Wow!!! Great progress in such a short amount of time! I completely agree the sinking funds and variable expenses was a bit of a challenge for me to figure out at first as well. When I was on BS #2 I would find myself over complicating my envelopes/categories.. When I see some budgeters have a lot of categories I can’t help but think it makes it more complicating (but as long as it works for them and they are happy with their progress, whatever works!) My only sinking funds were car maint. and Christmas until I paid off debt and my variables were groceries, eating out, fun, gas and miscellaneous. I went as strict as I could for a few months in order to pay off more debt and then cash flowed some other the other expenses each month.
I can totally relate to the dog and mud issue. We actually cut down 2 trees last year just to provide more sun so that we could grow better grass! We also paid a professional to even out the bad areas and plant good grass. I was bummed at how much we spent but after a year, it was totally worth it!! There are still splashes here and there but it is soooo much better!! So whatever you spend will be worth it!!😊😊
I retired at 35 years old last year 2023. I drop out of college in 2008 without any student loans debt. Most of my job I have pay minimum wage. I rather have a job pay low wages rather than $240k student loans debt because it make me sleep better every day.
You would be money ahead to pay off the @2k on the airline 0% interest over the phone bills; ypu will be charged the full interest on the entire amount if you dont pay on time. You would be money ahead paying down any of the interest bearing accounts. You would gain good will paying off one of the $500-$600 personal or family loans over date nights, $200/ month gas station foods, $600/ month eating out, paying off Iphones, and so on. Remember Dave Ramsey's snowball method does not take interest into account. It is about gaining enough cashflow to be able to pay off debt, gaining psychological support for stsyingbwithin budget znd paying off debt, changing spending priorities such that paying off debt and staying out debt is possible.
