Welcome to Bossy’s Poverty Party, an online support group for reining in spending, getting your finances in order, and climbing out of debt. Everyone basically knows what steps to take, but it is nearly impossible to climb that mountain alone.
So every day nearly every day over the next year, Bossy will use this space to report her spending and missteps, along with cheap recipes, savings tips, and suggested tricks and goals.
Anyway. This is Bossy’s first official day of the rest of her financial life. It’s
7 a.m. and here’s how it’s going so far: Bossy’s husband forgot to look at their accounts over the weekend to get an overview of what they owe. Because = dysfunction.
And why, you’re wondering, didn’t Bossy look at those accounts herself over the weekend to tabulate their debt? Because = dysfunction.
Here’s the truth: Bossy and her husband have traded the task of bill-paying and finances back and forth over the years, mostly back. It’s been quite a while since Bossy has been in direct contact with bills, mostly because they are no longer bills you can rip with your very own hands, but rather online accounts. Ew.
So let this be Bossy’s first lesson: in order to climb out of debt, you must know exactly what kind of debt you are in. Goal number one: sit down with your significant other (if you have one) and discuss the use of terms such as “significant other”. When you are done, make a list of your credit cards and any other monthly expenditures such as loans. Then take that list and contact each company and determine each balance. Bookmark these online accounts because you will be frequenting these sites.
Bossy will be doing the same thing today, and when Bossy says she will be doing it she means her husband, because Bossy can’t be expected to change all at once. But she’ll sit down with her husband later this evening and go over each amount and learn how to access the balances online, because when you leave something wholly in the hands of a significant other, you are removing yourself from the process, and therefore can remain less urgent. No more.
Meanwhile, speaking of the man and his weekend, Bossy’s husband saw her pair of boots and raised her One Toro Lawnmower.
This whole spending thing brings to mind that scene in Planes Trains and Automobiles where John Candy and Steve Martin are railing 80 miles-per-hour down the wrong side of the interstate. With a parka wrapped around the eyes.
The lawnmower was a Home Depot end-of-season sale, and it’s not new, but re-tooled — and if you didn’t know Home Depot sold used things, Bossy didn’t either.
Or maybe Bossy has it wrong because when Bossy’s husband began talking about the new lawn mower, Bossy was all, zzzzzzzzzzz. This will have to change because the new lawnmower was $100.
Check below for the list of blogs already participating in the Poverty Party. And don’t forget to comb the comment section for links to entertaining Poverty posts across the web.
My Name is Cat says
October 13, 2008 at 10:11 amHere is my first Poverty Party Post.
http://mynameiscat.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-get-lot-of-catalogs-and-although-i.html
Drew says
October 13, 2008 at 10:17 amYikes. He raised you a lawnmower. I am interested to see who gets more use out of their ‘unplanned purchase.’ Although I have to say that it seems his purchase was a bit more premeditated. Perhaps you should identify who let your husband on to the secret of Home Depot and their retooling. Sneaky, if you ask me.
Oh, to see my Poverty adventure for the day, check out:
http://anotherkindofdrew.com/blog/2008/10/13/do-you-name-take-this-debt/
David says
October 13, 2008 at 10:48 amOh Bossy, you don’t know how much your debt is?
THAT has ME drinking gin out of the cat bowl.
LeahBear says
October 13, 2008 at 11:09 amLawnmowers! Bah! I vote for Virginia Creeper that you never have to mow!
Here’s is my blog’s introduction to Bossy’s Poverty Party.
LeahBear says
October 13, 2008 at 11:10 amOops, no html in the comments! Here you go: http://wherearethebears.blogspot.com/2008/10/bossys-poverty-party.html
Mrs. G. says
October 13, 2008 at 11:32 amI do not envy Bossy and Bossy’s husband’s rendezvous at the kitchen table tonight. Bring the cat bowl.
My first two luxuries to go are posted here:
http://derfwadmanor.blogspot.com/2007/10/building-nest-egg.html
Maggie Garcia says
October 13, 2008 at 11:51 amI’m sure his boots weren’t as fabulous or deserved. Posting about Poverty today!!
http://nannygarcia.blogspot.com/2008/10/poverty-party.html
Little Miss Sunshine State says
October 13, 2008 at 1:04 pmWe ditched the credit cards a few years ago. We each have a debit card tied to the checking account. VW puts my husbands spiffs and such on a card. If we go out to eat, it is usually on that card.
We know every cent that leaves the checking account on a daily basis.
A Poverty Party needs Cake!
http://littlemisssunshinestate.blogspot.com/2008/10/poverty-party-needs-cake.html
APeetsMom says
October 13, 2008 at 1:34 pmPosted Poverty Party Post #1. Am considering giving up wine to save money, but maybe I’ll just not purchase any new wine glasses for now and switch to the cat bowl method! Oi.
APeetsMom says
October 13, 2008 at 1:35 pmDid not do that correctly I guess! Try this?
http://coffeeteasodapoppeets.blogspot.com/2008/10/poverty-party-post-1.html
Emma says
October 13, 2008 at 5:00 pmSince October 15th (just two days away) is Blog Action Day (http://blogs.brocknet.net/eriepressible/?p=1887), and since this year’s theme is Poverty, I’m going to start my Poverty Posts on October 15th.
It’s an excellent idea, Bossy. Thank you for starting this.
Sparx says
October 13, 2008 at 5:42 pmWell, no post done on this yet but I did take two bags of clothes to the charity shop today. I have no idea why clearing out clothes is going to help me get out of debt… need to think that one through. I think it’s because the phrase ‘cutting back’ is permeating my life. Time to go analyse my debt. I think I need to look at my bank balance now (I have avoided this for several months… ok, since March).
dexter says
October 13, 2008 at 5:54 pm$100 for a lawnmower is a GREAT deal!! I bought a high end toro for $750 2 years ago then my ear dr told me no more power tools. My neighbors really enjoy using my mower while I pay $175 a month for a service. Now I sit in the window like a bubble boy watching everybody cut the grass. How very very sad
Cage Free Family says
October 13, 2008 at 5:54 pmBossy commented on CFFs site and I giggled with more delight than I did when I was the most forwarded article for the New York Times.
Also, exclaimed, “I feel like a celebrity!” followed by more giggles… didn’t do that for the other media coverage either.
I heart Bossy
Holly says
October 13, 2008 at 8:50 pmGet Quicken. Ditch the pencil and paper. It is worth the investment. Trust me!
BH says
October 13, 2008 at 9:25 pmThe Facts:
Toro Recycler 20066
Rated Consumer reports Best Buy
Lawnmower Retail = $350
ReConditioned Mower marked $225
Offer to HD for said Mower = $100
Home Depot agrees.
’nuff said
BH
The Great Getzby says
October 13, 2008 at 11:33 pmOkay hold up
now i KNOW y’all didn’t go get a new lawnmower AFTER my hellish summer of fighting hand-to-hand combat with the wilderness next door.
that shit is COLD.
Cactus Petunia says
October 13, 2008 at 11:39 pmHere’s my bright idea for getting out of debt quick…I’ll let you know how it goes.
http://buenosburritos.blogspot.com/2008/10/get-out-of-debt-in-one-easy-step-or-not.html
Deborah Non Blogger says
October 13, 2008 at 11:41 pmPoverty Party = a way of making the breadline sound like fun!
I’m in…in my lurking little way. It is true, the old saying. Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves.
..or as Mr Micawber would say-
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.”
cog says
October 13, 2008 at 11:46 pmAnd now for something completely different: My attempt at conformity.
http://www.drivingtheflies.com/?p=658
No boots or lawnmowers were harmed in the making of this comment.
Blackbeard's Wyfe says
October 14, 2008 at 9:33 amWhoa Bossy!!!!
Before we get too too carried away with all this “On the Road to Stop Bein’ Poor”… lets consult some experts. I’m an all about reading about it, thinking about it, thinking some more, …….maybe actually dip my toe in the water to test it out. High atop the recommended reading list…..
The Tightwad Gazette. (She would approve of the lawnmower)
Alexandra says
May 12, 2009 at 6:57 amWhat a great blog. Good idea! Avoiding peer pressure is a big one. I shop at Aldis, and when I mentioned it to a friend I might as well have told her I dig in dumpsters. She’s married, I’m not. It’s just me. I save about 50% on purchases there. I figure it’s my money, my future. I’ve also started learning about what I’ve always hated, dreaded, had no interest in ~ investing. Picked up a great book by Dave Ramsey, got all my paperwork in order, and took off with it. I have deductions taken out of my pay that goes directly into two three retirement accounts and a savings account now. Sure, I wish I had the money to spend, but…..
Alexandra