Frugal Framnett

Metrics as in measurements.

Most everyone has a number of financial metrics well in hand. Paycheck, savings accounts, and accounts we owe on. If someone owes us money most are good at keeping track of that. In addition, we are pretty good at knowing what banks of money we have or at least the banks in which we store our wealth are good at letting us know.

However, you may notice your banks of money do not grow. They may stay even or they may even shrink, especially when considered with accounts to which you owe money to.

So, we usually have a good idea on income. We usually have a good idea of our stores. The missing key is having good measurement of our sinks and our cash outflows.

I had a similar problem. I was gaining weight. I tried to cut back on food here and food there, but it did not seem to ever be enough. Problem was, I was not tracking my caloric intake and as is usually the case the intake was greater than the output.

Now, when I started to track my caloric intake I started to lose weight. Notice, I have not yet mentioned caloric output. To be sure, when I started tracking my caloric intake I was more active (I am more physically active during the winter) but even during the summer weight was coming off.

The key with weight management is balancing input calories with output calories. So too with financial management – balancing the income with the expenditures is key.

How much do you spend? Be honest, I bet you do not know do you? ‘Ts okay, we do not have a very firm grasp on that either. In only one budget category do I have a handle on our expenses (other than utility bills) and that is gasoline.

In this category I hope to encourage the sharing of ideas to help us track and measure our expenditures

Welcome to Frugal Framnett.

I have taken to reading frugality blogs, which contain some good ideas and attitudes. The number one attitude I see many express is they are bound and determined to save money and minimize expenditures and some of them even confess they are by nature less than frugal or downright extravagant.

Those of you who know me know I can be that way. I appreciate the finer things in life. I prefer and appreciate a $100.00 bottle of brandy to a $15.00. I prefer and appreciate a $225.00 box of havanas (I have not had a genuine havana since leaving the Middle East) over a swisher sweet, and so on.

However, my income is more suited to the $15.00 bottle and swisher sweets, especially when put up against the other priorities in our life (I include Lorie in this of course).

I hope to put you on top of good ideas to save money as well as motivate myself to Save more, spend less, and avoid being ripped off!