Dependency: Money

[GetsThingsDone]

Hey Guys,

I just started with GTD and I love it. While processing my list I realized that money is a dependency of some tasks, like "renovate apartment" or "buy new fridge".

How do process stuff like this?

[GetsThingsDone]

Sorry, I don't get the meaning. Can you elaborate, please?

[mcgeek]

Hey Guys,

I just started with GTD and I love it. While processing my list I realized that money is a dependency of some tasks, like "renovate apartment" or "buy new fridge".

How do process stuff like this?

Hi Cotton178,

This is a great question. I can share the way that I handle things that are 'pending' due to money.

If there is something that I know I am going to be able to be purchase in the near future because there is money coming in on a certain date to pay for it, then I would do the following. Say I had to buy a ski jacket. I would create a calendar reminder for myself on the day the money comes in that says "Money is coming in today to buy ski jacket." I then might throw it in my errands list if I know exactly where I am getting that jacket. If I have to do research on the jacket or if there were another step to finalize this purchase, then I would make it a new project and pull out my first action.

If the situation was one in which I didn't know when the money was coming in, then I would put purchasing a ski jacket on my Someday/Maybe list. Since you will look at this list during your weekly review, you will be reminded that it is a desirable purchase once the money shows up. I even have a sub-category under my Someday/Maybe list called "Purchases" that helps me remember what I want to put my money toward in the future.

I hope this is helpful! Keep up the great work.

[GetsThingsDone]

If the situation was one in which I didn't know when the money was coming in, then I would put purchasing a ski jacket on my Someday/Maybe list. Since you will look at this list during your weekly review, you will be reminded that it is a desirable purchase once the money shows up. I even have a sub-category under my Someday/Maybe list called "Purchases" that helps me remember what I want to put my money toward in the future.

So simple, but so good. Thank you very much, mcgeek!

[artsinaction]

Last year, my husband and I decided to try out a financial course that's advertised on the radio (Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University... John, if I shouldn't mention it by name, go ahead and edit it out.). It's an inexpensive 13-week course that covered all of the major financial areas including budgeting for "renovate apartment" or "buy new fridge". I can't recommend the course enough, especially if you're in debt or you need to save for things like a college education.

Basically, you make a list of the things you want to buy, and each month, after you've paid off all your bills, you apply what's left over to one thing or another. You keep doing this month after month until things are paid off.

Once you've accumulated the money, then it becomes a project like any other that goes on your projects list.

I hope that helps a little.

Dena

[GetsThingsDone]

It's an inexpensive 13-week course that covered all of the major financial areas including budgeting for "renovate apartment" or "buy new fridge". I can't recommend the course enough, especially if you're in debt or you need to save for things like a college education.

That sounds very interesting, but 13 weeks? How much time a day does it take?

Once you've accumulated the money, then it becomes a project like any other that goes on your projects list.

Yes. When I have the money, I will start a project

Thanks for the tips, Dena. I will definitely check out that financial course!

[artsinaction]

There are lists of group leaders in your geographic area (usually lots of them, depending on where you are), so you sign up with one online. Then once a week for 2 hours for 13 weeks you meet up to watch a 1-hour video with discussion before and after. You never have to discuss your personal financial situation unless you choose to. There's a book and workbook that go with the program and each week they ask that you read a chapter. That's it. There are secular (non-religious) groups and Christian-centered groups, depending on what you'd like. The material is the same... there are a handful of Bible verses cited in the latter. The whole course (which is really the cost of the materials) is just over $100, I think... for the whole 13 weeks. The people that lead these groups are volunteers. And it's really good information. Oh, and you also get audio CDs of all of the videos, and you and anyone in your immediate family can repeat the course as many times as you wish free of charge.

Since we completed the course, we have received maybe 5 or 6 emails from the company and no one has called to tried to sell us other services or rope us into anything. And that, frankly, surprised me. It was well worth our time and effort.

Hope that helps!

Dena

[Suelin23]

Do you do a cash flow budget to work out when in future you will be able to afford things?

[GetsThingsDone]

There are lists of group leaders in your geographic area (usually lots of them, depending on where you are), so you sign up with one online.

I'm from Germany. It doesn't seem like this is available here.

There's a book and workbook that go with the program and each week they ask that you read a chapter. That's it.

Would you say, I can do this as a home stury course by myself, just using the video, audio & workbook?

Thanks Dena for your info.

Do you do a cash flow budget to work out when in future you will be able to afford things?

No. Never done something like that. But seems like I should organize my finances and some stuff. Got any advice for a newbie? Should be simple and fast to learn, since I don't have the time to do much right now.

[artsinaction]

I'm from Germany. It doesn't seem like this is available here.

That's too bad! I found one of his books translated into German on the amazon.de website, though: http://www.amazon.de/Total-Money-Mak...1089546&sr=8-2 I think that's as close as we might be able to get.

Good luck!

Dena