NT recently realized that since he gets free bus passes through work, and could get extremely cheap ones through the university, that he should take advantage of both and give me one set.
I currently get bus passes through my job, and they take the cost out pre-tax, which is a great deal, but not as good as the ones NT can get.
So I've canceled mine (I have enough passes to last me to NT's next semester beginning in January), and NT is going to order a bus pass through the university in early January.
As a consequence, I'm saving about $60 per month immediately, and even when we start buying U passes, that will only be $20 per month.
I know where every dollar goes when we save money; sometimes it goes to extra debt repay, or fun-money savings, or to correct a budget deficiency. But sometimes it must seem like more money never makes a difference to NT and AS, who only see grocery and spending money on a day-to-day basis.
So I decided to give us all a raise in spending money--$20 more per month. We've been at $60 per week per person for awhile, which I realize is very generous compared to most of my frugal buddies, but doesn't go terribly far for us. For awhile, we had extra money that we could "earn" by exercising, but I had to cut that out of the budget, so the straight-up $60 does feel a tad tight.
So the first Friday of each month, we'll get $80 instead of $60. NT and AS are very excited--and I have to admit, so am I!
Gained more spending money
October 17th, 2008 at 06:04 pm
October 17th, 2008 at 07:17 pm 1224271027
DH seems to barely scrape by on $35 a week if you can believe that! This money is strictly for wants and not needs. I have NO idea how he's broke all the time. My money feeds my Roth IRA and sits in my savings account just in case I want to spend it.
October 17th, 2008 at 07:51 pm 1224273071
One of my kiddo-s is a preschool flunky (rather I should say the program we found that we thought was perfect for him wasn't quite conducive to where he wanted to be). I paid for the year's tuition. Thankfully they're returning my money to me (he made such a scene, they are probably happy he is gone). Make a long story short I was *Happy* to have that money. Well, DS found a once-a-week group at the Y which I am signing him up for two sessions. Then the 1st Grader is playing at basketball at the Y. So there goes 75% of my money. Easy come ... easy go ...
October 18th, 2008 at 02:19 am 1224296353
But in any case, nice to see you loosing up the play money a little. I'm sure they look at it as a great reward for being so focused.
Just to let you know, I take $60 a week for fun money which pays for my lunch and parking for the commuter rail into Boston. My wife gets $40 which pays for her caramel latte at D&D.
Mirror guy has me focused on my last debt before loosing the purse strings any more. He's a real task master.
Good luck with your October goals!!!!
October 18th, 2008 at 05:41 am 1224308500
October 18th, 2008 at 06:09 am 1224310146
October 18th, 2008 at 02:27 pm 1224340031
October 18th, 2008 at 08:29 pm 1224361748
All the bus passes I have every bought in years past have no name. Used to be cardboard ones, but last month while on a bus they are like a credit card and get swipped. Each card is good for certain number of rides, then you can "recharge" it.