

 

[THEFAN]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth It makes it difficult for me to maintain my sanity some days. My bills are higher than I can account for often because the kids, though they have been taught, leave things on time and again, wash their hands with dish soap, don't hang up clothes they simply "tried on" but toss them into the laundry instead, use 3 paper towels for a one towel job, take 25 minute showers using only hot water, use enough shampoo to bathe a pack of dogs, etc. etc. etc. and that's just the kids! At least I have one married and moved out now...5 years left on the other one, and a lifetime left with the DH, but maybe I can handle one Good thing I am good with money management or we'd have nothing. I did press for a wood heater when DH and DD didn't want it though. Picking my battles

Oh, and I do pay my bills ahead when I can. We don't have anything due till the 2nd week of January at the moment, but DH just got laid off so...gonna get tight, and momma is about to throw a fit on these wasters! I quit buying paper towels and make them use hankies now

We have a 10 yr old girl. Luckly she is more into doing things than what people think. Because of how we live she gravittes towards self sufficient activities. 4H, garden club at school, theator, plays trumpet ( O MY EARS!!) , arts and crafts, and loves to hunt with me when and if I do. We have sit downs and talk about why we do the things we do. She gets it. We let her be plugged in for awhile but no good was coming out of it at all. Lifes to short to be behind a screen all day. On that point I am off to do chores.

 

[Niele da Kine]

I like to pay bills quarterly whenever possible. If it is a small monthly fee sort of bill such as our $15 a month association fee, I just pay it quarterly. Saves a stamp as well as hassle. Our water bill runs about $20 - $30 a month so that gets paid quarterly. There is an online service with our credit card which lets us pay the minimums online so just in case I don't get the balance paid off in time, the minimum will be paid so no late fees.

Our phone(s), electric and internet run about the same amount -$110 a month, but we still have the land line since that one will still work during a catastrophe such as a big earthquake and the cell phones go out then. We keep our electric bill down by not being connected to the electrical grid, though. However, the electric company does pay excellent dividends, so we are invested with them and they pay us instead of us paying them. I've been encouraging my neighbors to do the same thing, but they are still connected.

 

[Wannabefree]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth It makes it difficult for me to maintain my sanity some days. My bills are higher than I can account for often because the kids, though they have been taught, leave things on time and again, wash their hands with dish soap, don't hang up clothes they simply "tried on" but toss them into the laundry instead, use 3 paper towels for a one towel job, take 25 minute showers using only hot water, use enough shampoo to bathe a pack of dogs, etc. etc. etc. and that's just the kids! At least I have one married and moved out now...5 years left on the other one, and a lifetime left with the DH, but maybe I can handle one Good thing I am good with money management or we'd have nothing. I did press for a wood heater when DH and DD didn't want it though. Picking my battles

Oh, and I do pay my bills ahead when I can. We don't have anything due till the 2nd week of January at the moment, but DH just got laid off so...gonna get tight, and momma is about to throw a fit on these wasters! I quit buying paper towels and make them use hankies now

We have a 10 yr old girl. Luckly she is more into doing things than what people think. Because of how we live she gravittes towards self sufficient activities. 4H, garden club at school, theator, plays trumpet ( O MY EARS!!) , arts and crafts, and loves to hunt with me when and if I do. We have sit downs and talk about why we do the things we do. She gets it. We let her be plugged in for awhile but no good was coming out of it at all. Lifes to short to be behind a screen all day. On that point I am off to do chores.

Both my girls were much the same prior to the dreaded teenage years, then they got too uppity for this country livin crap TOO BAD! Seriously though, DD19 has gravitated back to it now that she is facing the real world with a husband and dreams of a family. DD13 is currently being a lunkhead about it. Hates the chickens...the same child last year would spend all day out in the coop "talking" to them. Still can't get either of them to clean fish, but DD19 cleaned her first rabbit she grew out the other day! I'm a proud mom!!! DD13 has a looong way to go, and some rather poor influences from public school due to we couldn't afford her books this year. She'll be back to homeschool next year and maybe she'll calm her attitude back down to earth. Right now she wants to be famous for whatever reason, and thinks we are holding her back While I encourage her to do what she wants, a bit of realistic "wanting" would be nice. A lot of our SS is necessity these days, not just some cool fly by night new "project" that will fade. I think that is the part she doesn't "get" because we used to have a good bit of money to toss around. Truthfully, I rather like the current situation better on that note. She needs to be more grounded. It's good for them. I hope your DD doesn't give you 20 levels of Hades when she reaches the teen years, but BOTH of mine have/did.

 

[tinkarooni]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth It makes it difficult for me to maintain my sanity some days. My bills are higher than I can account for often because the kids, though they have been taught, leave things on time and again, wash their hands with dish soap, don't hang up clothes they simply "tried on" but toss them into the laundry instead, use 3 paper towels for a one towel job, take 25 minute showers using only hot water, use enough shampoo to bathe a pack of dogs, etc. etc. etc. and that's just the kids! At least I have one married and moved out now...5 years left on the other one, and a lifetime left with the DH, but maybe I can handle one Good thing I am good with money management or we'd have nothing. I did press for a wood heater when DH and DD didn't want it though. Picking my battles

Oh, and I do pay my bills ahead when I can. We don't have anything due till the 2nd week of January at the moment, but DH just got laid off so...gonna get tight, and momma is about to throw a fit on these wasters! I quit buying paper towels and make them use hankies now

We had some of the same problems around here. I solved the shower problem with a timer, my kids are now trained to take 7 minute showers. The timer beeps at the two minute warning so they better rinse off. If they go over there was a consequence.....it only took a few times for them to get into the habit.

Laundry was an issue for me too.....I instituted the rule that if I found clothes in the laundry you didn't wear, that kid did everybody's laundry that week. Again, that only took a kid once to learn that lesson.

FYI my kids are only 10 and 12. Maybe it helps that I started early with them.

 

[Wannabefree]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth It makes it difficult for me to maintain my sanity some days. My bills are higher than I can account for often because the kids, though they have been taught, leave things on time and again, wash their hands with dish soap, don't hang up clothes they simply "tried on" but toss them into the laundry instead, use 3 paper towels for a one towel job, take 25 minute showers using only hot water, use enough shampoo to bathe a pack of dogs, etc. etc. etc. and that's just the kids! At least I have one married and moved out now...5 years left on the other one, and a lifetime left with the DH, but maybe I can handle one Good thing I am good with money management or we'd have nothing. I did press for a wood heater when DH and DD didn't want it though. Picking my battles

Oh, and I do pay my bills ahead when I can. We don't have anything due till the 2nd week of January at the moment, but DH just got laid off so...gonna get tight, and momma is about to throw a fit on these wasters! I quit buying paper towels and make them use hankies now

We had some of the same problems around here. I solved the shower problem with a timer, my kids are now trained to take 7 minute showers. The timer beeps at the two minute warning so they better rinse off. If they go over there was a consequence.....it only took a few times for them to get into the habit.

Laundry was an issue for me too.....I instituted the rule that if I found clothes in the laundry you didn't wear, that kid did everybody's laundry that week. Again, that only took a kid once to learn that lesson.

FYI my kids are only 10 and 12. Maybe it helps that I started early with them.

Starting early is best, however my eldest was 10 when I married her daddy, so I had my work cut out for me already. DD 13 was only 4 so she is much better. We pretty much lived on the road though for over half her life....hard to get them to understand when they lived in hotels for so long

 

[FarmerJamie]

I completely agree with you. And my kids and DH are the worst wasters on earth ....

....
Laundry was an issue for me too.....I instituted the rule that if I found clothes in the laundry you didn't wear, that kid did everybody's laundry that week. Again, that only took a kid once to learn that lesson.
FYI my kids are only 10 and 12. Maybe it helps that I started early with them.

ooooh, I'll have to talk to the better half for this one.