How has your spending been this month?

[Blonde Granny]

I've done very well this month:

Budgeted: Groceries $225, spent $137
Fuel: $100 spent $67
Restaurants: $100 spent $70


Entertainment
Hair
Pedicure
House Maintenance
Gun Range
Ammo
Medical - other

Yea me!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing spent in those categories

[Deleted]

I've spent way too much.  I can't give hard numbers like yours, but I'll list the major problem areas.

Retirement.  I did the Lifetime NEA dues for $250 that is open to non-retired members.  There was about $50 in additional expenses directly related to retirement.
Pet care.  I spent $150 on a visit/medication because our dog has allergies and was clawing her neck until it was raw.  Then we decided to have a growth removed from her eye and then groomed.  So that was another $500.
Car care.  It was simply my 120K checkup but still $400.  Then I had to have the bulb replaced in my headlight.  I did that at Walmart because the dealer was closed so another $20.
Gifts.  March is a birthday month for three of my children/grandchildren.  I make a small contribution to the grandchildren's 529 as well as gifts so $200 there.
House maintenance.  $145 went for the annual termite bond, and $180 for the umbrella coverage (I count that under the house because of liability).  The lawn service cleaned up the pine straw and pine cones and cut it for $175 total (normal cutting is $100).  

None of it was a fortune, but it was all way outside the budget.  We have a house account that took care of the house maintenance part.

I still need to write a check for $300 to my sister.  That's our contribution to her airfare when she comes to visit each summer.  We could alternate and go out there each year, but it would cost a lot more than $300 for 2 airfares, a rental car, boarding the dog, etc.  Plus, she is from here and is comfortable going places alone in my car.  We don't know anything about her part of NM.   The house account will take care of that.

Anyway, expensive month.  But it's over.

[billisonboard]

I spent $.27 less than my spending goal.

[justme]

I don't wanna talk about it. Haha! I just broke down and finally got the new ynab. It also happens to be the month several of my year passes/whatnot are due. So I'm at like 500 more than a normal month this month.

[countrygirl2]

I was doing good then spent to much.  I knew it was coming but $878 on personal car registrations. That's 2 trucks, a motorhome, 1 boat and trailer, another boat and trailer, then a small 10 ft trailer.  Ouch and about $450 for the business ones, a truck and 2 trailers.  Next is ins and property taxes in May.

Spent more money eating out then usual because of anniversary and birthday.  Haven't added up groceries, need to.

[NoNamePerson]

I am a total YMAM failure since I have no clue and don't track diddly squat. I haven't bounced a check and the few bills I have are paid so guess that about does it for me. Heck, I feel so guilty that I may find an online budget thingy and enter what I think I'll spend next month and see how it goes. I do have money left in my checking account at months end so I guess that's a good thing

But I admire those of you who track expenditures and budget. It's just not in my dna/personality to do this. Could be the reason I didn't have $50,000,000 by the time I decided to quit working 

OH, OH, OH I forgot to say that I did change my Comcast package dropping the sports stuff since no longer watching some of that and saw no need to pay for it. That saved me about $38 a month. Does that count. So I saved $38 this month over normal expenses?

[Malarky]

Hemorrhaging money on both wants and needs.

Monday is a new opportunity to have a better month.  

[Apple]

This month was a pretty good month.  I worked way too much OT, so that helped in two ways-- didn't have time to spend much, and made more for the budget next month and the month after (I use old YNAB, and just recently started using it the "correct" way by using last month's income to fund current month, and current month's income to fund next month, etc).

I also "slush fund" things and let them carry over each month, so even if I spent the full month's budgeted amount, or more, I might still have some leftover. 

Groceries: Spent $273 of $300, and because last month that category still had $16, I still have $43 that will carry to next month (don't exactly add up because of rounding...)

Fuel: Budgeted $35, spent $30.  Still have carry over from previous months, and budgeted more for next month because there will be two longer trips.

Fun money: budgeted $40, spent $40, have $26 left 

Eating out: budgeted $15, spent $15 (including some Safeway deli Chinese food that is usually great, but this time was just edible and such a disappointment that my son made some at home the next day).  $57 left, with more budgeted next month due to vacation.

Vacation: budgeted $70, spent $194 (pre-payment for 3 night yurt reservation, plus a little camping gear), $890 left.  That, plus what I budget for April and May, will be more than enough for Sweden and Finland next month.

Many more categories.  The happiest is that I added $742 to the "new house" category this month, and at least $1429 is added next month (I'll have a final number after some bank account dividends show up tomorrow).  My minimum savings toward the build is down to $80/month with my new, lower income (more to tsp and taxes than years past), so throwing some OT money at it feels good.

I'm exhausted from so many day shifts this month (mostly because day shifts = tons of people around, and as an extreme introvert, they have sucked all my energy just by existing in shared space).  But, it's been great for the budget.

[Blonde Granny]

Mar 30, 2019 12:01:50 GMT -5 Apple said:

This month was a pretty good month.  I worked way too much OT, so that helped in two ways-- didn't have time to spend much, and made more for the budget next month and the month after (I use old YNAB, and just recently started using it the "correct" way by using last month's income to fund current month, and current month's income to fund next month, etc).

I also "slush fund" things and let them carry over each month, so even if I spent the full month's budgeted amount, or more, I might still have some leftover. 

Groceries: Spent $273 of $300, and because last month that category still had $16, I still have $43 that will carry to next month (don't exactly add up because of rounding...)

Fuel: Budgeted $35, spent $30.  Still have carry over from previous months, and budgeted more for next month because there will be two longer trips.

Fun money: budgeted $40, spent $40, have $26 left 

Eating out: budgeted $15, spent $15 (including some Safeway deli Chinese food that is usually great, but this time was just edible and such a disappointment that my son made some at home the next day).  $57 left, with more budgeted next month due to vacation.

Vacation: budgeted $70, spent $194 (pre-payment for 3 night yurt reservation, plus a little camping gear), $890 left.  That, plus what I budget for April and May, will be more than enough for Sweden and Finland next month.

Many more categories.  The happiest is that I added $742 to the "new house" category this month, and at least $1429 is added next month (I'll have a final number after some bank account dividends show up tomorrow).  My minimum savings toward the build is down to $80/month with my new, lower income (more to tsp and taxes than years past), so throwing some OT money at it feels good.

I'm exhausted from so many day shifts this month (mostly because day shifts = tons of people around, and as an extreme introvert, they have sucked all my energy just by existing in shared space).  But, it's been great for the budget.

I still use YNAB 4.  I've never used it the way it's supposed to be done.  I simply track each month.  Income, then categories and amount to be spent in each.  IOW, just a simple budget.  Kudos for learning how to do it Apple!.

[justme]

Mar 30, 2019 7:17:43 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

I am a total YMAM failure since I have no clue and don't track diddly squat. I haven't bounced a check and the few bills I have are paid so guess that about does it for me. Heck, I feel so guilty that I may find an online budget thingy and enter what I think I'll spend next month and see how it goes. I do have money left in my checking account at months end so I guess that's a good thing

But I admire those of you who track expenditures and budget. It's just not in my dna/personality to do this. Could be the reason I didn't have $50,000,000 by the time I decided to quit working 

OH, OH, OH I forgot to say that I did change my Comcast package dropping the sports stuff since no longer watching some of that and saw no need to pay for it. That saved me about $38 a month. Does that count. So I saved $38 this month over normal expenses?

Ha! I will say I never lasted long on the old ynab. Having to manually enter shit in or download from my bank to upload and then manually categorize? Yea I didn't last two months usually. But the new one is nice. Automatically links to your banks so you only have to make sure that the automatically selected category is right. It handles you spending but paying off your credit cards in fully seamlessly.

We'll see if it lasts lol.

[Apple]

Mar 30, 2019 13:17:31 GMT -5 justme said:

Mar 30, 2019 7:17:43 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

I am a total YMAM failure since I have no clue and don't track diddly squat. I haven't bounced a check and the few bills I have are paid so guess that about does it for me. Heck, I feel so guilty that I may find an online budget thingy and enter what I think I'll spend next month and see how it goes. I do have money left in my checking account at months end so I guess that's a good thing

But I admire those of you who track expenditures and budget. It's just not in my dna/personality to do this. Could be the reason I didn't have $50,000,000 by the time I decided to quit working 

OH, OH, OH I forgot to say that I did change my Comcast package dropping the sports stuff since no longer watching some of that and saw no need to pay for it. That saved me about $38 a month. Does that count. So I saved $38 this month over normal expenses?

Ha! I will say I never lasted long on the old ynab. Having to manually enter shit in or download from my bank to upload and then manually categorize? Yea I didn't last two months usually. But the new one is nice. Automatically links to your banks so you only have to make sure that the automatically selected category is right. It handles you spending but paying off your credit cards in fully seamlessly.

We'll see if it lasts lol.

Old YNAB got a lot more easy when I discovered I could download an app to my phone.  I still have to enter everything manually, but it only takes a minute to input it after I go grocery shopping, or make a quick run to the store, etc, instead of having to keep up on receipts, check various accounts, and do everything at once on my laptop.

Once this house is built and I'm not scrimping and saving everything I can for it, I hope to go back to "budget, what budget?" and just make sure my savings increases each month appropriately for my income.

[NoNamePerson]

I decided maybe I should explain my lack of entering stuff! My entire work history consist of bookkeeping. Entering stuff every day. No way doing it at home - burn out?  But I do reconcile my bank account to the penny! 

I also have have a running total in my head for expenditures at all times! It's a blessing and a curse

[Blonde Granny]

I haven't reconciled a checking account since I discovered Quicken back in 1998. Of course now, I don't use Quicken anymore since everything I do is online. My WF account is the first place I look every morning.

[NoNamePerson]

Three transactions possibly four a month makes it real simply.     I check my CC's every morning first thing to make sure nobody is mucking around and check bank account next to see if anyone is mucking around there. I keep up with stuff just don't enter it elsewhere? 

[Sharon]

This is pretty much how much budget and finances have gone this month.

Let's start with going to the store for potatoes and coming home with a travel trailer.   Those were expensive potatoes.  Ok I had been casually looking and thinking about getting another trailer but hadn't really planned on doing it that day on the way home from the grocery store.

Then there was another $885 dollars to get a hitch receiver and trailer brake put into my car.  Plus what I have been spending to do the initial stock up of the trailer (foil, saran wrap, bandaids etc).

That is a good start of how bad I have been this month.

ETA: The cat ended up with a big nodule/bump thing on her cheek so we had an unexpected $115 vet bill.  She should be fine, fingers crossed.

[Blonde Granny]

Remind to stay away from the aisle where the potatoes are! With my luck I'd come home with a new Mercedes (again).

[NoNamePerson]

Mar 30, 2019 16:20:44 GMT -5 Sharon said:

This is pretty much how much budget and finances have gone this month.

Let's start with going to the store for potatoes and coming home with a travel trailer.   Those were expensive potatoes.  Ok I had been casually looking and thinking about getting another trailer but hadn't really planned on doing it that day on the way home from the grocery store.

Then there was another $885 dollars to get a hitch receiver and trailer brake put into my car.  Plus what I have been spending to do the initial stock up of the trailer (foil, saran wrap, bandaids etc).

That is a good start of how bad I have been this month.

ETA: The cat ended up with a big nodule/bump thing on her cheek so we had an unexpected $115 vet bill.  She should be fine, fingers crossed.

The next time you go out for potatoes take the travel trailer as a small reminder of what can happen. But on the bright side the potatoes will be gone shortly and the travel trailer will be there for lots of fun and adventure. And it's low carb so win win 

ETA: You still have one day to finishing blowing budget and then you can start over April 1 and say "look" I haven't blown budget so far. Trailer counts for March!!

[flamingo]

I shouldn’t really talk about it. I apparently thought I was made of money this month. About the only thing that came in “on budget’ was grocery spending. So, let’s see:

*A weekend in DC, that included a $100 speeding ticket. Oops   The hotel/food was planned for, though I did spend more on food than I’d hoped.
*A new phone. I did save $350 by trading in old devices, but that was money I ahdn’t fully planned on spending.
*A new bathing suit for vacation in a couple weeks. Total want, and didn’t try to find the cheapest one out there. 

I’d say, “there’s always next month” but I am sure I’ll vacation will be speedy. It’s a mother/daughter trip and my mom is good at encouraging me to spend money.   None of this is putting me in the poor house, but damn, it’s a lot when I look back on it.

[countrygirl2]

Since I spend most everything on a debt card or credit, all I have to do is categorize from the 2.  I sometimes give myself  $400 allowance during the month in cash too.  I can get a really close idea by going through the 2.  Really need to, but know where most of it went, sigh.

[Apple]

Mar 30, 2019 16:20:44 GMT -5 Sharon said:

This is pretty much how much budget and finances have gone this month.

Let's start with going to the store for potatoes and coming home with a travel trailer.   Those were expensive potatoes.  Ok I had been casually looking and thinking about getting another trailer but hadn't really planned on doing it that day on the way home from the grocery store.

I laugh, but I'm scared I'm going to do this!  

I've been lusting after a camper of some sort for a while (camper van, rv, motor home, trailer, etc).  Especially after someone decided to destroy the little one I had on my property (tore it apart to take the copper and the engine, sad trombone). 

A friend/coworker's neighbor has a little MPG trailer for sale that would be just perfect for me, so I talked to him about it and found out they wanted too much.  So, no trailer.

But this morning, I had the wants big time and was looking at stuff on a local classifieds site and craigslist.  I found two that would be perfect with a reasonable price (under $10k), but after having to replace my car (1 1/2 years ago) and really trying to save for this house, I just can't justify it.

But, if I drove by and saw they dropped the price of that trailer to $7k or so, it would probably come home with me.

[countrygirl2]

You watch you can buy them all over reasonably.  Just look for leaks, undercarriage damage.  Old tires, should not be older then 10 years.  Read on how the code is on the tire and you can see the year and month made.  Don't let them tell you 15 year old tires are fine, they may look good but they dryrot. You don't want a blow out.  You might have them fill the tanks with water, check the pump to be sure it works, check for leaks etc.  And watch out for the poop pyramid, where they don't flush enough water into the holding tank and you end up with it not being washed out good.  Just do your due diligent when buying, leaking is one of the most important.  Look around curtains to see if walls are soft behind, roof openings etc.  We have bought them cheap with problems as hubs knows how to fix them.

[zibazinski]

Ugh. Little things but they all add up. New pictures for my dining room. Then because the family room looked dark now, new pillows and a rug to coordinate with the dining room. Gave my old pillows to a friend because they’re not that old even.
Now my lower deck needs replacing. My handyman is so busy that he can’t even look at it until the end of April. I’m having my roof looked at again. I know it needs replacing soon.
Two steps forward, three steps back.
My Oregon trip just became more expensive because I need to add two more nights hotel and food thanks to my one Aunt’s crazy behavior. Plus the cat sitter. That’s this coming weekend. I’m a bit overwhelmed

[NoNamePerson]

Mar 31, 2019 7:20:50 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Ugh. Little things but they all add up. New pictures for my dining room. Then because the family room looked dark now, new pillows and a rug to coordinate with the dining room. Gave my old pillows to a friend because they’re not that old even.
Now my lower deck needs replacing. My handyman is so busy that he can’t even look at it until the end of April. I’m having my roof looked at again. I know it needs replacing soon.
Two steps forward, three steps back.
My Oregon trip just became more expensive because I need to add two more nights hotel and food thanks to my one Aunt’s crazy behavior. Plus the cat sitter. That’s this coming weekend. I’m a bit overwhelmed

Are you sure she isn't kin to Steff's aunt. Lots of crazy aunts floating around these days.

[zibazinski]

Mar 31, 2019 7:32:35 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Mar 31, 2019 7:20:50 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Ugh. Little things but they all add up. New pictures for my dining room. Then because the family room looked dark now, new pillows and a rug to coordinate with the dining room. Gave my old pillows to a friend because they’re not that old even.
Now my lower deck needs replacing. My handyman is so busy that he can’t even look at it until the end of April. I’m having my roof looked at again. I know it needs replacing soon.
Two steps forward, three steps back.
My Oregon trip just became more expensive because I need to add two more nights hotel and food thanks to my one Aunt’s crazy behavior. Plus the cat sitter. That’s this coming weekend. I’m a bit overwhelmed

Are you sure she isn't kin to Steff's aunt. Lots of crazy aunts floating around these days. [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.co

m/vsmileys/wink.png"]

No, she’s gone off the deep end because of her husband finally dying. He’s been dying forever but finally actually did. We all thought he’d kill her off first. But a lot of her actions sound like mine after DH died and I’m wondering if it’s any medication she’s taking or not taking or now that her whole life focus is gone, as in being a caregiver, that she’s gotten a form of dementia. No clue and now I can’t stay with her and peek into her medicine cabinet to see what, if any, meds she’s on.

[NoNamePerson]

Mar 31, 2019 7:39:24 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Mar 31, 2019 7:32:35 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Are you sure she isn't kin to Steff's aunt. Lots of crazy aunts floating around these days. [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.co

m/vsmileys/wink.png"]

No, she’s gone off the deep end because of her husband finally dying. He’s been dying forever but finally actually did. We all thought he’d kill her off first. But a lot of her actions sound like mine after DH died and I’m wondering if it’s any medication she’s taking or not taking or now that her whole life focus is gone, as in being a caregiver, that she’s gotten a form of dementia. No clue and now I can’t stay with her and peek into her medicine cabinet to see what, if any, meds she’s on.

My bad. I didn't know the back story so apologize for my flippant reply.

[zibazinski]

No, it’s okay. She is acting crazy but since it’s not her normal lifestyle, it’s more concerning.

[dogmom]

Glad we aren't alone in spurring on the economy.  March really sucked.

Washer died, Drier was limping along.  Replaced both, $1385. plus two weeks of taking clothes on a road trip to the laundromat $31. more.

We had been eating down our freezer and pantry.  Grocery bill to replenish is about $200. over what it is normally.

Hubby is finishing restoring one of the cars.  (His hobby).  Motor rebuild and Dyno:  $5500.  (yes, it was budgeted for but still ouch), along with another $6500 to the shop doing some of the work.  (again, still budgeted for, but I really liked the dollars where they were).

I got rid of some clothing that was worn out and needed replacing.  $180.

Ordered some slipcovers for our couch and loveseat.  $200.

Still have to replenish pup's food.  So another $70. probably tomorrow.

Hoping April is less costly.

[buystoys]

We're $1000 under budget YTD, so we've done pretty well so far.  I try to work from a pretty tight budget (what our expenses are really going to be, not what I wish our expenses were) and I tend to look at YTD rather than monthly unless I'm way off.  Then I start looking closer because I might have forgotten something or I've got something in March's budget that will get paid in April.  I do revise my budget then because I use this year as next year's template.

I manage all of this on a spread sheet.

[laterbloomer]

I was in Vegas last week. 'nough said.

[chapeau]

Ugh. Just ugh.
Paid for almost all of our vacation for June. Well, it’s on the cc, but it’s ugly. Also completed phase 1 of our bathroom freshening (not replacing the fixtures, but new floor, new paint job, and new electrical stuff. Electric and paint are phase 2. Paid cash for the new tile and supplies.) Tightening the belt in April so we can cash flow part of the trip expense and not have to pull it all out of savings.