Budget Check In

[amaranth]

How's everyone doing on goals?

I've been so discouraged about our finances (spending I didn't plan for, the trip we had to take out of another savings account, etc) but I just finally caught up on our YNAB from last month and was shocked to discover we were under budget in all our normal categories! Only the extra, unplanned costs put us over. That was an uplifting piece of news I didn't expect. I think the main difference was using meal subscriptions for our dinners. I know they're a terrible value for most people, but it prevented me from overbuying at the store, wasting food, etc. It seems like a good fit for us right now. 

Hopefully with H's 2nd job starting this month we will get just enough extra money to offset the dumb costs until bonus time rolls around again. As long as I don't buy too much fabric... 

[estrellita]

We're doing ok. Better than in the past. Our checking account has consistently been higher which will be extremely helpful when we have 2 in DC. I've been using the extra money from H's 2nd job for extra car payments. I'd LOVE to get that paid off by April at the latest, but I have to account for the medical bills I'll have to pay (though I'll get a bonus in Feb that should help with those, or the car). We've been spending a little more than usual and I know we need to cut back on that again. Just random stuff we need.. like we bought brakes for my car and a stroller (a double one, I couldn't pass up the price for it!), plus some things we don't really NEED like organizing things. I did tell H this morning though that he needs to cut back hours at job 2 though. He's working like 4-5 mornings a week and I just can't handle the little terror in the morning by myself sometimes. He is getting more commission at work right now which is helping a lot, plus I'm trying to work overtime when I can, a little here and there adds up!

[katespade]

I'm on a self-imposed spending freeze, and it makes me want to buy all of the things. lol. I have a tattoo appointment on 9/1, and my goal is to not spend any money on myself until then.

We seem to be doing okay overall. We've been ordering out a bit too much, but it's not as bad as it was before we cut back so significantly. At this point, it isn't impacting any of our other categories so we're just going to KOKO.

The diet is helping with food costs, too. Our grocery spending has gone down a lot since we stopped buying junk. lol.

[wanderingenough]

Better and worse! Like you, amaranth, we changed things up food-wise. We have been getting dinners pre-preprepared from this healthy meal company in town. Looking at what I was spending on meat and produce , combined with all the excess crap that would go in my cart, it has definitely helped to have a set amount spent on dinner each week. Bonus-- I'm only prepping stuff for R. Since he routinely demands 7 different things before landing on what he wants to eat, it has been a relief not having to meal plan for the grown ups as well.

However, I've got to get the Target trips under control. I'll run there for 1-2 things and walk out with SO MUCH.

[HoneySpider]

Since I've been teaching since April, we've had quite a few months now with surplus income which gives us a little more room for regular spending and the ability to put money into savings. My current terms ends later this month, but I just found out yesterday that I got an offer for next term because they added another section of the course. I'm having mixed emotions about it, I was looking forward to having a break mentally but of course, having the extra money is nice. So, we have a little bit of extra room in our budget for a few more months.

Overall we've been doing well with spending but we might have to really buckle down soon. We're probably going to need a new car next year although I'd like to hold out as long as possible so we'll see.

[bk1]

Bahahahahahaha..... 


But really, we're managing. 

[amaranth]

suzv that's awesome news about the formula and loans!!

bk1 you guys are awesome for doing so well this long and you still have a good attitude.

[grover]

Eh. It sucks that our paychecks are mostly eaten up by the mortgage, followed by student loans and daycare costs. It'll be a little tight for the rest of the year, since daycare only gives a year end receipt and we technically will be double paying til then (we already had daycare pulled from H's paychecks starting in January, but can't get the reimbursement til we get a receipt).

I need a new car, but not sure if that will happen sooner or later. I'd love one right now, but I don't want to completely screw the budget.

H was notified that their biggest client is going elsewhere so the firm will probably be closing in 4-6 months. So he's on job search 24/7 now.