saving

[mrsbrown]

Hmmm... finally organised the finances.

I worked out a projected savings plan in Feb, until the end of July. We were supposed to have saved $4000 by now. We only managed $1000.

I need to work out a different method, this one sucks. A new method is particularly important, since I will be getting an extra $300 per month since I paid off HECS.

WAIT!!! I paid my HECS in advance, from my saving fund - that means we actually saved $2500, with a goal of $4000. I feel much better.

I'm thinking about getting hold of a diferent budgeting program - The stuff I'm trying to do with my excel spreadsheet is hurting my brain (multiple imaginary accounts in my home loan account) Does anybody out there use a freeware/opensource program that does the job?

Comments

[vonstrassburg.livejournal.com]

gnucash.

I think it might already be on your fedora box.
look under office.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I recommend gnucash as well (application-finances on my box, but I'm using Mandrake).

With budgeting I keep track of everything I spend on a daily basis. I have a 'utopian' objective (i.e., this is possible) and then I usually downgrade it half that amount for purposes of realism.

Ditto for writing or any other project.

This "A realistic projection is 50% of a ideal one" seems to be disturbingly accurate. In fact, I think I'm going to coin it "tcpip's heurism".

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

Based on your heurism, I/we have done exceptionally well - more than 50% of projected savings in 6 months.

Thanks!