I LOVE March? Why? Because March equals spring time! Comes in with nasty weather, but out with perfect temperatures and sunshine. So, aside from the weather, why else might I love March? Because you have a chance to revamp your personal budget or look for new personal budget ideas!
Spring is so refreshing-especially if you live in a place that distinctly has all four seasons-like I do. Spring brings a lot of new things. Birds, for example. And sun. But, it also provides access to the outdoors!
I’ve talked about this in the past, but want to reemphasize the idea of working cheap or free activities into your scheduling. During the winter it’s hard to find things to do that don’t require paying for them. Going ice skating, snow boarding, to the movies, etc. However, when the weather is nice, you can change your personal budget for a few months to include a lower “entertainment” allotment.
It’s absolutely FREE to be outside! (I’m talking both monetarily and emotionally…don’t you just feel so good when you are out in nature?!). It can be very financially beneficial to plan on saving a little extra money during the warm seasons of the year.
I know I will be moving some funds from my “entertainment” and “misc” portions of my budget and putting them into the “savings” and “investment” portions. Might as well save a big more while you can! And spring is a perfect excuse.
At the end of March my contract with T-Mobile will expire. I have to make a choice-renew my contract with them, which I have liked just fine, or switch to AT&T, which is what most of my family members have.
I have to be smart about this because there are a lot of factors to consider. One of the first principles of my personal budgeting plan is to look at the variables or an investment and make an educated decision. No snap purchases or switching carriers just because.
So, what are the variable?
First, we’ll start with STAYING with T-Mobile:
- My expenses will be the same as they have been in the past, so I won’t have to change my monthly budget.
- I will have to buy a new phone because my old one is completely toast…as in it turns off mid conversation-not just cuts off. The whole phone powers off. So, I’ll have to work the expenses of a new phone into my budget.
Now, what about switching to AT&T:
- I’ll have free mobile-to-mobile with the people I use the majority of my talk time for.
- I won’t have to buy a NEW phone, but will have to buy the software to convert my itouch to an iphone, which I’ll have to work into my budget.
- In switching to an iphone, my monthly expense for my phone will increase, so I’ll have to work that into my monthly budget as well.
- I would LOVE to have a working iphone.
There are obviously some positives and negatives on both sides. I currently have no idea which one to pick…
Spring is almost here! Today I’m even wearing a skirt and a short sleeved shirt. And flip flops! Which are my favorite things, by the way. So, what’s my favorite part about spring (besides the sunshine, hikes up the mountains, spring clothes, almost summer…) is the YARD SALES!
Talk about a personal budgeting idea. Shop at yard sales! I have found some of the best deals at yard sales. Granted, you have to pick some quality spots in order to get items that don’t have three legged chairs or a teddy bear without eyes. Shopping around for the best deal still applies.
The beauty of yard sales is that you can get some quality fixer-upper items that are about 10 times less expensive than something similar that’s brand new.
It’s just and idea. I love to find deals-probably because I’m such a money hoarder-but if you love to save money, but still get good, quality items, yard sales might be just what you’re looking for!