My Financial Life

We are diving into 2011 headfirst and it's been a busy start to the year already. First though I will share some observations from how we got through the holiday season.

Presents have never really been a big spending problem for us. We usually set a limit based on financial situation and have been really good at sticking to those limits. Same process for this year as we stuck to our gift budget pretty well (actually, probably better than ever), it just happened that all the other expenses seemed to add up more than usual.

We had one major expense that we had been putting off and it finally caught up to us right before the holidays, taking some of the wind out of our sails. We needed to replace the tires on our car, as all 4 were pretty worn out and with the winter weather and travel we needed to do we could no longer wait to replace them. We shopped around for a good price for a good set of tires and spent a few days researching and seeking advice on quality and finally finding a set we could afford and would also be safe.

$500 during a time of year where most of us are spending more money anyway can throw things for a loop. It didn't break us, but it didn't help either.

We also hosted an annual Christmas party for family and friends and even though party guests are always generous in bringing things to share we tacked on some extra expenses to our grocery bill (the white whale in our budget). The other major budget snafu was our restaurant or dining out spending. I've justified the reasons why we spent more in the last couple months of the year; it still doesn't mean that I'm happy with it. We had the best intentions to sticking with our weekly menu and grocery list and then life gets in the way. Running errands, sick kids, long work nights, classes, and really anything that took up more time than we anticipated and when that happens we too often opted for the easy route of grabbing some fast food or stopping at a restaurant.

These are the kinds of things that can get ignored when planning a budget, especially around the hectic holidays. Things happen and then your mind convinces you to balance out the hectic times with doing something easy to get caught up and often times it's your budget that if affected most. More discipline and better planning in the future will hopefully prevent this from happening in the future.

And yes, once again I think our priority will be containing our grocery and dining out budget, for a whole 12 months this year. We did pretty well, but had some hiccups every now and then. We will try and solve this by eliminating some of the reasons we went over in the first place. Personally, I was going out for fast food lunch more often. One reason was because I could only eat so many turkey sandwiches in a week and I would run to get a meal that was easy and different. This means I will try and make sure I have a lunch meal for the entire week and to mix it up a bit so I'm not tempted to go get something else.

Now that I confessed my financial hiccups that ended 2010, I might as well confess what may be my first questionable move of 2011. It happened so fast, but I guess that's how love works. It was Friday afternoon and I was looking forward to a weekend where we didn't have anywhere to go and more importantly nothing to purchase. That was until my wife came home and showed me a picture on her phone. Less than 24 hours later I had a cute little thing that was obsessed with licking my face and cuddling with me. We were the proud owners of an 8 week old Yellow Labrador. The puppy itself was free, but we all know nothing is free and a short trip to the pet store for supplies definitely proved that. Once again, we justified all the reasons why we could get the puppy and glossed over all the reasons why we couldn't. Time was also not on our side as we had to make a quick decision or the opportunity would pass.

There have been plenty of times in this section where you can learn from my examples and I'm sure this is one of those times. If I was writing an article I would tell you how it's important to do your research and comb through your budget to make sure you can afford everything that comes with a new pet. With that said, we love our new addition and are excited to share our experiences with her in 2011.

Pioneer Credit Counseling is a bonded, non-profit credit counseling agency offering debt management programs, financial counseling, bankruptcy counseling and housing counseling nationwide. Call our friendly counselors today at 800-888-1596 or visit www.pioneercredit.com.

Our accredited credit counselors will help you take control of your financial life and get out of debt faster than you can on your own. We offer a debt management program that will stop the collections calls, lower your monthly payment and provide you peace of mind. Our pre and post bankruptcy counselors provide an easy process for you so you can focus on rebuilding your financial being.

It is our policy at Pioneer Credit Counseling not only to help people get out of debt, but also educate in sound budgeting practices.

Pioneer Credit Counseling can help you get out of debt faster. Find out how through one of our Debt Management | Debt Management Programs | Credit Counseling | Financial Counseling | Housing Counseling | Bankruptcy Counseling | Financial Educational Materials

Apply for Debt Management Program Today!

Choose your state below...

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington Wisconsin Wyoming

Pioneer Credit Counseling pioneer credit www.pioneercredit.com pioneercredit.com pioneercredit.com/ pioneercredit pioneer counseling pioneer credit card pioneer credit counseling services pioneer credit services pioner credit pioneer credit counseling rapid city www.pioneer-credit.com credit.com pioneer credit company online debt management program debt programs consumer debt management debt management help debt consolidation non profit online debt management debt management calculator debt counseling debt management solutions credit management solutions debt management non profit debt relief counseling credit counseling debt consolidation debt management solution consumer debt consolidation free from debt debt management counseling debt management service debt consolidation service credit debt counseling debt counselors debt management program non profit debt relief non profit debt consolidation debt management programs debt management debt management nonprofit debt services debt relief non profit credit debt management free debt counseling debt management budgeting free debt management free debt consolidation debt management plans debt management services debt management plan debt consolidation programs debt management credit counseling consumer credit consolidation debt relief programs debt consolidation debt consolidation services credit debt consolidation non profit debt management credit consolidation post bankruptcy counseling free counseling services consejeria credit counseling free bankruptcy counseling credit debt counselor non profit credit counseling credit debt help free credit counseling for bankruptcy consumer credit counseling credit counseling certificate pioneercreditcounseling.com www.pioneercredit.com/bankruptcy credit counselors financial counseling credit and debt counseling credit counseling services free credit counseling debt help consumer credit counseling service budget counseling family bonding free counselling services credit counseling agency credit counseling service online credit counseling for bankruptcy pre-bankruptcy counseling bankruptcy credit counseling debt counseling services credit counseling for bankruptcy online consumer credit debt consolidation pre bankruptcy counseling non profit debt counseling free financial counseling guarderia bankruptcy counseling consumer debt counseling free debt help housing counseling black hills children's ranch inc counseling debt debt payment credit counselor crisis counseling pioneer credit.com credit counseling for bankruptcy credit consolidation services consumer credit debt first time credit card credit counseling course credit debt counseling services pre bankruptcy credit counseling consumer credit management post bankruptcy course counseling free credit counseling services pioneer retail credit debt counselling services debt credit counseling debt help non profit bancarrota http://www.pioneercredit.com credit counselling financiera ayudamos non profit debt help help with debt credit help non profit debt consolidation program bankruptcy credit cards help debt free credit counseling certificate bankruptcy counseling free bankruptcy course consumer credit help personal debt management non profit debt management representative bankruptcy service credit pioneer credit counseling bankruptcy credit counseling program pre bankruptcy counseling certificate credit counseling company business debt help chapter 13 bankruptcy debt counseling service certified credit counselor debt counselling pcc online application non profit credit consolidation consumer credit counseling debt consolidation couseling credit debt services pioneer bankruptcy counseling post bankruptcy credit counseling bankruptcy debt counseling credit education consumer debt help pioneer credit agency consumer credit agency credit card counseling consumer counseling credit nonprofit credit counseling budgeting programs free credit counselor non profit consumer credit counseling online credit counseling free post bankruptcy counseling budget counseling credit non profit credit counseling services free online credit counseling for bankruptcy consumer credit counseling services free debt consolidation programs free consumer credit counseling pioneer help consumer credit online credit counseling certificate crisis counselor consumer counseling credit services educational seminars consumer credit services consumer credit counseling agency free bankruptcy credit counseling consumer counseling credit service consumer credit service