Hey I’m a long time follower on my personal account. You’ve been such a huge inspiration. I really love my job but once I had my kid I didn’t care about it that much lol hoping I can get to a similar place as you ❤ but about hosting I agree with others, a sinking fund would probably be best esp as you approach holidays. I feel like there’s a lot more hosting during the holidays and even if you’re not hosting you’re bringing a dish to someone else’s house so more spent on groceries in general

We do budget billing for electricity. Ours they can adjust every 3 months but it's usually like 6-9 months. Currently we owe a few hundred extra so I'm waiting for the increase any day now.

I would not do budget billing for electricity. I ended up with a 800 balance that we had to pay! Take the higher bills as they come...helps me to keep on top of our use!

I do budget billing as well for my electric i live in California so i pay 2 companies 1 for electric and the other for gas and hot water i pay 1 bill for 6 months or so depending on the weather so for example right now im paying $100 a month on my gas bill till Nov or Dec i have a $500 credit built up to cover me for Winter/Spring come January i will start paying electric again $100 a month which im currently using whatever credit i have left that covered me for Summer/Fall till June of next year 😊

Hi Lauren. I keep a separate sinking fund for "holidays and hosting". That covers holidays we host as well as money to host for other occasions. I put $65 a month in that fund. We host Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. But we also like to contribute to Easter if someone else hosts. We also use that for Halloween candy and at the end of the year my hubby and I treat ourselves to a sushi dinner for NYE because that was the day we met, so I use whatever is left in that sinking fund towards that purpose. Great budget. Hope you and the fam are enjoying fall! 🙂

Hi Lauren, great job.

Do you include 401(k) and employer match towards pay yourself first category?

If you’re hosting monthly or every other month I’d just keep it in grocery, as your family will use the left overs/extra supplies. Keeps it simple. I love the Legally Blonde reference😍

Great video! Glad I found your channel

You should look to see if your current lender will adjust your rate down. Its cheaper than doing a full refinance

Where do you put postage or cost of mailing things in your budget? I’m always struggling with that.

We do budget billing, it's nice to just have the same amount all year especially if income is generally consistent. With everything being more expensive though we've found there is generally a balance you have to pay at the end of the year cycle but still worth it for us.

What are your income sources?

I feel you, Lauren. I've been so sick for basically a month. Started with a cold/flu thing for two weeks and somehow managed to get a gastrointestinal bug right after. It's been horrible. I hope you continue to get better and are 100% soon.

I like to know the exact numbers I'm working with every month so I do level billing for my utilities and it works well. This year we did go over the estimated amount so had to make an additional payment of about $350, but I guess that's not bad considering both our heat and cooling is electric.

📊 Get the Budget Dashboard!: tidd.ly/3EFq9ho

I would do a sinking fund for hosting! That way the money is there when you need it and you’re not discouraged from hosting just because of the extra cost.

Excited for whatever you have in store! All the best!🎉

Johnson Mark Anderson Jessica Miller Kevin

Great video! Thank you for sharing. I bet the phone bill has part of the bill going to those deals where you get the phone with the plan, and pay off the phone over the contract.

Do you ever give this kind of advice for people who are not struggling? Just have a lot of goals and feeling pulled in so many directions

I am 51. "Worked for the Man." Saved between 10 & 15% of salary. Her advice is very good. Biggest challenge most will have with their investment savings are a home purchase and college education. Don't let these drain your investments. Very challenging life events and very tempting to stop contributing to buy a home or pay for college. Other factors is you will see a lot of other people with new cars and fancy vacations. I'm now seeing their spending come back to bite them in the later years. Don't compare to others. Keep focused on what you need to do to hit your goals. Sometimes that means keeping blinders on...

Y’all make great money but those justified purchases add up for sure

FYI something you might want to consider for next year is probably using cash backs from credit cards as Christmas savings. I have accumulated already over $600 will cash it out in December and using it for presents 🙌🏽

Moore Betty Taylor Shirley Smith Kimberly

Have your long term goals been shifting lately? You’ve previously mentioned wanting to pay off the debt before the kids start school, looking to FIRE, and have additional savings to help the kids with school/life events but it seems like spending isn’t in line with this? - buying the house in the market you did 😭 - 2400 a year on birthdays/Christmas 😯 - Splurging on brand new furniture and decor, doing home projects, and wanting to save 10K+ because there’s some dirt in the backyard (girl we’ve been in our house 7 years and have done nada because we also have those aforementioned goals - if it’s your long term home what’s the rush? Ya home decor has a budget line item but 529 doesn’t 😜). All of that is money that could be used to pay off debt or invest in you/the kids eh? Just curious if that’s changed or you have more longer term plans, like expecting income to significantly increase to offset that. At the end of the day everyone has their own priorities. I appreciate the raw and realness of sharing so openly!

$500 in public school fees? What are the fees for? Just curious, in NJ we have super high property taxes but no separate public school fees.

I feel like this is an example of just because you make more money doesn't mean you're using it wisely

Would you mind sharing the link to your pan set?

Your current Emergency Fund would cover you for less than 2 months of expenses. Your mortgage is 40% of your income. Hoping for a refi to bring the payment to $4k/mo only cuts it to 36% of your income. Your expenses arent crazy at all, I think you might be putting too much into sinking funds. $250/mo for bday & gifts? (Thats $30k over 10yrs) Ehh… here is your “refi” opportunity right here. Earlier vids show $200wk for grocery + $100 takeout/sweet treat. Trim $100 to $50, and there is $200. Cut Car/Home Maintenance/trim bDay, = $900ish/mo to EF and aggressively build your EF up to $20k. Large home/car repairs are emergencies, just pull from that. The same way Medical doesnt have any money, if there is an emergency just pull from EF. Home decor should not be in here on a matter of principle, regardless of the fact it’s only $87. If you want to decorate, that should come out of your individual spending. Anyway, should be easy to build EF to $20k in 6-8 months. Then take the $800/mo (hopefully more if you cut some other categories) and throw that into a brokerage account. Index funds, TDF, etc. And… are you contributing to retirement pre tax thru work?

We are millionaires and yet my husband buys everything second hand on ebay and facebook marketplace. I think living the way that we do is what got us here in our early 30s. I didn’t always have his mindset but now I do and because of it, we have achieved financial freedom so early. In your situation, you could have saved hundreds as a lot of people buy things and use them one time before they get rid of them. So you can find some great deals.

I think it is esthetic because we do not have to see everything visually buts easily accessible! I keep everything in bins and baskets too and to me it super visually appealing! Our good obsession!

That mortgage payment is monstrous!!! 🤯😭 hoping interest rates go down so you can refinance

What is your return rate? If your not shooting for 18%+ return rate on yearly basis you ain’t making that much

A treadmill is the best choice when you have small kids! Sign up for a half or whole marathon! 😅

Are you buying household items at BJ’s? Also, what items are included in this category? That seems really high for your family size.

Running in the treadmill as I’m watching, and I totally agree that having a treadmill is worth it. I wouldn’t workout nearly as much if I couldn’t do it from home 😊

Inflation is hurting all of us. Life was definitely better 4 years ago. Our savings were a lot better and our money went a lot further even though we made less.

great taste on the DR - - a place to sit & eat comfortably with our loved ones - is a need.... also the beauty you will enjoy looking at it every day/ cleaning it ... creating a lovely home is a daily quality of life pleasure :)

Fingers crossed you can refinance the mortgage soon 🤞 getting that payment down would definitely give you more breathing room in your budget!

This is probably a dumb question, where is the money? For example, your girls funds for Christmas and car maintenance is this all in one checking account? Or are these in separate accounts?

I think you should’ve looked on craigslist for a treadmill, chairs, and a table. Could’ve got them a lot cheaper and they would’ve lasted you three or four years to your completely paid off and you could’ve went out and bought what you wanted. People are giving away treadmills because they don’t wanna move them. Could’ve went to your local Home Depot and rented their truck for $75 and went and picked up the tables and chairs and deliver them to your house. As far as a brad nailer, you probably could’ve went to the local pawnshop and got a used one much cheaper than buying new. Just something to think about.

Love the realness! We're in the same boat, just bought a home and we love it but the adjustment to higher mortgage is rough. It's worth it because we are giving our children the childhood we want them to have. We went over budget this month as well but it's OK because all of the purchases are improving our life or home. Keep sharing!

*Get the Budget Dashboard: tidd.ly/3EFq9ho

Thank you for sharing these tips!!!

Hey Lauren, How is the interest configured? Did I miss that part?

Either she stop or lowers the parent support … or she figures out how to do more hours or even better both

Who is your car insurance through?

Agree about your thyroid! I got a nodule removed and a couple months later bam I was pregnant

Why are you saving for retirement when you have debt?