Everyday Expenses for the four weeks ending 3/11 came to $693. My goal was $522, and I feel like it's a good month when it's in the $540's. So I overspent here about $150. I actually spent less than budgeted in every area except groceries--less on gas, take-out, pet food, everything.
Like I mentioned before, I didn't make one Aldi trip this month. I guess 50 cents to $1 less on each item really adds up. Also, we've been making use of our stockpile for several months, and it finally got to the point where we had to restock--on fairly expensive things like an $8 double-pack of Jif. And being sick didn't help because I didn't have the energy to bother shopping sales, using coupons, etc.
In addition, we didn't make much progress in the Net Worth area. (Only counting cc debt and emergency savings, not IRAs and such.) Last month, total cc debt was $3724. As of March 11 it was $3906, an increase of $182. The emergency savings account is down to $442 from $611 last month, a decrease of $169. There was one true emergency during the month, a dryer repair of $80.
$182 cc debt + $169 savings loss = $351 decrease in liquid net worth
I looked reasons, and I found $273 of discretionary spending on things like getting my hair colored (when I felt too rotten to manage it at home), buying make-up, books, clothes, the deluxe/state version of TaxAct, yet another new coupon organizer, a cabinet for over our dryer, etc. $273 discretionary + $150 overage on groceries = $423 on extras, that didn't absolutely need to be spent. $423 - $351 net worth decrease = $72, the amount I actually could have spent on extras without overextending myself.
Most of it was stuff I would have spent money on eventually, and I really can't muster up much guilt about any of it. The problem seems to be, I'm losing patience with waiting for things til we can afford them.
Darn, I was feeling so proud of myself for having more financial control lately, when I really haven't!
Have been overspending, no two ways about it
March 14th, 2006 at 03:04 pm
March 14th, 2006 at 05:46 pm 1142358364
March 14th, 2006 at 08:05 pm 1142366719
I can totally understand how living off the stockpile can sometimes be counterproductive and how couponing all the time can lose it's charm. Can you imagine what would happen if you were to stop altogether? Yikes!
Hang in there.
March 16th, 2006 at 05:02 pm 1142528545
http://www.firevalt.com/blog/2006/03/14/whats-the-best-way-to-budget/
This company is creating a simple web based program to manage your finances and get out of debt. Their blog is a favorite of mine. Check it out!
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:09 pm 1143151768
Spice things up. Involving others in your everyday purchases can be fun. Bring in family and friends. Try some swap & exchange (coupons, items, shopping trips).