I am skint.
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For many years we were incredibly poor, but since I became a programmer, mainly due to the period when I both coded and was a sales rep and the money from the odd article, we've managed to claw our way out of the circle of debt. What's more, I worked out I could save $1000 a month if I watched my spending. Then my wife got a job, so I imagined we'd soon be rich. Which is good, because we desperately need to buy a bigger house. So we started saving. I soon had $5,000 in the bank, but then a few things happened that cut it down to zero, not least buying a new PC, desk, chair and software for work my wife was supposed to get. That work has not happened yet. My wife continues to work, and at her insistence, our savings are in her bank account. I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. She has saved $300 in a year of working, and after buying all the gear I bought, I've only been able to save one lot of $1,000. That was two months ago, last month and this month coming are a write off for me because of a number of seasonal bills, mostly associated with Christmas. So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? And of course it's all going to be *my* fault, I can see it now. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
You need a written budget if you don't have one already. Seriously! Make one in Excel or notepad, but just do it. That little extra discipline will help you save a lot more and spend a lot less. Plus, don't just put your money in the bank, buy mutual funds. BTW, are you completely out of debt? If not, I have some more advice. :)
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism * -
You need a written budget if you don't have one already. Seriously! Make one in Excel or notepad, but just do it. That little extra discipline will help you save a lot more and spend a lot less. Plus, don't just put your money in the bank, buy mutual funds. BTW, are you completely out of debt? If not, I have some more advice. :)
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism *Jason Henderson wrote: You need a written budget if you don't have one already. I did one. It leaves me with about $1100 a month, so I try to just put $1000 away as a first priority and live on the rest. It worked great for 5 months, then I needed to buy the new PC, and now Xmas is killing me. Jason Henderson wrote: Plus, don't just put your money in the bank, buy mutual funds. What's a mutual fund ? The only other option I have found needs $5,000 to start and gets me 5% instead of 3%. I'm actually intending on putting it all on our house, and borrowing against it when we buy next. Jason Henderson wrote: BTW, are you completely out of debt? Nope. Home loan, car loan and a couple of small, temporary store accounts. Jason Henderson wrote: If not, I have some more advice. If it does not involve 4 $5 bills and sending lots of emails, I'm interested to hear it :-) Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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For many years we were incredibly poor, but since I became a programmer, mainly due to the period when I both coded and was a sales rep and the money from the odd article, we've managed to claw our way out of the circle of debt. What's more, I worked out I could save $1000 a month if I watched my spending. Then my wife got a job, so I imagined we'd soon be rich. Which is good, because we desperately need to buy a bigger house. So we started saving. I soon had $5,000 in the bank, but then a few things happened that cut it down to zero, not least buying a new PC, desk, chair and software for work my wife was supposed to get. That work has not happened yet. My wife continues to work, and at her insistence, our savings are in her bank account. I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. She has saved $300 in a year of working, and after buying all the gear I bought, I've only been able to save one lot of $1,000. That was two months ago, last month and this month coming are a write off for me because of a number of seasonal bills, mostly associated with Christmas. So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? And of course it's all going to be *my* fault, I can see it now. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
Christian Graus wrote: So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? Work out what you can save and have it taken off before you pay any bills and before you so much as even see your bank account. I cannot save any other way, sounds sad but promises to myself to save at the end of the month become snacks and other odds and ends and end up equalling 0 savings. I worked out I can save R3000 (USD300) a month, which is R42000 (USD4200) a year, which after 10 years is R420000 (USD42000), and that is before any acrued interest or investment gains. Not bad for just "sticking it under a mattress." What really shocked me was that my current savings (R0.42) could have been (if I had been saving that R3000 a month) R18000 if I had started when I got my latest salary increase. Instead what do I have to show? Nothing, just lots of fast food and movie receipts plus other odds and ends. I could have paid off what I still owe on my car with that (which would save R1200 a month.) And naturally that money you save... not meant for a new PC or that book you fancy. If possible even have a seperate emergency fund (e.g. if I prang my car again.) That money is meant for when you have no job, by choice. It is the small things, the little "oh it won't matter, just buy this chocolate" things that eat into savings. Frightening stuff! Nike, while lame, say it best: Just do it.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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Christian Graus wrote: So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? Work out what you can save and have it taken off before you pay any bills and before you so much as even see your bank account. I cannot save any other way, sounds sad but promises to myself to save at the end of the month become snacks and other odds and ends and end up equalling 0 savings. I worked out I can save R3000 (USD300) a month, which is R42000 (USD4200) a year, which after 10 years is R420000 (USD42000), and that is before any acrued interest or investment gains. Not bad for just "sticking it under a mattress." What really shocked me was that my current savings (R0.42) could have been (if I had been saving that R3000 a month) R18000 if I had started when I got my latest salary increase. Instead what do I have to show? Nothing, just lots of fast food and movie receipts plus other odds and ends. I could have paid off what I still owe on my car with that (which would save R1200 a month.) And naturally that money you save... not meant for a new PC or that book you fancy. If possible even have a seperate emergency fund (e.g. if I prang my car again.) That money is meant for when you have no job, by choice. It is the small things, the little "oh it won't matter, just buy this chocolate" things that eat into savings. Frightening stuff! Nike, while lame, say it best: Just do it.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: It is the small things, the little "oh it won't matter, just buy this chocolate" things that eat into savings. Frightening stuff! So I keep telling my wife. It's not my money that's the problem, I'll save $1000 a month again in December, once I pay for Xmas. But she seems to save what is left, which means she sends me to the shop for chips and soft drink most nights, and she saves nothing. I just put the money into the bank before anything else. Save first, live off the rest. I just can't get my wife to see that is what she needs to do as well. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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You need a written budget if you don't have one already. Seriously! Make one in Excel or notepad, but just do it. That little extra discipline will help you save a lot more and spend a lot less. Plus, don't just put your money in the bank, buy mutual funds. BTW, are you completely out of debt? If not, I have some more advice. :)
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism *Jason Henderson wrote: If not, I have some more advice If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? (Ok my other "debt" is I am renting a flat, but naturally that is different as I can walk from that without consequence) Jason Henderson wrote: You need a written budget if you don't have one already. Seriously! Make one in Excel or notepad, but just do it I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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Jason Henderson wrote: You need a written budget if you don't have one already. I did one. It leaves me with about $1100 a month, so I try to just put $1000 away as a first priority and live on the rest. It worked great for 5 months, then I needed to buy the new PC, and now Xmas is killing me. Jason Henderson wrote: Plus, don't just put your money in the bank, buy mutual funds. What's a mutual fund ? The only other option I have found needs $5,000 to start and gets me 5% instead of 3%. I'm actually intending on putting it all on our house, and borrowing against it when we buy next. Jason Henderson wrote: BTW, are you completely out of debt? Nope. Home loan, car loan and a couple of small, temporary store accounts. Jason Henderson wrote: If not, I have some more advice. If it does not involve 4 $5 bills and sending lots of emails, I'm interested to hear it :-) Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
Christian Graus wrote: I did one. It leaves me with about $1100 a month, so I try to just put $1000 away as a first priority and live on the rest. It worked great for 5 months, then I needed to buy the new PC, and now Xmas is killing me. You should be saving about 15% of your income into mutual funds (you may not have them in NZ). From http://www.mfea.com[^]: A mutual fund is a company that pools the money of many investors -- its shareholders -- to invest in a variety of different securities. Investments may be in stocks, bonds, money market securities or some combination of these. Those securities are professionally managed on behalf of the shareholders, and each investor holds a pro rata share of the portfolio -- entitled to any profits when the securities are sold, but subject to any losses in value as well. My wife and I are quickly paying off our debts so we can save a bundle later. X-mas always hurts though. Christian Graus wrote: Home loan, car loan and a couple of small, temporary store accounts. Forget the home loan for now, just pay regular monthly payments on it until you eliminate your other debt. First you should focus on your smallest debt (not smallest interest rate, smallest balance). Pay it off as quickly as possible then apply its payment to the next smallest debt and so on until you have everything paid off. We are using this method and we will have over $20,000 in debt paid off in about 1 1/2 years if not sooner. Of course, if you have extra cash, throw it on the debt until its gone. You probably shouldn't save anything until your debt is gone either. After you are out of debt, don't get back into it. Use a debit card if your bank has one and cancel your credit cards. Next, you can focus on the house and save some real money. Christian Graus wrote: If it does not involve 4 $5 bills and sending lots of emails, I'm interested to hear it Just send me a personal check, I trust you. :-D
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming hen -
Jason Henderson wrote: If not, I have some more advice If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? (Ok my other "debt" is I am renting a flat, but naturally that is different as I can walk from that without consequence) Jason Henderson wrote: You need a written budget if you don't have one already. Seriously! Make one in Excel or notepad, but just do it I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Paul Watson wrote: My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Paul Watson wrote: I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on. We do that plus we have a monthly budget.
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism * -
Paul Watson wrote: If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Paul Watson wrote: My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Paul Watson wrote: I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on. We do that plus we have a monthly budget.
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism *Jason Henderson wrote: I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Lovely. It is a cheap car, second hand as well. :rolleyes: I could get a dirt cheap car, but it would end up costing me more in the long run. Countless tales of "wow only Rxx.xx for a car!" turning into "!#!@#$# just spent R3000 getting the engine reconditioned, it broke down in the rain and the left front wheel just fell off." Monthly car installaments for a new BMW 3.18i here would be about R4000 or $400 (just trying to find a car you might be familiar with.) Basically cars are not cheap and public transport does not exist for the white man, so I can't do that either. i.e. Your own reliable car is essential in SA. R1200 is $120 and R8500 is $850 (currently 10 Rand to the US Dollar basically.) With that R420,000 I can save over ten years I could buy a Mitsub EVO VII for cash... Now you know why I am saving... ;) Jason Henderson wrote: Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Ta, thanks.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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Jason Henderson wrote: I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Lovely. It is a cheap car, second hand as well. :rolleyes: I could get a dirt cheap car, but it would end up costing me more in the long run. Countless tales of "wow only Rxx.xx for a car!" turning into "!#!@#$# just spent R3000 getting the engine reconditioned, it broke down in the rain and the left front wheel just fell off." Monthly car installaments for a new BMW 3.18i here would be about R4000 or $400 (just trying to find a car you might be familiar with.) Basically cars are not cheap and public transport does not exist for the white man, so I can't do that either. i.e. Your own reliable car is essential in SA. R1200 is $120 and R8500 is $850 (currently 10 Rand to the US Dollar basically.) With that R420,000 I can save over ten years I could buy a Mitsub EVO VII for cash... Now you know why I am saving... ;) Jason Henderson wrote: Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Ta, thanks.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: BMW 3.18i :happy as a child: I've got one ! I've got one ! :-D Not so expensive, not a big fuel consumption, and what a pleasure to drive :rolleyes: And no need to touch anything, the basic style is perfect ;)
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral[^]. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
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Paul Watson wrote: BMW 3.18i :happy as a child: I've got one ! I've got one ! :-D Not so expensive, not a big fuel consumption, and what a pleasure to drive :rolleyes: And no need to touch anything, the basic style is perfect ;)
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral[^]. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
KaЯl wrote: I've got one ! I've got one ! The latest model? KaЯl wrote: Not so expensive, not a big fuel consumption, and what a pleasure to drive And no need to touch anything, the basic style is perfect Good car indeed, actually the best you can get in that range. Though, and no disrespect meant to your choice, I would never buy one. Every second car here is a 3 series and the 1.18i IMO is underpowered for how I drive. I would not sniff at a 330d though (and of course my soul is already in the post if you have an M3 available :-D )
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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Christian Graus wrote: I did one. It leaves me with about $1100 a month, so I try to just put $1000 away as a first priority and live on the rest. It worked great for 5 months, then I needed to buy the new PC, and now Xmas is killing me. You should be saving about 15% of your income into mutual funds (you may not have them in NZ). From http://www.mfea.com[^]: A mutual fund is a company that pools the money of many investors -- its shareholders -- to invest in a variety of different securities. Investments may be in stocks, bonds, money market securities or some combination of these. Those securities are professionally managed on behalf of the shareholders, and each investor holds a pro rata share of the portfolio -- entitled to any profits when the securities are sold, but subject to any losses in value as well. My wife and I are quickly paying off our debts so we can save a bundle later. X-mas always hurts though. Christian Graus wrote: Home loan, car loan and a couple of small, temporary store accounts. Forget the home loan for now, just pay regular monthly payments on it until you eliminate your other debt. First you should focus on your smallest debt (not smallest interest rate, smallest balance). Pay it off as quickly as possible then apply its payment to the next smallest debt and so on until you have everything paid off. We are using this method and we will have over $20,000 in debt paid off in about 1 1/2 years if not sooner. Of course, if you have extra cash, throw it on the debt until its gone. You probably shouldn't save anything until your debt is gone either. After you are out of debt, don't get back into it. Use a debit card if your bank has one and cancel your credit cards. Next, you can focus on the house and save some real money. Christian Graus wrote: If it does not involve 4 $5 bills and sending lots of emails, I'm interested to hear it Just send me a personal check, I trust you. :-D
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henJason Henderson wrote: You should be saving about 15% of your income into mutual funds (you may not have them in NZ). I'm in Australia, and I'll have a look and see. Jason Henderson wrote: Forget the home loan for now, just pay regular monthly payments on it until you eliminate your other debt. The point with paying extra there is that I can borrow against it when we buy another house. The rest is under control, in 6 months all I will have is the car, and that has only 2 years left on it also. Jason Henderson wrote: You probably shouldn't save anything until your debt is gone either. I tend to agree, except that the point is we need a new house badly, and so a portion of our money needs to go towards that. We can't wait two ywars to move. Jason Henderson wrote: Use a debit card if your bank has one and cancel your credit cards. Already done all that, I have a $500 credit limit because it's the smallest I can get, I pay no interest because I put $500 on it a month and pay all my bills. I need a credit card to have an account with my ISP and to buy books from the USA. Jason Henderson wrote: Just send me a personal check, I trust you. Well, you still haven't told me the name of the report you're going to send :P Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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KaЯl wrote: I've got one ! I've got one ! The latest model? KaЯl wrote: Not so expensive, not a big fuel consumption, and what a pleasure to drive And no need to touch anything, the basic style is perfect Good car indeed, actually the best you can get in that range. Though, and no disrespect meant to your choice, I would never buy one. Every second car here is a 3 series and the 1.18i IMO is underpowered for how I drive. I would not sniff at a 330d though (and of course my soul is already in the post if you have an M3 available :-D )
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: The latest model? Not at all, a good one E36[^] :-D Paul Watson wrote: Every second car here is a 3 series and the 1.18i IMO is underpowered for how I drive. Speed limitations are here 50km/h in town, 90km/h outside, and 130km/h on highways, and police is more and more efficient :((
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral[^]. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
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Paul Watson wrote: The latest model? Not at all, a good one E36[^] :-D Paul Watson wrote: Every second car here is a 3 series and the 1.18i IMO is underpowered for how I drive. Speed limitations are here 50km/h in town, 90km/h outside, and 130km/h on highways, and police is more and more efficient :((
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral[^]. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
KaЯl wrote: Not at all, a good one E36[^] Wicked my man! KaЯl wrote: Speed limitations are here 50km/h in town, 90km/h outside, and 130km/h on highways, and police is more and more efficient Mountain side freeway almost all the way home for me with no speed traps. Lovely twisty stuff with cambered corners so you can floor it and be pushed down into the road. Dual carriageway to so passing is almost always fine. And me in my 1.3 Toyota Tazz :-D The thing is other people may have faster cars, but they can't exactly use all the power on the twisty road, so there is me in my little car with good handling keeping easy pace with them. Frustrates the hell out of the guys in their Audi S3s or BMW 330ds as I sit there grinning my head off because they can't get away from a car 1/5th the price of theirs :-D Just near the end of the road is the best corner though. It dips down and then does a fast left hand upward corner. On the right is a solid concrete wall, but you hit the bottom of the corner at 120kph, the car compresses down and screeches around the corner finally springing back up at the top where you have to brake like mad to merge into 60kph traffic. Damn I love driving to and from work :-D
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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Paul Watson wrote: If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Paul Watson wrote: My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Paul Watson wrote: I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on. We do that plus we have a monthly budget.
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism *Jason Henderson wrote: Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Correct. Also pay them off as fast as possible. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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For many years we were incredibly poor, but since I became a programmer, mainly due to the period when I both coded and was a sales rep and the money from the odd article, we've managed to claw our way out of the circle of debt. What's more, I worked out I could save $1000 a month if I watched my spending. Then my wife got a job, so I imagined we'd soon be rich. Which is good, because we desperately need to buy a bigger house. So we started saving. I soon had $5,000 in the bank, but then a few things happened that cut it down to zero, not least buying a new PC, desk, chair and software for work my wife was supposed to get. That work has not happened yet. My wife continues to work, and at her insistence, our savings are in her bank account. I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. She has saved $300 in a year of working, and after buying all the gear I bought, I've only been able to save one lot of $1,000. That was two months ago, last month and this month coming are a write off for me because of a number of seasonal bills, mostly associated with Christmas. So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? And of course it's all going to be *my* fault, I can see it now. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
Christian Graus wrote: I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. Ok mate. There is your first problem you were not keeping track of your budget. It's great to have a budget, but you must follow it. (until you are loaded) Bragging aside, I can tell exactly what is in any one of my 3 active bank accounts at any time, with no real surprises. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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Christian Graus wrote: I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. Ok mate. There is your first problem you were not keeping track of your budget. It's great to have a budget, but you must follow it. (until you are loaded) Bragging aside, I can tell exactly what is in any one of my 3 active bank accounts at any time, with no real surprises. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
Colin Davies wrote: Bragging aside, I can tell exactly what is in any one of my 3 active bank accounts at any time, with no real surprises. So can I. But the savings moved to my wifes bank account as she claims she is unable to get to my bank to put money into it. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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Jason Henderson wrote: I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Lovely. It is a cheap car, second hand as well. :rolleyes: I could get a dirt cheap car, but it would end up costing me more in the long run. Countless tales of "wow only Rxx.xx for a car!" turning into "!#!@#$# just spent R3000 getting the engine reconditioned, it broke down in the rain and the left front wheel just fell off." Monthly car installaments for a new BMW 3.18i here would be about R4000 or $400 (just trying to find a car you might be familiar with.) Basically cars are not cheap and public transport does not exist for the white man, so I can't do that either. i.e. Your own reliable car is essential in SA. R1200 is $120 and R8500 is $850 (currently 10 Rand to the US Dollar basically.) With that R420,000 I can save over ten years I could buy a Mitsub EVO VII for cash... Now you know why I am saving... ;) Jason Henderson wrote: Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Ta, thanks.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: public transport does not exist for the white man, Why not ? Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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Paul Watson wrote: If you don't mind... I have heard conflicting advice, some people say pay off all your debts before you invest, others say invest if the debts are not too hectic. Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Paul Watson wrote: My only debt is my car which is R1200 a month (out of a R8500 salary after tax.) Just reached the half way mark in paying it off (R22000 to go) and was wondering should I invest and keep on paying the montly installments or try and pay off the car as fast as possible? I don't know how much that is in American $$, but thats a big chunk of your monthly salary for a car. Maybe you should sell it and buy a less expensive model. That way you could focus on saving for a nice one. Paul Watson wrote: I found getting slips for absolutely everything (including that chocolate and coke the other night) and then "analysing" them at the end of the month/quarter/year is the best way to see what you REALLY spend your money on. We do that plus we have a monthly budget.
Jason Henderson
start page ; articles henderson is coming henderson is an opponent's worst nightmare * googlism *Jason Henderson wrote: Pay off your debts first. Your saving nothing by paying someone else interest. Might I add that I think priority in order of interest rate is better than amount ? I've had a hard time over the years convincing my wife that there is no point getting 3% while we pay 27% ( don't ask), and therefore it's also better to put more on the 27% loan than the 12% one. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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Paul Watson wrote: public transport does not exist for the white man, Why not ? Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
Christian Graus wrote: Why not ? Ok public transport here is bad as it is. Not many trains and busses. The main mode of public transport are by things we call black taxis (basically a VW microbus.) These taxis ferry workers in from the townships and other black areas into the CBD, industrial area and white suburbs (for maids, gardners etc.) Whites can use these taxis, but it is not very advisable. Even less advisable to use the trains, though busses are ok, just not very many of them. You may get mugged or worse raped. Obviously it is not a den of heathen sin going on, you just tend to stear clear of taxis, trains and busses to be safe. And of course there is no underground/tube.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
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For many years we were incredibly poor, but since I became a programmer, mainly due to the period when I both coded and was a sales rep and the money from the odd article, we've managed to claw our way out of the circle of debt. What's more, I worked out I could save $1000 a month if I watched my spending. Then my wife got a job, so I imagined we'd soon be rich. Which is good, because we desperately need to buy a bigger house. So we started saving. I soon had $5,000 in the bank, but then a few things happened that cut it down to zero, not least buying a new PC, desk, chair and software for work my wife was supposed to get. That work has not happened yet. My wife continues to work, and at her insistence, our savings are in her bank account. I asked her how much was in there last night, thinking it was a paltry $3,000. It's $1,300. She has saved $300 in a year of working, and after buying all the gear I bought, I've only been able to save one lot of $1,000. That was two months ago, last month and this month coming are a write off for me because of a number of seasonal bills, mostly associated with Christmas. So now I am incredibly depressed. $300 is why I run home from work early every day and cook dinner, and do most of the housework so she can go to work ? And of course it's all going to be *my* fault, I can see it now. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
It's a basic law of economics: your outgoings adjust in direct proportion to your incomings. You need some serious diversionary tactics to prevent this happening. Last time I got a rise I set up a standing order direct from my bank to my savings account, so I didn't actually get to see the extra money. It's not an easy matter to do this once you've got used to the idea of the extra income though: this takes strength of mind that most mere humans just do not have. You could always try one of those get-rich-quick spam methods that clog up my in-box. I could forward them to you if you like :laugh: Debbie
