tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post8447114729257612829..comments2023-04-02T06:54:02.940-07:00Comments on zen habits: How to Stop Living Paycheck to PaycheckUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-88043225560521978822007-03-07T18:19:00.000-08:002007-03-07T18:19:00.000-08:00functional, factual, fundamental and fun. i"ve bee...functional, factual, fundamental and fun. i"ve been doing my best way before i accidentally found these ZEN HABITS,call them what we will but they seem to be written just asclearly in the bible...<BR/>THESE ARE REAL THINGS THAT OUR SCHOOL AGE YOUNG ADULTS SHOULD BE LEARNING,,, WAY BEFORE THEY GO TO COLLEGE OR OTHER VOCATION. OUR SCHOOLDOLLARS WILL BE SERVED BETTER JOINING LIFES BASIC TRIANGLE, HOME SCHOOL AND CHURCH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-7739889468943167482007-02-19T14:30:00.000-08:002007-02-19T14:30:00.000-08:00@Martina ... congrats on making such great progres...@Martina ... congrats on making such great progress in paying off your debts! If my tips helped you at all, you've made me very happy. I'm glad you're enjoying the site. Keep up the great work.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-26584537309574622922007-02-19T14:29:00.000-08:002007-02-19T14:29:00.000-08:00@J: great points ... I wouldn't suggest that peopl...@J: great points ... I wouldn't suggest that people save in favor of paying bills ... what they should cut, in order to save, is discretionary spending, or find a way to lower some larger bills (like car payments, rent, etc) if possible.<BR/><BR/>As for the snowball, you are right, paying off higher interest debts first makes the most financial sense. The reason I suggested (like others have) paying the smallest amounts first is that sometimes the higher interest debts are very large and can take a year or two to pay off, while a smaller debt might only take a few months. Psychologically, it's much more likely that someone could stick with the debt snowball for at least a few months (rather than a year or more) to be able to pay off that first debt -- and it's a very rewarding thing to pay off that first debt, and makes it more likely that you'll go on to tackle the next one.<BR/><BR/>However, your point is well taken. Not only the size of the debt but the interest should be taken into account.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the great comment!Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-49665047367868376742007-02-19T11:05:00.000-08:002007-02-19T11:05:00.000-08:00As someone who is also in the mid-phase of paying ...As someone who is also in the mid-phase of paying down her debt, I really appreciate your ideas. I too have found snowballing to be very effective. It's librating to see individual bills start to get paid off. Debt can be draining of more than just the pocketbook. I was not the greatest manager of my money in my younger years, yet I spent more time worrying about it than it would have taken me to just create and follow a reasonable budget. I guess that's that hindsight thing. Anyway, thank you for the suggestions. I know I'll be trying to implement some of the ones I have not already. Great blog!Martinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919215971601240222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-45348014687096484892007-02-19T09:59:00.000-08:002007-02-19T09:59:00.000-08:00Some other things....as a recent victim of some fi...Some other things....as a recent victim of some financial trauma I will say that in my opinion, it is better not to save that $100 per week if it is going to keep you from paying $400 on other bills which might avoid paying more on interest and fees. Although i do believe it is important to start saving, it never makes sense if it costs you more money.<BR/><BR/>Next....when choosing the biggest snowball, the interest/fee equation should come in there as well because if you are like me and have $30K of student loans at <4% interest it doesn't do you any good to pay this off first. Same goes to say for a $10K credit card at 10% vs. a $5K credit card at 30%. Getting the highest interest accounts paid off first will slow the "bleeding" down fastest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-24572436006075262882007-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:002007-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00@UK simplist: thanks for the comment and for shari...@UK simplist: thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience. Congrats on being debt free! I have yet to achieve that particular Nirvana but am shooting for mid-2008. I can't wait!Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-90955050695191433962007-02-12T07:30:00.000-08:002007-02-12T07:30:00.000-08:00Hi I'm a uk simplicist. I have been debt free for ...Hi I'm a uk simplicist. I have been debt free for 2 years now. I agree that clearing your debt is the best thing you can do. It's such a wonderfull free feeling to not owe anyone, and to be able to spend if you want(cash only) on things you want or need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-38927166757365490822007-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:002007-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:00Good point, moneymonk. I think my article is aimed...Good point, moneymonk. I think my article is aimed at getting to that point, for those who have a hard time even finding a few bucks to save each paycheck. Once you stop the bleeding, you should focus more intently on the habit of saving.<BR/><BR/>I like you blog, btw.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-60303431622707512462007-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:002007-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:00Savings, for the most part has to become a habit.O...Savings, for the most part has to become a habit.<BR/><BR/>Once it becomes a habit, you will not feel right to spend your entire paycheck.L. Marie Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742625250214975088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-40596198857664361662007-02-05T19:12:00.000-08:002007-02-05T19:12:00.000-08:00No, it didn't sound critical at all (and don't wor...No, it didn't sound critical at all (and don't worry, I don't mind critical - it forces me to think about my positions).<br /><br />As for tracking my spending, check back daily (or subscribe). I've been posting daily updates to my tracking (see the ONEMONTHCHALLENGE label at the right). At the end of the month, I'll total all the categories up and write about my thoughts and the successes and failures of this one-month challenge.<br /><br />Thanks for the comments and keep coming back. You guys are great.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-74711514463073226292007-02-05T18:58:00.000-08:002007-02-05T18:58:00.000-08:00Oops hope that post didn't sound critical. I like...Oops hope that post didn't sound critical. I like your site. Please let us know if tracking your spending works out for youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-87575528262147038182007-02-04T15:25:00.000-08:002007-02-04T15:25:00.000-08:00Exactly how I feel. Whether you decide to track yo...Exactly how I feel. Whether you decide to track your spending or not, don't let that stop you from taking the other steps I mentioned in the article. We usually already know what items we can cut back on, if we give it a little thought.<br /><br />Tracking your spending, though, can give you a better picture of where your money is going, so I recommend doing it at some time. Like I said, I've failed a number of times, but I'm trying to do it this month. I'll let you know how it turns out.<br /><br />Thanks for the commentLeohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-35690746213280913942007-02-04T15:11:00.000-08:002007-02-04T15:11:00.000-08:00This may sound crazy-but I think that for some, ma...This may sound crazy-but I think that for some, making a plan to track spending actually ends up being a huge obstacle for some people. <br /><br />It is very difficult to follow through on so people tend to give up on it and continue bad spending habits. <br /><br />I think if we are honest with ourselves, we already know the problem areas. I would suggest cutting out ALL extra spending at the beginning. For me this included movies, newspapers, magazines, lattes, sodas, candy, eating out etc. A reasonably intelligent person knows what the problem areas are already. One month of this and the difference will usually be noticeable enough to trigger continued change. After a month or so, add a couple of splurges back in, slowly and thoughtfully, perhaps putting a weekly dollar limit on what to spend for extras.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-83930279313089506922007-02-04T03:36:00.000-08:002007-02-04T03:36:00.000-08:00Thanks for the comment. Yes, I've tried and failed...Thanks for the comment. Yes, I've tried and failed with tracking my spending a few times myself, so I know that it's something a lot of people won't do ... that's why I say to move on to the other steps even if you don't track your spending. Of course, I'm doing a One Month Challenge to track my spending this month (stay tuned for daily updates).<br /><br />One further tip: if you suspect you might spend too much on magazines or candy or something, try tracking just that expense, or two or three expenses, for the month. It might be easier and more accomplishable, and it could be an eye-opening experience.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-64825091401074956052007-02-04T03:20:00.000-08:002007-02-04T03:20:00.000-08:00Good tips. Just a thought about tracking your spen...Good tips. Just a thought about tracking your spending... I tried doing it. I tried hard. But every time I just fell back into not tracking it at all. The main reason for that was that I was trying to track every cent. Now I track my spending on a an per account level. Meaning, I don't know exactly how much I spend on candy, groceries, magazines, etc. but at least I know how much cash I get out of the ATM. Finally, I know how much I'm spending, even though I'm still not sure what I spend it on. The envelope technique might help...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-32089952076072800102007-02-02T21:27:00.000-08:002007-02-02T21:27:00.000-08:00Hi Marie, thanks for the comment. I definitely rel...Hi Marie, thanks for the comment. I definitely relate to the mental anguish thing. :)<br /><br />I think that anguish is the same feeling we get from a lot of things that are important but that we put off. So the answer is to just bite the bullet, swallow our fear, and face those things we have been putting off. Once we do, there's a sense of relief, as I'm sure you've experienced. It's the putting off that gives us anguish, I think.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-69454974550049601612007-02-02T21:22:00.000-08:002007-02-02T21:22:00.000-08:00You have some really great advice here. The best ...You have some really great advice here. The best thing that happened to me was online banking. Before that, I sometimes paid my bills, sometimes, not. It was a mental anguish thing.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04242217751671041834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-53710113581358550072007-02-02T19:35:00.000-08:002007-02-02T19:35:00.000-08:00Hi Renee, great comment! I'm actually now in the m...Hi Renee, great comment! I'm actually now in the middle of my snowball, so I know what you mean. I can see the end in sight!!!<br /><br />I can testify that this method works wonders.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-84412327636243904282007-02-02T19:13:00.000-08:002007-02-02T19:13:00.000-08:00Snowballing is my favorite tip. When you first sta...Snowballing is my favorite tip. When you first start, it doesn't seem to amount to much, but by the mid range of debt owed, you can not only see the progress in how far you've come, the snowball is now the size of a snowman and that's where, I believe, the magic starts.<br /><br />Great tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-62303052527774987342007-02-02T04:55:00.000-08:002007-02-02T04:55:00.000-08:00nice article. you've been doing a good job on this...nice article. you've been doing a good job on this blog. seems to be getting pretty popular since last time i was here just a month ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-4959600607250403172007-02-01T21:39:00.000-08:002007-02-01T21:39:00.000-08:00Thanks. I'm not sure that it's discipline, though....Thanks. I'm not sure that it's discipline, though. I still don't feel like I have discipline, but I think it's just a matter of adjusting some of your habits.<br /><br />Also, focus is important. If you put a lot of focus on your finances, you can changes them, but if you don't give it much thought, things won't change.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821834623390426875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849347442005677481.post-79423239824816148132007-02-01T16:36:00.000-08:002007-02-01T16:36:00.000-08:00Nice job! I've been implementing some of these thi...Nice job! I've been implementing some of these things myself recently. I have to say, the problem is that it takes a lot of discipline, and sometimes I just don't have it. Good job with your finances.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com