Author Archives: Michelle Vandepas

Feeling out of control with your budget? A Hint

There are some days I just don’t like being on a budget. Today for instance. And yesterday, and the day before. Today I wanted to go spend some money at the bookstore. I don’t very often buy books, but when I do, watch out, I tend to purchase six on the same subject and devour them all. Right now I’m researching some fun creative projects and I just wanted info NOW! My perfect day would have been the bookstore and then to have hubby bring home some dinner. I didn’t do either of those. Instead I looked up some information … Continue reading →

An Allowance Chart and Buying Candy!

My three-year-old daughter took her twenty cents to the grocery store and insisted on buying candy. Twenty cents won’t buy much – in fact it won’t buy anything, and I really worked on getting her to wait another week until she had forty cents. But no, she was so excited to earn money that off we went to find some candy she could buy with her pennies. Teaching my daughter about money is going to be fun, – and also a challenge. She can be pretty strong willed. I’m lucky that she is also very funny and generous so her … Continue reading →

To Pay or Not to Pay – Allowances and Chores

Giving an allowance to a three-year-old child for chores done around the home gets some people riled up. Not everyone agrees with my decision to fork over twenty-five cents for help with cleaning the litter box. In fact, a while back there was a great blog post explaining the two schools of thought: 1. Pay for chores 2. No pay for chores Some parents strongly believe chores should be completed as part of family life, with no reward – and I used to think that way as well. Other parents use a combination approach where some chores are done as … Continue reading →

My Three Year Old’s Cash Allowance!

My three year old earned her her first allowance today. I didn’t plan it. Hubby and I thought we’d wait until four or five to start allowance, but the opportunity arose and…… Daughter was watching me clean the litter box. “I wanna do that” she said, so together we scooped and cleaned, and then washed our hands. “Can you do that with me every time,” I asked? “Yes Mommy,yes” And so I counted out twenty-five pennies with her. Five pennies immediately went into her piggy bank. We talked about it going toward her first car when she is seventeen. (I’m … Continue reading →

Emergency Fund and Non Emergencies!

My envelope system has taken a back seat the past two months. There is no reason for it except laziness. We are still budgeting, and keep track of everything spent. We don’t spend over our specified amount, and if we do, then it has to come from somewhere else – like eating out, so I try not to spend extra. Luckily our emergency fund is still doing well. Each month we save and put money in our retirement and savings and keep growing our emergency fund as well. We then use this fund for a few non emergencies. Yes I … Continue reading →

Credit Card Scammers on the Horizon

Just when you thought you were safe we hear about a new credit card scam out there. If you ever needed a reason to cut up your cards and just say no, now is the time. I still use a card for a few items. I like to use it when I purchase from the internet – but it also opens me up for scammers. If you are using a card, be careful, the scammers are getting smarter and cleverer and just downright nasty. Here’s how it works: A person calls you on the phone and identifies themselves as a … Continue reading →

Debt Free, Debt Free, Debt Free At Last!

My Hubby and I were married 26 years before we became 100% debt free – but we could have done it years earlier if I’d known a few simple things. Easy rules really, ones that everyone knows, but few live by. It took me a very long while to understand the charge card concept. I wish I’d learned this simple rule early: If I have to charge it, I probably don’t need it. Charging on credit cards doesn’t help. It just gives you more debt. Yes, I can live on less. Being debt free now means we can live on … Continue reading →

Life Insurance: I Bet You Need It!

Do you have life insurance? In almost every case, you should. There are several things to keep in mind when choosing how much insurance to purchase: 1. How much would it cost to replace you? – Financially that is, not emotionally. What type of work do you do? I’m a stay at home mom, with a bit of income, and to replace me would cost my husband day care, plus the cost of my lost income, plus some help around the house. It add ups quickly! 2. What expenses would need to be paid immediately upon your death? The insurance … Continue reading →

Hi, I’m Michelle and I’m a Budget Fudgeter.

I’ve been on a well deserved break for a while. Unfortunately, not blogging about money has put my well honed money budgeting habits on break as well. There is something very focusing about writing and blogging about money issues that makes me want to do better. I budget more carefully, watch my pennies, do without more, when I know I’ll be writing about my experiences in this blog. However not writing for the last couple of weeks has made my budgeting lackadaisical I’ve been lazy. Sure I still have my envelopes. One for grocery money. Another for play money and … Continue reading →

Squeezing $150.00 From Nowhere Fast!

A few days ago I posted a blog about how I wanted to go to a workshop, but it cost $150.00 and I didn’t have it budgeted. I asked for ideas on finding quick cash and I got some great ones. You can read the comments here and add your own. Here’s what I did, and yes – I have the $150.00 already and have registered for the class! As Alexandra suggested, (in the comments) I did a coin run. ( I also wrote about collecting change in My Secret Stash of Fun Money ) I’ve got little coin jars … Continue reading →