2017 controlled Spend/ No Spend

[Blonde Granny]

Shane....I don't use it correctly.......I simply have a line item for all monthly expenses. Those lines are divided between Monthly Espenses, Everyday Expenses, Hobbies, Medical, Gifting (church). Then I have a budgeted amount for the individual categories . i.e Budget for groceries is $250/mo.

I don't fool with all the credit card stuff because I couldn't figure it out either. If I spend using card, which I frequently do, the dollar amount gets put into the spent amount for the month. There I can spend on credit for groceries which comes out of that category so I know I don't have money left for groceries.

The only thing I care about with using it is to make sure I don't overspend during the month on any line item category. I also don't roll any over/under spending to the next month. I start & finish each month then move onto the next month. I also start a new year and have 2018 ready to go. I start each month as a fresh start.

It's taken me a a few years to get it tweaked to the way I want it and not the way it was originally written.....but it's my budget and it works for me.

Just keep up the good work Shane, you've been through a very trying year and we're all pulling for you for 2018.

[TheOtherMe]

I will try to do this the first of the year for 2018.  I don't make resolutions, but between this and decluttering, I need to be held accountable to myself.  

Thanks for the advice, Shane.

[shanendoah]

I did not go to Trader Joes yesterday. I am fighting getting sick, and I decided there was nothing I needed so badly that it couldn't wait until this weekend. So I just went home, took a hot bath, and climbed in bed with the puppies.
Today I'm at work to take advantage of the quiet time in the office to get things like filing and shredding done, but I'll leave by 1p, and go back home to crawl into bed. Trying to balance taking advantage of quiet time in the office with rest time so that this cold crud doesn't get any worse. 
I will be back out for Weight Watchers tonight, but I think I will hit 3 NSDs in a row (Monday - today), maybe even 4 (Thurs), which is nice, and part of why I'm thinking I may start tracking NSDs again next year. Because I miss it.

Week	Plan Met Y/N	Unplanned $ Spent
Dec 4-10	N	$105
Dec 11-17	Y	$12
Dec 18-24	N	$220
Dec 25-31

Planned Spending for the Week
Starbucks
Starbucks
Trader Joes (Fri)
Gas (Sat & Mon)
Groceries (Fri)
Movie? (Fri)



Unplanned Spending for the Week - Allowed $50

[grits]

I can't be on this thread for a while.  I've been very naughty. I replaced a lot of very old winter clothing when Eddie Bauer had it's 50% or more off sale. I'd buy 2 or 3 things at a time.  I ordered from them 5 times.  They had the nerve to send me an email with the subject line stating, "People call you the gift whisperer.". lol I gifted it to myself. 
Well, I did replace coats, and things that were anywhere from 20+ to 38 years old.  If these last just as long, I'll be dead before they wear out.   

[moneysquirrel]

The last few days have found be staying home as I didn't need to really go anywhere.  The only place I wanted to go found me still in bed at the time I was to be there.  It was an optional activity and no one was waiting for me.  I figured that if I overslept by that much then my body decided that I needed the rest.

I have not been spending.  Everything has been paid so far and the only place that I know I need to get to is the grocery as I need several perishables.  Hope to get that done in the morning.  

 I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my budget. I have been doing so for almost a decade and I do make changes as needed.  It meets my needs and I have enough knowledge about Excel that I can make it work for me.  

This next year will be the first of total retirement.  Trying not to touch my savings except for the sinking funds that I track on its own sheet within the file.  I also am trying not to touch the money I have saved for retirement or apply for my SS (want to let it grow until I am 70.)  I am managing for the most part on my late DH's SS (survivors benefit) and a small pension from his employment.  Also have some money left from my last paycheck that I am slowly drawing down.  I limit the amount so that I can stretch it as long as I can.  I am not depriving myself but my needs are simple and I still can do everything I want to within reason.  My beading pays for itself and I do enjoy that hobby.