Here's the other areas of savings I'm looking at:
1) Eliminate all takeout food
2) Ditched Sling TV (only used it for sports, so what's the point)
3) No salon appointments
4) Reprieve on both student loans
5) No gasoline costs
6) Cancel gym membership
7) Reduce cellphone service (everyone is on wifi)
8) Zero-out gun fund
9) Reduce trash costs by composting
10) Replace produce costs with gardening (this is a work in progress)
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
27If you don't have a whole house fan, you might want one. I believe your climate is conducive (hot ass days, cooler evenings). They can drastically lower AC bills by cooling the house down at night. Cheap (loud) ones can be found at the Depot. Expensive (quiet) one can be had for around $800 online. I love ours.
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
28Each room has at least one ceiling fan -- that will have to do for now.
"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
29Wow, not even in the 90s here, it is still getting in the low 30s at night, 50 during the day. I usually have one month in the Spring and one in the Fall where my natural gas bill is less that $10. and electricity less than $20. June is historically cool here, but July, August, September are hot and a/c bills $100 to 200 per month. SG is closer to the coast and that tempers the weather, but there is humidity.sig230 wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:34 pmFor many of us we are entering the high utility bills period. So far this year has been warmer than average and last year we had over 100 100 degree days. That has already been one 100+ day down here this year.highdesert wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 7:38 pm No quick solution. It's the old exercise looking at monthly expenses to see what can be cut or at least reduced. The weather should be getting warmer, so heating bills should go down. Natural gas, electricity, water, sewer, garbage, landline phone, cell phones, cable or any type of TV or streaming services...whatever can be trimmed. Second job even if it's in an unrelated field? I know you just got your house not long ago, worth it to refinance since interest rates are lower?
I bought a car a few months ago but the interest is next to nothing.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
30Talk is of a $30,000 cap on student loan forgiveness. Hope it works.
Since I'm the cook of the house, I cook. Haven't had take out for ten or twelve days. I'm always tired of my cooking, but I don't go hungry.
CDFingers
Since I'm the cook of the house, I cook. Haven't had take out for ten or twelve days. I'm always tired of my cooking, but I don't go hungry.
CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eye Jack
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eye Jack
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
31Time to try new recipes. I have already and am pleasantly surprised more than I thought.CDFingers wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:10 pm Talk is of a $30,000 cap on student loan forgiveness. Hope it works.
Since I'm the cook of the house, I cook. Haven't had take out for ten or twelve days. I'm always tired of my cooking, but I don't go hungry.
CDFingers
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
32I dunno, man. I've cooked for so long that there isn't much I'd rather have someone else cook. :-)
CDFingers
CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eye Jack
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eye Jack
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
33I cook 98.9% of my meals, so this is no change for me. Got my electric bill today $108.25 / 29 days. Haven't had to use AC or heat for a month or so. Expect that is coming to a screeching halt by Wednesday as to be in low 90's thru weekend w/cool nights which wouldn't be bad if not for high humidity. All rooms have ceiling fans. Plan to make grocery run Wednesday for perishables, but may push it to Monday. Friday will be two weeks with no venture into the wild. Telling everyone to stay the fuck away - call or message. One supplier in Mich. shutting down at end of business today until Gov. says they can return. Most office can work from home - manufacturing (shop) people getting the bone (and I don't mean that in a good way).
Tried an on the fly sirloin stir fry today - over spiced - neither Jake the Boxer nor I can eat it.
Tried an on the fly sirloin stir fry today - over spiced - neither Jake the Boxer nor I can eat it.
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
34I haven't bought beef since the crisis started - I can't find it locally. Although I'm surrounded by damn beasties...
"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
35You can make a whole-house fan from a regular fan and some plywood. Not sure how your house is structured, but you can put a fan in the attic and have a simple duct with a single sheet of plywood. If you have access to one of the attic vents, you could mock it up so it blows directly out. A simpler way is to cut out a sheet of plywood the size of your attic access panel. Cut a hole in it for a fan, and have the fan suck air out of the house and into the attic. That will then go out the vents.senorgrand wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:01 pm Each room has at least one ceiling fan -- that will have to do for now.
Let me look for a pic in my phone. I just saw one a little while back and snapped a pic because it was so simple and elegant.
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
36BUMP -- made big changes to our finances (see first post).
"Person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
37To bring those changes to page 2.senorgrand wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 3:01 pm Ok, so you have your gun, your toilet paper and 300 tins of generic potted meat from the dollar store.
What do you do about finances?
I socked-away a little cash in the house. My job is in serious jeopardy, so half-pay unemployment is a real possibility.
In addition, I am facing some prepping start-up costs (gardening supplies, food stores, etc)
The purpose of this thread is how to manage money during this time.
EDIT:
So, my household is saving about $1,500 a month right now (absent Corona prep costs) and I thought I would share what I did:
1) Cut cable: It was only for sports, and that's not happening right now
2) Eating out: Between my daily taqueria lunches to Friday night pizza for the family, this was a substantial amount
3) Starbucks: this adds up surprisingly quickly
4) Student loan forbearance: we have several student loans between us. They are all on forbearance.
5) Car payment forbearance: Ford is offering temporary forbearance on car payments.
6) Gas -- working from home has put about $200 - $300 a month into our pockets on saved gas.
7) Cell phones -- Everyone is in lockdown at home, so wifi is doing the heavy lifting. Moved us from unlimited data to the lowest plan. Saves about $75 a month,
8) Insurance -- While my better half did not allow me to do this, I think this is a good time to raise your deductibles and lower your coverage amounts. There is almost never a time when we aren't home, so our risk of break-in has gone down. In addition, we are driving about 90% less miles, so I think it's a good time to reduce that coverage as well.
9) Trash -- Reducing our can size by starting a compost pile is another small savings.
10) Mortgage forbearance -- we don't currently qualify, but our mortgage company is allowing this for anyone who saw a drop in their income due to Corona.
We are using the additional cash flow to pay-down credit cards that were used paying for our move last year.
Hopefully this helps someone else.
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
38Actually we have had 3 100+ days so far and many in the 90s. I try to keep the house cooled down to 80 during the day but the AC runs near constantly. We are heading into the really hot period now. Last season we had over 100 100+ days.
To be vintage it must be older than me!
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
39You're making Southern Texas sound pretty tempting, I love hot weather. How's the humidity and what are the winters like?sig230 wrote:Actually we have had 3 100+ days so far and many in the 90s. I try to keep the house cooled down to 80 during the day but the AC runs near constantly. We are heading into the really hot period now. Last season we had over 100 100+ days.
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
41South Texas has 2.5 seasons, long summer, short fall, no winter, short spring. No state income tax; poor health care (for middle class and poor); stupid guv, lt. guv, AG. Humidity is like a yoyo except summer fairly constant in high range 80+%. State is solid red north of Austin. This past winter, not one day of ice on water buckets nor need to drip outdoor faucets. On the other hand, I haven't turned on the AC at all in 2020 to date. Believe me, I've lived in places much worse than Texas. Come on over. We could use some more lefties.kronkmusic wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:06 pmYou're making Southern Texas sound pretty tempting, I love hot weather. How's the humidity and what are the winters like?sig230 wrote:Actually we have had 3 100+ days so far and many in the 90s. I try to keep the house cooled down to 80 during the day but the AC runs near constantly. We are heading into the really hot period now. Last season we had over 100 100+ days.
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
42I'll second the purchase of a whole house fan. I picked one up and installed it myself except for the electric run- one of the nice ones around $800 (my local HD actually had them in stock). Not an install for the faint of heart, but doable as a DIY. Well worth the investment. About $1100 when all was said and done. If you have it professionally installed it will run around $1800.featureless wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:59 pm If you don't have a whole house fan, you might want one. I believe your climate is conducive (hot ass days, cooler evenings). They can drastically lower AC bills by cooling the house down at night. Cheap (loud) ones can be found at the Depot. Expensive (quiet) one can be had for around $800 online. I love ours.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
- Maya Angelou
- Maya Angelou
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
43There was the Great Blizzard of '04.kronkmusic wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:06 pmYou're making Southern Texas sound pretty tempting, I love hot weather. How's the humidity and what are the winters like?sig230 wrote:Actually we have had 3 100+ days so far and many in the 90s. I try to keep the house cooled down to 80 during the day but the AC runs near constantly. We are heading into the really hot period now. Last season we had over 100 100+ days.
It was Christmas Eve.
And then, just thirteen years later yet another blizzard.
To be vintage it must be older than me!
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
44Sounds like you just described Florida with a little bit less humidity, haha. What are land prices like out there? That's the big problem with South Florida, we're squeezed on one side by the ocean and on the other side by the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, so the buildable land area is only like 20 miles wide at best, making land limited and therefore expensive. There's no "I'm gonna drive out to my 20 acre ranch a half hour from town", at least not for the past 30-40 years.Wino wrote:South Texas has 2.5 seasons, long summer, short fall, no winter, short spring. No state income tax; poor health care (for middle class and poor); stupid guv, lt. guv, AG. Humidity is like a yoyo except summer fairly constant in high range 80+%. State is solid red north of Austin. This past winter, not one day of ice on water buckets nor need to drip outdoor faucets. On the other hand, I haven't turned on the AC at all in 2020 to date. Believe me, I've lived in places much worse than Texas. Come on over. We could use some more lefties.kronkmusic wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:06 pmYou're making Southern Texas sound pretty tempting, I love hot weather. How's the humidity and what are the winters like?sig230 wrote:Actually we have had 3 100+ days so far and many in the 90s. I try to keep the house cooled down to 80 during the day but the AC runs near constantly. We are heading into the really hot period now. Last season we had over 100 100+ days.lurker wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:53 pm holy cow, what corner of hell is this? and what did you do to be sent there? i hope it was fun...
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
45Sig it's always nuts to see pictures of palm trees with snow on the ground. We got snow in southern Florida once, and only once, in recorded history. It was January of 1977, before I was born, but my dad remembers it clearly. Some of the northernmost islands of the Bahamas even saw some flurries.
Last edited by kronkmusic on Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
46The '04 Blizzard was the first in over 100 years but with patterns changing they say we should except more. But by noon it was all gone.kronkmusic wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:04 am Sig it's always nuts to see pictures of palm trees with now on the ground. We got snow in southern Florida once, and only once, in recorded history. It was January of 1977, before I was born, but my dad remembers it clearly. Some of the northernmost islands of the Bahamas even saw some flurries.
I'm a couple hundred miles south of San Antonio and we've been in a drought for a decade or so. But when we do get rain it often ends up in flash floods (this whole 5 county area is a flood plain). SA get lots of rain but it all generally stops about 50 miles north of us.
The Rio Grande Valley is the BLUE part of the state. Lloyd Bentsen's family home is a couple blocks west of me. Freddy Fender is from down here as well.
To be vintage it must be older than me!
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
47Texas real estate / housing is rather cheap comparatively speaking. Land acreage can be in isolated areas. Wages are generally low across the board, but so is cost of living - or it was prior to the latest fiasco.
"Being Republican is more than a difference of opinion - it's a character flaw." "COVID can fix STUPID!"
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
The greatest, most aggrieved mistake EVER made by USA was electing DJT as POTUS - TWICE!!!!!
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
48i don't know about now, but on the other side of the state south of sarasota, yes you could do that when i lived there.kronkmusic wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:56 am There's no "I'm gonna drive out to my 20 acre ranch a half hour from town", at least not for the past 30-40 years.
i'm retired. what's your excuse?
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
49You lost me there. A 20 acre ranch?lurker wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:04 ami don't know about now, but on the other side of the state south of sarasota, yes you could do that when i lived there.kronkmusic wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:56 am There's no "I'm gonna drive out to my 20 acre ranch a half hour from town", at least not for the past 30-40 years.
To be vintage it must be older than me!
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
Re: Financial Management in the Coronavirus Age
50Yeah that is quickly disappearing, and that's more like 2-3 hours from where I live.lurker wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:04 ami don't know about now, but on the other side of the state south of sarasota, yes you could do that when i lived there.kronkmusic wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:56 am There's no "I'm gonna drive out to my 20 acre ranch a half hour from town", at least not for the past 30-40 years.
