How has your spending been this month?

[zibazinski]

Use it to rent a winter place in Sarasota for a few months. What are you saving it for?

[zibazinski]

My deck has been started. Part of one of the decks is done but need to get more wood today to finish that part. Then move deck furniture to it and start part two which is the other deck. Smaller so should be easier but my handyman is slow as molasses in January.

[Blonde Granny]

Nov 12, 2019 8:00:24 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Use it to rent a winter place in Sarasota for a few months. What are you saving it for?

So far the HVAC guy hasn't called.....won't waste my money this spring on this auto-service type thing. It's just a good thing the furnace is working, but I paid for the inspection, now that it's 10 degrees outside I guess I'll call and insist they come out.

My CD has matured and Pen Fed still hasn't transferred my money. I'm like that commercial. " It's my money and I want it now". It's close to a week since it matured and it's costing me money to not have it transferred to my account.

So I guess it's 2 phone calls today I'd rather not have to bother with. Sheesh, I just need to move back to Florida.

I still want to move back to Florida, but I can quit bitching about Ped Fed, the money has now been transferred to my account. Now, what to do with it.
•••••••••••••••••

I was wondering if you were talking to me......I guess you are/were.  The answer is I DONT KNOW.

on edit: the HVAC guy is coming on the 21st, Pen Fed has transferred the money, the ice and sleet is melting, and I'm going to attempt to work tomorrow and I have a hair appt. on Thursday.  Guess life ain't so bad after all.

[Artemis Windsong]

This was planned.  Stucco the villa.  It's drying and waiting to be painted.

Last month was high spending with travel to a memorial service for a family member.  Eating out, higher grocery costs.

H. satirizes.  We went to the store for bananas that cost $120.  The good is, we are eating bagged salads with all the stuff in it.  We've eaten more salads in the last 3 weeks than we have in a year.

H. has started golfing.  Green fees and lunch out.

[zibazinski]

I can’t imagine freezing and being lonely when there’s lovely weather and lots of companionship in Florida

[Blonde Granny]

My life can't be more pathetic than it is.  Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to change all this.

[zibazinski]

You’d be amazed at how many people want to visit and stay with you once you have a place in the south.

[catsareme]

Oy, November was a spendy month but it looks as though December will be back to normal.  Christmas expenses will be covered by the Christmas fund and when those monies are gone that's it.  

[Deleted]

November was a bit of a spending haze.  The stepson decided he was going to need our help with college after all, so that will be a new per semester expense.  Not too bad, but we hadn't planned for it in November.  DH had some unexpected income, so he bought a new 3D printer and computer.  I bought tickets to take DD to The Nutcracker, went out for Thanksgiving dinner , started Christmas shopping , and booked plans for New Years.  That all totals $6,900 of unplanned spending.  We did have an extra paycheck in November, so that helped too.  December doesn't look much better.  

[catsareme]

Finished the holiday season with a few dollars left in the Christmas account; those went into the Rainy Day Fund.  I start a new Christmas fund every year.  

[buystoys]

Well, now that we're at the end of the year, I can officially close the 2019 budget.  MTD and YTD are both under budget.  We ended up not going away this month (budgeted) and didn't buy as many specialty food items compared to previous years. 

[countrygirl2]

I blew it. A "new" car totally blew it.  Well some dollars a nursing home won't get.

And bought DIL some things she wanted, so more. LOL!

[Deleted]

I don't even want to think about what I am spending. The new flooring was almost $14k when you include the new vinyl. I am spending at least $7k on painting. We had a lot of deferred projects as we concentrated on infrastructure.

Oh, and the $1k for a new sofa. I gave away most of the living room furniture to make it safer for DH.

I will get it back under control soon enough.

[vetswife]

I overspent on Christmas but was able to apply points towards my bill so that cut it by quite a bit.  I wound up with a bit left in the monthly budget.  Have my budget planned for 2020; we'll see how well I stick to it.

[vetswife]

 So far so good but we're only 4 days in.  I bought two pairs of jeans on sale; otherwise planned spending.

[saveinla]

4300 in and  I have 12 more days to go. But it's for a happy occasion - my niece is getting married. We booked tickets and bought some gifts. Next month will be almost the same. But I am excited. I got my bonus and although it's not very good, it will be enough for this month's cc bill. 

[Blonde Granny]

The spending I've had so far is for gas 3 days ago. I had too order a battery for my Dyson Stick Vac and it was put on my CC ($89), but it's not here yet. And I bought some little flower pots and sitting soil at Walmart ($24).

So far, only the pots and soil is something that I would call unnecessary.

[vetswife]

Had to order a battery pack for my sweeper.  Then found out I'm going to need some extensive dental work-that'll blow the budget to bits.  I have dental insurance but it only pays part.  Every bit helps though.


Today I spent $76 (plus the gasoline I used) to drive to Galveston with my DGD2.  We enjoyed a nice morning at the beach and a good seafood meal.  She's goes back to university in a couple of days.  I took it out of my "trips" savings which I put money into every month so it didn't come out of this month's budget.

[catsareme]

Our 2020 property tax bill was just posted on the county's website.  Major ouch!!  I had figured high on my 2020 spreadsheet and I still was a good $2000 short of the new total.  I guess I should have seen this coming as last autumn we had one of the county assessors out here reviewing the house and property.  I'm sure having the driveway asphalted this past summer added to the increased valuation.  

[vetswife]

Orasurgeon was $109 for a consult; she said I need to wait 6 months as it's not bothering me and that will give time for the fosomax to get out of my body.  So far that's the only unplanned spending this week.

[vetswife]

I meant oral surgeon!!

[countrygirl2]

Going to spend this month, I'm getting new glasses, been 2 years and I think my eyes have changed a lot. Also bought another pair of boots, these I'm wearing for work and "dress" and I really got them dirty today working on the cabinets.  I also had custom orthotics made was $290.  They feel really good, what I used to have were wonderful, if these do half as well the braces won't be needed. The glasses will be about $600.  Paid hubs drug insurance for the year $206 so not to bad. I generally pay mine for the year but didn't last year for some reason, ought to do that, just one less monthly bill.

My supplement went up about $30 a month, hubs drug premiums a couple of dollars. Mine is now $206 a month on top of part B and drug.  As much as I spent last year on docs, no surprise, and I have Plan F which pays it all.  I don't think his supplement did and didn't receive anything for my drug, will know when they deduct it.

[vetswife]

$341 on car service; first big bill in 7 years besides tires

$125 for a church retreat

$109  dental surgeon consult


Other than that it's been mostly planned expenses.  Trying to hold it down.

[countrygirl2]

I was going to pay 4th qtr estimated federal and state taxes and just realized I missed it by a few days.  Oh well, will have to pay penalties if needed.  I know next year we will owe, this year its up in the air.  Depends on how tax lady interprets various things, but we have the money to deal with it, so will.

I can't make up my mind what to do either. I would like a place in Florida but if hubs doesn't go with me at times that's no fun. and he wants in the country and I don't.  I don't know.

We had a house come up for sale north of us, only 11 miles from the city, its a foreclosure but in good condition on 3 acres, a huge equipment barn that would hold everything of his, $106k, he said buy it.  But then with everything around here falling apart likely couldn't sell ours and if we had to rent that house might not do well. It's at the extreme end of the county and that is the school system they may have to close, would be a very long haul for kids to go to school from there. So might not be good to rent or a resale. Our cheap houses we can sell or rent, but one like that is tying up a lot of money that we might not get it out of. He is trying to let me get closer to a city but he just can't let go of living in the country.  And of course now with our couple of good industries leaving housing like ours will likely really lose their value.  Hubs can't leave anyway or won't with his mom here.  Like I said before I expect her to outlive us.  I don't want to leave him, that's not my goal, don't want to live alone, so here we are in limbo.  I appreciate him taking care of his mom, I took care of mine too, but we are stuck. Even if we weren't we have to agree on where we will live and that's not working either. He is trying to let me chose, but now a move could wreck our finances or so we found out with this news today.

[catsareme]

Keeping an eye on the flooding problem by the well house.  So far it doesn't seem to have increased beyond two fair sized puddles.  This has been an extremely wet month with rain in the forecast for the next ten days so not certain how bad the "leak" is and what is just rain accumulation.  I just know we will have to call in the plumber at some point.  

---

[Deleted]

December and January were both bad, in regards to spending.  DD broke her glasses and needed them replaced ($95), ordered her cap and gown ($40), and paid for a class for her ($80).  Plus the dog had a vet appointment with shots and lab work ($230) and we bought tires ($600).  And then Christmas. 

So far, January has been paying HOA dues for the year and buying a new couch and chair (too much spent on that).  We still need to get a new laptop, as the old one was running windows 7, and pay for this semesters tuition.  Plus the dog needs a teeth cleaning and a lump removed in the beginning of February.  

We have to start buying decorating stuff to make the house more presentable, because we have family visiting in May.  

[countrygirl2]

Yes, DD and I are both going for eye exams next week, we will pay half this time when ordered and the other half when we get them. Likely about $600 each, she has money for her own, so that's good.

I'm trying to curtail frivolous spending, then I find a sale on shirts at Walmart, $3 each, and some undies a package normally $9 for $2.50.  DIL will put them back till he grows into them, also coat and snow pants from Lands End 60% off.  He is just now in the one I bought him a couple of years back.  Like she said get them bigger, he has enough for now. I found another coat for DD in a smaller size, was going to get her another Lands End but was only 40% off. I hate it I got her that one for Xmas and its now to big for her and me too.  Sure we can cinch the waist in and wear it but its big.  So I found her one at Walmart in that Tried and True brand that is pretty good on sale for $40.  They had a junior one she could have worn that would have been better but the one size she needed was sold out, drat. We have tons of coats, I need to start getting rid of some of them.

[Blonde Granny]

So far this month I've had $ 248 in unbudgeted spending. Even with that amount, I'm still under budget according to YNAB. So overall, I'd say I'm doing really well with only 1 week to go.

[buystoys]

I'm way under budget for the month so far.  I front loaded a lot of medical expenses, so that is the biggest reason why.  We've also spent about 1/2 of our food budget as I'm trying to use up some meat from the freezer.

[Deleted]

I am way over budget on spending to the point where I don't want to think about it.  Fixing up the house has been like moving into a new one with regular shopping trips to get something.  And I'm really only getting started.  I've got window coverings to figure out in several rooms, for example.  But for now, the blinds will have to do.

However, I was able to cover everything without touching savings.  I just wasn't able to add to savings (other than Christmas Club) this month.