Saturday, May 15, 2010

Financial Planning 101

Murphy’s Law

Over the last few weeks, we have been taking a financial class to help us learn how to: Get out of debt, Stay debt free, and invest in the future. We have learned many great concepts that will help us achieve these goals.

The classes started in April, and soon after we attended our first one, Steve’s car broke ($800). This was just another reason why April sucked. We had made a decision to stop charging on our credit card and this happens. Great!

Murphy’s law: 
When you try to save money something expensive will happen.

 

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This week we had some extra money come our way. We have already put a nice chunk towards debt this month, so we decided to use the extra money to build a fence that will keep Henry in the backyard this summer. This is a necessity.

Steve got online and estimated the cost of two side fences, and guess what? It worked out to be the same amount of the extra money. Nice!

We headed right out to Home Depot with our list of supplies. We decided to take Henry with us so that he wouldn’t cause trouble for Thomas who was in charge because Jonathon was on a Scout Campout.

This is what we came home to.

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Thomas did this while we were gone – I guess you could call it an accident, but the point is that we had some extra money, then we spent it, and now it’s probably going to cost us the same amount to fix the window.

Luckily we were able to complete the first step in our financial plan, so we do have an emergence savings account. I just didn’t want to dip into so soon.

Things we learned today, Thomas is not responsible enough to be left in charge; there is always going to be something that requires your extra money; and making money answering questions on the internet is not worth your while. But that’s another story.

BTW: Does anyone know a good window guy?

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6 comments:

Danielle said...

I laughed so hard...not at you but with you. We have had so many things happen since we started this class. One of ours also involves a fence.

Syphus Circus said...

Seriously! Who invited Murphy to the class anyway? doesn"t it just make you want to scream, or pull out you hair, or laugh until you cry. I suppose laughing would be the best alternative. One day these will make excellent stories.

Heather said...

I too am laughing, not at your expensive accidents, that is frustrating. I am laughing at the possible story behind the survey comment.

Beckee said...

I am with you on the savings thing we used our savings to put half down on a car two months later we have to prelace our main sewer line a hefty 8,000 . We had to pull money from our IRA we stuck away a year ago! And that won't pay for it all! I have deceided as soon as we put money away we have to use it as the saying goes you build/save it it will come!
we also have a broken window from two years ago in our backyard from my son we still have not fixed. We just duck taped it until we can relace all the windows in the house.
Beckee

Amy Pulley said...

Ooooo, that sucks. I'm sorry you may have to dip into your emergency fund so soon... it's such a painful thought.

Natalie said...

Oh bummer! At least you had really good intentions!