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Spending Diary: 10.16.08

Day Two, Week One

Yesterday was a pretty mild day of the spending front. I didn't really spend any money on things that I didn't already budget for with my known expenses and envelopes. But here is what I spent yesterday: Side Note: I did forget to include a utilities expense on this post - so revisions have been made - which I marked in red:

1/2 of rent: $335.00 - I set it aside so I cannot touch it.
Chase CC: $39.00 - paid today.
Wells Fargo CC: $15.00 - paid today
B of A CC: $15.00Best Buy CC: 59.95 - final payment to zero out card [woot!] - paid today
Cable/Internet: $137.14 - boyfriend to write a check for half - paid today
Cell Phones: $132.47 - boyfriend to write a check for half - paid today
Water/Trash/Sewage: $34.02 - paid today.

Total Expenses: $733.56 [$767.58]
Income: $975.00
Remainder: $241.44 [$207.42]- not a lot but it will do.

Now for my envelopes for this pay period:
Groceries:$75.00 - spent $75.00
Fuel: $40.00 - spent $10.00 on debit card - adjusted envelope to $30.00
Household Items: $15.00
Dining Out: $40.00 [minus the $9.41 from today] = $30.59 - adjusted to $40.00
Entertainment: $40.00 - adjusted to $35.00 since I didn't withdraw enough money... go figure.
Clothing: $0.00

Total Budgeted for Envelopes: $200.59 [$195.00] - remaining: $120.00
Ending Balance: $40.85 [$12.42]

Things can sure change in a day. I don't know how I managed to not withdraw enough money for my envelopes, but I am kinda glad I did because of the utility bill I forgot. But, yeah. The boyfriend and I bought enough groceries to last us until the next pay period [hopefully] and I still have to make our household items run - which I will be going to Sam's Club for. I am going to have to wait a little bit for the boyfriend to cut me a check for the utilities - his mom waited to tell him about his car insurance payment until it was like pay it right now or it's cancelled. He was so pissed because he was being so good about money, then this came up - but live and learn right? Well, I am off to do my favorite free form of entertainment - roaming the blogosphere!

Have a great day all!

Here Goes Nothin' - Spending Diary: 10.15.08

Day One, Week 1:

Today is payday. Woot! A cool $975.00. Since I stupidly forgot my lunch today, I went over to Subway and bought a meal = $9.41. Ugh. I won't even start how frustrated I am with that - anyways! With this paycheck, I need to allocate funds for the following expenses:


1/2 of rent: $335.00 - setting aside for the 1st.

Chase CC: $39.00
Wells Fargo CC: $15.00
B of A CC: $15.00
Best Buy CC: 59.95 - final payment to zero out card [woot!]
Cable/Internet: $137.14 - boyfriend to write a check for half
Cell Phones: $132.47 - boyfriend to write a check for half

Total Expenses: $733.56
Income: $975.00
Remainder: $241.44 - not a lot but it will do.

Now for my envelopes for this pay period:
Groceries:$75.00
Fuel: $40.00
Household Items: $15.00
Dining Out: $40.00 [minus the $9.41 from today] = $30.59
Entertainment: $40.00
Clothing: $0.00

Total Budgeted for Envelopes: $200.59

Ending Balance: $40.85

Wow. That is a little scary, right? I mean, yeah. I have already put $50.00 into my emergency fund this month and the check that the boyfriend will write for his half the cable/Internet and cell bills will go into that fund as well - so, I will be fine, right? It does feel good to pay off one of the credit cards though. Really, really good. I can't wait until they are all gone. Now to finish work and go home - no more spending money!

I Swear, I Am Doomed.

I am not a morning person - let me get that out of the way first. I have always had to get up early because I have always worked; however, I hit the snooze on my alarm probably 6 times every morning. I just can't get out of my warm bed at 6:30am - it doesn't happen. Plus, I am not a coffee drinker. I would rather be in bed. But once I do roll out of bed, I generally give myself 20 minutes to pee, do my hair, and get dressed - and 9 times out of 10, I am at work early. No harm no foul.

But this path has led me to the situation I am in now - I hardly ever make myself a lunch; which leads to me spending money at lunch time, which is no bueno. And now that I am trying to turn things around, I decided to cook dinner last night with today's lunch in mind. We had plenty of left overs for both Peter and I to have lunches today.

So, I did my normal routine this morning, even pulled my lunch out of the refrigerator and put it by my purse. I brushed my teeth, kissed Peter goodbye, and hit the road - COMPLETELY FORGETTING MY LUNCH!!! I seriously couldn't believe it. I got half way to work before I realized it - so there was no turning back. And now, since I am on a budget, I either starve or cough up some dough for a quick lunch. I am just so frustrated with my forgetfulness. That is going to have to be the next stage in my financial turn around - being less forgetful.

Well, today is payday and the day I start my envelope budgeting system. I am kind of excited. I feel like it is a true step in controlling my spending. There is a great post [here] at Simple Mom that really explains how it works: but it is simply this - pay cash for your everyday expenses (i.e. groceries, household items, dining out, entertainment, fuel/transportation, etc). Each category has it's own envelope and a set budget, and when the envelope is empty, it is empty until the next budgeting cycle. Pretty straight forward and pretty hard to overspend when everything is accounted for in cash.

Wish me luck - and that I do not starve today.

Photo courtesy of Jesse the Juggler.