Planning proves key for those on strict budget
By Bret Hayworth, Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, March 27, 2005
It might seem contradictory, but while Kimberly Logemann of Sioux City isn't handling much money on a monthly basis, she is a master at budgeting.
"I'm a good manager," she says. "But sometimes when something comes up that was not what you were planning in your budget, you are like, 'Yikes.'"
Logemann keeps a spiral notebook budget in which at the top she writes special nomenclature for her income, which is less than $600 many months, and planned expenses run down below. She "roughs it high" in estimating expenses, to be on the safe side, Logemann said. Hopefully she can get by on two tanks of gas a month, $40. And she is proud to say she owes not one dollar on a credit card.
"I don't have a cell phone, I don't have cable (television)," Logemann said. "It is a want, not a need."
Rosa Loza of Sioux City oversees about $21,500 annually for a family of six. She tracks the tight family budget on a computer. Said Loza, "You have to have a good administration. With the situation, you have to know where to spend the money and how much to spend... When we have so little money into the house, we have to be careful."
Coupons are the key for Sandra Little of Sioux City, who oversees budgeting for a family of seven. She makes the weekly $400 check of husband Russ Little stretch as far as possible.
"Sandy is a master of numbers, I tell you," said Russ Little with a chuckle. "I don't pretend to understand what goes on in the house, as far as budgets."
Said Sandra Little, "There is nothing wrong with being creative -- in the world, it will get you a long way. I have so many kids, so we can't go out to eat at restaurants." So she asks the kids what they want for meals, which she plans out well in advance -- and embellishes with nice features to make them seem special. "I try to give it a restaurant feel, so they feel like they are eating at a restaurant," Sandra Little said.
She pulls out the Journal each Wednesday and eagerly clips grocery store coupons. "I take it serious," she said. Sandra Little writes out a list of what sale items she will purchase at each of several stores in a shopping run, something that has impressed her grandma, who accompanies her. "If you can save three or four dollars at one store, save four or five at another, that is ten bucks," Russ Little said. "That is a lot of money, ten bucks," Sandra Little added.
Like Logemann, Sandra Little also estimates her income on the low side. Occasionally she's right, when Russ's paycheck isn't quite the $400 weekly they need. Bills sometimes are paid a few days late, but that is a cycle the Littles try to avoid. "You really have to buckle down and pay (bills), Sandra Little said. "If you miss one bill, you are screwed up for the next three weeks."
The Littles also carry no credit card debt. They wonder about families who make more money, have fewer kids, yet manage to rack up sizable credit card debt through a bit of high living. "That is people everywhere, they have credit card debt they'll never get out of," Sandra Little said.
Logemann, a 2001 Sergeant Bluff-Luton graduate, said it might seem tough, but she recommends that every struggling family set something aside for the future. The amount? Twenty dollars is her monthly goal; if not that, then even $5 dollars, she said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293-4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
"I'm a good manager," she says. "But sometimes when something comes up that was not what you were planning in your budget, you are like, 'Yikes.'"
Logemann keeps a spiral notebook budget in which at the top she writes special nomenclature for her income, which is less than $600 many months, and planned expenses run down below. She "roughs it high" in estimating expenses, to be on the safe side, Logemann said. Hopefully she can get by on two tanks of gas a month, $40. And she is proud to say she owes not one dollar on a credit card.
"I don't have a cell phone, I don't have cable (television)," Logemann said. "It is a want, not a need."
Rosa Loza of Sioux City oversees about $21,500 annually for a family of six. She tracks the tight family budget on a computer. Said Loza, "You have to have a good administration. With the situation, you have to know where to spend the money and how much to spend... When we have so little money into the house, we have to be careful."
Coupons are the key for Sandra Little of Sioux City, who oversees budgeting for a family of seven. She makes the weekly $400 check of husband Russ Little stretch as far as possible.
"Sandy is a master of numbers, I tell you," said Russ Little with a chuckle. "I don't pretend to understand what goes on in the house, as far as budgets."
Said Sandra Little, "There is nothing wrong with being creative -- in the world, it will get you a long way. I have so many kids, so we can't go out to eat at restaurants." So she asks the kids what they want for meals, which she plans out well in advance -- and embellishes with nice features to make them seem special. "I try to give it a restaurant feel, so they feel like they are eating at a restaurant," Sandra Little said.
She pulls out the Journal each Wednesday and eagerly clips grocery store coupons. "I take it serious," she said. Sandra Little writes out a list of what sale items she will purchase at each of several stores in a shopping run, something that has impressed her grandma, who accompanies her. "If you can save three or four dollars at one store, save four or five at another, that is ten bucks," Russ Little said. "That is a lot of money, ten bucks," Sandra Little added.
Like Logemann, Sandra Little also estimates her income on the low side. Occasionally she's right, when Russ's paycheck isn't quite the $400 weekly they need. Bills sometimes are paid a few days late, but that is a cycle the Littles try to avoid. "You really have to buckle down and pay (bills), Sandra Little said. "If you miss one bill, you are screwed up for the next three weeks."
The Littles also carry no credit card debt. They wonder about families who make more money, have fewer kids, yet manage to rack up sizable credit card debt through a bit of high living. "That is people everywhere, they have credit card debt they'll never get out of," Sandra Little said.
Logemann, a 2001 Sergeant Bluff-Luton graduate, said it might seem tough, but she recommends that every struggling family set something aside for the future. The amount? Twenty dollars is her monthly goal; if not that, then even $5 dollars, she said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293-4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
