BBP REAL LIFE BUDGET | Paying Off Debt + Debt Free
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- It’s time for another Real Life Budget. I asked my readers to submit their REAL information. Real spending, real debt, and real savings goals.
I am taking those real-life numbers and showing you how I would organize and budget that information using my Budget By Paycheck® Method.
If you would like to submit your budget information to possibly be picked for a Real Life Budget that we will show on CZcams, please reach out to budgets@thebudgetmom.com.
Today, we are looking at TBM Family member Christina's information. Christina and her husband are on a debt payoff journey and feel like they are not making the progress they should be. For the first time, I am showing how to use a debt reduction calculator to show how your decisions affect your debt journey.
Trust me, if you have debt, you don't want to miss this video!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
03:07 Why & Personal Story
06:04 Income
07:55 Fixed Expenses
09:15 Variable Expenses
10:30 Debt
12:52 Savings Goals
14:26 Budget By Paycheck Method
21:01 Debt Payoff Scenarios & Visuals
32:28 My Recommendations
➡️ DEBT REDUCTION CALCULATOR: bit.ly/3ZqqiNO
➡️ HOW I TRACK MY SPENDING: bit.ly/3aIe89I
➡️ HOW TO USE A BUDGET CALENDAR: bit.ly/2IzF2Vj
➡️ FINDING YOUR WHY: bit.ly/3aJUryj
➡️ THE BUDGET MOM'S FINANCIAL FREEDOM STEPS: bit.ly/3cfJXsp
➡️ HOW TO GET STARTED WITH THE CASH ENVELOPE METHOD: bit.ly/2vQJaO5
➡️ HOW TO CREATE A PLAN OF ATTACK TO PAY OFF DEBT: bit.ly/2wDETxF
ABOUT ME
Kumiko Love is a single mom who empowers women everywhere to regain control of their financial lives. An Accredited Financial Counselor with over nine years of experience in the finance industry, she founded The Budget Mom, a community of millions of women on a path to financial fulfillment.
She's also the creator of the wildly popular Live Rich Planner® and Budget by Paycheck® Workbook. Love has been featured on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, CBS, ABC and in USA Today, US News, World Report, Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Parents Magazine, the Washington Post, and Real Simple. She lives in Spokane Valley, Washington.
YOU CAN FIND ME AT:
📝 WEBSITE: www.thebudgetmom.com
📘 FACEBOOK: / thebudgetmom
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📌 PINTEREST: / thebudgetmom
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40 now, and everything is paid for. Fortunately, I had a college economics teacher who taught me a lesson when I was 18 years old. That lesson was: you can't buy something else for every purchase you make. Having multiple sources of income is prudent, as is living within your means. I have a 13-year-old vehicle because it is all I need, I like it, and I can do whatever I want with it. My net worth is $4 million, and I can pay my bills without stress, but I don't live like I have that. I have no complaints.
I fully agree; I'm 56 years old and recently retired with approximately 1.2 million in outside retirement funds, no debt, and very few dollars in retirement funds in comparison to my portfolio balance over the last three years. To be honest, the financial advisor's role can only be ignored, not dismissed. Therefore do your research to get a reputable one and that should be any individuals main route into the market.
Vey accurate from your POV, It really isn’t about how much you save, it’s about how you manage your money. Whether you work to earn income or invest, it still boils down to income vs expenses, so yeah you may look into investment advisors for a strategy that suits your goals
wow ,that’s stirring! Do you mind connecting me to your advisor please. I desperately need one to diversified my portfolio.
Catherine Morrison Evans’ is my portfolio-coach, I found her on Bloomberg where she was featured, I looked up her name on the internet. Fortunately I came across her site and reached out to her, you can verify her yourself.
Thanks for sharing, I just looked her up on the web and I would say she really has an impressive background in investing. I will write her an e-mail shortly.
Where is HER birthday fund?
I live in Brooklyn, NY so I get some of these costs. However, $3,000 for birthdays and Christmas for 2 kids under 2 makes absolutely NO SENSE, when you have debt like this.
Those top 3 debts need to become priority. Sacrificing a little to tackle those will be worth it in the long run. Interest is what is keeping you stuck.
Right, they won’t remember. Buying them a pink cupcake and a Minnie Mouse swimsuit will suffice.
I wonder if that includes flights to visit family. It’s still absurd, but would make a bit more sense to me…
I agree. I do wonder if that is to host a party which can be expensive but they need to figure out how to have a cheaper party so they can pay debt off.
I also don’t understand why they have so much sitting in saving for there sinking funds when it should be thrown at their debts.
Kids under 5 are easily entertained by literal garbage and sticks. There is no reason to be spending $3k on bdays and xmas until they are older.
I appreciate her wanting to spend a lot on her daughters’ birthdays and Christmas, but they are 1 and 2! At those ages, they will not really appreciate anything you do and will probably love the balloons more than any big cake, venue, or gifts. I’m glad you recommended a cut there (and it will still give enough money to celebrate pretty big!).
After a YEAR of paying my student loans, I actually called the loan company because the checks were being cashed, but the number didn't seem to be going anywhere. This is when I first learned about my nemesis - interest! The woman on the phone was kind enough to tell me that the minimum wouldn't be touching my principle for a very long time, but that it was totally okay to send them more money, allowing me to check a box that said 'apply to principle'. It was a light-bulb moment! It was still awful to pay off, but when I restructured my priorities, I could find a spare $50 - 100 to send to the company, and I really started to see the amount going down. I am DEFINITELY an avalanche person!
Avalanche all the way 🙌🏾
Woo woo. I cut up my 1 credit card and do not use a debit card and I've been doing no spend I'm on month 4..yes extreme... I wrote down my grocery list... When I say I have saved so much it's insane....keep up the good work.
$6k in gifts is crazy, especially when you have that much debt. they already have $1200 saved which is HEAPS, put that $600/month towards debt and knock out the debt omfg. Like yeah gifts are fun, but thats just trying to keep up with the jones'.
That pays off
no 8 in one month,
no 3 in month 2 (if they throw like an extra $200 at it),
no 7 in month 5 (maybe even 4 but lets assume 5)
no 6 in month 9
no 5 in month 11 (cause remember minimum payments are still going towards it, so by now its like $1200 with approx interest if not less))
just leaving the 3 big hitters, but also freeing up $300/month in minimum payments, which is now $900 towards those (even using that $300 towards gifts instead and continuing to throw $600 at the debt), however with those insane interest rates, i would be considering debt consolidation with a bank/CU to save on that interest. It makes it a lot easier to make a dent in those debts when your payinf 10% instead of 20+% APR
Something I’m learning from these debt videos is how difficult it is for many people to conceptualize their debt within their income.
A lot of people have pretty substantial debt, but they spend their money like it doesn’t exist.
In this case it’s a lot of their sinking funds, and even some of their monthly payments (peloton, water delivery, beauty, etc). It seems like the biggest hurdle is recognizing that even if they’re making six figures, with six figure debt: No. You. Don’t.
When that debt is paid off, you can go on expensive trips, plan expensive birthdays, and take on the expenses of a higher earning family. Until then, if you want to see ANY movement on your debt, you need to live as though you are a much lower earning family. Because in reality you are.
There doesn’t need to be shame in that, plenty of families live at those means.
I love these real life budgeting episodes. This example shows that even with a good income, money needs to be spent properly. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Not sure what type of bday celebration they’re throwing for a 1 & 2 year old but $3k seems so crazy high to me & like a SF that can be lowered (along w Xmas) to pay down debt.
they could pay of FIVE of those debts in a year if they put the $600 in gifts towards the debt instead... Just insanity. Who needs that many gifts??
would be different if they were teens and NEEDED a laptop or a car and this was the parents helping them out, but a 2yr old... they are going to outgrow whatever they get within a year.
You’d be surprised. I feel like that’s the average price range for “picture perfect” and “ig worthy” birthday parties.
@@SabriinaKendallone those competing families I can throw a better party, then the other person and give gifts to all the kids to show up crap
Great video, sorry, but when you have that much cc debt and high daycare costs, a 3000 birthday party is too much for any child at any age, too much on Christmas and hubby's birthday as well, some sacrifices are necessary to live the life you deserve.
This budget just shows that it doesn't matter how much or little you make, it's all a mindset. You have to know what you want and know what you need to compromise on to reach those goals whether you make $30,000 or $100,000 per year.
Kudos to the watcher you submitted her budget. It was probably difficult and I hope Miko was able to give some recommendations that will work for you and your family. ❤
The amount of money they spend on beauty and birthdays blows my mind (and I live in a very expensive area)
Sometimes there is social pressure to spend money on birthdays, especially in finance circles. I’m not saying that’s “right,” but it’s definitely a source of pressure not all of us have to deal with, thank goodness!
Yeah it's very excessive when they're trying to pay off debt. Everyone has different priorities, but perhaps prioritize debt over huge birthday spending, and then ramp up birthdays when they're debt free and when the babies are old enough to remember if that's their thing.
Agreed my kids (teenagers) do not remember their first 10 birthdays I’d cut that down to 200
Love the extra stuff you added to this video to show differences in how long it takes to pay off based on different decisions/scenarios! Keep doing this! I am a numbers nerd....😂
It's so satisfying 🤭
Me too! ❤
3 year pay off section on credit card statements to show what the “minimum” payment is sooo valuable and a section often overlooked!
In the example, you were able to set aside extra money every week towards the highest interest credit card. Should we send the extra amounts every week (multiple payments per month) or all combined on the bill due date?
These are absolutely my favorite videos on CZcams! I love that you cover situations that are about people who come from very different backgrounds, priorities, and income levels. It helps remind us that people of all sorts can have the same issues because we’re all human! 💚💙💜
I’m so confused. Why haven’t they tried transferring to a new zero interest credit card. Or getting a personal bank loan to consolidate the 2 highest cards. If I made 13k per month I would of thought I won the lotto.
More money, more spending and bigger bills. It happens all too easily.
Silly question… could they do snowball to get the three lowest balances paid off, then switch to avalanche? Lower the amount of bills, then attack the highest interest! I would like some quick wins to feel like I made a dent, then really attack the highest interest.
That is exactly what I did. Game changer.
That is more or less what I did with my debt. I had some smaller low interest debts that I was able to wipe out fast and medical debts that were their own separate snow ball because the hospital offered a discount when you paid them in full. When I got rid of those I started on the highest interest rate
What is the best time of the month to pay credit cards
Weekly, every two weeks
15 and 3 days before due date
Any help is appreciated!!!
I so needed this, I am so motivated to pay off my debt but it just seems overwhelming sometimes. It's nice to hear from other people like me and hear REAL stories of people paying off their debt! It CAN be done y'all, let's do this!💪
I love all the BBP videos. This one was probably one of the best ones. Lots of advice and alternatives. Thank you for helping others without judgment.
Eventually, it might be easier in the long-run for this family if they save up a month's worth of expenses, have their checks deposited into another account, then use last month's checks for this month's expenses. That way they can put everything on auto-pay without worrying about due dates.
I do that now, and I'm only paid twice a month. Keeping track of their payment schedule seems dizzying 😵💫
This was soooo good. At the beginning, I was like wait did I submit my story 😂 so helpful.
Greets from Germany, I love that kind of videos - I learn so much ! Really thank you for being you - and work out those super budgets - with so many super ideas !
Congratulations Miko and thanks for providing such great information that I can use towards my budget as well.
Miko, your videos always help my mind get back on track! Thank you!
I appreciate the in depth explanation and the visuals help a lot. The good explanation helps me understand a lot better and I love the indepth explanation
It’s so good to see how you approach each budget and I can only imagine how life changing this must be for Christina. Thank you - these videos are so helpful 😊
Awww ❤❤❤ congrats to you and your family on your baby news 🎉😊
Thank you so much for this video. That spreadsheet program was explained so well. I'm so glad you made a video like this to show what happens when minimum debt payments don't even cover the interest. Helocs are a good example too. Thank you for sharing.
This video gives me pointers towards my debt. Thanks Niiko 😊
I know this is an older video, but I just subscribed. I love your videos and have been binging. I already have been naturally doing the calendar method with my bills, but I’ve still got a lot to learn. Thank you so much. ❤
Miko I could watch your videos everyday. I absolutely love them. Thank you so much for what you do so willingly and generously. It helps more than you know.
Btw, do you have videos on how to get one month ahead ? I would like to do that this year.
All I can say - you are very patient with them. They spend like crazy and their debt is quite bad. Yet, they spend like crazy.
Congratulations on your growing family 🎉. I loved this BBP and all the tips offered.
I know what you mean by overwhelming. I budget once a month and it is so much easier for me. I get paid twice a month, the 4th Wednesday and the 1st of every month. So for example I used last month’s February 22 paycheck and the March 1st paycheck to pay all my March bills. Every person should do what works best for them. I have 2 credit cards remaining to pay and I will be debt free. All my extra cash goes to debt. I have a few sinking funds but none with high amounts, so that has helped me pay debt down very quickly. I think some people go overboard with sinking funds and that hinders them from paying down debt sooner. Paying down debt should be #1 priority for high interest, high balance credit cards and loans.
Awesome video! I’ve been using your budget my paycheck method for over a year and it’s such a game changer! 🎉 I’ve been working loads of overtime at work and putting it towards my sinking funds and a medical debt that I’m paying off in June. Seeing this woman’s numbers I’m like 😮 with that income I would live like a queen lol👸
Such a good video!!! Thank you Miko!!
I found your channel last year and it's made a difference. Budgeting by paycheck works for me and I'm paying off my debt faster. I also learned to pay attention to interest rates. Thank you!😊
Thank u for sharing Christina's story! I think people get use to a certain income and have family expectations. You have opened their eyes to what they can do to change their life for the better. Living simply and having an open heart = happiness. You can still give back to family and friends in other ways not just material gifts. :)
I love all this information 🔥❤️ keep doing it !!!!
Hi Budget Mom. I just found your channel. Thank you so much for your videos. This has helped me tremendously
GOT YOUR BOOK YESTERDAY. TARGET!! Also this month, IE April, I am hunkering down on my debt to get it really rolling. Snowball. I ❤❤❤ your channel.
Can I just say that I love these.
Congratulations Miko!
This real life scenarios motivate me to keep working on my debt.
Your amazing thank you for giving me the tools to better enhance my budget goals.
im just hearing of your new addition.. congrats...!!!!
Thanks for showing us the Vertex spreadsheet calculator examples.
Ooh, I just love this series!
I do like this setup, verses the prior ones. All the extra pages, visuals, and different choices of payoff rates allows us and the person you are doing the choice best.
I'm debt free but do kinda think this would if helped me back then.
So eye opening!!
Thank you for doing these.
I am paid weekly and “budget” 4-5times and I find it so simple. My budget is the same every week, I put money into my sinking funds for my bills and variable expenses and the money is there ready when I need it.
The way you explained only having to budget once a month is kind of appealing though but I’m like you, I like checking on my money regularly
Omg Miko! You just completely opened my eyes to the reality of my own credit card debt. I opened my first credit card as an emergency fund after my divorce two years ago and really had no idea how to use it other than very carefully. Unfortunately my 20 year old card inevitability broke down and needed over $1,000 in repairs and I ended up putting everything except the cost of labor on that card and have been carrying the balance and slowly adding to it every month since. I never even thought to check to see if my monthly payments were even enough to cover the interest charges. I just paid as much as I could, sometimes that was the minimum amount but usually it’s a little more. I feel pretty dumb now that you’ve brought this to my attention, but I’m so glad you did. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us all! It really does help and make a difference! ❤
These videos are so fascinating!
The real stories are so informative. I have been working on this for years, and almost always have a bare bones budget. When there is extra, I don't change my habits but usually invest it in keeping my home in good shape or even improving it. For me, birthdays were a fun activity with $100 max for gifts . At these little babies ages they won't even notice, and she could easily have an extra $5300 in the first year to knock out some major debt. You were very gentle. My next cut would be the grown up birthdays for a year. OR she could use all the savings to start her month ahead plan as her monthly financial management must be so arduous in time and attention to not miss anything . I pay all bills once a month, because the paperwork had been overwhelming trying to keep up with the various days each month. Also if she knocked out the two lower interest rate debts,- they are small and it would be quick- and eliminate 2 credit companies to deal with each month. She has many options now, and because it has risen to the top in her life , she will now no doubt focus and get on track :)
3k on birthdays and Christmas?! Wow. Great video, really inspiring thank you!
This is probably my favorite real life budget story. Thank you!
Same!
Yay mikoooo!!! I was watching old videos as I’m washing the dishes. I hate washing dishes and watching your videos makes the process easier😅😅. Thanks for this video!! Please upload videos more often! I love this real life videos!
I'm so happy you love the videos❤❤
Love your videos !!!
I do the same thing! 😀
Been using the paycheck method almost a year and has been life changing. This video is absolutely kick ass. Totally motivated. Going to use the debt calculator. Expecting a bonus and using it towards debt.
Personally if you feel like you aren’t making progress I would suggest Snowball on anything under $2k and Avalanche after that.
This particular Real Life Budget meant a lot to me as a fellow Asian trying to "fit"in and deal with the ups and downs of debt. I am very proud of how much debt I have managed to pay off, but I'm stuck now. I think I have to go back to the basics and start over. I'm having a difficult time trying to find the worksheets you use in the videos. Can you tell me where I can find the worksheets please, so I can restart my debt free journey again? Thank you Miko for sharing your insights and passion for helping others to get out of debt and be money smart.
thank you Miko, it was inspiring
Very realistic and helpful ❤
This… my husband and I both get paid weekly and our number one goal aside from an establishing an emergency fund is getting month ahead.
Excellent video!!
Honestly anything below 2k can be cleared right away and tightening their budget further. Then focus on the highest interest payment this way u declutter and are more focused on whats to be allocated.
Small achievements will help her focus and then motivated to tackle the big ones as well.
I just purchased your LRP and the BBP planners. I was wondering if you had a video for unknown income? We own a small business and we get paid once a week, but our pay is always different, and that makes our fuel bill different. Would you have a video explaining something like this? Thank you for the real-life videos, they are very helpful tools for us newbies lol.
I definitely need to do a month ahead. Going to work on that this month!
Great video! I have a slightly different strategy
1. First assuming Medical Bills 1 and 2 are 0% throughout, I would move those 2 into a sinking fund and not include them in the debts. So total of 2308/12 months(say) =192 to accumulate until it's paid off.
2. I would pay the 1101 right now as it is small and is in the top 3 interest rates.
3. Then I continue the same way as suggested here by Miko, only now my monthly amount to pay per month towards debt is reduced by 192 because of point 1.
So now I have reduced my debt list by 3 and it's smaller and more motivating.
Also, my consumer debt is gone by Oct 2024 as per Miko's calculation. It's only the mortgage that's taking so long! So within 2 years, Christina is in a good position already.
For credit cards, by law they have to print how long it will take to pay off the current balance with only minimum payments. This is usually found on your statement. More people should be looking at this to really understand why paying the minimums isn't enough, even if you're not using the credit card anymore.
The first month I would have ignored the interest rates and paid off the Freedom CC and Med Bill#1 completely. It feels good to get the small stuff knocked off and not have to keep up with so many payments every month. Also limit the sinking funds to get those 2 high interest credit cards paid off.
It has to be a little painful in order to change your habits for good.
(We are debt free including mortgage since 2016.)
I would in this case do that too. That extra can also go towards debt
I think you just have to face your debt and spend less on b-days and holidays - till you are debtfree. It's not fun but the only way in this picture
Babies won't even remember and mostly their happiness lies in small things
Pay off the small ones in a few months, then use the avalanche method. Get rid of the small ones, see progress and add monthly payments to pay off large ones quicker. Maybe?
Where can I get these worksheets.? I like the way you explain things
Can you do a video on a family who made a bad home purchase? One where they are spending a lot of their money on house repairs! I am in this position and it’s nearly impossible to save! 😭
New sub here! Love these videos!
I first have to say I love your real life budgets. I learn so much. In their debt picture, wouldn't it be more of a snowball/avalanche like you did? I would pay off the freedom CC and the Personal loan #2 to free up those funds to tackle the BoA CC. Give them some momentum in tackling their debt.
Yes I would also go with freedom cc as first priority
$600 for two kids to eat and wear clothes?? I don't think my kids were more than $100 a month and that included needing to formula feed. Holy moly. I can't imagine spending $300 per kid, especially a young one that isn't even in sports or music lessons yet (likely)
I wonder if they were able to refinance their mortgage so that they could put those high interest credit card debts on the lower interest rate. And then make it a goal to pay the mortgage off you would be saving a ton of interest.
I am in Australia, I dont know what childcare is like over in the US but a lot of Australians are opening their own "family daycares" in their house and people pay heaps less to have their children in these small family home daycares. That might be something to consider with cost.
In terms of kids parties and Christmas. Honestly my kids are 7 and 4. I often pick up some amazing second hand gifts from market place or opp shops and my kids have no idea at this age that it is second hand they are just excited that they get a barbie. I pay $40 instead of $200 brand new. It still brings them the same amount of joy. I know we just want to give our kids the "best of the best" but honestly kids are happy with paper rolls, paint and some glue and some quality time with you. Try dont care how much you spent, it doesn't make them feel more loved to have expensive things. Its more our guilty conscience of what we perceive to be "the best", save your dollars guys 😀.
I would like to know if paying higher minimum payment to debt no.2 (to cover interest) while proritizing debt no.1 with extra payments, would help reduce the interest payed? Maybe it would also shorten time period.
Love your channel, just started my budget journey, new Subby 😊
Could she combine her bills and see about reducing her interest? Also the kids are little enough to do without all that for a few years
Daycare is so expensive. We pay $315 per week school year, $360 per week during school breaks. That's on a cheaper side than other places. Crazy. I would stay at home, but my income covers this plus savings and other expenses. Times are hard.
March is a 3 paycheck month for people who get paid every other week - their income is actually much less other months.
Well dang I didn't know you were pregnant!!! Congrats!! I am so happy I don't have this kind of debt and payments.
I'd take the house out of that debt snowball. the 2.85% interest rate is a great deal. I'd pay off the consumer debt ASAP & start investing.
Hi there, I was on your site and I wonder if you would have a Free Spring Bucket List I could use?
In the example, you were able to set aside extra money every week towards the highest interest credit card. Should we send the extra amounts every week (multiple payments per month) or all combined on the bill due date?
Where do I find the sheets that show the bills and variables and all that? I don't see them on your website.
I would of done the avalanche but paid the freedom first and its 20% but will free up another 100 a month within the first month to get them big ones knocked out.
Can you please do my personal budget. I’m really struggling but I did purchase your floral boxed set.
$1140 for food for TWO people(the kids' food and snacks are another $600)????? What are they eating??????
I wondered the same! Seems like the $1140 could be cut by 25-50%.
They’re eating good 😂
I would like to add some people are stuck shopping at expensive places or stores if they live in a small area a lot of the local stores are considered convenience stores. There isn’t much near me for shopping at all. My local store, just to grab a few items (chicken, pasta, some veggies and rice) can cost me $130 dollars EASY. I live between MKE and Chicago so it’s extremely expensive here.
6000 a year for babies birthdays??? Omg. 😂
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
If this were my budget... I'd cut the grocery budget first. Then, the holiday/birthday budget. And put that towards the credit cards.
Then, look to see if I could transfer at least one credit card balance to a zero interest introductory card. And hit that one hard. Then do the same with the other.
Thank you so much for these videos. How can I do when I lost one income and I have debt and it is not enough to cover my needs? thank you for your suggestions.
She says to cut spending too bare bones then raise income
Do you think it’s worthwhile to recommend that they refinance their higher-interest debts?
Posted this question on another video but not sure it’s the right place so I’m posting it here too-
Question concerning acct balances. If I put “$100” in a sinking fund envelope then spend $200, when I add the $100 next month, is the balance on envelope $0 or $100?
I want to do cash envelopes and pay for cash but how do you handle situations where you go to pay with cash from an envelope but it ends up being card only?
Is there a way to purchase the "Income & Pay Schedule" sheet and the "bills & Fixed Income" sheets? I don't have those in my BBP and i could'nt find them in ghe store. Is there another workbook??
I just was wondering if it would be better and cheaper to get a loan through her bank to pay everything off then throw all the extra money at the loan?