Comments on: Money management

By: KPod

KPod — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:55:52 +0000

My cousin Katherine found iPhones for ultra cheap on eBay…

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:03:39 +0000

Hi Karen,
You make me laugh. Thanks for sharing your non-financial motivation:)

By: KPod

KPod — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:26:12 +0000

Given all the bank collapses recently, I’m glad we’ve stuck with Heartland CU. I’m such a fan of all things cooperative and non-profit.

All this discussion makes me ever more aware of my inability to think in terms of a “bottom line.” I am just not at all motivated by money. Sure, I’d love to travel to Europe and I would really like another toilet in our house, but neither are encouragement enough to make me pay attention to finances, or to seek out higher paying employment (ha!). I could never survive in an environment where my role was to ensure profits for my company – oh wait, that’s what I *should* be doing with my business, huh?

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:19:28 +0000

I used to do this. You’ve helped remind me that I need to set up savings accounts! I’ll download the forms right now!

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:18:34 +0000

I’ve heard you talk about the envelope system in the past. Seems like it worked pretty well for you, and I like the idea of breaking the month in half so you don’t spend everything the first couple weeks! Thanks for sharing so many good ideas with us:)

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:17:45 +0000

I really like things electronic. I love how Mint.com is able to aggregate and categorize all our expenses from all our credit cards.
But I think I’ll try to cash system and keep receipts and write it all down. Now if I had an iPhone… Just kidding!

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:15:44 +0000

Bryan and I moved our accounts to Charles Schwab online bank last December for a 4% interest rate. Unfortunately, it’s dropped a lot since then.
Urgh. It was such a hassle to change all of our automatic payments and direct deposits, etc.
But, 4% is good! At last at Schwab we get ATMs covered too!

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:14:09 +0000

Hi Jessica,
Thanks to you and to Mitch for the great perspective. And thanks for being a good friend to talk about so many things, including finances! I’m glad I have you:)

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:13:13 +0000

Wow! Betsy, thanks for responding in such detail. And I thought I was a planner. Holy cow!
I’d love to see your Excel spreadsheets if you’d like to send them to me.
Thanks again!

By: althea

althea — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:11:39 +0000

Hi Karen,
I’m so glad you replied. And it’s funny comparing your response to Betsy’s below. I like knowing that you and Daniel have been able to navigate your way through life with a hand-to-mouth, “don’t worry, it’ll work out” approach.
You’re a good friend in many ways, Karen, and one of them is demonstrating to me the wonderful lives and times of the Bassler-Mortensons.