Mint Budget

[jpwoof]

Anyone else using Mint.com? This helps me tremendously with budgeting.. It allows me to see how many dollars left on my Budgeted Expenses. Example below:

 

$2420 budget every month. My projected savings per month (income minus budget) will go towards paying debt and savings.

 

I still have $78 left to spend for February. I can spend it on entertainment. I can also use it on food even though I'm over budget in that category. Food > Entertainment. But then under Bills, I have $4 left. That means, I still have an upcoming bill to pay.

 

Shopping is purposely set at $0. Just for psychological purposes. If I spend a dollar on it.. the bar would turn "red" and I'd get panic.

 

PLAN: My rent is at $1445 for a studio apartment in San Francisco. Look for a cheaper place.

 

[Operation_Home_Ownership]

I use YODLEE, same concept...I check it atleast 3 times a week.

 

Budget is in line, mostly at this point I use it see how much I have left over for fun activities [ex, spa, salon, outings], but just rec'd new property tax bill...back to the lab *sigh*

[Spanky44095]

Wow...

 

That's a great idea! I'm new here and due to a series of unfortunate events (unemployment, rate jacking, divorce, ruined credit, etc) have been forced to think about budgeting for the first time in my 44 years. I am sadly unprepared for it and still in shock.

 

I was raised as an only child of older professional people, went to private schools and college and until recently have never really thought about saving, budgeting, or not just buying everything my heart desired.

 

Yes, I know I sound like a spoiled brat and perhaps I was. But now I am just totally lost, not to mentioned depressed about how my future looks.

 

I'm going to sign up at the Mint.com site and see what I can learn about making what I now have work the best for me. I've been trying to find a silver lining in this cloud and perhaps this can help.

 

Thanks for sharing it.

[Diana.]

does mint charge anything or spam you or something? kind of weary of these sites.

[flower]

Mint.com is free and has been touted as "the best budgeting site" by Kiplinger's and others. I love the way it shows everything visually and am going to sign up for it today. Thanks, OP!

[hegemony]

http://consumerist.com/2010/03/do-you-mind...ansactions.html

[flower]

Ewwww... Yes, I noticed that they were asking for lots of personal info. I only put in my one credit card that I pay everything through.

 

If it's anonymous, I don't really mind. But it's definitely creepy....

[GEORGE]

Anyone else using Mint.com? This helps me tremendously with budgeting.. It allows me to see how many dollars left on my Budgeted Expenses. Example below:

 

$2420 budget every month. My projected savings per month (income minus budget) will go towards paying debt and savings.

 

I still have $78 left to spend for February. I can spend it on entertainment. I can also use it on food even though I'm over budget in that category. Food > Entertainment. But then under Bills, I have $4 left. That means, I still have an upcoming bill to pay.

 

Shopping is purposely set at $0. Just for psychological purposes. If I spend a dollar on it.. the bar would turn "red" and I'd get panic.

 

PLAN: My rent is at $1445 for a studio apartment in San Francisco. Look for a cheaper place.

 

I'll rent you my house here for $1,445 per month and even throw in H/S INTERNET and DIRECTV

[Cactus Flower]

Anyone else using Mint.com? This helps me tremendously with budgeting.. It allows me to see how many dollars left on my Budgeted Expenses. Example below:

 

$2420 budget every month. My projected savings per month (income minus budget) will go towards paying debt and savings.

 

I still have $78 left to spend for February. I can spend it on entertainment. I can also use it on food even though I'm over budget in that category. Food > Entertainment. But then under Bills, I have $4 left. That means, I still have an upcoming bill to pay.

 

Shopping is purposely set at $0. Just for psychological purposes. If I spend a dollar on it.. the bar would turn "red" and I'd get panic.

 

PLAN: My rent is at $1445 for a studio apartment in San Francisco. Look for a cheaper place.

 

I'll rent you my house here for $1,445 per month and even throw in H/S INTERNET and DIRECTV

 

I'm always stunned at what people in other cities pay for rent.

I live in Phoenix and $835/month bought me a 2 bedroom 1100 sq/ft townhouse in a nice neighborhood; now I own a 1400 square ft house in nice neighborhood for $750/month.

Of course you have to endure 115 degree summers .. and chronic low wages, but at least our cost of living matches it.. (however looking at OP's budget - they're not making a fabulous wage now)

...

 

 

my concern would be is if OP's current car "dies" and they have to fund a new one, doesn't appear there is much room in the budget to do that..

Edited March 18, 2010 by Cactus Flower

[LBCS]

I'm always stunned at what people in other cities pay for rent.

I live in Phoenix and $835/month bought me a 2 bedroom 1100 sq/ft townhouse in a nice neighborhood; now I own a 1400 square ft house in nice neighborhood for $750/month.

Of course you have to endure 115 degree summers .. and chronic low wages, but at least our cost of living matches it.. (however looking at OP's budget - they're not making a fabulous wage now)

...

 

 

my concern would be is if OP's current car "dies" and they have to fund a new one, doesn't appear there is much room in the budget to do that..

 

Comparing PHX to SFO is like comparing chalk and cheese.

[TrucknAlng]

Anyone else using Mint.com? This helps me tremendously with budgeting.. It allows me to see how many dollars left on my Budgeted Expenses. Example below:

 

$2420 budget every month. My projected savings per month (income minus budget) will go towards paying debt and savings.

 

I still have $78 left to spend for February. I can spend it on entertainment. I can also use it on food even though I'm over budget in that category. Food > Entertainment. But then under Bills, I have $4 left. That means, I still have an upcoming bill to pay.

 

Shopping is purposely set at $0. Just for psychological purposes. If I spend a dollar on it.. the bar would turn "red" and I'd get panic.

 

PLAN: My rent is at $1445 for a studio apartment in San Francisco. Look for a cheaper place.

 

I'll rent you my house here for $1,445 per month and even throw in H/S INTERNET and DIRECTV

 

I'm always stunned at what people in other cities pay for rent.

I live in Phoenix and $835/month bought me a 2 bedroom 1100 sq/ft townhouse in a nice neighborhood; now I own a 1400 square ft house in nice neighborhood for $750/month.

Of course you have to endure 115 degree summers .. and chronic low wages, but at least our cost of living matches it.. (however looking at OP's budget - they're not making a fabulous wage now)

...

 

 

my concern would be is if OP's current car "dies" and they have to fund a new one, doesn't appear there is much room in the budget to do that..

 

And honey... you happen to be renting AND buying at the right time. No way do you find those prices/payments a few years ago.

[Cactus Flower]

I'm always stunned at what people in other cities pay for rent.

I live in Phoenix and $835/month bought me a 2 bedroom 1100 sq/ft townhouse in a nice neighborhood; now I own a 1400 square ft house in nice neighborhood for $750/month.

Of course you have to endure 115 degree summers .. and chronic low wages, but at least our cost of living matches it.. (however looking at OP's budget - they're not making a fabulous wage now)

...

 

 

my concern would be is if OP's current car "dies" and they have to fund a new one, doesn't appear there is much room in the budget to do that..

 

Comparing PHX to SFO is like comparing chalk and cheese.

 

 

wow.

 

OK.

 

whatever.

[Cactus Flower]

wow.... I guess that's supposed to make me feel about 2 inches tall to be called HONEY at the age of 46 .. OKAY.

 

FWIW .. I was renting apartments in Phoenix for $700-$800 a month for the past 10 years, no I couldn't buy here 3 years ago, most of the people living here couldn't either, that's why 10% of the homes here are in foreclosure. Maybe it was all of those real estate investors from California?

 

 

There really is no difference between PHX and SF ... they are both West coast cities and you can drive between them in.. 12 hours.

 

Yes I have been there.

 

If people want to be ignorant enough to live in places where rent is twice as much as somewhere else, when they're making a piddling wage....

so be it.

 

I still stand by EVERYTHING I write. I am stilled stunned what people pay to rent apartments for in cities that are not all that great.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Cactus Flower

[Cactus Flower]

And honey... you happen to be renting AND buying at the right time. No way do you find those prices/payments a few years ago.

 

yes you could.

 

Obviously you don't live here.

[radi8]

I am stilled stunned what people pay to rent apartments for in cities that are not all that great.

 

Rent.. and some house payments stun me too. I can't imagine coughing up $1,700 or $2,500/ month or more for a house payment. I guess if you have to ...then you have to.

[LBCS]

There really is no difference between PHX and SF ... they are both West coast cities and you can drive between them in.. 12 hours.

 

 

LOL, those 2 cities could not be less alike. As for PHX being on the West Coast, I really love the ocean breeze when I visit Phoenix.

 

I still stand by EVERYTHING I write. I am stilled stunned what people pay to rent apartments for in cities that are not all that great.

 

SFO is a wonderful city with an amazing cultural scene and outstanding job prospects. Supply and demand dictate the price of real estate - and apparently there is no demand and too much supply in Phoenix. That is why you have sub 100K crap homes aplenty in Phoenix.

[CH3]

I'd like to sign up for mint or yodlee but I just can't get past that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach to give up my accounts and login info. I know it's secure but it still feels strange.

[MrMut]

^ agreed. I've been thinking about it for a long time and just can't make the last step to do it. Although, those graphs and information would be extremely helpful!

[jolla]

I trust Turbo Tax, which is made by Intuit.

 

Ergo, I trust Quicken, which is made by Intuit.

 

Ergo, I trust mint.com, which is owned by Quicken.

 

That last one is a little tenuous, but what are ya gonna do?

[hhh]

I'll rent you my house here for $1,445 per month and even throw in H/S INTERNET and DIRECTV

 

For 1445 a month that better include a car or 2 as well!

 

If I'm paying that for a house it better be a McMansion.

[Rebuilding2010]

lol, I love how people are always saying you're crazy for paying that to rent! I could buy a mini mansion with that mortgage payment! But it's like, um, that's normal here. Hell, past normal, it's a fixer upper. Oh well what can you do.

 

I just started using Mint, really love it. Going back to the subject, I do the same thing, set everything besides rent/mortgage, savings, food, and gas, at 0, because I should be aware of every spent on non necessities.

[jolla]

PLAN: My rent is at $1445 for a studio apartment in San Francisco. Look for a cheaper place.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/roo/

[Nana83]

The poster in SF might make less money in their field in PHX as well.

 

I have a pretty cheap mortgage in DC, but I purchased through a GREAT program and bought right before my income rose and disqualified me. Also, my property taxes were waived for 5 years.

 

That said, without the program, there is no way I'd move at this point to another city with a lower COL. My family is based here and my sister cares for my daughter while I work. My parents and grandparents see her every week. DC is one of the greatest cities for black professionals. I work for the federal gov't. Many of my friends are here. It's easy to find black hairstylists who can do my type of hair. We have good public transportation so I don't need a car. My daughter can attend any public university at in-state rate when she goes to college. My income has steadily increased since graduating in 2006 (more than 20K) and will continue to climb. I would like my daughter to be bilingual and there are free French/Spanish/Chinese Immersion programs/schools here.

[AnonymouslyIndebted]

Mint budget works wonder for planning your budget. I haven't actually used one, not until a couple of months back. A fellow poster here suggested it to me and it helped me so much in putting order on my financial expenditures. But of course it takes a lot of self-discipline for it to work.

[Not Given]

My son is interviewing for a silicon valley job this week, they flew him out for it, put him up in a hotel and rented him a car. The other day I was looking at apartments online in that area and saw studios going for what he pays for a 2br in Cambridge, At least with a 2br he can have roommate to share expenses.

 

He doesn't have a car, how is the public transportation in that area?