Budget check in

[achase123]

So I'm annoyed because I went over my grocery budget by $3.17 for his month. Oh well it was an improvement from last month.

I keep track of my "wants" ie unnecessary spending and I spent more than last month but most was on bday gifts for my BFF and my dad and a gc to thank our assistant plus coffee for our assistant so I feel like that's business expense related.

This month will be my best by far so I'm banking a lot of that and knocking down my cc debt. I look at that a bit like savings in reverse because the amount I can pay is flexible and its 0% interest until July 2016. So if I pay a lot during my good months I can pay less in leaner months.

I still need to beef up my savings to 6 months worth of living expenses.

Goals for this week are making it til Friday with only $4 in cash for groceries like bananas. I also need to meal plan for this month.

How's everyone else doing?

[bl]

I sat down yesterday with pantsoffdanceoff and went over my take home pay vs. my recurring monthly bills and figured out what I have left each month. I am taking that amount and dividing it by 3. 1/3 in savings, 1/3 on my credit card, and 1/3 for fun money. We talked about a few things that I am going to cut back to make sure I don't go over the 1/3 in fun money. I am also on a strict makeup/beauty spending freeze unless its a staple and I am out, no more until the next big Sephora sale in November. I would like to put even more in separate savings accounts for some big purchases I know are coming up this year, but need to see how this first month goes. I am starting small, so I don't get discouraged.

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I start Nutrisystem tomorrow, had a work lunch today, so I am using that as my reasoning for not going out to lunch anymore. Eating out after I have purchased groceries is always my budget buster but I told bl yesterday that I have 61 days until I leave for Italy so it is really time to start buckling down on my spending and my eating. I'm hoping to hit 2 goals at one time!

[tiffany81]

I feel like I'm going backwards. My sink faucet bit the dust last Thursday and poured water everywhere in my kitchen. It needs to be replaced. $200/faucet and $90-200 install. So I'm probably out a fast $350 (the plumber is coming tomorrow). And my gutters are clogged. The lowest quote I've gotten is $200 to clean them. I want to be a good homeowner but man, these little things add up fast.

[kanga1]

Apr 27, 2015 14:42:25 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

I feel like I'm going backwards. My sink faucet bit the dust last Thursday and poured water everywhere in my kitchen. It needs to be replaced. $200/faucet and $90-200 install. So I'm probably out a fast $350 (the plumber is coming tomorrow). And my gutters are clogged. The lowest quote I've gotten is $200 to clean them. I want to be a good homeowner but man, these little things add up fast.

Could you do the gutters yourself? I just did mine this weekend and it wasn't bad. A stepladder, a 5 gallon bucket and a little hand garden shovel thing were all I needed to get all the mud out....

[tiffany81]

Apr 27, 2015 15:24:07 GMT -5 kanga1 said:

Apr 27, 2015 14:42:25 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

I feel like I'm going backwards. My sink faucet bit the dust last Thursday and poured water everywhere in my kitchen. It needs to be replaced. $200/faucet and $90-200 install. So I'm probably out a fast $350 (the plumber is coming tomorrow). And my gutters are clogged. The lowest quote I've gotten is $200 to clean them. I want to be a good homeowner but man, these little things add up fast.

Could you do the gutters yourself? I just did mine this weekend and it wasn't bad. A stepladder, a 5 gallon bucket and a little hand garden shovel thing were all I needed to get all the mud out....

Thanks! I'm going to try!!

[Deleted]

I'm proud of myself! I didn't charge anything in April that I couldn't pay off immediately (online shopping only). I ended the month with $.46 in my checking account haha until 4/30 but mysteriously the last $280 in child support arrears ended up in my checking account this AM so I have some breathing room. With the CS case my monthly check has been so out of whack lately I don't know what to expect so I've been planning for nothing until our next court date. Not sure if I'll get my regular check next week or what.

I paid off my credit card debt in March with my bonus and I'm never letting it get that high again.

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I'm pretty proud of myself for successfully NOT buying a Power Pressure Cooker XL at Bed Bath and Beyond with my 20% off coupon.

[pandora]

I have only purchased essentials and haven't gone out so no extra spending.

Vet bills are killing me still though and I'm still fighting to get the Rx's from them so I can fill online (cheaper). So mad.

A bit of a vent (no need to read, LOL):
Now I need an Rx for SubQ fluids and I KNOW they are going to try to force me to buy from them, too. I hate them and once I've recovered from this surgery (today, gulp) I'm going down to the free Vet to see if they can help. I'll still pay for the meds but hopefully I'll at least get the dang Rx's from them.

[achase123]

I believe I'm becoming a tightwad after beginning this budget/saving thing. I'm starting to get to the point where spending any amount of money is bugging me. I guess that's better than the other way around though.

I think it's because my income isn't consistent. If I knew I'd make a decent set amount each month id be fine. But my months are sporadic even though they've been increasing each month. Plus I still don't know if xh will pay Cs each month or if last month was a fluke.

[mcc]

I've done horribly - travel messes me up. The Dentist moves in on Friday though so I've have some more wiggle room and can work through a budget then.

[Emerald1486]

Apr 28, 2015 17:35:26 GMT -5 achase123 said:

I believe I'm becoming a tightwad after beginning this budget/saving thing. I'm starting to get to the point where spending any amount of money is bugging me. I guess that's better than the other way around though.

I think it's because my income isn't consistent. If I knew I'd make a decent set amount each month id be fine. But my months are sporadic even though they've been increasing each month. Plus I still don't know if xh will pay Cs each month or if last month was a fluke.

Be careful about that though. I used to be that way, where I wanted to just save money and not spend it. It really began to affect my life. I didn't want to go out because of spending money, or do anything really. I will say that XH's lax attitude about money loosened me up a bit so I'm better now. Just make sure if doesn't affect your living life too

[achase123]

Apr 29, 2015 7:36:41 GMT -5 Emerald1486 said:

Apr 28, 2015 17:35:26 GMT -5 achase123 said:

I believe I'm becoming a tightwad after beginning this budget/saving thing. I'm starting to get to the point where spending any amount of money is bugging me. I guess that's better than the other way around though.

I think it's because my income isn't consistent. If I knew I'd make a decent set amount each month id be fine. But my months are sporadic even though they've been increasing each month. Plus I still don't know if xh will pay Cs each month or if last month was a fluke.

Be careful about that though. I used to be that way, where I wanted to just save money and not spend it. It really began to affect my life. I didn't want to go out because of spending money, or do anything really. I will say that XH's lax attitude about money loosened me up a bit so I'm better now. Just make sure if doesn't affect your living life too

You're right. It's def a balance. I do spend some money like sending a nice bouquet of gerber daisies to my friend who just had a c section. I just don't want to get into a spending habit where I was before. I was living beyond my means and it didn't feel good.

[abcdefu]

Since I only factor in 4 paychecks a month, I'm trying so hard to save my whole 5th paycheck this month. The struggle is real!