My family income is quite high, yet there never seems to be enough money left over, our retirement fund is the only account that we seem to be able to keep growing, where as everything else seems to fall to the way side.
Between our grocery bills and our utilities there seems to be nothing left over. I want to stop spending so much money so that we can retire early, we are in our late twenties and only have 1.5 years left to pay on our mortgage. But I fear that our bad money habits will leave is sitting in the same prediciment, even with the extra money we will have with out having to pay a mortgage any more.
My goal is to retire in 15 years. I have a plan for what I want to do then, but my spending problems, my budget problems are standing between me and heaven.
Can some one please point me in the right direction?

Have you ever sat down with a financial planner and worked out a good budget and a retirement plan?

I actually enjoy being frugal. My sister and I compete on the subject (I think she wins.. )

You need to think hard about it and form a new mindset in order to change your habits. Whether it's the specific goals you have for 15 years from now, or living a Thoreau's Walden or Buddhist simple existence, or consuming less of the planet, or finding meaning in having fewer possessions and wolfing down fewer restaurant meals and lattes on the run, form an idea of why you are going to start budgeting and saving.

The second part is easy - budget ledger, expense plan, savings account you won't touch, maybe a long term instrument and a solid stock that has always paid pretty good dividends that you can accrue.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Have you ever sat down with a financial planner and worked out a good budget and a retirement plan?

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I talk to my bank about my retirement plan every 3-4 months, we some times up the amount I put in, some times we lower it.

My over all spending is what's driving me banana's I don't know where I can cut costs with out sacrificing too much

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Originally Posted by joypulv

I actually enjoy being frugal. My sister and I compete on the subject (I think she wins..)

You need to think hard about it and form a new mindset in order to change your habits. Whether it's the specific goals you have for 15 years from now, or living a Thoreau's Walden or Buddhist simple existence, or consuming less of the planet, or finding meaning in having fewer possessions and wolfing down fewer restaurant meals and lattes on the run, form an idea of why you are going to start budgeting and saving.

The second part is easy - budget ledger, expense plan, savings account you won't touch, maybe a long term instrument and a solid stock that has always paid pretty good dividends that you can accrue.

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Can you tell me how to be frugal? Lol I think that's where I am having the most difficulty.

I'm sure there are ways you can tighten your belt and give up things you think are necessary but really aren't. Is there a local CPA you could meet with to work out a budget?