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Anyone know of a place to get help setting up a budget?

red0427red0427 member
in Cincinnati Babies

DH and I have talked about this for a long time. We really need to get things on track and get out of the hole we ended up in when I was out of work. I'm not great with finances, but I'm really willing to work on it and so is he. However, we both think it would be much easier if we could sit down with someone that will help us work with our bills versus our paychecks.

Does anyone know of a place that does that? Not like a credit counselor that takes over your bills, you pay the CC and they pay the bills, but someone that will help us figure out how much we need to put toward each bill to get those that can be, paid off, pay everything else, and still have money to do things and put some away.

I've never been to one, but I'm assuming a financial planner would be pretty expensive? I know there are all kinds of books and websites that give examples, but I learn much easier by working one-on-one with someone.

Any suggestions?

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Re: Anyone know of a place to get help setting up a budget?

  • Ttimes3Ttimes3
    Could you maybe take a local seminar (like Dave Ramsey or something like that)?
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  • CintiCouponsCintiCoupons

    I am in no way a financial expert but I'm doing something right as we are debt free (except for our home). I wrote a series last year called Falling Out of Debt to help a few of my readers out and hope you take a look as well.

    First, pull your credit and dispute any issues. The company has 30 days to respond to your dispute and if they fail to do so the negative mark will be taken off your report (one less thing to pay). If there remains debt on your credit after 60 days call each company and negotiate a payment plan or pay it off if you can.

    Second, you need to begin looking at what you have coming in vs. coming out. Once you've established that, cut out the extras. Do you really need 300+ cable channels? Is the home phone necessary? If you own your cars (no car payment) maybe you don't need full coverage insurance. Look at ways that you can generate extra income whether it's research studies, having a garage sale, babysitting, using a trade to benefit after work hours, etc.

    Next, is credit cards. 1. Pay all ?secured debt? first. This includes mortgage and car payment(s). 2. Once the secured debt has been paid, pay the highest interest rates first with making as much as you can of an additional payment to pay the debt off quicker. 3. With the lowest interest rates pay the minimum payment.

    Savings is a huge one. If your employers offers a retirement plan get in on it now and max it out (it's FREE money!). Depending on your age, income and debt is the weighing factor in exactly how much you should be saving. For instance if you are in your 30's and have no savings you should be putting away about 25%.

    I know this is a lot at once so I'll stop here ;) If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a PM. 

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  • vollmasmvollmasm member
    I am about 75% of the way through Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and I love it.  I just really like the way he presents the process of how to get yourself out of debt.  It's very manageable.
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  • riabironriabiron member
    there are local agencies with HUD financial counselors that can help with that. i think you can google hud financial counselor. i think legal aid also has information on the agencies that have these.
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  • KristenBtobeKristenBtobe member

    https://www.smart-money.org/pages/SmartChange.html

     

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  • Lucky_N_LoveLucky_N_Love member
    i like mint.com for analyzing your spending habits.
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  • cat81305cat81305 member
    We used Primerica.  If you want a contact person let me know.  They don't pull your credit but they take all your bills and debts and put them into a program that shows you what you should be saving for retirement, etc... and what order you should pay off your debts and then it works in a snowball effect :)  We found out that we will be debt free including house in 10 years or less with the program!  You don't pay them anything and they do all this for you.  They do ask you to call for an auto quote and/or life insurance quotes and if you do sign up for something with them then they will continue to analyze for you in the future but if not then you still get your financial portfolio for free and it helps you along the way!  I will say their life insurance plans are awesome!  My insurance company could not compare to theirs!  Good luck!
    Our kids are 19mths apart and we LOVE it!!

    Married to my BFF on 8.13.05 (after dating 5 years)!

    DS born 2.14.08. DD born 9.30.09.

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