Comments on: The First Step to Cleaning Up Your Finances http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Roundup for week of 16 July 2007: Mojave edition at Mighty Bargain Hunter http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117314 Roundup for week of 16 July 2007: Mojave edition at Mighty Bargain Hunter Sun, 22 Jul 2007 03:47:56 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117314 [...] Consumerism Commentary posts a very personal account of the first step to cleaning up your finances. [...] [...] Consumerism Commentary posts a very personal account of the first step to cleaning up your finances. [...]

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117228 Flexo Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:35:32 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117228 Mandi: That's an interesting comment and question. As far as interesting blogs go, take a look at <a href="http://pfblogs.org/" rel="nofollow">pfblogs.org</a> and you're bound to find a blogger in that position. Ok, you're fiscally responsible, saving and investing for retirement. That's how it was for me after I came to the realization that I wasn't making any headway. I wasn't an outrageous spender, I only paid a tiny bit for shared cable for example, but I wasn't making any headway. Not all problems can be solved simply by spending less. Since I was already spending less, I was lucky in that I could eliminate my rent payments for four months -- but other than that, I got a bigger salary and -- though I didn't know it at the time -- laid the groundwork for significant "side business" income. Mandi: That’s an interesting comment and question. As far as interesting blogs go, take a look at pfblogs.org and you’re bound to find a blogger in that position.

Ok, you’re fiscally responsible, saving and investing for retirement. That’s how it was for me after I came to the realization that I wasn’t making any headway. I wasn’t an outrageous spender, I only paid a tiny bit for shared cable for example, but I wasn’t making any headway.

Not all problems can be solved simply by spending less. Since I was already spending less, I was lucky in that I could eliminate my rent payments for four months — but other than that, I got a bigger salary and — though I didn’t know it at the time — laid the groundwork for significant “side business” income.

]]> By: Mandi http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117226 Mandi Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:14:17 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117226 I read your blog a few times a month. Sometimes I learn something new and sometimes I just walk away impressed by the amount of money you have. Seriously. As a person that has never had much money, I am incredibly conscious of every penny. (When you don't have a lot, you have to be careful with what you do have.) But here's my question, where are all the blogs for people that actually have money problems? Sure, I've read the stories about people with kids and bills up to their eyeballs but they're all in trouble for stupid reasons (credit card debt, costly bills for things they don't need [cable, big fancy cars, gym memberships, etc.], or stupid excessive spending on little things like eating lunch out every day). I avoid all of those things. I don't have cable, have the cheapest internet service I can get, go out to eat maybe once a month, and generally conserve. I try to be as fiscally responsible as possible...contributing to my retirement and maxing out my company's matching contributions, having a modest weekly allowance, and saving everywhere I can. So I guess my question is, have you come across any blogs that focus more on people that are fiscally responsible but that are--unfortunately--not gifted with an abundance of money from which to build up an emergency fund, savings, or holdings? So much of what I read is about people that can solve their problems just by being conscious of their frivilous spending and then stopping it. I'd be interested to read more about situations that cannot be rectified that easily. I read your blog a few times a month. Sometimes I learn something new and sometimes I just walk away impressed by the amount of money you have. Seriously.
As a person that has never had much money, I am incredibly conscious of every penny. (When you don’t have a lot, you have to be careful with what you do have.) But here’s my question, where are all the blogs for people that actually have money problems? Sure, I’ve read the stories about people with kids and bills up to their eyeballs but they’re all in trouble for stupid reasons (credit card debt, costly bills for things they don’t need [cable, big fancy cars, gym memberships, etc.], or stupid excessive spending on little things like eating lunch out every day). I avoid all of those things. I don’t have cable, have the cheapest internet service I can get, go out to eat maybe once a month, and generally conserve. I try to be as fiscally responsible as possible…contributing to my retirement and maxing out my company’s matching contributions, having a modest weekly allowance, and saving everywhere I can. So I guess my question is, have you come across any blogs that focus more on people that are fiscally responsible but that are–unfortunately–not gifted with an abundance of money from which to build up an emergency fund, savings, or holdings? So much of what I read is about people that can solve their problems just by being conscious of their frivilous spending and then stopping it. I’d be interested to read more about situations that cannot be rectified that easily.

]]> By: Matt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117222 Matt Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:53:37 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/19/the-first-step-to-cleaning-up-your-finances/#comment-117222 At least you realized that you were getting into a predicament. I would say that a lot of people would simply start to look for another job while applying for additional credit. Having the ability to take a step back, evaluate your situation and make corrections is a very important skill to have and it'll help with more than just finances. At least you realized that you were getting into a predicament. I would say that a lot of people would simply start to look for another job while applying for additional credit.

Having the ability to take a step back, evaluate your situation and make corrections is a very important skill to have and it’ll help with more than just finances.

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