This month we tackled organizing our finances. How are things going? Has this month's challenged helped you? I'd love to hear about your progress from the challenge!
Giveaway rules:
- You must be a follower (through Twitter, FB, GFC, or RSS/email) of The Nest Effect to win.
- The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter.com.
- Please make sure your email is either linked in your profile or on your blog OR that you include it in your comment. If I can't find your email address, I can't contact you as the winner.
- You must comment as your first, mandatory entry. All entries will be verified when the winner is chosen.
- One entry per method per person (5 total).
- Giveaway ends February 29 @ 9 PM (MT).
We made a financial chart on excel and followed how we were doing budget-wise there. We are doing awesome:) fpierson@live.ca
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information about Mint.com. I'm going to talk to my husband about using it. Excited about the giveaway as well! :)
ReplyDeleteI have finally gotten all of our financial info put into Mint.com and words can't say just how much I LOVE it!!!
ReplyDeleteWe're using Excel (because I'm a nerd and I love Excel) We're doing good!
ReplyDelete-Wanda
Mint. com rocks my world! I used your home management binder idea and the cute cover printable to get my budget in order in a binder form with a bunch of information. This is the first time in my life (and I am 32!) that I am not afraid to use a credit card because i KNOW I have everything linked through mint and I KNOW that I have every source of income and fixed expense written down and a place to keep track of it in my binder. Now that I am so sure about my budget and tracking everything it helps my husband and I know what we can afford and plan ahead for expenses, and then use our credit card to get more points and pay it off at the end of the month. This is the most together I have ever felt in the financial department! I am thinking about using the bill pay thing you posted, too. . .
ReplyDeleteThanks, girl!!! jenzink79@gmail.com
We use an excel spreadsheet. I use Excel for everything. I also LOVE Erin Condren products. Excited about the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteShelli
shelliannrose@gmail.com
Would love to win the giveaway! Your blog is great.
ReplyDeleteI got financially organized this month by FINALLY implementing a filing system (much more clean than throwing them in a drawer like I used to) and creating an excel sheet to track deductions for taxes next year so I don't have to gather up all the receipts and add them up at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteCrystal L. logan2686 (at) gmail (dot) com.
We have been dabbling with Mint. I love that site. I would love to win your giveaway! I drool over Erin Condron's site!
ReplyDeleterasrican at gmail dot com
I purchased a bill pay notebook from redstarink on etsy and it has really helped. As bills come in i put them in the "pay" folder and log them on the calendar provided for each month. On pay day i pull out the nifty notebook and pay what is due, mark off the bill list and move the actual bill copy to the "paid" folder. Really helps me keep everything in one place and i always know what is coming up due or what has already been paid. I never have any surprises coming out of my account i always know exactly what is still pending to draft my account. I won't say it has made bill paying fun (honestly what could ever make that fun) but i am less stressed about the whole chore and i don't feel like i am buried a pile of bill paperwork. I have heard other recommendations for mint.com just haven't tried it yet. Love your blog; has definitely helped me stay motivated this year to declutter and organize my life. Keep it up!!!!--Kristi
ReplyDeletekristi.adams.ka@gmail.com
We don´t use anything... :/
ReplyDeleteI´d love to win this, because I adore that Teacher planner!
I need to check out Mint.com, because our current Excel spreadsheet just isn't working well for us. We've had some unexpected expenses come in this month so I'm not doing as well as I had hoped. I wanted to get my finances in order while also saving money...so not doing too well on the latter.
ReplyDeleteI use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of our finances, as well as to maintain a budget for two months out at all times to help plan for what's to come.
ReplyDeleteMy email is andrea.c.baumann@gmail.com
DeleteSo glad to learn about mint.com! And thanks for the chance to win an EC gift certificate!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletebought a scanner & shredder to get our financial documents in order (sarademay at cox dot net)
ReplyDeleteThis month I've been using a small notebook to track what I spend each day as well as using some excel spreadsheets I've created on my own to budget my money!
ReplyDeleteLOVE erin condren! Just ordered the monthly planner :o)
Rachael, www.rachaelstone.blogspot.com
rstone1@ashland.edu
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Mint.com until I read about it on your blog. I might have to introduce that site to the hubs! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for the EC giveaway! Her designs are sooooooo fabulous!
Heather
purplepoggy@gmail.com
Decided on one day to pay all of the bills at once. had to adjust some card payments, but it worked out well. No more multiple days in my planner about paying bills. I have been using Mint for over a year, and I love it, but this month we reevaluated where our money was going and we tried to adjust our budget and save a bit more this month in preparation for a summer holiday. The best adjustment we made was allowing ourselves only a certain amount for eating out. It will make a huge difference if we keep this up.
ReplyDeleteI have been resisting the urge to buy one of Erin Condren's teacher lesson planners for two months. I'm sure I will give in soon even if I don't win. How can you resist such a beautifully designed planner.
Loved this challenge as it was what I needed. Took me two weeks to get rid of all my financial paper clutter, but now I have an awesome filling system. Ill be signing up for mint.com this weekend. I'm pretty excited.
ReplyDeleteI've always been pretty good at maintaining my finances, however, Mint.com looks fantastic, I'll be trying that this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI fixed my filing system and got rid of the big pile!
ReplyDeleteKate
kld2001 [at] hotmail [dot] com
I've just recently really started thinking about financial tracking/organization so it's perfect that you started talking about it on your blog. I love reading your posts! I'm getting married this summer so things are starting to get more complicated finance-wise. I've been tracking the type of spending we're doing and trying to allocate funds for different things we need it for. I'm still in the beginning stages, but I always read your posts for ideas. Thank you for this Giveaway! I LOOOVE Erin Condren and I would really like to win! (:
ReplyDeleteReceiving our tax return really helped us organize because we were able to pay off some things and cut down on the amount of paperwork we have in a month!
ReplyDeletedemureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the ideas! I was super motivated by your filing system and made my own similar one. I also started tracking my expenditures and made a monthly budget worksheet. I feel much better now, thank you!
ReplyDeleteWill be setting up an account with Mint.com because currently sitting down and doing a spreadsheet with expenses just isn't working.
ReplyDeletenicki.campbell(at)hotmail(dot)com
I've used Mint.com before, but you inspired me to start doing it again. I also found a budgeting website that I've started using to set up a realistic budget for myself.
ReplyDeleteMleb115@gmail.com
I totally cleaned out and revamped my filing system for our financial-related paperwork (bills, receipts, etc). Thanks for the great giveaway opportunity!!
ReplyDeletefmgirl40@hotmail.com
So far, I think I have a really good handle on my bill situation. I created a monthly bill planning printable (that is also on my blog) that I use to check off when I have paid certain bills. I also created a mail sorting area on my kitchen counter, so no more piles of mess. The next project that I have started is finding a box or small file caddy to hold all of my old tax information.
ReplyDeleteKristin @ theocdlifestyle.blogspot.com
My hubs and I made an Excel spreadsheet to help us get organized!
ReplyDeleteacupcakefortheteacher@gmail.com
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
I have been trying to get financially organized (and just organized in general) for a while now...I started following your blog a few months ago and have picked up some great tips and printables! We sort our mail by person when it comes in the door, each person has a box. I track my bills on a calendar attached to the front of my filling bin, which contains all the folders for storing my financial documents. I keep my bills to be paid in the front folder, with the due dates marked on the calendar. Once they are paid, they get filed. Since I am not married, my boyfriends bills just get put into a basket for him to deal with, even though it makes me a little twitchy. I also started using mint about a month ago, I saw it in blogland somewhere, maybe even your blog? And I love it! I also have the app on my Iphone. I plan to check out the sites you mentioned in your blog yesterday also!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all your inspiration!
Shannon
shannonchaffin7@gmail.com
I have been working on my household binder - Mission Control - and it includes financial information such as savings goals, income and expenditure and current savings (so we can see how much we save every month and how we're doing against target). I find keeping a detailed track of finances invaluable - its help us stop squandering money, pay off our mortgage, have no debt and accumulate savings for the first time ever.
ReplyDeleteI also at the start of the year started a mini savings challenge - I blogged about it at www.gingerorganising.blogspot.com/2012/02/savings-idea.html
I haven't had a whole lot of time to devote to this but I am super excited to sit down and get started. I picked up a pretty binder the other day that I plan on using along with folder/dividers for bills. We have used a spreadsheet in Excel to track our budget in the past but I also have YNAB that I like. Haven't checked out mint.com but have heard about it. I was always just a little nervous about it linking up.
ReplyDeleteI've been using a self designed spreadsheet to help me know when the bill is due, when it comes out of the account and how much it is. I'm going to sign up for mint.com this weekend when I have time...thanks for the great recommendation! :) kaseyajones@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling with these tasks.
ReplyDeletei have finally, finally, FINALLY started using quickbooks, thanks to a coupl of very good friends. quickbooks has made tracking ur money and our budget very easy and i love to look at the reports and see how well my family is doing!
ReplyDeletesurfingcowboyfan@yahoo.com
We started tracking our spending...just in Excel for now, but it's a start!
ReplyDeleteI have always used an excel spreadsheet to track our bill due dates/amounts and a separate one to budget our money. This month I went to a cash system and give my husband and I "allowances" This has really helped control our weekend spending!
ReplyDeleteI an struggling this month. My finances are mostly handled by my dh and he has his own system! Any suggestions on how to help him hand over the reins, even a little bit?
ReplyDeleteWe sat down together, and made a chart in Excel. Now we are sure to enter every purchase in the chart, to track everything better.
ReplyDeleteI updated our excel spreadsheet and organized our bill system.
ReplyDeleteIn February, I got all my accounts set up on a standard checkbook register on my computer. I add things weekly and balance as of the month end statement. I also created a "bill binder" to house paper copies of things and to check off monthly when things are paid. There is a sheet in the front that shows all due dates as well.
ReplyDeleteWe started using Mint.com to get financially organized this month!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win! Organizing bills is still in progress, thanks for great info!
ReplyDeleteI created a form on my computer to organize my financial information.
ReplyDeleteI started tracking exactly what we spend through out the month dollar for dollar. This will help me to create a more reasonable budget that will actually work!
ReplyDeleteI started tracking what I spend, put a filing system in place and because of my tax return I was able to pay off some bills and put some money away in savings! Your tips are awesome and I think I am going to give Mint.com another try! I didnt realize they had an app for the phone now! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm super busy with student teaching, so the most financially organized I got this month was getting all my tax info organized. Hopefully March will allow me more time to get things in gear!
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling with these tasks.
ReplyDeleteWe FINALLY got set up with MINT!!! Its A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! :) Love the text alerts budget charting!
ReplyDeleteI am still working on this task. I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteAshleybowlesreed@hotmail.com
I started saving all of my grocery receipts and logging them.
ReplyDeleteWe are still working on several things including developing a budget and figuring out the best way to organizing incoming bills and paperwork.
ReplyDeleteccskiles at hotmail dot com
I have been tracking our money to see where it goes.
ReplyDeleteI love using the monthly bill tracking page and the irregular bill page. I'm a college student and a gamer, so I have different payments due at different times and writing them down makes it easier to keep track of. Also, since I'm a college student, I'm definitely on a budget. I hope to soon work on the budgeting worksheet as well. It'll help me keep my sanity!
ReplyDeleteI love Mint.com. I am fascinated by the alerts and how it categorizes all of my purchases. Love the budgeting worksheet as well. I've always budgeted via Excel, but my husband understands and is therefore more cooperative with said budget this way.
ReplyDeleteI've been using mint for years, but I've actually make a pledge this year to record everything in excel so I'm forced to confront how much I'm spending and what I'm spending it on. I feel like I have a little more control doing it by hand.
ReplyDeleteRafflecopter will take you to my facebook/ school email ... but I check shootingstar43571@yahoo.com too
Hello =)
ReplyDeleteI use a white board (hope you understand what I mean lol I'm from France) where I write the money who comes in/What I buy. Like that I have an easy view of what I have on my bank account. End of month are difficult sometimes but like that I know how much I can spend before my bank call me lol Thanks for all your great ideas =)
Xoxo Laure
I write everything down in a spreadsheet. Columns of expenses on the left, columns of income on the right. And then I cross my fingers and hope for balance in the middle :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't used any of the programs you recommended (I'm in Canada so it doesn't always work out) but your handmade charts reinforced the importance of budgeting and tracking for me.
I'm working on setting up a financial binder. Forms & such are gathered and in a pile. Now to get the pretty binder and put it together.
ReplyDeleteI currently use an excel spreadsheet especially since I have so many home business expenses to track as well but after reading these posts might have to look at mint.com too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the motivation with this challenge! I have started to get all my files in ordr....It is going to make the bill paying a lot easier each month! Hope to win the gift certificate it sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI have started to use a chart to see where all our spending goes so we can re-evalutate our budget to save money!
ReplyDeleteWe just had a baby in January so we decided to manage our money more and got quicken. We now can see exactly where our money is going and to what. We also are refinancing our home to be able to save more.
ReplyDeletemy fiance and I opened a savings account last year so we try and put $1,000.00 a month into it.
ReplyDeleteI wrote down each bill due date in my Erin Condren planner. Each week I make sure to look ahead and see what payments are coming up. I check it off when I pay the bill. This helps keep me on track and to remember to pay the bills. I also use PageOnce on my iPhone. They send me reminders and notify me if my bank balance is getting low.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this would be just what I need to get on a better path. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the inspiration to reorganize my home..I am thankful I found your blog. I can't wait to get my mail center together! Thanks Tiffany
ReplyDeleteI started an excel spreadsheet for bills
ReplyDeleteWe started meal planning for lunches every day to take to work - it's awesome so far! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this blog! I feel like I am drowning under paper: receipts, recipes, school papers *5 kids worth*, and mail! My bills, I immediately stick in my purse to pay them, but its the other stuff (do I keep, do I throw away??) that has me going crazy! Can't wait to use your ideas to get the place organized! Misti
ReplyDeleteI started meal planning more, which will save us money in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI got financially organized by using the debit card less and cash more! I am a follower!
ReplyDeleteMeal planning is our way of spending less. It helps us to eat in more which is way cheaper than ordering out!
ReplyDeleteI've spent the last two weekends organising my receipts and budget into a folder and writing up my expenses, bills, budget etc. I feel so organised!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally getting on the ball here with the organizing! I am trying to start from the top and get my life in order!
ReplyDeleteI paid off all the doctor bills & co-pays my husband let rack up. Also paidoff old bills & debt, so I feel debt free for the most part!
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! I just found out about your blog through Pinterest and love what I've read so far. Its fresh and unique. :) I am in the process of organizing my bedroom/home office (which is where I spend most of my time since I have roommates.)so I am always on the lookout for great ideas to make things more efficient.
ReplyDeleteNatasha
My husband created an Excel spreadsheet that has worked out really well for us. I am able to keep track of "extra" spending and we can set future saving goals by tracking our current spending habits. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteWe use Dave Ramsey's budget spreadsheets each month! :)
ReplyDeleteannanichols84@gmail.com
We use Quicken to categorize expenses and budget.
ReplyDeleteStacey(dot)churchill(at)gmail(dot)com
We figured out what our house goals for the year were this month and are working towards refinancing our house!
ReplyDeleteI use the MoneyBook app on my iPad, but I think I would like mint.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm using the PocketMonkey app on my iPhone. I use Mint.com too - but not a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteleelpatterson(at)gmail(dot)com
This is just what I need to organize my life. I tried out mint.com this month.
ReplyDeletemike69361@gmail.com
I need to get organized. I have a lot of ideas, but have been too lazy to do them! =/
ReplyDeleteWorking on refinancing our house to reduce the monthly payment by reducing the interest rate. Also trying to pay off small bills first then use that money each money for bigger debt like student loans.
ReplyDeleterct816@yahoo.com
I scheduled a budget meeting (as suggested by Dave Ramsey) and my husband and I reevaluated our spending categories, found a new budget spreadsheet that automatically calculates the budgeted versus actual spending and filled out our feb/mar budget! We are trying to decide if I should stay home permamently with the kids after this years' 1 year parental leave and so we have to get our finances nailed down! So excited for the giveaway because I LOVE THE ERIN CONDREN stuff! Thanks for all your help...I love your blog!:)
ReplyDeleteMy fiance and I sat down with our wedding spreadsheet and hashed out our entire budget. This week we are working on our monthly budgets and creating a plan for cutting unnecessary expenses. I always drag my feet on things like this, but once they are done it feels soo good.
ReplyDeleteI've been using Dave Ramsey's budget spreadsheets, and have started using a Meal Planning app!
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the pageonce.com that you told us about, so awesome! We've also gotten back into using mint.com more regularly.. Hopefully we can keep this up!
ReplyDeleteWe have started using mint.com!
ReplyDeleteLove it :)
I just discovered your website and i honestly am reading EVERYTHING I can on your site as well as your Pinterest stuff. It's amazing! i've been wanting to get organized for YEARS!
ReplyDeleteI am setting up a Home Management Binder, thanks to you :), and we are thinking of starting up with mint.com. I really think that the binder may be more helpful for us though because I tend to be more accountable to an object that I have to look at everyday... so if it sits on my desk and glares at me perhaps I'll stick to our budget a little better! I'm so excited about the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteThis month I'm attempting a workspace reorg & home management binder. Good luck right? I'm a follower now. Great blog & thanks for doing this. Love Erin Condren!
ReplyDeleteMonnique.Arnold@gmail.com
We made a budget chart on excel and I also organize all of our receipts in a small accordion file folder.
ReplyDelete