Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

It was one year ago today that I started this blog. We were not doing well financially. Every month we were spending more than we were making, and using the credit card to make up the difference. If our car broke down we had to make sure to choose a mechanic who would take a credit card. I didn't know where our money was going, and mostly I blamed being gluten free. Our groceries were more expensive than other people's. How were we *expected* to get by?

I checked to see if we qualified for food stamps or WIC. (Answer = almost.) I looked into Consumer Credit Counseling. Deferring our student loans. Or selling our house.

Instead, I started listening to Dave Ramsey. And I realized that, yeah, our budget is pretty small, but it's doable. We just had to make it work. So we:

  1. Started actually budgeting. As in living within our means.
  2. Began living on a cash budget.
  3. Stopped caring what other people had, and thinking we were doing something wrong if we couldn't afford that too. (Well, until I lost my mind and bought a leather couch. Oops.)
But I still don't know how to insert a table into Blogger. So you get this:

July 9, 2007 - July 9, 2008

Debt: $104, 307 - $100,311
Savings: $0 - $2,898
Monthly Expenses: $2,145 - $2,390
Monthly Saving/Debt Repay Goal: $131 (emergency fund) - $697 (baby fund)
Take Home Pay: $2,417 - $3,349*

Achieved This Year:
  1. Paid off $3,996 in debt
  2. Built up our $1000 emergency fund
  3. Weathered an additional $245 in monthly expenses (gas, cable, mortgage, and student loan payments all went up)
  4. Made major purchases (van, bed, couch, fridge, two air conditioners) of $8,900 and our total debt still went down
  5. On track to save enough so that having a baby will (for the first time) not put us into debt
* How we increased our take home pay:
  1. Cut back on life insurance $65/month (perhaps not advisable)
  2. Changed our tax withholdings so that we won't get the big return this year $300/month
  3. I started doing some freelance writing work from home $367/month
  4. I started working at Weight Watchers $80/month
  5. Annual raise $149/month
Slowly we're on our way to becoming a gluten free AND debt free family!

As an anniversary present, I'd love to get lots of comments! :) Even if you've never commented before, please comment now! Well, if you're going to be nice, that is.

16 comments:

Diamond said...

I didn't realize I had been following you for a year! Congratulations!! We've been working down debt and adding to savings as well. You have been an inspiration. We are GF, bought 2 vans and were unemployed. Good thing we had been working on it before.

Lindsey J said...

Happy Blogiversary!!

You've really done a great job at the debt--congrats!

Gluten free really can hurt the budget as we have learned. And I thought our groceries were expensive before...

LZ said...

Happy Blogoversary!! Amazing job you've done this year and thanks for sharing it all!

Manic Mama said...

Happy Happy BLOG-I-VERSARY To You!

We are STILL trying to figure out the whole budget thing and groceries KILL us. Of course, so does our 2100 mortgage (and its not a fancy house). I'm in the should we try to sell phase as well!

Frugal Finds said...

Happy Boliversary!!! You ahve come so far!! I have really enjoyed watching your progress! How did I miss that you started working at weight watchers?
Keep up the great blog!!!
Frugal Carol

mamashine said...

Good job, and happy anniversary! :)

Rebecca said...

Happy blogiversary! So proud of all that you've achieved this year... and somehow I know it's only the beginning. Go, you! :)

MM said...

I love reading your blog, but am not a frequent commenter anywhere. My fiance is allergic to wheat so I am doing my best to learn to cook without it for him. As we are saving for a downpayment, in addition to dept repayment, I definitely love the frugal slant of your blog.
Keep up the great work - we really appreciate it!
meremc

Apostle to Suburbia said...

Hap hap happy blogiversary to you! Wow, you've made some significant progress this year. Maybe I'll look into this Ramsey guy.

Sarah M said...

way to go!!

ugh. IF we sold our house (which we'd like to do) we would GO INTO debt, how silly is that?

zdoodlebub said...

Happy Anniversary. You inspire me. I wuv you. That is all.

(Oh, and how do you do it all? You have like three jobs and you are pregnant.)

::bows and worships::

Jennifer said...

Happy One Year! Whee!

Tread Softly said...

Woo HOO! Congrats, and thanks for writing!

Carrie said...

tenille!! Congrats!!! You have an excellent blog and I always look forward to your posts!! I want to know how you found a part-time job from home writing?? I would LOVE to do that!! Please share! And I hope you have lots of years to come at Gluten Free Frugal!

litterboxboss said...

Hi, it's Kelda and you amaze me each and every week with these blogs. Part of me wants to shrug it off and say, oh well it's easy for . . . No, it is not easy, for anyone because it is life (not so much easy) but you are doing it and making it happen. Inspiration is an understatement. Love you much, K

Dana said...

Tenille, you are amazing and an inspiration! Hugs girl and you keep right going.

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